Hazel Crest, Illinois-Cedar Herald Index

Hazel Crest is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,382 at the 2020 census.

History

Hazel Crest was first settled in 1870 in a farming community known as South Harvey. An enterprising newspaper editor named William McClintock moved here from Ohio in 1890, buying from farmer Fred Puhrman, McClintock named the town South Harvey, and the town would receive its modern name in 1895, after a referendum.

Hazel Crest, Illinois

McClintock built a depot for a local milk train and subsequently opened transportation opportunities to Chicago and beyond. The depot also served as the area's first real estate office, public meeting place, Sunday school, day school, and post office.

Hazel Crest, Illinois

In 1900, the name was changed to Hazel Crest to reflect the large numbers of hazelnut bushes that grew on a rise of land just south of town. At the time, the southern border was 175th Street and the western edge of the village was Kedzie Avenue.

Hazel Crest, Illinois

Hazel Crest was incorporated in 1912. Many of the families of the early residents still live in the village.

Later on, the city would see the construction of a Community Church in 1894, then a 1984 adaptation of an elementary school building which has now become the Martin J. Kauchak Municipal Center, named for President Kauchak who served the village for twenty years (1973-1993).

Geography

Hazel Crest is located at . The village is primarily located in Bremen Township, while the portion of the village south of 183rd Street is located in Rich Township and the portion east of I-80/94 is in Thornton Township. The village is located near Chicago in an area known as the Chicago Southland and is approximately south of the Chicago Loop.

The village is bordered by Markham to the north, Harvey to the northeast, East Hazel Crest to the east, Homewood to the southeast, Flossmoor to the south and Country Club Hills to the west.

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Hazel Crest has a total area of , of which (or 99.39%) is land and (or 0.61%) is water.

The village lies on the Tinley Moraine.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census there were 13,382 people, 5,011 households, and 3,327 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 5,307 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 86.25% African American, 6.45% White, 0.26% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.01% from other races, and 3.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.54% of the population.

There were 5,011 households, out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.46% were married couples living together, 29.38% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.61% were non-families. 32.11% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.24% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.49 and the average family size was 2.77.

The village's age distribution consisted of 30.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $55,010, and the median income for a family was $65,477. Males had a median income of $36,922 versus $37,535 for females. The per capita income for the village was $29,372. About 17.0% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.7% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Village board

Village President / Local Liquor Commissioner Vernard L. Alsberry Jr. (elected 2013) Clerk Isaac R. Wiseman (elected 2017) Trustee Sandra Slayton (elected 2015) Trustee Sandra Alexander (elected 2023) Trustee Carmilla Malone (elected 2023) Trustee Kevin Moore Sr. (elected 2009) Trustee Marlon D. Rias (elected 2017) Trustee Java Rogers (elected 2017) Village Manager Dante Sawyer

The village holds elections every odd-numbered year with all officials being elected at-large.

Terms for the village board are staggered, with the village president, village clerk and three trustees elected one year and the remaining three trustees elected two years following.