Palos_Township,_Cook_County,_Illinois Knowpia

Palos Township
Palos Township
Township
	Seal
	Location in Cook County
	Cook County's location in Illinois
	Coordinates: 41°41′05″N 87°51′11″W / 41.68472°N 87.85306°W
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Cook
Area
• Total	35.39 sq mi (91.7 km2)
• Land	33.74 sq mi (87.4 km2)
• Water	1.65 sq mi (4.3 km2) 4.66%
Elevation	591 ft (180 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	56,836
• Density	1,600/sq mi (620/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	60457, 60462, 60463, 60464, 60465, 60480, 60482
FIPS code	17-031-57355
Website	www.palostownship.org

Palos Township is one of 29 townships in Cook County, Illinois. As of the 2020 census, its population was 56,836,^[2] with its most populous municipality being Palos Hills (pop. 17,484). The vast majority of the township's population resides in its eastern half; the half west of La Grange Road consists of the Palos Forest Preserves, a section of the Cook County Forest Preserves. In 1850 the small town of Trenton, Illinois changed its name to Palos; this recommendation was made by M.S. Powell, the local postmaster, whose ancestor supposedly sailed with Christopher Columbus from Palos de la Frontera. When it incorporated as a village in 1914, Palos officially became Palos Park. Nearby communities incorporated later: Hickory Hills, in 1951, and Palos Hills, in 1958. All three municipalities lie completely or substantially within Palos Township. Palos Heights, partially in Worth Township, incorporated in 1959.

Township offices are located at 10802 S. Roberts Road in Palos Hills. The municipalities of Worth and Bridgeview also lie partially in the township. Palos Township's approximate borders are Harlem Avenue (Illinois Route 43) on the east, 135th Street on the south, Will-Cook Road extended to the DuPage County line on the west, and 87th Street on the north; in the northwest, the township border follows the Des Plaines River from 87th Street to DuPage County's southeast corner. The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, designated a National Historic District in 2011, passes through the township just south of the river, and the Cal-Sag Channel roughly bisects the township from east to west.

Township services edit

According to Illinois law, townships are responsible for the maintenance of township roadways, the governance of the General Assistance program and the assessment of real property. In Cook County, townships are not responsible for assessing real property as the Cook County Assessor performs that function.

Some townships have adopted other duties, including the provision of health services. Palos Township runs a health service providing low- or no-cost physical examinations, sick visits, cholesterol tests and screenings, pregnancy tests, blood pressure screening, immunizations, podiatry services for senior citizens and other services.

Other services provided by Palos Township include free tax preparation for senior citizens, temporary handicapped placards, voter services, speaker's bureau, and much more.

Geography edit

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Palos Township has a total area of 35.39 square miles (91.66 km²), of which 33.74 square miles (87.39 km²) (or 95.34%) is land and 1.65 square miles (4.27 km²) (or 4.66%) is water.^[3]

Borders edit

Palos Township is bordered on the north by Lyons Township, on the east by Worth Township, on the south by Orland Township, and on the west by Lemont Township. The northwest border with Lyons Township follows the Des Plaines River, directly adjacent to the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (managed by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago) which connects Lake Michigan with the Mississippi River.

Other bordering township include Homer Township (Will County) on the southwest corner; Bremen Township (Cook County) on the southeast corner; Stickney Township (Cook County) on the northeast corner and Downers Grove Township (DuPage County) on the northwest corner.

Cities, towns, villages edit

Bridgeview (the quarter southwest of 87th Street and Harlem Avenue)
Hickory Hills (all but the small portion north of 87th Street)
Orland Park (the small area north of 135th Street)
Palos Heights (the half west of Harlem)
Palos Hills
Palos Park (all but a small area west of Will-Cook Road)
Willow Springs (the largely non-residential portion south of 87th Street and east of the Des Plaines River, and east of the DuPage County line)
Worth (the third west of Harlem)

Unincorporated Towns edit

Southmoor at 41°39′09″N 87°49′47″W / 41.652534°N 87.829773°W / 41.652534; -87.829773

Adjacent townships edit

Lyons Township (north)
Stickney Township (northeast)
Worth Township (east)
Bremen Township (southeast)
Orland Township (south)
Homer Township, Will County (southwest)
Lemont Township (west)
Downers Grove Township, DuPage County (northwest)

Cemeteries edit

The township contains three cemeteries: Fairmount-Willow Hills, Oak Hill and Sacred Heart Catholic.

Major highways edit

Airports and landing strips edit

Palos Community Hospital Heliport

Lakes edit

Bull Frog Lake
Hambone Lake
Horsetail Lake
Maple Lake
Papoose Lake
Tuma Lake

Landmarks edit

Orland Grove Forest Preserve
Palos Sag-Valley Forest Preserve

These Cook County Forest Preserves woods:

Burr Oak Woods (west quarter)
Cherry Hill Woods
Crooked Creek Woods
Forty Acres Woods
Groundhog Slough Woods
Henry De Tonty
Hickory Hills Woods
Hidden Pond Woods
Mcclaughry Springs Woods
Mcmahon Woods
Paddock Woods
Palos Park Woods
Paw Paw Woods
Pioneer Woods
Pulaski Woods
Saganashkee Slough Woods
Spears Woods
Swallow Cliff Woods
Tampier Slough Woods (east half)
White Oak Woods
Willow Springs Woods
Wolf Road Woods

Demographics edit

As of the 2020 census^[4] there were 56,836 people, 21,168 households, and 13,852 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,605.85 inhabitants per square mile (620.02/km²). There were 23,107 housing units at an average density of 652.87 per square mile (252.07/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 81.74% White, 3.49% African American, 0.26% Native American, 2.97% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.18% from other races, and 7.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.27% of the population.

There were 21,168 households, out of which 26.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.04% were married couples living together, 8.71% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 34.56% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.17.

The township's age distribution consisted of 20.9% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $72,067, and the median income for a family was $90,042. Males had a median income of $56,924 versus $38,459 for females. The per capita income for the township was $38,372. About 7.0% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1930	1,436	—
1940	1,907	32.8%
1950	5,707	199.3%
1960	17,728	210.6%
1970	33,100	86.7%
1980	46,412	40.2%
1990	50,916	9.7%
2000	53,419	4.9%
2010	54,615	2.2%
2020	56,836	4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census^[5]

Governance edit

Palos Township is governed by a township board of trustees sometimes called the township board or town board. The town board consists of five voting members and includes the elected township supervisor and four elected township trustees.

The town board is responsible for providing a budget and taxes sufficient to run the operations of the township government each year. The supervisor is a voting member of the town board but is also the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the township.

The township clerk, assessor and highway commissioner are elected officials; however, they do not have a vote on the town board.

Duties and powers of the supervisor

The township supervisor is the chief executive officer of the township and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the township along with the following other duties:

Chairing all meetings of the township board;
Serving as township treasurer;
Serving as supervisor of General Assistance;
Serving as supervisor of buildings and grounds.

Current township elected officials
Name	Elected position	Party affiliation & village
Colleen Grant-Schumann	Supervisor	Republican - Palos Heights
Jane Nolan	Clerk	Democratic - Palos Hills
Robert E. Maloney	Assessor	Democratic - Palos Hills
Gene Adams	Highway Commissioner	Republican - Palos Park
Brent Woods	Trustee and Supervisor Pro-Tem	Republican - Worth
Richard C. Riley	Trustee	Republican - Palos Hills
Tasneem Abuzir	Trustee	Independent - Bridgeview
Pam Jeanes	Trustee	Republican - Palos Park

Education edit

Moraine Valley Community College
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School – Consolidated High School District 230
Carl Sandburg High School – Consolidated High School District 230
Conrady Junior High School – North Palos School District 117
Glen Oaks Elementary School – North Palos School District 117
Oak Ridge Elementary School – North Palos School District 117
Dorn Elementary School – North Palos School District 117
Sorrick Elementary School – North Palos School District 117
Palos East Elementary School – Palos School District 118
Palos West Elementary School – Palos School District 118
Palos South Elementary School – Palos School District 118
Worthwoods Elementary School – Worth School District 127

Political districts edit

Illinois's 6th congressional district – Congressman Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove)
State Senate District 16 – Senator Willie Preston (D-Chicago)
State Senate District 18 – Senator William Cunnigham (D-Chicago)
State Senate District 41 – Senator John F. Curran (R-Lemont)
State House District 31 – Representative Mary E. Flowers (D-Chicago)
State House District 32 – Representative Cyril Nichols (D-Chicago)
State House District 35 – Representative Fran Hurley (D-Chicago)
State House District 36 – Representative Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park)
State House District 82 – Representative John Egofske (R-Lemont)
Cook County Board District 6 – Commissioner Donna Miller (D-Lynwood)
Cook County Board District 17 – Commissioner Sean M. Morrison (R-Palos Park)
Cook County Board of (Tax) Review District 1 – Commissioner George Cardenas (D-Chicago)
Cook County Board of (Tax) Review District 3 – Commissioner Larry Rodgers (D-Chicago)
4th Judicial Sub-Circuit
15th Judicial Sub-Circuit

Voting History edit

Palos Township has been a generally Republican jurisdiction in presidential elections, having voted for nine of the last ten Republican presidential candidates.

Palos township vote
by party in presidential elections
Year	Democratic	Republican	Third Parties
2020^[6]	46.95% 12,577	51.44% 13,779	1.61% 432
2016^[6]	45.46% 11,021	48.68% 11,802	5.86% 1,422
2012^[6]	46.47% 10,476	51.88% 11,697	1.65% 372
2008^[7]	50.30% 12,004	48.44% 11,560	1.27% 302
2004^[6]	47.06% 11,251	52.28% 12,500	0.66% 158
2000^[6]	44.15% 9,701	52.52% 11,540	3.32% 730
1996^[6]	42.15% 8,862	48.45% 10,187	9.40% 1,975
1992^[6]	32.51% 8,083	46.04% 11,448	21.45% 5,335
1988^[8]	32.02% 7,189	67.98% 15,266	0.00% 0
1984^[9]	25.88% 5,301	74.12% 15,179	0.00% 0

References edit

"Palos Township, Cook County, Illinois". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles
United States National Atlas

^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Palos Township, Cook County, Illinois
^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Palos township, Cook County, Illinois". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 10, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
^ Bureau, US Census. "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
^ https://results.cookcountyclerkil.gov/summary.aspx?eid=110408 ^{[bare URL]}
^ "Cook County, IL election results, 1988". Chicago Tribune. November 10, 1988. p. 23.
^ "Cook County, IL presidential election results, 1984". Chicago Tribune. November 8, 1984. p. 23.