Frankfort, Illinois

Frankfort is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States, with a small portion in Cook County. The population was 17,782 at the 2010 census,[3] up from 10,391 in 2000. According to Forbes.com, in 2007 the village ranked as the 36th fastest growing suburb in the United States.[4]

This article is about the Chicago-area community. For the southern city once known as Frankfort, see West Frankfort, Illinois.
Frankfort, Illinois
Village
Location of Frankfort in Will county, Illinois.
Coordinates: 41°29′53″N 87°50′58″W
Country United States
StateIllinois
CountiesWill, Cook
TownshipsFrankfort, Rich
Incorporated1879
Government
 • TypeMayor-Council
 • MayorJim Holland
Area
 • Total15.89 sq mi (41.17 km2)
 • Land15.89 sq mi (41.17 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total17,782
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
19,373
 • Density1,218.81/sq mi (470.59/km2)
 Up 71.13% from 2000
Standard of living (2010-2014)
 • Per capita income$41,832
 • Median home value$348,600
ZIP code(s)
60423
Area code(s)815
Geocode27624
FIPS code17-27624
Websitevillageoffrankfort.com
Demographics (2010)[3]
White Black Asian
89.0% 6.1% 2.6%
Islander Native Other Hispanic
(any race)
0.01% 0.1% 2.2% 4.6%

Name

The name "Frankfort" was taken from Frankfort Township as designated by the governing board of Will County. It was commonly known as "Frankfort Station" after the opening of the Joliet & Northern Indiana Railroad through the township in 1855, though the official plat of the community dated March 1855 shows the name as "Frankfort".[5] Property deed abstracts and railroad documents also show that the name was always Frankfort. Local residents incorporated Frankfort as a village in 1879. It also has some reference to the major German city of Frankfurt.

History

First inhabited by Native Americans, including the Potawatomi and Sac and Fox tribes, Frankfort was used as a conduit between the Des Plaines and St. Joseph rivers. Originally, the area was part of the Virginia Territory before the French signed a treaty with Manitoqua, the Potawatomi chief, for land in the Prestwick area. The first pioneers came to Frankfort in the early 1830s by means of the Des Plaines River from the southwest and by wagon from the east along the Sauk Trail, a roadway that still exists today.

William Rice, the first non-native settler, made a permanent settlement in Frankfort in 1831. While the first pioneers, coming mainly from the New England colonies, were mostly of English and Scottish descent, German settlers made the village of Frankfort a reality. Later in the 1840s German settlers migrated from Germany to Frankfort. They had fled harsh conditions in their homeland by coming to America and proved to be very industrious and experienced farmers as they soon bought most of the fertile farm land from the "Yankees", who were more inclined to provide services for local needs. Establishing both ownership and pride in the area, the German settlers implemented the first system of resident concern for local lands, which has been maintained ever since.

What is now known as Frankfort Township was originally part of the Hickory Creek Precinct. Will County was originally divided into ten precincts. The county, in 1850, was changed to the township form of government. Frankfort Township was named by Frederick Cappel after his native city, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. In 1855 the Joliet and Northern Indiana Railroad built a line through an area linking Joliet, Illinois, with Lake Station, Indiana. The J&NI Railroad was leased to the Michigan Central Railroad, and service was implemented in July 1855. Nelson D. Elwood, an officer of the rail line, and Sherman Bowen, a Joliet attorney and real estate man, jointly platted a village of around 23 acres (9.3 ha) in March 1855 and named it Frankfort after the township. It was commonly referred to as "Frankfort Station" because of the railroad depot located there.

John McDonald became the first railroad agent in 1857.

In 1879, the village of Frankfort was incorporated, and elected John McDonald as the first Village President. Along with the establishment of the government, among the first undertakings of the newly formed administration was the institution of land use policies. Early plats that were recorded indicated a traditional grid pattern with residential uses surrounding the business district and railroad line and additional land provided for schools and public open spaces.

Geography

Frankfort is located at 41°29′53″N 87°50′58″W (41.498133, -87.849549).[6]

According to the 2010 census, Frankfort has a total area of 14.98 square miles (38.80 km2), all land.[7]

An unincorporated area north of the village of Frankfort (in Frankfort Township) is a census-designated place known as Frankfort Square.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880332—
189043129.8%
1900250−42.0%
19102739.2%
192049782.1%
193059018.7%
1940568−3.7%
195068520.6%
19601,13565.7%
19702,325104.8%
19804,35787.4%
19907,18064.8%
200010,39144.7%
201017,78271.1%
2019 (est.)19,373[2]8.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 10,391 people, 3,418 households, and 2,942 families residing in the village. The population density was 952.7 people per square mile (367.7/km2). There were 3,580 housing units at an average density of 328.2 per square mile (126.7/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 93.86% White, 2.48% African American, 0.17% Native American, 2.13% Asian, 0.62% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.31% of the population.

There were 3,418 households, out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.6% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.9% were non-families. 12.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who were 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $83,055, and the median income for a family was $89,645. Males had a median income of $66,147 versus $36,179 for females. The per capita income for the village was $33,968. About 1.9% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over. According to Money Magazine's "Best Places to Live 2011"; Frankfort is estimated to have a population of 17,594, a median family income of $116,611, and a median home price of $296,250.

Comedian Bernie Mac, Styx singer Dennis DeYoung and Hall of Fame baseball player Lou Boudreau had homes and lived in Frankfort for a good portion of their lives. Western film actor Jack Ingram was born in Frankfort. Former MLB baseball player Garret Jones lived in Frankfort as well.

Government

Frankfort is divided between two congressional districts. Most of the village is in Illinois's 1st congressional district, while the small portion in Cook County is in the 2nd district.

Education

Frankfort School District 157c serves residents of Frankfort. As of 2018 their middle school "Hickory Creek" is ranked 5th in the state. [10]

Frankfort is home to Lincoln-Way East High School. Lincoln-Way East High School has won state championships in Football (2005, 2017, 2019), Girls Softball (2002), Boys Gymnastics (2006, 2011), Girls Track & Field (2014, 2015, 2016), Girls Cheerleading (2014, 2015, 2017), Summer League Baseball, and Marching Band (2007, 2008). Lincoln-Way North has a state championship in Boys Gymnastics (2011) and Summer League Baseball (2011).

Notable residents

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Frankfort village, Illinois". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  4. Woolsey, Matt (July 16, 2007). "America's Fastest-Growing Suburbs". Forbes. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  5. Official plat of Frankfort, dated March 3, 1855
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. "About Our District Archived 2017-01-09 at Archive.today." Elementary School District 159. Retrieved on January 9, 2017.
  11. http://www.espn.com/nfl/superbowl/history/winners
  12. https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/the-read/articles/erika-lauren%27s-real-world
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