Park Ridge is a suburb of Chicago located in Cook County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 37,775. It is about 27 km northwest of downtown Chicago.
Park Ridge is the hometown of Hillary Clinton (then Hillary Rodham), though she has not lived there for decades. When she visited Park Ridge on the occasion of her 50th birthday in 1997, the city renamed southeast corner of the intersection of Elm and Wisner Streets, next to her girlhood home, "Rodham Corner." Park Ridge was also actor Harrison Ford's childhood home.
Park Ridge lies on the highest ridge in Cook County, hence the name "Park Ridge." The soil is abundant with clay deposits, which made it a brick-making center for the developing city of Chicago. Park Ridge was originally called Pennyville to honor George Penny, the businessman who owned the local brickyard along with Robert Meacham. Later it was named Brickton. The Des Plaines River divides Park Ridge from neighboring Des Plaines, Illinois.
Scenes from the 1980 movie "The Blues Brothers" were filmed in Park Ridge including the scene where Jake and Elwood go through the red light that starts the police chase.
Park Ridge is located at 42°0'43" North, 87°50'30" West (42.011830, -87.841587).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.3 km2 (7.1 mi2). 18.2 km2 (7.0 mi2) of it is land and 0.1 km2 (0.04 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 0.57% water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 37,775 people, 14,219 households, and 10,465 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,074.7/km2 (5,374.6/mi2). There are 14,646 housing units at an average density of 804.4/km2 (2,083.8/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 95.38% White, 0.24% African American, 0.06% Native American, 2.66% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.87% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 2.95% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 14,219 households out of which 32.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% are married couples living together, 8.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% are non-families. 24.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.61 and the average family size is 3.13.
In the city the population is spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $73,154, and the median income for a family is $87,795. Males have a median income of $61,959 versus $39,794 for females. The per capita income for the city is $36,046. 2.4% of the population and 1.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.1% of those under the age of 18 and 3.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Source:
ParkRidgeIllinois.com
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