Riverside, Illinois
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| Riverside, Illinois | |
|---|---|
| Name | Riverside |
| Settlement type | Village |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | United States |
| Subdivision type1 | State |
| Subdivision name1 | Illinois |
| Subdivision type2 | County |
| Subdivision name2 | Cook |
| Subdivision type3 | Township |
| Subdivision name3 | Riverside |
| Leader title | Village President |
| Leader name | Joseph Ballerine |
| Area total km2 | 5.07 |
| Area land km2 | 4.97 |
| Area water km2 | 0.10 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Population total | 9,298 |
| Population density km2 | 1870.42 |
| Timezone | CST |
| Utc offset | -6 |
| Timezone DST | CDT |
| Utc offset DST | -5 |
| Postal code type | ZIP Code(s) |
| Postal code | 60546 |
| Area code | 708 & 331 |
| Blank name | FIPS code |
| Blank info | 17-64471 |
| Blank1 name | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 info | 2399085 |
| Website | https://www.riverside.il.us/ |
Riverside, Illinois. Riverside is a historic suburban village in Cook County, Illinois, located along the Des Plaines River approximately 9 miles west of Downtown Chicago. It is renowned as one of the earliest planned communities in the United States, designed in 1869 by the pioneering landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the creators of New York City's Central Park. The entire village is a designated National Historic Landmark and is celebrated for its curvilinear streets, extensive park system, and distinctive architecture.
History
The area was originally inhabited by the Potawatomi people before European settlement. In 1868, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad extended a line through the area, prompting a group of investors led by John Wellborn Root to purchase land for a residential community. They commissioned Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to design a pastoral suburb that would serve as an antidote to the crowded industrial city, a plan presented in their document "Preliminary Report upon the Proposed Suburban Village at Riverside." The village was incorporated in 1875. Key early structures include the Riverside Water Tower, designed by William Le Baron Jenney, and the Riverside Train Station. The community weathered significant flooding from the Des Plaines River in the 20th century, including a major event in 1987, leading to substantial flood control projects.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 5.07 square kilometers, of which 4.97 square kilometers is land and 0.10 square kilometers is water. The village's geography is defined by the sweeping curve of the Des Plaines River, which forms its western and southern boundaries. The Olmsted and Vaux plan emphasized the natural topography, incorporating the riverbank, existing stands of trees, and gentle ridges into a network of curvilinear roads, parks, and scenic vistas. Major green spaces include the long, narrow Riverside Park along the river and the central Village Green. The village is bordered by North Riverside, Lyons, and Brookfield.
Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 9,298. The racial makeup was predominantly White (88.1%), with smaller populations identifying as Asian (4.5%), Hispanic or Latino (6.1%), and Black or African American (1.4%). The median household income was notably high compared to national averages, and a significant percentage of housing units were single-family homes. The village is part of the broader Chicago metropolitan area and has maintained a stable, affluent demographic profile throughout much of its history, attracting residents seeking its architectural heritage and park-like setting.
Government
Riverside operates under a village president-trustee form of government, with a non-partisan elected Village Board of Trustees. The current Village President is Joseph Ballerine. Key municipal services include the Riverside Police Department and the Riverside Public Works Department. The village is part of Illinois's 3rd congressional district, represented in the United States House of Representatives by Delia Ramirez, and lies within the Illinois 4th Senate District. Local governance is heavily influenced by the need to preserve its historic character, overseen by the Riverside Preservation Commission.
Education
Public education is provided by Riverside School District 96, which operates Ames School (pre-K-2), Blythe Park School (3-5), and L. J. Hauser Junior High School (6-8). For high school, residents attend Riverside Brookfield High School in neighboring Brookfield, which is part of Township High School District 208. The village is also served by the Riverside Public Library, a Carnegie library built in 1930. Several private and parochial schools are accessible in surrounding communities, including those affiliated with the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Notable people
Notable current and former residents include architect Bruce Goff; Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author David K. Shipler; actress Laurie Metcalf; musician and composer Steve Albini; baseball player Moe Drabowsky; and influential urban planner and critic Jane Jacobs, who wrote extensively about the community's design principles. The village has also been home to several prominent business leaders and academics affiliated with the University of Chicago and other institutions in the Chicago Loop.
Category:Villages in Cook County, Illinois Category:Chicago metropolitan area Category:National Historic Landmarks in Illinois