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Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 85,616 at the 2000 census. A 2003 Census estimate showed the population dipped to 83,029. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman orator. Originally, Cicero Township occupied six times its current territory. Weak political leadership and town services resulted in cities such as Oak Park and Berwyn voting to split off from Cicero, and other portions such as Austin were annexed into the city of Chicago [1]. Al Capone built his criminal empire in Chicago before moving to Cicero to escape the reach of Chicago police. The 1980s and 1990s saw a heavy influx of Hispanic (mostly Mexican and Central American) residents to Cicero. Once considered mainly a Czech or Bohemian town on 22nd Street (now Cermak Road), most of the European-style restaurants and shops have been replaced by Spanish-titled businesses. Cicero most recently is seeing a new influx of residents, mostly Puerto Rican and Polish. Cicero also has seen a revival in its commercial sector, with many brand-new mini-malls and large retail stores. New condominiums are also being built in Cicero, ranging in price from $150,000 to $300,000. Cicero has long had a reputation of government scandal. Most recently, Town President Betty Loren-Maltese was sent to federal prison for misappropriating funds [2]. She was well-liked by retired, long-term Cicero residents, but was continually challenged by younger Hispanic opponents before her indictment. Cicero was taken up and abandoned several times as site for a civil rights march in the mid-1960s. The American Friends Service Committee, the Rev. Martin Luther King, and many affiliated organizations, including churches, were conducting marches against housing and school de facto segregation and inequality in Chicago and several suburbs, but the leaders feared too violent a response in Chicago Lawn and Cicero. Eventually, a substantial march (met by catcalls, flying bottles and bricks) was conducted in Chicago Lawn, but only a splinter group marched in Cicero.[citation needed]
[edit] GeographyAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.8 square miles (15.2 km²), all of it land. Cicero used to run from Harlem Avenue to Western Avenue and Pershing Road to North Avenue; however, much of this area was annexed by Chicago. [edit] Landmarks
[edit] RacetracksOn the south side of Cicero, there were two racetracks. Hawthorne Race Course, located in Cicero and Stickney, is a horse racing track still in operation. Just north of it was Chicago Motor Speedway at Sportsman's Park, which was formerly Sportsman's Park Racetrack (for horse racing) for many years. This Sportsman's Park facility is now closed, acquired by the Town of Cicero and currently being demolished. A high-end shopping center (Fountain Square) is slated to be constructed on this site. [edit] DemographicsAs of the census[2][page needed] of 2000, there were 85,616 people, 23,115 households, and 18,099 families residing in the town. The population density was 14,645.2 people per square mile (5,650.7/km²). There were 24,640 housing units at an average density of 4,214.9/sq mi (1,626.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 48.27% White American (19.60% non-Hispanic white), 1.12% African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander American, 44.71% from other races, and 4.01% from two or more races. 77.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race, with 68.4% of Mexican descent.[3] The top five non-Hispanic ancestries reported in Cicero as of the 2000 census were Polish (4.7%), Irish (3.7%), German (3.7%), Italian (3.0%) and Czech (2.3%).[4] There were 23,115 households out of which 50.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.70 and the average family size was 4.18. The age distribution was 34.6% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 13.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 105.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was $42,044, and the median income for a family was $47,883. Males had a median income of $27,424 versus $21,398 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,489. About 13.2% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over. [edit] Government
Most of Cicero is in Illinois' 4th congressional district; the area south of the railroad at approximately 33rd Street is in the 3rd district.[citation needed] The United States Postal Service operates the Cicero Post Office at 2440 South Laramie Avenue.[5] [edit] EducationCicero is served by Cicero Elementary School District 99, and comprises 17 schools making it one of the largest public school districts outside of Chicago. Elementary students, depending on residency attend the following schools: Burnham (K-5), Cicero East (4-6), Cicero West (K-3), Columbus East (4-6), Columbus West, Drexel (K-6), Goodwin (K-6), Liberty (K-3), Lincoln (K-6), McKinely (K-3), Roosevelt (3-6), Sherlock (K-3), Warren Park (K-3), Wilson (K-6), Woodbine (K-3), Unity East Junior High (7), and Unity West Junior High (8). High school in their freshman year enter the Freshman Center and then continue high school at Morton East of the J. Sterling Morton High School District 201. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago operates three PK-8 schools in Cicero: From 1927 until 1972, Cicero was also the home of Timothy Christian School. This caused a great deal of racial unrest in the city in the 1960s.[citation needed]
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Coordinates: 41°50′43″N 87°45′36″W / 41.845232°N 87.759933°W
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