Frankfort, Illinois

Frankfort is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,391 at the 2000 census.

Previous spelling

Frankfort's name was never spelled "Frankfurt" even though it was named after Frankfurt am Main in Germany. It was commonly known as "Frankfort Station" after the opening of the Joliet & Northern Indiana Railroad through the township in 1855. The local residents incorporated as a village in 1879. After that it was simply known as "Frankfort."

History

First inhabited by Native Americans, including the Pottawatomie, Sac and Fox tribes, Frankfort was used as a conduit between the Des Plaines and St. Joseph Rivers. Originally, the area was part of the Virginia Territory before the French signed a treaty with Manitoqua, the Pottawatomie Chief, for land in the Prestwick area. The first pioneers came to Frankfort in the early 1830’s by means of the Des Plaines River from the southwest and by wagon from the east along the Sauk Trail, a roadway that still exists today.

William Rice, the first non-native settler, made a permanent settlement in Frankfort in 1831. While the first pioneers, coming mainly from the New England Colonies, were mostly of English and Scottish descent, German settlers made the Village of Frankfort a reality. Later in the 1840’s German Settlers migrated from the Pennsylvania area to Frankfort.

They had fled harsh conditions in their homeland by coming to America and proved to be very industrious and experienced farmers as they soon bought most of the fertile farm land from the “Yankees”, who were more inclined to provide services for local needs. Establishing both ownership and pride in the area, the German settlers implemented the first system of resident concern for local lands, which has been maintained ever since.

In 1850, Frankfort Township was named by Frederick Chapel after his native city, Frankfurt-Am-Main, Germany. A few years later in 1855, the Joliet and Northern Indiana Railroad, later known as the Michigan Central Railroad, built a line through an area that is presently the Historic District of the Village. Sherman Bowen, an officer of the rail line, owned eighty acres and named the surrounding area Frankfort Station.

In 1879, the Village of Frankfort was incorporated, dropped the word Station from its name, and elected John McDonald as the first Village President. Along with the establishment of the government, among the first undertakings of the newly formed administration was the institution of land use policies. Early plats that were recorded indicated a traditional grid pattern with residential uses surrounding the business district and railroad line and additional land provided for schools and public open spaces.

Geography

Frankfort is located at (41.498133, -87.849549).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 28.3 km² (10.9 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,391 people, 3,418 households, and 2,942 families residing in the village. The population density was 367.7/km² (952.7/mi²). There were 3,580 housing units at an average density of 126.7/km² (328.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 93.86% White, 2.48% African American, 0.17% Native American, 2.13% Asian, 0.62% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.31% of the population.

There were 3,418 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.6% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.9% were non-families. 12.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the village the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $83,055, and the median income for a family was $89,645. Males had a median income of $66,147 versus $36,179 for females. The per capita income for the village was $33,968. About 1.9% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

External links

Official web site of Frankfort, Illinois