Hazel Crest, Illinois

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hazel Crest, Illinois


Location within Chicagoland.	The Chicagoland tristate area.

Incorporated

Village in 1911.

County, State

Cook County, Illinois

Township

Bremen Township

Government

Council-manager

Mayor

Dr. Robert B. Donaldson

Population (2000)

14,816 (up 11.11% from 1990)

Pop. density

1,692.5/km² (4,381.5/mi²)

Zip code(s)

60429

Area code

708

Land Area

8.8 km² (3.4 mi²)

Lat. / long.

41°34.23′N 87°41.9′W

Income

Per capita: $19,908
Household: $50,576

Home value

Mean: $113,545 (2000)
Median: $97,200

Website

www.villageofhazelcrest.com

**Demographics** (Full data)
White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	Islander	Native	Other
19.47%	76.32%	3.33%	0.93%	0.02%	0.12%	1.48%

Hazel Crest is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 14,816 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Governing Structure
4 Politics
5 Transportation
6 Education
7 Housing
8 Hospitals
9 External links

[edit] Geography

Hazel Crest is located at 41°34′23″N, 87°41′9″W (41.573084, -87.685870)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 8.8 km² (3.4 mi²). 8.8 km² (3.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.59%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 14,816 people, 5,067 households, and 3,729 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,692.5/km² (4,381.5/mi²). There were 5,303 housing units at an average density of 605.8/km² (1,568.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 19.47% White, 76.32% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.33% of the population.

There were 5,067 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 22.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.39.

In the village the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $50,576, and the median income for a family was $54,049. Males had a median income of $40,482 versus $33,243 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,908. About 5.9% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Governing Structure

As of January, 2006, the Village Board is comprised of Dr. Robert "Bob" Donaldson, Village Mayor; Dr. Florine Robinson, Village Clerk; and six Village Trustees elected at large; Dr. Jane P. Brown, Mayor Pro Tempor, Elizabeth Wakefield-Waldren, Lee Fantroy, Eric Leaner, Vernard Alsberry, and Susan Pate-the last three usually seem to find themselves at odds with the preceding four.

Hazel Crest has a Village Manager, Robert "Bob" Palmer

[edit] Politics

The Village of Hazel Crest has had an unusual sense of politics lately. Since the Consolidated Elections of 1997, the change in demographics, from a majority white community to a majority black community, have affected the municipal elections. In 1997, Village President Sol J. Rocke was running for re-election along with then, former Village Trustee, Robert B. Donaldson, and, at the time, current Village Trustee William A. Browne.

Since the 1980's Hazel Crest had begun to face a deterioration economically, as other places had at the time, and a need for change was arising. The 1997 elections, amongst all three were close. President Rocke and Trustee Browne were seen as "buddies," while former Trustee Donaldson was associated with the former Village President, Martin J. Kauchak. Kauchak was also the longest lasting in Hazel Crest history, and whom the Municipal Center is named after, who served the village for twenty years

The elections were close and nearly 30 votes between Rocke and Donaldson gave the election to the incumbent. Four years later, President Rocke was ready to retire after eight years of service. The election went down to two people, Trustee Bill Browne who was also the president of Prairie-Hills School District 144, and Bob Donaldson who is a professor at local Governors State University and serves on the City of Chicago Building Commission.

This time, in 2001, the election was decided by four votes in a village of nearly 15,000 residents. This election also brought with it the first black president of Hazel Crest. President Rocke endorsed Trustee Browne and state senator William Shaw endorsed Donaldson. During the next four year period, as predicted by 49.9% of the village, Hazel Crest underwent a drought of economic depression with a $200,000+ budget deficit in a village that only has revenues of $10,000,000-. In the winter of 2005, President Browne met the challenges of a familiar rival...Dr. Robert "Bob" Donaldson.

This time, the village saw political parties, the Focus Party of then President Browne, and the Vision Party of Dr. Bob Donaldson. Throughout the next six months, the residents witnessed stale-matted debates and a community pool controversy, in which the Park District, headed by President Browne's wife, Rhonda Browne, wanted to demolish the pool, which many residents opposed. In a community such as Hazel Crest, the two parties were almost equal to the Democrats and Republicans.

High taxes and a growing low-income residential base were plauging the village. While many things were accomplished during Browne's tenure such as a new school, Mae Jemison Elementary School, a $10 Million project, and a $3 Million medical office building was built, many other problems began to occur, mainly the deterioration of the Village of Hazel Crest with the falling of housing values. Hazel Crest began to witness the typical activity of what happens to a municipality during the process of "white flight."

The elections were tight and residents also saw a change in the village's newspaper, "The Villager." President Browne began to print personal messages promoting his campaign for re-election. In April of 2005 though, these tactics did not work. As the results were tallied, in both Vision Party and Focus Party headquarters, tension grew. The results showed that there was almost a tie with President Browne leading the way after seeing results from his area of Stonebridge.

The last results to come in were those of Dynasty Lakes, the newest subdivision added to the village. With Lee Fantroy, a candidate for trustee on the Vision Party's side, also serving as the President of the Dynasty Lakes Homeowners Association, Mr. Fantroy brought in the winning results for the Vision Party. The total tally for Village President in Dynasty Lakes was about 200 votes for Donaldson and about 36 for Browne, making the total 1,119 (46.30%) votes for Browne, and 1,298 (53.70%) for Donaldson.

Donaldson was the second African-American to win election.

[edit] Transportation

Several modes of transportation serve the Village of Hazel Crest.

To the east, in Hazel Crest Proper, are portions of the Canadian National/Illinois Central intermodal facility. Along on the train tracks, is the Metra Electric Line. The Hazel Crest station moves commuters either to Downtown Chicago or to University Park, the last stop on the line.

Hazel Crest serves as the locale of where Interstate 80 merges with the Tri-State Tollway (Interstate 294).

The village also has an extensive array of state highways. The intersection of 175th Street and Kedzie Aveneue is located the center of the village forming a +. Also, 167th Street intersects with Kedzie on the North side of the village forming another +, all are divided four lane highways.

[edit] Education

Hazel Crest is served by three elementary school districts which include, Prairie-Hills Elementary School District 144, Hazel Crest Elementary School District 152.5, and Flossmoor Elementary School District 161. Four high school districts service the village, Thornton Township High School District 205, Rich Township High School District 227, Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233, and Bremen Community High School District 228.

School District 144 operates Mae Jemison, Highlands, and Chateaux Elementery Schools in Hazel Crest and six others in surrounding areas. School District 152.5 operates Woodland Elementary School in Hazel Crest and two others in surrounding communities. School District 161 operates five elementary schools outside that serve the village.

There are no high schools in Hazel Crest. High School District 205 operates three high schools; Thornton Township High School, Thornwood High School (which some village residents attend), and Thornridge High School. High School District 227 operates three high schools also; Rich Central High School, Rich East High School, Rich South High School, and a special education campus. High School District 228 operates four high schools; Hillcrest High School, a combination of names (Country Club Hills and Hazel Crest) in neighboring Country Club Hills (where the majority of Hazel Crest high school students attend), Bremen High School, Oak Forest High School, and Tinley Park High School.

Hazel Crest sits in two community college districts, South Suburban College in South Holland and Prairie State College in Chicago Heights.

[edit] Housing

There are a number of subdivisions in Hazel Crest, but there are only six people really identify with, Hazel Crest Proper, Chateaux/Versailles, Pottawatomie Hills/Twin Creeks, Highlands, Dynasty Lakes, and Stonebridge.

There are many condominiums in Hazel Crest. English Valley, Stonebridge, Gingko, Ironwood, and Water's Edge Condominums range from $34,000 to $128,000 in pricing.

Housing prices range anywhere from $30,000 to $450,000.

[edit] Hospitals

Hazel Crest is home to Advocate South Suburban Hospital. This hospital was once located at 171st Street and Dixie Highway in Hazel Crest Proper in 1946 and was known as Hazel Crest General Hospital. Advocate South Suburban Hospital is undergoing a $20 million expansion project as of 2005.