The story
History
The area now known as Westchester was occupied by German farmers beginning in the mid-19th century. Samuel Insull purchased the land in 1924 with plans to develop it for residential use and create an English-style town. As a result, the town's name and the majority of its street names are of English origin.
The Great Depression slowed development during the 1930s, although the population continued to grow. The town's suburban development was stimulated by its being the western terminal of Chicago's Garfield Park rapid transit line. The extension of the line was removed in 1951. In 1956, the federal government began postwar construction of the Interstate Highway System, resulting in the construction of nearby expressways I-290 and I-294. These have provided residents with car-based travel in the region, however they also serve as barriers against access to neighboring communities.
Residential and retail development has consumed nearly all open land within the village, save for the protected 85-acre (340,000 m2) of Wolf Road Prairie. It is the largest black-soil prairie remnant east of the Mississippi River.
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Westchester had a population of 16,892. The population density was 4,582.75 inhabitants per square mile (1,769.41/km2). There were 7,230 housing units at an average density of 1,961.48 units per square mile (757.33 units/km2).
The median age was 48.3 years. 17.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.1 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 6,930 households in Westchester, and 4,385 families residing in the village. Of all households, 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. About 50.1% were married-couple households, 14.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 2.36.
Of the 7,230 housing units, 4.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.2%.
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Recreation
The Village of Westchester is home to the Westchester Park District, which provides many recreational amenities and activities for both residents and non-residents. There are also five different golf courses available within 3 miles or a 10-minute drive from Westchester: The Chicago Highlands Club; located on the southwest side of the village, Fresh Meadows Golf Club in Hillside, Meadowlark Golf Course in Hinsdale, and The Oakbrook Golf Club and Butler National Golf Club in Oakbrook. Additionally, Westchester is home to Eden Lanes Bowling Alley, Focus Time Escape Rooms, the Wolf Road Prairie, the Westchester Woods Sledding Hill, 4 youth sports organizations, and multiple forest preserves.
Parks and playgrounds
Camberly Park
Community Park
Drury Lane Park
Gladstone Park
High Ridge Park
Mayfair Park
Middle School Athletic Fields
Norfolk Park
Primary School Park
Sweetbriar Park
Forest the Fox's Playbox at the Mayfair Recreation Center
Fitness
Westchester Community Center
Mayfair Recreation Center
Anytime Fitness
Aquatics
John J. Sinde Community Swimming Pool serves as Westchester's public pool. The facility was dedicated with a ribbon-cutting event on June 5, 1977, and officially opened on June 11, 1977. The facility features a beautiful 50-meter pool with a 12-foot-deep diving well. Other enjoyable features are a separate zero-depth wading pool with bubblers. The main pool has a 25-foot-high, 150-foot-long water slide and an SCS interactive water play structure in the shallow end. A concession stand and grass area round out the facility. The facility is typically in operation from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The Chicago Highlands Club also boasts an outdoor seasonal pool, however those wishing to use it must possess a membership to the club or be a guest of a current member.
From Wikipedia’s article on Westchester, Illinois, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4