Wilmette, Illinois
|
|
Wilmette is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 27,651.
The Chicago Transit Authority's Purple Line has its northernmost station at Linden Avenue in Wilmette.
Bill Murray, William Gray Purcell and Ted Perry were born in Wilmette.
| Contents |
History
The village is named in honor of Antoine Ouilmette, a French-Canadian fur trader, who lived here with his part-Potawatomi wife, Archange. He persuaded the local Native Americans to sign the Treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1829 so the U.S. government awarded him 1,280 acres (5.2 km²) of land in the area that is now Wilmette and a small part of what is now Evanston. They later sold the land, in 1848, to farmers and developers which eventually evolved into modern-day Wilmette.
Village Government
The current Village Trustees are Lali Watt, Alan Swanson, John Levin, Joanne Aggens, Jim Griffith, and Mari Terman. The Village President is Chris Canning.
Geography
Wilmette is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan and is a near northern suburb of Chicago, Illinois immediately north of Evanston, Illinois at 42°4'38" North, 87°43'25" West (42.077178, -87.723736)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 14.0 km² (5.4 mi²). 13.9 km² (5.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.19% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 27,651 people, 10,039 households, and 7,730 families residing in the village. The population density is 1,984.4/km² (5,135.8/mi²). There are 10,319 housing units at an average density of 740.6/km² (1,916.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 89.66% White, 0.56% African American, 0.04% Native American, 8.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 2.08% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 10,039 households out of which 40.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.9% are married couples living together, 6.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% are non-families. 21.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.73 and the average family size is 3.19.
In the village the population is spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 84.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village is $106,773, and the median income for a family is $122,515. Males have a median income of $97,143 versus $50,007 for females. The per capita income for the village is $55,611. 2.3% of the population and 1.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.6% of those under the age of 18 and 4.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Population trends
Education
(contains external links)
Wilmette has several elementary schools (grades K-4) all of which are part of Wilmette District #39 (http://www.wilmette39.org/): Central (http://www.wilmette39.org/central/), Harper (http://www.wilmette39.org/harper/), McKenzie (http://www.wilmette39.org/mckenzie/), and Romona (http://www.wilmette39.org/romona/). In addition, Wilmette District #39 is also home to Highcrest Middle School (http://www.wilmette39.org/highcrest/) (grades 5-6) and Wilmette Junior High School (http://www.wilmette39.org/wjhs/) (grades 7-8). Marie Murphy (http://www.avoca.k12.il.us/murphy/index.html), while located in Wilmette, is part of Avoca School District #37 (http://www.avoca.k12.il.us/). There are also several parochial elementary schools in the area, namely St. Francis Xavier (http://www.sfxparish.org/School.htm) and St. Joseph (http://www.stjosephwilmette.com/).
Wilmette is also home to several private high schools: Loyola Academy and Regina Dominican High School (http://www.reginadominican.pvt.k12.il.us/), although Wilmette public high school students attend the prestegious public New Trier High School (http://nths.newtrier.k12.il.us/).
Attractions
Wilmette is home to the oldest of the seven existing Bahá'í Houses of Worship around the world. The seat of the US Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly is located there. Other attractions include Gilson park (http://www.wilmettepark.org/gillson.cfm) with beach access, a public pool and ice-skating complex (http://www.wilmettepark.org/cent.cfm), and a marina.
External links
- Baha'i house of worship live webcam: http://www.us.bahai.org/how/webcam.htm
- Village of Wilmette city government web site: http://www.wilmette.com/