# Palos Park, Illinois

Palos Park is a village in southwestern Cook County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 4,899.

## Geography

Palos Park is located at 41°39′56″N 87°50′12″W﻿ / ﻿41.66556°N 87.83667°W﻿ / 41.66556; -87.83667 (41.665682, -87.836633).
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Palos Park has a total area of 6.57 square miles (17.02 km$^2$), of which 6.45 square miles (16.71 km$^2$) (or 98.16%) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.31 km$^2$) (or 1.84%) is water.

## Demographics

As of the 2020 census there were 4,899 people, 2,104 households, and 1,370 families residing in the village. The population density was 746.12 inhabitants per square mile (288.08/km$^2$). There were 2,023 housing units at an average density of 308.10 per square mile (118.96/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the village was 88.32% White, 1.43% African American, 0.16% Native American, 2.10% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.14% from other races, and 5.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.06% of the population.
There were 2,104 households, out of which 18.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 4.13% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.89% were non-families. 33.08% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.91% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 2.21.
The village's age distribution consisted of 15.9% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 13.2% from 25 to 44, 33.3% from 45 to 64, and 34.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $114,020, and the median income for a family was $135,625. Males had a median income of $101,420 versus $35,625 for females. The per capita income for the village was $63,500. About 0.7% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Palos Park village, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. :
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 4,466 | 4,468 | 4,247 | 95.24% | 92.18% | 86.69% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 12 | 36 | 69 | 0.26% | 0.74% | 1.41% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0.04% | 0.06% | 0.00% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 81 | 82 | 102 | 1.73% | 1.69% | 2.08% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 5 | 6 | 23 | 0.11% | 0.12% | 0.47% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 24 | 53 | 112 | 0.51% | 1.09% | 2.29% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 99 | 199 | 346 | 2.11% | 4.11% | 7.06% |
| Total | 4,689 | 4,847 | 4,899 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |

## Government

The Village Council is composed of Nicole Milovich-Walters (Mayor), G. Darryl Reed (Commissioner of Accounts & Finances), Rebecca Petan (Commissioner of Streets & Public Improvements), Dan Polk (Commissioner of Police and Public Safety), and Mike Wade (Commissioner of Building and Public Property). Marie Arrigoni is the elected Clerk.
At the federal level, Palos Park is in the Illinois 6th congressional district. At the state level, it is divided among the 14th, 18th, and 41st Illinois Senate districts and the 26th, 35th, and 82nd Illinois House districts.

## Education

Residents in eastern portions are in Palos School District 118:
* Palos South Middle School
* Palos East Elementary School (in Palos Heights)
* Palos West Elementary School
High school students in eastern portions are served by Consolidated High School District 230's Amos Alonzo Stagg High School.
Southwest Suburban Montessori School is located in Palos Park.
Palos Park Public Library was founded in 1936 and has been part of the village government since 1945.

## Transportation

Palos Park has a station on Metra's SouthWest Service, which provides rail service to Chicago's Union Station on weekdays and Saturdays. Pace provides bus service on Route 379 connecting Palos Park to destinations across the Southland.

## Notable people

* Jane M. Barnes, Illinois state politician
* Sean M. Morrison, Cook County commissioner and chair of the Cook County Republican Party
* Lee Roupas
* Zay N. Smith, columnist and author known for his work at the Chicago Sun-Times including the Mirage investigative series in 1978 and the QT column which ran from 1995 to 2008. Smith was raised in Palos Park.