North Riverside, Illinois

Geography

North Riverside is located at 41°50′46″N 87°49′47″W (41.846222, -87.829585).

According to the 2010 census, North Riverside has a total area of 1.64 square miles (4.25 km²), all land.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, there were 6,672 people, 2,827 households, and 1,746 families living in the village. The population density was 4,068.3 people per square mile (1,588.6/km²). There were 2,981 housing units at an average density of 1,817.7 per square mile (709.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 81.2% White, 6.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 8.1% some other race, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.8% of the population.

The top five ancestries reported in North Riverside as of the 2000 census were Polish (17.7%), German (16.2%), Czech (14.5%), Italian (14.0%) and Irish (13.1%).

At the 2010 census there were 2,827 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were headed by married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34, and the average family size was 3.02.

In the village, the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.

For the period 2007-11, the estimated median annual income for a household in the village was $50,545, and the median income for a family was $66,200. Male full-time workers had a median income of $45,528 versus $42,073 for females. The per capita income for the village was $26,179. About 5.8% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

North Riverside is divided between three congressional districts. The area east of the Des Plaines River is in Illinois' 3rd congressional district; the area west of 1st Avenue is in the 7th district; the area between 1st Avenue and the river, consisting almost entirely of the western half of the Riverside Golf Club, is in the 4th district.

The Village of North Riverside is governed by a Village President (also referred to a Mayor), Village Clerk, and six Trustees who are all elected to four year terms. The terms are staggered, with elections being held in odd number years. The Mayor and Board of Trustees exercise policy-making and legislative powers of the Village, including adopting ordinances and resolutions, approving the Village’s annual appropriation and operating budget and enacting tax levies. In addition, the Village Board receives findings and recommendations from a number of appointed citizen advisory committees.

Education

North Riverside is split into two educational districts. First Avenue, IL-171, serves as the dividing line. Komarek School District 94 serves the population on the west side of First Avenue and Riverside School District 96 serves the population on the east side of First Avenue.

North Riverside Park Mall

North Riverside Park Mall is located at 7501 W. Cermak Road. The mall features three department store anchors (Sears, JCPenney, and Carson Pirie Scott) as well as 130 specialty shops. In addition, the food court, located at the main entrance to the mall, features local favorites, as well as several chain restaurants. Outside of the food court choices is Emperor's Buffet and Olive Garden.

Costco & Edward Don

In 2011, Edward Don, a large restaurant supply company, elected to relocate to the Village of Woodridge, citing better tax incentives and issues with the property owners. In March 2013, Costco closed on a deal with North Riverside and the property owners of the vacated Edward Don building. Costco held their grand opening on November 25. The property also has 4 outlots slated to be sold to other companies.

Notable person

New York Times bestselling author Chris DeRose.

Fire Department privatization

In a letter dated June 19, 2014 to the residents of North Riverside, Mayor Hermanek pitched the idea of contracting the fire department positions to a private contact company, Paramedic Services of Illinois, Inc.. The Village currently contracts with the company to provide paramedic services, but the plan was to contract the fire fighter positions as well. The plan has drawn significant opposition from the Fire Fighters Union Local 2714, as well as village residents, and department supporters.

At the July 24 Special Meeting of the Village Board to adopt the annual appropriation, there was no vote on the privatization proposal, but the Appropriation Ordinance passed by a vote of 4 to 1. The Fiscal Year 2014-2015 (which began May 1, 2014) budget includes slashed salaries for the fire fighters. "The negotiations are not going to go on forever," said Hermanek. "This will be done by the end of the summer."

On September 12, 2014, in a press release from the Village, Mayor Hugh Hermanek stated that he has instructed Village attorney's to file suit with the Cook County Courts, for the right to terminate the Firefighter's Contact, which expired April 30, 2014. The press release in part reads:

The law firm of Odelson & Sterk, the village's attorneys, filed the lawsuit today to affirm that, 'like any other contract between two parties, there is a beginning and an end,' according to Burt Odelson, the firm's lead partner. 'The union's contract with North Riverside expired on April 30, 2014; so, after making six good faith efforts to find a way to build a new contract while also maintaining the village's solvency, the failure to accomplish that requires us to move ahead expeditiously on the privatization plan.'