Evanston (elevation 600 ft., Central Time: UTC-0600, ) is a city on Lake Michigan located in Cook County, Illinois directly north of Chicago, east of Skokie, and south of Wilmette. The city was first settled in 1836, and as of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,239.
After being chosen as the home for Northwestern University, the city was incorporated in 1863, and named after John Evans. During the 1960s Northwestern University changed the city's shoreline with a 74 acre (300,000 m²) lakefill.
Today, the city is home to Northwestern University and other educational institutions as well as headquarters of Rotary International, the National Lekotek Center and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. The local public high school is named Evanston Township High School (ETHS) and the mascot is the Wildkits (a diminutive of Northwestern's Wildcats) with the school colors orange and blue. ETHS, with an enrollment of just over 3000, serves all of Evanston and a small part of Skokie. The region of Skokie served by Evanston schools is referred to colloquially as Skevanston. ETHS's sister school is Kokusai Jouhou High School (KJHS)in Niigata.
Famous Evanstonians include politicians Charles Gates Dawes and Jim Kolbe, temperance advocate and suffragist Frances Willard, inventor Laurens Hammond, musicians Eddie Vedder and David Burge, and actors Charlton Heston, John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Jeremy Piven, and William Petersen.
Evanston is also the birthplace of tinkertoys and (allegedly) the ice cream sundae.
Evanston has a City Manager system of government and is divided into nine wards, each of which is represented by an Alderman, or member of the Evanston City Council. Its current mayor is Lorraine H. Morton. The city government has often had a shaky relationship with Northwestern University, which does not pay property taxes to the city. This is due to the founding charter of Northwestern University, signed in 1851, which granted the school a permanent exemption from paying property taxes.
The CTA's Purple Line runs through Evanston. The stops are Howard, South Blvd, Main, Dempster, Davis, Foster, Noyes and Central. Metra runs through Evanston as well, with stations at Main Street, Davis Street and Central Street. The Yellow Line also runs through the city, though it does not make any stops in Evanston.
Geography
Evanston is located at 42°2'47" North, 87°41'41" West (42.046380, -87.694608).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.1 km² (7.8 mi²). 20.1 km² (7.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.26% water.
In August 2004 there was some confusion as to the size of Evanston. Evanston is often locally listed as being 8.4 mi², but this number appears to be incorrect. The 7.8 mi² listed by the United States Census Bureau is more accurate.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 74,239 people, 29,651 households, and 15,952 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,698.6/km² (9,584.1/mi²). There are 30,817 housing units at an average density of 1,535.3/km² (3,978.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 65.23% White, 22.50% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 6.09% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 2.85% from other races, and 3.05% from two or more races. 6.11% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 29,651 households out of which 25.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% are married couples living together, 10.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 46.2% are non-families. 36.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.27 and the average family size is 3.03.
In the city the population is spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 16.4% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $56,335, and the median income for a family is $78,886. Males have a median income of $51,726 versus $39,767 for females. The per capita income for the city is $33,645. 11.1% of the population and 5.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.3% of those under the age of 18 and 7.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Recent population trends
External links
- http://www.cityofevanston.org
- http://www.evanstonhistorical.org
- http://www.franceswillardhouse.org
- http://www.evanston.lib.il.us/community
Last updated: 05-29-2005 01:43:42
Last updated: 10-29-2005 02:13:46
