River Forest is a suburban village adjacent to Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 11,717.^[2] Two universities make their home in River Forest, Dominican University and Concordia University Chicago. The village is closely tied to the larger neighboring community of Oak Park. There are significant architectural designs located in River Forest such as the Winslow House by Frank Lloyd Wright. River Forest has a railroad station with service to Chicago on Metra's Union Pacific West Line.

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River Forest, Illinois
Village
River Forest Public Library
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  RF, RoFo
Location of River Forest in Cook County, Illinois.
River Forest Show map of Greater Chicago River Forest Show map of Illinois River Forest Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 41°53′35″N 87°49′3″W
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Cook
Township	River Forest
Government
• Type	Village
Area [1]
• Total	2.48 sq mi (6.43 km2)
• Land	2.48 sq mi (6.42 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,794
• Density	4,724.60/sq mi (1,824.37/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	60305
Area code	708
FIPS code	17-64304
Wikimedia Commons	River Forest, Illinois
Website	www.vrf.us

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The Native American history of the area is closely tied to the Des Plaines River and includes Menominee and Chippewa settlements near what is now the Desplaines Avenue and Roosevelt Road forest preserves of Cook County. The Menominees would eventually be driven out by the Potowatomi Nation in 1810. The Potawatomi were in turn pushed west of the Mississippi by the Treaty of Chicago of 1833.^[3]

1831 saw the establishment of a steam sawmill on the east bank of the Des Plaines River. In 1842, the first planked road in what is now Lake Street was created.^[3] The community was known as Noyesville at the time. In 1848 the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad completed construction of tracks westward from Chicago, and train service commenced in January 1849.

In the 1850s two families acquired land and drove development in the area. David Thatcher settled in what is now western River Forest and named that part of the community Thatcher. Henry Quick arrived from Harlem, New York and named the eastern part of Noyesville as well as Harlem Avenue after his home town.^[3]

River Forest lies along the Des Plaines River to the west and is bordered by Illinois Route 43 to the east and Illinois Route 64 to the north. Along with the Des Plaines River, much of the western boundary of River Forest consists of the Thatcher Woods forest preserve of Cook County and the Des Plaines River Trail. According to the 2010 census, River Forest has a total area of 2.482 square miles (6.43 km²), of which 2.48 square miles (6.42 km²) (or 99.92%) is land and 0.002 square miles (0.01 km²) (or 0.08%) is water.^[4]

Dominican University and Concordia University Chicago are both located in River Forest.

There are two public elementary schools, Lincoln Elementary School and Willard Elementary School, and one public middle school, Roosevelt Middle School. The elementary and middle schools are in River Forest Public Schools District 90. River Forest shares a high school with Oak Park, known as Oak Park and River Forest High School, located in Oak Park.^[5]

River Forest is home to two Catholic grade schools and one Lutheran grade school. St. Luke Parish and St. Vincent Ferrer School are Catholic schools, and Grace Lutheran School is Lutheran. All three enroll children from 3 years old through eighth grade. River Forest has one all-girls' secondary school, Trinity High School.

River Forest also has the Keystone Montessori School, established in 1994. It serves children 9 months of age to 8th grade as an alternative learning style for children.^[6] It educates children using the philosophy of Maria Montessori.

The River Forest Public Library is located at 735 Lathrop Avenue.

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2022)

The United States Postal Service operates the River Forest Post Office at 401 William Street.^[7]

As of the 2020 census^[14] there were 11,717 people, 4,040 households, and 2,754 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,720.79 inhabitants per square mile (1,822.71/km²). There were 4,266 housing units at an average density of 1,718.78 per square mile (663.62/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 72.91% White, 7.51% African American, 0.12% Native American, 8.01% Asian, 2.70% from other races, and 8.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.46% of the population.

There were 4,040 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.69% were married couples living together, 4.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.83% were non-families. 31.83% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.32% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 2.47.

The village's age distribution consisted of 25.4% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 18.4% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $125,288, and the median income for a family was $193,171. Males had a median income of $116,643 versus $57,703 for females. The per capita income for the village was $79,929. About 1.3% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.

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.

This section does not cite any sources. (December 2022)

River Forest is perhaps best known for the diversity of early 20th century American residential architectural styles including several Frank Lloyd Wright designs and others within the Prairie School. The Winslow House and the River Forest Tennis Club are most notable for Frank Lloyd Wright's early styles.

This section does not cite any sources. (January 2023)

• Tony Accardo, crime boss
• Anita Alvarez, attorney
• Joseph Andriacchi, mobster
• Charles F. Baumrucker, jeweler, businessman, politician
• Chris Columbus, filmmaker
• James Dewar, inventor
• Paul Harvey, radio commentator
• Gail Mancuso, television and film director
• Franklin Clarence Mars, inventor
• Kathryn McGee, activist
• Kevin Murphy, actor
• Edwin Perkins, inventor
• Jerry Saltz art critic
• Anne Smedinghoff, diplomat
• Carlos Zambrano, pitcher for the Chicago Cubs

River Forest hosted the 2016 Little League Baseball Illinois State Tournament at Keystone Park.

2019 Little League Illinois State Baseball Champions^[15]

2023 Junior Little League Illinois State Softball Champions^[16]

For 18 years, the neighborhood has hosted a yearly 9/11 Lemon-Aid stand on the 700 block of Bonnie Brae which donates all proceeds to local charities. The first year, the event raised $400 for Hepzibah Children's Association. Last year, $36,000 was raised for Kidz Express. To date, $323,000 has been donated by the event.^[17]

Every year, the Rotary Club of Oak Park River Forest hosts the Food Truck Rally in Keystone Park that donates all net proceeds to local charities. The event includes 10 trucks with sweet, savory, and beer trucks; a live music stage; and a family activities area.^[18]

• River Forest Thomism