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Blue Island, IL

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Blue Island, IL

Blue Island is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States, located approximately 16 miles (26 km) south of Chicago's Loop. Blue Island is adjacent to the city of Chicago and shares its northern boundary with that city's Morgan Park neighborhood. The population was 22,558 at the 2020 United States Census.

Blue Island was established in the 1830s as a way station for settlers traveling on the Vincennes Trace, and the settlement prospered because it was conveniently situated a day's journey outside of Chicago. The late-nineteenth-century historian and publisher Alfred T. Andreas made the following observation regarding the appearance of the young community in History of Cook County Illinois (1884), "The location of Blue Island Village is a beautiful one. Nowhere about Chicago is there to be found a more pleasant and desirable resident locality."

Since its founding, the city has been an important commercial center in the south Cook County region, although its position in that respect has been eclipsed in recent years as other significant population centers developed around it and the region's commercial resources became spread over a wider area. In addition to its broad long-standing industrial base, the city enjoyed notable growth in the 1840s during the construction of the feeder canal (now the Calumet Sag Channel) for the Illinois and Michigan Canal and as the center of a large brick-making industry beginning in the 1850s, which eventually gave Blue Island the status of brick-making capital of the world. Beginning in 1883, Blue Island was also host to the car shops of the Rock Island Railroad. Blue Island was home to several breweries, that used the east side of the hill to store their product before the advent of refrigeration until the Eighteenth Amendment made these breweries illegal in 1919. A large regional hospital and two major clinics are also located in the city.

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Blue Island has a total area of 4.16 square miles (10.77 km²), of which 4.07 square miles (10.54 km²) (or 97.93%) is land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km²) (or 2.07%) is water.

As of the 2020 census, there were 22,558 people, 7,926 households, and 5,457 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,426.51 inhabitants per square mile (2,095.19/km²). There were 9,137 housing units at an average density of 2,197.98 per square mile (848.64/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 22.53% White, 30.71% African American, 1.93% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 26.47% from other races, and 17.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 51.95% of the population.

The city places a strong emphasis on health and wellness, with the Blue Island Health Department and Blue Island Health Center playing a crucial role in promoting public health. The department offers a range of services, from immunizations to health education programs. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs offered by the Blue Island Park District. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. A popular option is the Blue Island Salvation Army. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Blue Island, such as the Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail and Tall Grass Greenway Trail. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

The top sites in Blue Island, IL are the Blue Island Historical Society Museum, Meadowood Park, and Robbins Illinois History Museum.

Population: 22,558 (2020). ZIP Code: 60406. Area codes: 708, 464. Elevation: 640 ft (195 m). Area: 4.16 sq mi (10.77 km²).

FAQs

Is Blue Island, IL a good place to live?

Living in Blue Island offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents rent their homes. On Blue Island, there are a lot of bars and parks. Many families live in Blue Island and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Blue Island are above average.

What is the crime rate in Blue Island, IL?

With a crime rate of 35 per one thousand residents, Blue Island has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 29. Within Illinois, more than 96% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Blue Island.

What is the racial makeup of Blue Island, IL?

Blue Island, IL is home to a population of 22.9k people, of which 88.2% are citizens. As of 2022, 21% of Blue Island, IL residents were born outside of the country (4.81k people). In 2022, there were 1.35 times more Black or African American (non-Hispanic) residents (7.61k people) in Blue Island, IL than any other race or ethnicity. There were 5.64k White (Hispanic) and 4.69k White (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Blue Island

Blue Island Health Department 

Blue Island Health Center 

Blue Island Park District

Blue Island Salvation Army

Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail 

Tall Grass Greenway Trail

Blue Island Historical Society Museum

Meadowood Park

Robbins Illinois History Museum

Niche

Neighborhoodscout

DataUSA

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