Woodridge, Illinois
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Woodridge is a village located predominantly in DuPage County, but also has portions in Will County and a very small parcel in Cook County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 30,934. Woodridge is the home of the Morey Corporation (http://www.moreycorp.com/), a campus of Westwood College (http://www.westwood.edu),Wilton Industries (http://www.wilton.com/) and the Seven Bridges (http://www.sevenbridges.com/) golf course and housing development. Woodridge is also one of the most racially diverse communities in DuPage County, with the third highest percentage of African-American residents and twelth highest percentage of Latino residents in the county.
Incorporated in 1959 with less than 500 residents, Woodridge is a largely new community with the vast majority of its homes, businesses and churches constructed no earlier than the 1950s. Woodridge was founded by a housing developer, Albert Kaufman (http://www.suntimes.com/output/obituaries/cst-nws-xkauf25.html), who was largely responsible for the creation of the village.
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Geography
Woodridge is located at 41°44'40" North, 88°2'38" West (41.744582, -88.043869)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 21.6 km² (8.4 mi²). 21.5 km² (8.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.24% water.
Transportation
Two major interstates run through Woodridge: the North-South Tollway (I-355) and the Stevenson Expressway (I-55). The North-South allows access to a variety of western and northwestern Chicago suburbs, while I-55 gives direct access to the City of Chicago to the north and Joliet and downstate Illinois to the south. Other important routes are 75th Street and Illinois Route 53.
An industrial spur for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad serves International Center, a large industrial area in the far south section. Commuter passenger rail service [1] (http://www.metrarail.com) between Chicago and Aurora can be accessed in nearby Lisle.
Bus service is provided by PACE, [2] (http://www.pacebus.com)under the coordination of the Regional Transportation Authority.
Government
The Village's government is overseen by the Mayor and a Board of Trustees elected at large. The current mayor (2005) is William F. Murphy. Village Departments include Finance, Administration, Police, Building and Zoning, Community Development, and Public Works.
The Police Department is a full service force of 55 sworn officers, as well as support staff for the 911 center, a records department and a resource center.
Building and Zoning monitors construction permits, land use, up keep and other considerations.
Public Works is responsible for the streets and other Village infrastructure, including the water supply. Woodridge receives its water from Lake Michigan.
The Village Hall is located in Town Center at Five Plaza Drive. Town Center also includes the Police/Public Works building (One Plaza Drive), the Woodridge Public Library (Three Plaza Drive) and the United States Post Office (Two Plaza Drive).
Woodridge lies within three fire protection districts, the boundaries of which were drawn before the incorporation of the Village. As a result, Woodridge does not maintain a village fire department. The fire departments serving the residents are the Lisle-Woodridge Fire District [3] (http://www.lwfd.org), the Darien-Woodridge Fire District and the Lemont Fire District. Lisle-Woodridge is rated as "ISO 1" by the Insurance Services Office. It is the only district in the nation with this rating.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 30,934 people, 11,382 households, and 8,092 families residing in the village. The population density is 1,435.5/km² (3,716.7/mi²). There are 11,708 housing units at an average density of 543.3/km² (1,406.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 75.29% White, 8.02% African American, 0.16% Native American, 11.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.11% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. 9.18% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 11,382 households out of which 38.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% are married couples living together, 10.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% are non-families. 23.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.71 and the average family size is 3.26.
In the village the population is spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 5.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village is $61,944, and the median income for a family is $71,546. Males have a median income of $50,159 versus $33,475 for females. The per capita income for the village is $27,851. 3.8% of the population and 2.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.3% of those under the age of 18 and 3.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Education
The Village of Woodridge school District 68 maintains six elementary schools (serving grades K-6) and one junior high (for grades 7 and 8). Woodridge does not have its own high school. The majority of Woodridge secondary school students attend Downers Grove North or South High School in Downers Grove District 99. Some students in southern Woodridge are served by Lemont District 210 and attend Lemont High School. Additionally, Woodridge students who reside west of Route 53 attend Naperville schools in District 203. This has created something of a demographic divide with the superior District 203 areas contributing to higher property values and drawing more affluent residents in the Seven Bridges developments west of Rt. 53. Some students also attend the nearby parochial school Benet Academy.
Westwood College maintains a Woodridge campus. Other nearby higher education opportunities are Benedictine University (Lisle)[4] (http://ben.edu), North Central College (Naperville) [5] (http://www.noctrl.edu), Lewis University (Romeoville)[6] (http://www.lewisu.edu), College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn)[7] (http://www.cod.edu), Joliet Junior College (Romeoville and Joliet)[8] (http://www.jjc.edu) and University of St. Francis (Joliet)[9] (http://www.stfrancis.edu).
Recreation
The Woodridge Park District [10] (http://www.woodridgeparks.org) maintains a well distributed group of local parks and open space offering facilities for picnicking as well as sports such as baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer and cricket. The Park District also maintains a swimming pool and Cypress Cove water park.
Village Greens of Woodridge is a Village owned, 18 hole golf course; as is Seven Bridges, a championship class course.
A series of bike paths allow cyclists to ride through the town on paved, dedicated paths.
Three multi-screen movie theaters as well as dining opportunities from fast food to formal banquets are also available.
External links
- Village of Woodridge (http://www.vil.woodridge.il.us/)
- District 99 Boundary Maps (http://www.csd99.org/district/about/maps.asp)
- Woodridge District 68 (http://www.woodridge68.org/)
- Woodridge Church List (Also see Downers Grove) (http://www.churchangel.com/WEBIL/woodridge.htm)
- Village Profile of Woodridge (http://www.villageprofile.com/illinois/woodridge/04his/topic.html)