# Norridge, Illinois

Norridge is a village in Leyden Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,251 at the 2020 census. The village and its neighbor to the east, Harwood Heights, together form an enclave within the city of Chicago. Norridge is sometimes referred to as the "Island Within a City". The current President of Norridge is Daniel Tannhauser.

## Name origin

The name "Norridge" was suggested by resident Mrs. Link. "Nor" comes from Norwood Park Township, and "Ridge" comes from the nearby suburb of Park Ridge.

## History

Located in Norwood Park Township, the first names of what would become Norridge were "Goat Village", due to a local resident's goat farm, and "Swamp" due to a lack of streets and the area's swamp-like conditions. Norridge began as an 80-acre (320,000 m$^2$) subdivision that ran from Ozanam Avenue in the west to Olcott Avenue in the east and from Irving Park Road in the south to Montrose Avenue in the north. In 1948, a local improvement association incorporated Norridge as a village, stymieing an effort by Chicago to annex the area.
That year, Karl Kuchar was elected the first President of the village.
The 1950s was a decade of growth and development, encouraged by the paving of sidewalks, streets, and curbs, and the installation of storm and sanitary sewers. In 1954 Norridge annexed land north from Montrose to Lawrence.
Norridge borders the Cook County Forest Preserves and was home to several horse stables, including Happy Days Stables at Montrose and Cumberland. Most of the stables were gone by the late 1970s.

## Geography

Norridge is located at 41°57′54″N 87°49′26″W﻿ / ﻿41.96500°N 87.82389°W﻿ / 41.96500; -87.82389 (41.965030, -87.823859).
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Norridge has a total area of 1.81 square miles (4.69 km$^2$), all land.

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Norridge 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) | 13,492 | 12,745 | 12,234 | 92.53% | 87.46% | 80.22% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 13 | 63 | 60 | 0.09% | 0.43% | 0.39% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 8 | 8 | 2 | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.01% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 396 | 574 | 910 | 2.72% | 3.94% | 5.97% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 10 | 14 | 41 | 0.07% | 0.10% | 0.27% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 109 | 94 | 207 | 0.75% | 0.65% | 1.36% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 553 | 1,073 | 1,790 | 3.79% | 7.36% | 11.74% |
| Total | 14,582 | 14,572 | 15,251 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 census there were 15,251 people, 5,530 households, and 3,700 families residing in the village. The population density was 8,435.29 inhabitants per square mile (3,256.88/km$^2$). There were 5,956 housing units at an average density of 3,294.25 per square mile (1,271.92/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the village was 82.94% White, 0.43% African American, 0.38% Native American, 6.08% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 4.36% from other races, and 5.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 11.74% of the population.
There were 5,530 households, out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% were married couples living together, 9.76% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.09% were non-families. 28.37% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.37% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.17 and the average family size was 2.54.
The village's age distribution consisted of 18.5% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 22% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 25.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $78,300, and the median income for a family was $93,170. Males had a median income of $58,365 versus $39,837 for females. The per capita income for the village was $36,959. About 1.9% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

As of the 2023 elections, the current elected officials of the Village of Norridge are:
* Daniel Tannhauser – President (since 2019)
* Gabriela Krasinski – Clerk (since 2021)
* Donald Gelsomino – Trustee (since 2011)
* William Larson – Trustee (since 2019)
* Jack Bielak – Trustee (since 2019)
* Andrew Ronstadt – Trustee (since 2019)
* Debra Budnik – Trustee (since 2021)
* Frank Avino, Jr. – Trustee (since 2021)

## Presidents of Norridge

| Mayor | Years |
| Karl Kuchar | 1949–1951 |
| Joseph Sieb | 1951–1998 |
| Earl J. Field | 1998–2009 |
| Ronald A. Oppedisano | 2009–2013 |
| James Chmura | 2013–2019 |
| Daniel Tannhauser | 2019–present |

## Local culture

The Harlem Irving Plaza brought in sales tax that led to decreased property taxes. Begun in 1956 with 45 stores, the center had 140 stores by the 1990s.

## Education
### Public schools

Public elementary school districts serving Norridge include:
* Pennoyer Elementary School District 79
* Norridge School District 80 (James Giles School and John V. Leigh School)
* Union Ridge School District 86
Public high school districts include:
* Maine Township High School District 207 (Maine South High School)
* Ridgewood High School District 234

### Churches

* Divine Savior Church (Merged with St. Eugene Church and Our Lady Mother of the Church)

### Libraries

Eisenhower Public Library District serves Harwood Heights and Norridge.

## Transportation

Bus service in the village is provided by both Pace and CTA.

## Notable people

* Bruce Artwick, creator of the first consumer flight simulator software; founder of Sublogic
* Nicholas Calabrese, the first made man ever to testify against the Chicago Outfit
* James Fotopoulos, independent filmmaker of over 100 films, including Christabel
* Robert F. Martwick Jr., Democratic member of the Illinois Senate; formerly a Norridge trustee
* Gene Nudo, head coach of the Arizona Rattlers, then of the Arena Football League
* Jeff Schroeder, season 11 and season 13 contestant on Big Brother, season 16 contestant on The Amazing Race
* Dino Stamatopoulos, comedy writer, actor and producer (Mr. Show, TV Funhouse, Mad TV, The Dana Carvey Show, Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O'Brien)
* Joseph A. Tunzi, author, publisher, self-publisher, producer, archivist, researcher and historian; has been described as "one of the foremost authorities on Elvis Presley"