West Cook County Region Townships
The west portion of Cook County includes the following nine Townships: Cicero, Leyden, Lyons, Norwood Park, Oak Park, Proviso, River Forest, Riverside and Stickney. Six of these townships have unincorporated areas. The exceptions are Cicero, Oak Park and River Forest Townships, which are coterminous with a municipal government. The report does not include the research information on the Townships of Cicero, Oak Park and River Forest because they do not contain any unincorporated residents.
Click on the links below for a summary profile of the townships containing unincorporated areas in Cook County's west region. Or click here to go back to the township profiles landing page.
Overview
Leyden Township
Lyons Township
Norwood Park Township
Proviso Township
Riverside Township
Stickney Township
OVERVIEW
West Cook County Region Building and Zoning Services
The municipal-type services provided through building and zoning programs by Cook County and the municipalities include the enforcement of rules and regulations related to the permitting, licensing, zoning and inspections of property. The per capita cost to provide building and zoning services in the West Cook County municipalities surveyed averaged $45 in FY2014, slightly higher than the $35 Cook County spent in its unincorporated areas. The per capita costs ranged from a high of $140 in Franklin Park to a low of $6 in Stickney. Six of the 11 municipalities that provided budget data spent more than Cook County on a per capita basis for building and zoning services.
West Cook County Region Police Services
The per capita cost to provide police services in the West Cook County municipalities surveyed averaged $598 in FY2014, which was higher than the $299 Cook County spent in its unincorporated areas. The costs ranged from a high of $761 per capita in Countryside to a low of $297 per capita in Westchester. Eleven of the 13 municipalities shown in the exhibit spent more than Cook County for police services on a per capita basis.
West Cook County Region Demographic Profile
In 2010 the western Townships of Cook County contained approximately 28,179 residents in unincorporated areas. Leyden Township had the largest number of residents in unincorporated areas with 52.4% of the total population or 14,756. Stickney had the next largest population, with 20.8% of the total or 5,873. It was closely followed by Lyons with 19.9% of unincorporated residents.
The below exhibit shows the racial and ethnic breakdown of the West Cook County Township unincorporated area population.
West Cook County Region Poperty Taxes Paid by Class
The below exhibit graphically shows the distribution by class of property taxes paid in tax year 2013 in West Cook County Townships. (Classes 5A, 5B and 6B)
LEYDEN TOWNSHIP
Leyden Township contains all or a portion of the following municipalities within its borders: Bensenville, Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Melrose Park, Norridge, Northlake, Park Ridge, River Grove, Rosemont and Schiller Park. According to the 2010 Census, Leyden Township has a total population of 92,890 residents. Approximately 14,756, or 15.9%, of the 92,890 residents live in an unincorporated area within Leyden Township.
In Leyden Township there is only one large unincorporated area with a residential population. There is also a large tract of unincorporated land that is part of the Bensenville train rail yard and a number of commercial businesses located along Mannheim Road and Grand Avenue.
The unincorporated residential area consists primarily of single-family homes. The unincorporated residential area lacks sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Streetlights in the residential neighborhood are very minimal, when compared to neighboring municipalities. Stormwater is managed by roadside drainage ditches and culverts. Water and sewer service is provided to the unincorporated residents by Leyden Township, which purchases water in bulk from the Village of Melrose Park. Fire protection is provided by the Leyden Fire Protection District and Northlake Fire Protection District, both of which are funded primarily by a general property tax on property owners within the District. The majority of the unincorporated residents are within the boundaries of the Northlake Public Library District with a small portion of the residents being within the boundaries of the Franklin Park Public Library District. The majority of the residents are also within the boundaries of the Veterans Park District, with a smaller portion of the unincorporated residents north of Grand Avenue being within the boundaries of the Westdale Park District.
LYONS TOWNSHIP
Lyons Township contains all or a portion of the following municipalities within its borders: Bedford Park, Bridgeview, Brookfield, Burr Ridge, Countryside, Hickory Hills, Hinsdale, Hodgkins, Indian Head Park, Justice, La Grange, Lyons, McCook, Riverside, Summit, Western Springs and Willow Springs. According to the 2010 Census, Lyons Township has a total population of 111,688 residents. Approximately 5,595, or 5.0%, of the residents live in an unincorporated area within Lyons Township.
In Lyons Township there are three unincorporated residential areas located in the Township which include:
- A large single-family residential area known as La Grange Highlands adjacent to the municipalities of Countryside, Indian Head Park, La Grange and Western Springs;
- The Sterling Estates Mobile Home Park located in the southcentral portion of the Township adjacent to the municipalities of Willow Springs and Justice; and
- An unincorporated single-family residential area in the southwest portion of the Township.
The western portion of Lyons Township contains the La Grange Country Club and Edgewood Valley Country Club, which are both unincorporated.
The unincorporated residential area of La Grange Highlands is located on the western portion of the Township adjacent to the municipalities of Countryside, La Grange, Indian Head Park and Western Springs. The La Grange Highlands area does not have sidewalks, streetlights, curbs or gutters. Stormwater is managed by roadside drainage ditches and culverts. The La Grange Highlands Sanitary District provides water and sanitary sewer service to the entire area. The sanitary district purchases Lake Michigan water from the Village of Countryside.
The Sterling Estates Mobile Home Park located in an unincorporated area in the southcentral portion of the Township has approximately 1,000 homes located in the area. The interior roads and infrastructure are privately owned and maintained. The mobile home park pays the Village of Justice $120,000 annually for fire protection, which is provided by the Roberts Park Fire Protection District.
Located on the southwest border of Lyons Township is an unincorporated single-family residential area of approximately 50 homes adjacent to the municipalities of Burr Ridge and Willow Springs. This unincorporated area also does not have sidewalks, streetlights curbs and gutters. The unincorporated area is within the boundaries of the Pleasantdale Park District and Pleasant View Fire Protection District. Both special districts are funded primarily through a general property tax on property owners within the districts.
NORWOOD PARK TOWNSHIP
Norwood Park Township contains all or a portion of the following municipalities within its borders: Harwood Heights, Norridge and Park Ridge. According to the 2010 Census, Norwood Park Township has a total population of 26,385 residents. Approximately 1,161, or 4.4%, of the 26,385 residents live in an unincorporated residential area within Norwood Park Township. Norwood Park Township is not a contiguous Township. It is essentially divided into three sections as a result of previous annexations by the City of Chicago. There is only one unincorporated residential neighborhood in Norwood Park Township with approximately 330 single-family homes and is wholly surrounded by the City of Chicago, but within the boundaries of Norwood Park Township. Also located within unincorporated Norwood Park Township is the Ridgemoor Country Club adjacent to Harwood Heights and the Westlawn Cemetery and Mausoleum adjacent to the Village of Norridge. The housing in the unincorporated residential area is a mixture of old and new frame and brick single-family homes and is similar in age and architectural style of the housing in the neighboring municipalities of Chicago and Norridge. The Village of Norridge provides water to some of the unincorporated residents at the same rate as for residents. The unincorporated residential neighborhood does not have a uniform network of sidewalks or streetlights. The area has a substandard curb and gutter system to manage stormwater, when compared to the neighboring municipalities. Fire protection services are provided to the unincorporated residents through the Norwood Park Fire Protection District, which is funded through a general property tax on property owners within the District. The unincorporated residents of Norwood Park are not part of a public library district or park district.
PROVISO TOWNSHIP
Proviso Township contains all or a portion of the following municipalities within its borders: Bellwood, Berkeley, Broadview, Brookfield, Elmhurst, Forest Park, Hillside, La Grange Park, Maywood, Melrose Park, Northlake, North Riverside, Oak Brook, Stone Park, Westchester and Western Springs. According to the 2010 Census, Proviso Township has a total population of 151,704 residents. Approximately 662, or 0.4%, of the 151,704 residents live in an unincorporated area within Proviso Township.
Proviso Township has a number of unincorporated areas within its borders, but only two single-family residential areas. The remaining unincorporated areas consist of forest preserve property, the Oakridge-Glen Oak Cemetery, Waldheim Jewish Cemetery, Proviso East High School, Maywood Park Racetrack and the medical park that includes Loyola University Health Science Campus, Loyola University Hospital, John J. Madden Mental Health Center, Edward Hines, Jr. Veteran’s Affairs Hospital and a number of other medical related facilities.
The unincorporated residential neighborhoods in Proviso Township located on the western border of the Township adjacent to the municipalities of Hillside and Westchester is known as Westdale Gardens. The Westdale Gardens residential area consists of approximately 140 single-family homes built in the 1950s and 1960s. The homes in the neighborhood are modest in size and are primarily wood frame construction. There are no sidewalks, streetlights, curbs or gutters in the residential neighborhood. Stormwater is managed by roadside drainage ditches and culverts. Fire protection and emergency medical services are provided by the Yorkfield Fire Protection District, which is funded primarily through a general property tax on property owners within the District. The West Dale Gardens Sanitary District purchases Lake Michigan water from the Village of Oak Brook and its sanitary waste is discharged to the Flagg Creek Water Reclamation District.
RIVERSIDE TOWNSHIP
Riverside Township contains all or a portion of the following municipalities within its borders: Brookfield, Lyons, North Riverside and Riverside. According to the 2010 Census, Riverside Township has a total population of 15,594 residents. Approximately 132, or 0.8%, of the residents live in an unincorporated area within Riverside Township.
In Riverside Township there is only one unincorporated residential area located on the southern border of the Township know as Riverside Lawn. Riverside Lawn is a neighborhood of approximately 40 single-family homes. The homes vary in age, size and character. The neighborhood lacks sidewalks, streetlights, curbs and gutters. The homes are serviced by private well and septic systems. The Lyons municipal fire department provides fire protection to the Riverside Lawn neighborhood per contract with the Riverside Lawn Fire Protection District. The Riverside Lawn Fire Protection District is funded primarily by a general property tax on property owners within the District. The Riverside Lawn neighborhood is not within the boundaries of a library district or park district.
STICKNEY TOWNSHIP
Stickney Township contains all or a portion of the following municipalities within its borders: Bedford Park, Bridgeview, Burbank, Forest View and Stickney. According to the 2010 Census, Stickney Township has a total population of 40,772 residents. Approximately 5,873, or 14.4%, of the residents live in an unincorporated area within Stickney Township.
Stickney Township is not a contiguous township. The Township is essentially divided into two areas with the City of Chicago dividing the Township. There are two unincorporated areas within Stickney Township that have a residential population. One residential area being in the northern portion of the Township and the other being in the southern portion of the Township.
The Central Stickney neighborhood in the northern portion of the Township is a single-family neighborhood that has sidewalks, streetlights, curbs and gutters. The neighborhood is serviced by the Central Stickney Sanitary District, the Stickney-Forest View Public Library District and Central Stickney Park District. Also located in this unincorporated area are a number of commercial and industrial businesses.
The unincorporated Nottingham Park neighborhood in the southern portion of the Township consists of approximately 300 single-family homes. The Nottingham Park neighborhood has sidewalks, streetlights, curbs and gutters, but they are in a state of disrepair when compared to the neighboring incorporated municipalities. Water and sewer service is provided to Nottingham Park neighborhood by the South Stickney Sanitary District. Nottingham Park residents are part of the Prairie Trails Public Library District and Burbank Park District. The residents of Nottingham Park are not part of a fire protection district, but do receive fire and emergency medical services from the Bridgeview municipal fire department. The Village of Bridgeview is only reimbursed for medical transportation costs.