Orland Park, Illinois

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Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement

Orland Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, with a small portion in Will County. It is a suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, Orland Park had a population of 58,703. Located 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Chicago, Orland Park is close to several interstate highways, with the I-80 east-west coast connector as its southern border. The Metra commuter rail system links it to the Chicago Loop and from there to O'Hare and Midway airports.

History

Orland Park was first settled as "Orland" in 1834, with Henry Taylor being the area's first settler. Other original settlers include Ichabod and William Myrick, Jacob and Bernard Hostert, Thomas Cooper and John Humphrey. The Hostert brothers built log cabins for their families, which became some of the first homes built in Orland Park. In 1879 the railroad was extended to Orland Park, leading way for the towns first train station, "Sedgwick Station." This development took the town from an agrarian society to a commercial hub that provides shipping services to local farms.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The village was incorporated on May 31, 1892.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Citation needed Orland Square Mall opened in 1976.

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Orland Park has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert (or 98.72%) is land and Template:Convert (or 1.28%) is water.<ref name="gaz2021">Template:Cite web</ref>

The main bodies of water in Orland are two lakes: Lake Sedgewick and McGinnis Slough.

Communities bordering Orland Park include Homer Glen (in Will County) to the west, Orland Hills and Mokena (also in Will County but Orland Hills is in Cook County) to the south, Tinley Park to the southeast, Oak Forest to the east, and Palos Park and Palos Heights to the north.

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

Orland Park village, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> % 2000 % 2010 Template:Partial
White alone (NH) 46,478 48,851 47,336 91.00% 86.06% 80.64%
Black or African American alone (NH) 367 936 1,984 0.72% 1.65% 3.38%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 29 20 43 0.06% 0.04% 0.07%
Asian alone (NH) 1,763 2,777 3,132 3.45% 4.89% 5.34%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 12 3 5 0.02% 0.01% 0.01%
Other race alone (NH) 63 32 170 0.12% 0.06% 0.29%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 491 620 1,373 0.96% 1.09% 2.34%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,874 3,528 4,660 3.67% 6.21% 7.94%
Total 51,077 56,767 58,703 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 census<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> there were 58,703 people, 22,487 households, and 15,952 families residing in the village. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 23,746 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the village was 82.54% White, 3.42% African American, 0.21% Native American, 5.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.47% from other races, and 5.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 7.94% of the population.

There were 22,487 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.33% were married couples living together, 7.96% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.06% were non-families. 26.62% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.34% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.15 and the average family size was 2.57.

The village's age distribution consisted of 20.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $84,676, and the median income for a family was $104,343. Males had a median income of $60,998 versus $41,224 for females. The per capita income for the village was $42,900. About 4.5% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Orland Park's businesses and jobs include finance, retail, services and healthcare. Shopping complexes include Orland Park Crossing and Orland Square Mall. Healthcare in Orland Park includes specific clinics, immediate care, and primary care.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

By 2022, Orland Park Village Board is in the process of planning and reconstructing Orland Park Downtown. Edwards Realty Company is the real estate developer involved with this project. The development is located on 143rd street and LaGrange Road known as Main Street Triangle. Restaurants, retail, and entertainment will be added to the 140,000 square feet of land. Estimated date of completion is fall of 2027.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Top employers

According to Orland Park's 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>Village of Orland Park CAFRTemplate:Dead link</ref> the city's top employers were:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Consolidated High School District 230 920
2 Orland School District 135 737
3 Jewel-Osco 530
4 Carson's 325
5 J. C. Penney 325
6 Panduit 300
7 The Horton Group 300
8 Macy's 200
9 Target 200
10 Sears 195

Parks and recreation

The historic John Humphrey House

Orland Park has a large Recreation and Parks Department. The village has over 60 parks, with plenty of options for recreation, from sports complexes to nature trails.

The Centennial Park Aquatic Center is a Template:Convert park with a public pool. With six water slides, two large pools, and a children's play area, it is one of the largest public pools in the area. Since its debut in 1992, the Aquatic center has gone through multiple renovations. There have been several add-ons, including two new water slides, and two outdoor sand volleyball courts.

Just south of the Centennial Park Aquatic Center is the Template:Convert Lake Segdewick. It has hiking paths, nature trails, boardwalks, boat ramps, and pedal boats and kayaks for rent. Fishing is allowed.

The Winter Wonderland Ice Rink is also in Centennial Park. Open from November to March, this outdoor ice rink is free of charge. There is a small warming hut where you can rent ice skates.

The Sportsplex, on 159th Street, is Orland Park's largest indoor recreational facility. It has three full-sized basketball courts, an indoor soccer field, and a full weight room with free weights, plenty of cardio options, and a ¼-mile indoor track. Personal trainers are available, along with fitness classes, including Pilates, yoga, cycling, and Zumba. The Sportsplex also has a Template:Convert rock wall with six different routes for all skill levels.

The Recreation and Parks Department also helps organize many public events. Centennial Park hosts charity events and seasonal events, including the Orland Park Turkey Trot, a 5K run held on Thanksgiving morning at the John Humphrey Complex. These events are heavily advertised and supported by students of Carl Sandburg High School.

Orland Park is the touted "World's Golf Center". According to village lore, someone counted 1,089 golf holes within a 15-mile radius of the village, said Jodi Marneris, Orland Park's spokeswoman in 1996. The "World's Golf Center" concept was then proudly plastered on the village flag and painted on the town's seven water towers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Culture

Orland Park offers a variety of different forms of entertainment for adolescents and adults.

Taste of Orland Park is an event that part takes every year within a span of three days in the beginning of August. The event caters food/drinks, live music, and activities. As of 2025, the event has been up and running for 22 years. Taste of Orland Park is located in the Village Center (14700 S. Ravinia Ave. Orland Park, Illinois 60462).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Independence Day celebrations are celebrated every Fourth of July in Orland Park. Firework shows, Veteran Liberty Fun Run and Walk, parades, concerts, and more are held between July 3rd and 4th in Centennial Park West.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>This celebration contains food/drinks, activities, and firework shows.<ref name=":1" />

Government and politics

Government

Orland Park is contained in the Illinois's 6th congressional district, which is currently represented by Sean Casten (D).

The village maintained an Aa2 bond rating from Moody's and an AA+ rating from Standard and Poor's. These are among the best bond ratings in the Chicago suburbs.(Page 12)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The elected Board of Trustees makes local legislation for the village. The elected officials include the village president (who also serves as mayor), village clerk, and six village trustees, each of whom is elected at large to a four-year term.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Orland Park elected officials<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Name Elected position
James Dodge Mayor and Village President
Mary Ryan Norwell Village Clerk
Cynthia Nelson Katsenes Trustee
William R. Healy Trustee
Michael R. Milani Trustee
Dina M. Lawrence Trustee
John Lawler Trustee
Joanna M. Liotine Leafblad Trustee

Politics

Both main US political parties are competitive on the local level with Keith Pekau defeating longtime mayor Dan Mclaughlin (D) in 2017. In recent years, the GOP has been able to flip the village board and other elected positions in the village.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On April 1, 2025, James Dodge defeated incumbent Keith Pekau in the Orland Park mayoral race.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Covid-19 pandemic

Orland Park and then mayor, Keith Pekau, were defiant against state and county mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker ordered a lockdown of businesses and social activities, Pekau led the village in a lawsuit against Pritzker in federal court.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Although the court ruled in favor of Pritzker's orders, leading Pekau to drop the lawsuit,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pekau and his fellow village trustees remained opposed to mask mandates. When Cook County passed a mandate requiring restaurants, gyms, and other businesses to verify the vaccination status of customers, the board passed a resolution opposing the mandate and refusing to enforce it in Orland Park.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Education

Orland Park is served by four grammar school districts, Orland School District #135 (7 primary schools, 3 middle schools: Century Junior High, Jerling Junior High, and Orland Junior High), Community Consolidated School District #146 (4 primary schools, and Central Middle School), Palos School District #118 (2 primary schools, and Palos South Middle School), and Kirby School District #140 (5 primary schools, 2 middle schools: Prairie View Middle School, and Virgil I Grissom Middle School). A majority of Orland Park is within Orland School District #135.

St. Michael School is in Orland Park. A number of other parochial schools in the region provide bus service for Orland Park students.

Orland Park's major high schools are Carl Sandburg High School, Victor J. Andrew High School and Amos Alonzo Stagg High School.

A number of higher education facilities are in the village. St. Xavier University formerly operated a satellite campus in Orland Park, as did the ITT Technical Institute until its closing in September 2016. Robert Morris University (Illinois) has both an Orland Park campus as well as a second facility in the village, the culinary arts school, until they were closed as a result of its merger with Roosevelt University. Community college education is offered at Moraine Valley Community College, in nearby Palos Hills.

Sixty percent of Orland Park households have someone with at least a bachelor's degree, with a significant number of residents having completed postgraduate work.

Media

Local cable television channel Orland Park TV can be viewed on AT&T UVerse Channel 99 and Comcast Channel 4.

Transportation

Orland Park has three stops on Metra's SouthWest Service, which provides weekday rail service between Manhattan, Illinois, and Chicago Union Station): 143rd Street, 153rd Street, and 179th Street.

Pace provides bus service on multiple routes connecting Orland Park to destinations throughout the Southland.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highway transportation corridors are:

Notable people

See also

References

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Template:Orland Park, Illinois Template:Cook County, Illinois Template:Will County, Illinois Template:Chicagoland Template:US state navigation box Template:Geographic location Template:Authority control

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