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Forest Park, IL

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Forest Park, IL

Forest Park (formerly Harlem) is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, and a suburb of Chicago. The population was 14,339 at the 2020 census. The Forest Park terminal on the CTA Blue Line is the line's western terminus, located on the Eisenhower Expressway at Des Plaines Avenue. This makes it one of just two municipalities served by the Chicago "L" train network that does not directly border Chicago (the other being Wilmette).

Forest Park is located at 41°52′23″N 87°48′40″W (41.873031, -87.811155). According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Forest Park has a total area of 2.40 square miles (6.22 km²), all land. The Des Plaines River runs through Forest Park.

The community (formerly part of a larger town called Harlem) officially became incorporated under the name of Forest Park on April 17, 1907. For much of its history, Forest Park was known as a "Village of cemeteries", with more dead "residents" than living ones; some figures estimate the ratio at 30:1, dead to alive. Forest Park cemeteries include Altenheim, Forest Home Cemetery (incorporating the German Waldheim Cemetery), Jewish Waldheim (producer Mike Todd is buried in Beth Aaron there), Woodlawn (including Showmen's Rest), and Concordia. Forest Home Cemetery is home to the famous Haymarket Martyrs' Monument.

From 1925 to 1931, Forest Park had a radio station with a variety of call letters. The station began in 1925 as WHT. It was known as WNBA, with its studios near Des Plaines and Roosevelt Road from 1927 to 1928. In 1929, the call letters changed again, this time to WSOA and again to WCHI in 1929. As WSOA, the radio station had 5,000 watts of power. It went off the air for good in 1931.

The Naval Ordnance Station Forest Park (originally a Naval Ordnance Plant) operated from early in World War II until most of the plant was replaced by a mall in 1971, with some of the site used as a Naval Reserve center until 2007. The plant employed up to 6,500 workers and produced 19,000 torpedoes during World War II.

The healthcare landscape in Forest Park is robust, with the presence of first-rate medical facilities. The Forest Park Medical Center serves as a cornerstone for comprehensive healthcare services, providing residents with access to top-notch medical care. Forest Park Park District provides a variety of recreational activities, fitness classes, and sports leagues. Rush Oak Park Hospital offers health screenings, wellness programs, and educational seminars. Proviso Township Mental Health Commission offers mental health counseling and support services. Participate in gardening activities to promote community health and sustainability at the Forest Park Environmental Committee. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Planet Fitness, Three Bears Fitness and Unbreakable Fitness.

The top sites in Forest Park, IL are the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum, and Pleasant Home.

Population: 14,339 (2020). ZIP Code: 60130. Area code: 708. Elevation: 617 ft. Area: 2.40 sq mi (6.22 km²).

FAQs

Is Forest Park, IL a good place to live?

Forest Park is a suburb of Chicago with a population of 14,165. Forest Park is in Cook County and is one of the best places to live in Illinois. Living in Forest Park offers residents an urban feel and most residents own their homes. In Forest Park, there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks.

What is Forest Park, IL known for?

Originally named Harlem, the village was renamed Forest Park in 1907 and played host to popular entertainment such as an amusement park, casino, racetrack, and golf course over the decades. Today, the main thoroughfare of Madison Street features everything from old-school restaurants to record stores and boutiques. One of the suburb’s cemeteries does stand out: Forest Home Cemetery. It contains Potawatomi burial mounds from centuries ago, and one of the area’s first European settlers, a German immigrant named Ferdinand Haase, buried the first non-Native American – his brother-in-law –  there.

Is Forest Park, IL expensive?

Forest Park, Illinois's cost of living is 18% higher than the national average. The cost of living in any area can vary based on factors such as your career, average salary, and the real estate market of that area. Forest Park's housing expenses are 42% higher than the national average and the utility prices are 3% lower than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 25% higher than the national average.

Sources

Wikipedia

Village of Forest Park

Forest Park Medical Center

Forest Park Park District

Rush Oak Park Hospital

Proviso Township Mental Health Commission

Forest Park Environmental Committee

Planet Fitness

Three Bears Fitness 

Unbreakable Fitness

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum

Pleasant Home

Niche

Interactive

Payscale

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