Human habitation in Oak Forest began during the early Holocene. This is made evident by the remains of hunting camps on what would become the grounds of the city's hospital. Several millennia later, the final known indigenous settlement in Oak Forest, a Potawatomilonghouse village, was established nearby. However, it was abandoned by the 1620s.[5]
The origins of present-day Oak Forest begins with a railroad whistle stop on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad 1 block south of the intersection of 167th street and Central Avenue which primarily served area dairy farmers. This stop was located in a largely forested area of what was previously known as the Cooper's Grove Stand of Timber. By the 1880s this particular area of timber was being referred to as the "Oak Forest" due to its abundance of oak trees. A section of the former "Cooper's Grove Road" paralleling the railroad track from 66th Court to 167th Street in Tinley Park became known as "Oak Forest Avenue," because it was the road from the Village of Bremen/New Bremen (now Tinley Park) that lead to this "Oak Forest."
In 1907, Cook County approved construction of a second county poor farm and infirmary on a site generally at the southeast corner of 159th Street and Cicero Avenue to address overcrowding conditions at the County Poor Farm in Dunning on the northwest side of Chicago. This location was very near the Rock Island railroad and a new railroad station was constructed northwest of the present day intersection of 159th Street (US Route 6) and Cicero Avenue (Illinois Route 50), which provided convenient rail access to the facility. A railroad spur off of the Rock Island railroad line was also constructed onto the Oak Forest Hospital site that was used for both delivery of materials during its construction and delivery of coal for its heating plant and other goods used at the facility for many years. The Oak Forest Infirmary opened in 1910. Shortly after its opening, the facility accommodated close to 2,000 people suffering from poverty, mental illness, alcoholism, and other problems. The residents of the Infirmary helped maintain farmlands at and around the facility. By 1932, the Infirmary was serving more than 4,000 patients, including over 500 with tuberculosis.
Over the ensuing years following the opening of the Oak Forest Infirmary, a small settlement developed near both the railroad stop and the Oak Forest Infirmary populated by both workers at the facility and relatives of individuals in the Oak Forest facility. By the 1920s there were several residential subdivisions developing near the facility. The 1940 census reflected 611 residents outside the hospital. The hospital provided other business opportunities. For example, several mortuaries/funeral homes were to be found just outside the facility.
In the 1930s, there were some efforts made to rename the community "Arbor Park." The proposed name did not gain much momentum, but the name did become memorialized in the name of the Arbor Park School District 145. In 1947, with a population of 1,618, the residents voted to incorporate as the Village of Oak Forest. It was reincorporated as a city in 1971.
Christian Goesel and several relatives settled near 147th and Oak Park Avenue (then Bachelor's Grove Road) beginning in about 1861. In 1884, the Goeselville post office was established (replacing the East Orland Post Office) to continue to serve the small settlement in that general vicinity (which had previously been part of the larger area of the earlier Batchelor Grove settlement). This post office operated as a satellite of the New Bremen/Tinley Park post office until it was discontinued in 1903. At its peak there were about 30 residents in the Goeselville area, with a few general stores to supply the farmers. Parts of the former Goeselville settlement are now within the far northwestern boundaries of the City of Oak Forest. Although that post office has been closed for over 100 years, the Goeselville name occasionally continues to be found on current maps.
On August 10, 2020, an EF1 tornado touched down in Oak Forest and caused significant damage to portions of the city. Extensive tree damage and long lasting power outages affected most of Oak Forest north of 155th Street.
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Oak Forest has a total area of 6.07 square miles (15.72 km2), of which 6.02 square miles (15.59 km2) (or 99.21%) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) (or 0.79%) is water.[6]
Wards
The City of Oak Forest is split into 7 wards and each ward is represented by an Alderman.[7]
As of the 2020 census[11] there were 27,478 people, 10,102 households, and 7,219 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,527.60 inhabitants per square mile (1,748.12/km2). There were 10,750 housing units at an average density of 1,771.30 per square mile (683.90/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 71.60% White, 7.52% African American, 4.82% Asian, 0.59% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 6.61% from other races, and 8.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.53% of the population.
There were 10,102 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.67% were married couples living together, 8.31% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.54% were non-families. 23.37% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.38% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.23 and the average family size was 2.71.
The city's age distribution consisted of 21.3% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $78,865, and the median income for a family was $94,225. Males had a median income of $49,488 versus $35,735 for females. The per capita income for the city was $35,289. About 2.8% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Oak Forest city, Illinois – Demographic Profile (NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Arts and culture
From 1987 to 2019 the city hosted Oak Fest.[12] The festival, held in early July, featured music, carnival attractions, fireworks and more. In 2020 the commission responsible for the event dissolved and announced that after 32 years, Oak Fest would not continue.[13]
Oak Forest is a part of 3 state legislative districts of the Illinois General Assembly. The 14th senate/28th house district, which lies west of Central Ave. and north of 159th St., the 15th senate/30th house district, which lies east of Central Ave., and the 19th senate/38th house district, which lies west of Long Ave. and south of 159th St. These districts are represented by state senators Emil Jones, III, Napoleon Harris, and Michael Hastings; and representatives Robert Rita, William Davis, and Al Riley, respectively.
Transportation
Oak Forest is served by U.S. Route 6 (159th Street) and Illinois Route 50 (Cicero Avenue). Central Avenue serves as a sort of Main Street for Oak Forest, where the local Jewel-Osco, Food 4 Less, post office, Acorn Public Library, Oak Forest Park District, Police Station/Fire Department/City Hall, and Oak Forest High School are all located.
Interstate 57 crosses the southeast corner of Oak Forest, just north of its intersection with Interstate 80. Exit 346 on I-57 (167th Street) is the closest access point, while Exit 348 (U.S. Route 6) is just to the east, across Pulaski Road/Crawford Avenue. The Tri-State Tollway (I-294) is also accessible a few miles east of Oak Forest.
In spring 2005, Mayor Patrick M. Gordon with the assistance from ZPDA, Baxter and Woodman and city staff announced plans for a "Gateway Project", consisting of a mixed-use commercial and residential development at the corner of Illinois Route 50 (Cicero Avenue) and 159th Street. The project is said to provide the community with a transit-oriented development at the METRA commuter rail line. The development was promoted by the mayor as greatly enhancing the tax base of the city and generating additional commercial interest in the Cicero Avenue Corridor.
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In 2008, the city broke ground on the Gateway Development at the northwest corner of 159th Street and Cicero Avenue. Construction of the mixed-use development will bring more than 50,000 square feet (5,000 m2) of new retail and restaurant space and approximately 80 residential units to the city. By 2012, the Gateway Project still had the same two buildings built in 2008. In 2016, a two unit building was added[16]
Fresenius Medical Care Center
In June 2012 a developer proposed to the city council to develop the Fresenius Medical Care Center. Later that month, the city council approved it to be developed. The city council chose a suitable location for it, near 159th on Lorel Avenue. The Medical Center is to serve as a kidney dialysis center. In October 2012, the builder Net3 Real Estate bought the land for $270,000. Later that month, the builder broke ground. The center is due to be complete in spring 2013.
[17]
Lee Martin, Pulitzer Prize Finalist [22] and author of The Bright Forever lived in Oak Forest and attended Kimberly Heights Elementary and Arbor Park Middle School from 1963 until 1969 [23]
Chris Medina, competed on 2011 American Idol; lived in Oak Forest
Garry Meier, Chicago radio personality; lived in Oak Forest
Jimmy Pardo, comedian and host of the podcast Never Not Funny; graduate of Oak Forest High School (1984)
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