Overview:
Population: 37,480 (2010 Census)
Size: 7.1 square miles; Residential land: 48%; commercial: 5%; public, institutional, park, open spaces: 24%; transportation & utilities: 23%
Location: Adjacent to the City of Chicago, 14 miles northwest of downtown Chicago; 2 miles east of O’Hare Airport.
Form of Government: Mayor/city manager/city council; 1 alderman elected from each of 7 wards.
Miscellaneous: Area code: 847; Zip code: 60068
DEMOGRAPHICS:
Park Ridge Median Income: $85,897
Park Ridge Family Income: $108,037
Park Ridge Per Capita Income: $44,868
Median Age: 44.8
Number of Housing Units: 15,030 82% Owner Occupied
Average Household Size: 2.66 persons
Housing Stock: 77% single family detached; 23% multi-family & townhomes
CITY PARTICULARS:
Transportation: Metra Commuter Train Stations: Uptown; Dee Road; Metra buses: 209, 241, 290; 68; CTA Rapid Transit; Park Ridge Taxi; Kennedy Expressway; Tri-State Tollway
Largest Employers: Lutheran General Hospital (Advocate Health Care System), School District 207; City of Park Ridge, Park Ridge Public Library, and Rainbow Hospice
Employment: 1,752 businesses located in Park Ridge with 18,563 employees and an unemployment rate of 8.2% August, 2011
Main shopping areas: Uptown; Summit Mall; South Park; Village Green; Crossroads
Local Newspapers: Park Ridge Herald-Advocate (Pioneer Press); Park Ridge Journal (Journal & Topics); The Bugle
OTHER GOVERNMENTAL UNITS:
State, National & County Elected Officials:
Township governments: Leyden; Maine; Norwood
School Districts: Oakton Community College, District 535; Maine Township High School District 207; Elementary Consolidated School District 64; various parochial/private schools
Park District: Park Ridge Recreation and Park District
First Place Governor Home Town Awards
2012: Ianelli Studios - Kalo Foundation
2001: Brickton Art Center
1998: Park Ridge Civic Orchestra
1997: Park Ridge Center of Concern
1992: Park Ridge Economic Development Corporation
PARK RIDGE HISTORY:
First settled: Mid-1830s (land from Pottawatomi Indians)
Village founded: July 4, 1873, name changed to Park Ridge Incorporated: April 19, 1910
Former names: Pennyville; Brickton (1855)
FAMOUS CITIZENS:
Hillary Rodham Clinton (former address: 235 Wisner, 5th Ward)
Frederick Goudy, invented 120 typefaces
Grant Wood, student at the Kalo Workshop
Eugene Kupjack, miniaturist; works displayed at the Chicago Art Institute
Alfonso Iannelli, Sculptor (designed elements of the Pickwick Theater)
Actors: Harrison Ford, Jim Pankow, John Pankow
Actresses: Karen Black, Carrie Snodgrass
Steve Goodman, Folk Singer and Songwriter
Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr., 4-time Speed Skating Olympian
David Neil Santee, World Silver Figure Skating medalist and 8-time US National Figure Skating medalist
FAMOUS LANDMARKS:
Alfonso Iannelli Studios: Located at 255 N Northwest Hwy (northeast corner at elm)
Pickwick Theatre: Art Deco masterpiece on Prospect Ave at Touhy in Uptown Park Ridge is on the National Register of Historic Places
Small stone building on the Park Ridge Youth Campus, formerly Park Ridge Schoolf for Girls on Prospect Ave is on the National Register of Historic Places