Oak Park, Illinois

Incorporated in 1902, this 4.5 square mile village is nestled next to the Austin area of the west side of Chicago. To the south is Berwyn, a predominantly white blue collar area, to the east is Forest Park, and River Forest (farther north). The North side of the village is also bordered by Chicago. Other nearby suburbs include Cicero, North Riverside, Elmwood Park and Maywood.

Here are the stats:

• Population approx. 54,000 (many apartments).
• Two High Schools, Oak Park River Forest HS, and Fenwick (Catholic) HS.LA Clippers Cory Maggette played at Fenwick
• Eight public K-6 schools, two public junior high schools (7-8 grade) and three Catholic K-8 Schools.
• Thirteen Parks w/two public pools, eight recreation centers and a conservatory.
• Four Jewish congregations, forty-five Protestant churches (23 denominations) and four Roman Catholic parishes in the village. Let's not forget the famous Unity Temple (Unitarian) designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
• Racial breakdown: 74.8% Caucasian, 18.0% African American, 7.2% other races

From a sociological perspective, the last statistic is the essence of Oak Park. Surrounded by segregated areas (Berwyn (white), West Side (African American), Forest Park and River Forest (white), Cicero (Latino)), Oak Park was one of the first integrated communities. Scientist Percy Julian broke the color barrier in the early 50's and had his home firebombed twice. The community responded with support, though the civil rights movement had barely begun.

As more minorities moved in, more whites moved out - this was the beginning of the "White Flight" movement. The Austin area of Chicago complete with a golf course and huge old Victorian houses, burned with the rest of the west side in the 68 Democratic convention riots. The white folk were gone and the old houses and buildings were boarded up. Still not rebuilt except for the area around the United Center where the 96 convention took place.

White property owners afraid that the value of their homes would deflate with the introduction of minorities in their neighborhoods sold their homes at less than market value. Some stayed. Liberal minded young couples recovering from the Vietnam War, starting families, and needing homes with a good school system were able to find them in Oak Park.

Ernest Hemingway said of his hometown, "Wide lawns and narrow minds". We have some mansions here, we also have Frank Lloyd Wright homes. People familiar with these perspectives assume that Oak Park is a "rich" suburb. From a socio-economic standpoint it was, and has become a yuppie haven. Houses are expensive, rent is high, but many people bought their homes here a quarter of a century ago or longer. My parents were never rich. The mortgage was just paid off this year- and their property taxes were twice as much.

People like to live here, we have two "L" lines through the village and easy automobile access to downtown. Every street is lined with trees, people are friendly... What we have to remember is the sacrifice, the progressive ideas, the vision of individuals for their community that made Oak Park a yuppie haven.

It isn't all beautiful either. Crime is a factor, junkies buy their smack on Austin drive into Oak Park, get their fix and go about their lives (or get arrested with syringes). We have poverty- complete with crack and alcoholism right across the street. This isn't suburbia.

These are famous people from the Chicago suburb Oak Park, IL.They have either lived or currently reside in the village.

• Frank Lloyd Wright - 33 homes and buildings designed by Wright in Oak Park and adjacent River Forest, including his Home and Studio and the Unity Temple.
• Ernest Hemingway - Acclaimed writer of; A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Old Man and The Sea, The Sun Also Rises and many other books and short stories. Wrote of Oak Park, "Wide lawns and narrow minds".
• Edgar Rice Burroughs - Created the Tarzan stories.
• Charles Simic - Won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1990 for his book of prose The Word Doesn't End. Lived in Oak Park from 1955-1962.
• Ray Kroc - Responsible for the McDonaldization of society. (BOOOOOO!!!, HISSSSS!!!).
• Bob Newhart - Comedian.
• Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio - Actress from Scarface, Robin Hood, Class Action, The Abyss and many other films.
• Dan Castellaneta - Voice of Homer, Grandpa Simpson, Krusty the Clown and others.
• John Mahoney - Actor from film and television.
• Percy Julian - Chemist who synthesized a number of different drugs from the soybean.