Villa Park is a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County, Illinois. The population was 22,075 at the 2000 census. A special census in 2003 set the population at 22,517. Estimated population in July 2006 was 22,528, a +2.1% change.

History

When Ovaltine Company first opened their factory, they needed a way to make sure their employees could get to and from work safely, no matter the weather, terrain or other issues. Villa Park was built originally for that reason.

Following the construction of a subdivision called Villa Park in 1908 and another called Ardmore in 1910 by the real estate firm Ballard & Pottinger, Villa Park was incorporated in 1914 by uniting the two subdivisions of 300 people. The first village president, William H. Calhoun, was elected on September 12, 1914. The town was originally called Ardmore, but changed its name to Villa Park in 1917. Villa Park was one of a number of suburbs directly west of downtown Chicago that flourished as a result of an electric commuter train, the Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad. This train ran from the Chicago loop directly west to Wheaton, Illinois, where it then split into two lines, one traveling southwest to Aurora and the other northwest to Elgin. Two small commercial areas developed, one at the Villa Avenue station and the other at the Ardmore Avenue station. The C. A. & E. commuter line ceased operations in 1957, a result of competition from the Chicago and North Western Railway, which ran a parallel route about a mile to the north, and the increase in use of personal automobiles. The right-of-way was eventually cleaned up and developed into a hiking and bicycling trail known as the Illinois Prairie Path. The Ardmore Station is now home to the Chamber of Commerce, and the Villa Avenue Station houses the Villa Park Historical Society.

Villa Park had been home to the Ovaltine chocolate factory until it closed in 1988. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 as building #86003781. It has since been converted into loft apartments.

Notable residents

• Tom Higgenson, lead singer of the band the pop punk band Plain White T's
• Anita Padilla, reporter for WFLD-TV in Chicago

Geography

Villa Park is located at (41.888650, -87.977884).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²). 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²) of it is land and almost none of it is covered by water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 22,075 people, 7,810 households, and 5,748 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,695.2 people per square mile (1,813.4/km²). There were 7,987 housing units at an average density of 1,698.8/sq mi (656.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 89.15% White, 1.67% African American, 0.18% Native American, 3.65% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.65% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.55% of the population.

There were 7,810 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the village the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $55,706, and the median income for a family was $62,805. Males had a median income of $41,085 versus $29,521 for females. The per capita income for the village was $22,354. About 3.6% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Villa Park has a commuter railroad station on Metra's Union Pacific/West Line with service west to Elburn, Illinois and east to downtown Chicago. The Ardmore Avenue Train Station and the Villa Avenue Train Station are also nationally registered historical places. The Ardmore Avenue Train Station is currently serving as the home for the Villa Park Chamber of Commerce, while the Villa Avenue Train Station is home to the Villa Park Historical Museum.

Both of these former train stations lie along the Illinois Prairie Path. The Illinois Prairie Path is a regional bicycle path linking Chicago's Western Suburbs which is popular with joggers, bicyclists and walker during the warmers months, and is used for cross country skiing during winter months.

Crime

Villa Park's Crime Index in 2006 was 177.4, as compared to a national average of 300.8 (a higher number is equivalent to more crime). The village recorded one murder in 1999, 2002 and 2006. The rate of robbery has increased steadily during the new millennium, with the rates of rape and theft remaining nearly steady, and the rate of burglary falling slightly. Of increasing concern is the prevalence of gang-related activity, attributed to the Latin Kings and others, which, though occurring throughout the municipality and present over much of the last two decades; appears to be more recently centered in an area east of Westmore Avenue toward Ardmore Avenue, and north of St. Charles Road toward the border with neighboring Addison, IL. This activity is only confirmed by anecdotal posts from residents and local business-people.

References

External links

• 
• District 45 Public Schools
• District 48 Public Schools
• District 88 Public High Schools
• Village of Villa Park
• Willowbrook High School
• Villa Park Historical Society
• Villa Park Public Library