Woodlawn, Illinois

Woodlawn is a city in Wabash County, Illinois and an inner suburb of Kennedy. The population was 55,802 at the 2000 U.S. Census.

History
Farmers first arrived in the Woodlawn area in 1873. In 1897, Wabash County commissioned Woodlawn Township in order to build a Cross-State Railroad stop as well as schools and a sherrif's outpost in the area. Construction on the railroad stop began in 1901 and was finished in 1903.

An influx of settlers from Indiana came into the area around 1906, establishing a town along the railroad stop. In 1910, a connection between a federal railroad and the Cross-State Railroad was established, allowing settlers to come in predominately from North Carolina and Virginia. By 1920, Woodlawn Township was well-established, with a total population of 19,421; of which many lived in the railroad town.

The 1930s marked a major change in the city as Stuyvesant (now Kennedy) made a transition into becoming a large city. The automotive industry allowed new jobs to develop in the area, and people came to Woodlawn in search of a more remote location to live. By 1940, the population of the town was 26,975. In 1943, an election in the township incorporated the City of Woodlawn.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 55,802 people, 25,597 households, and 19,922 families residing in the city.

The racial makeup of the city was 83.62% White, 9.25% African American, 0.12% Native American, 2.48% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races, and 3.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.

The median income for a household in the city was $47,182, and the median income for a family was $50,921. The per capita income for the city was $23,661. About 11.8% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line.

The estimated median household income in 2009 was $40,051, and the median income for a family was $46,102. The per capita income for the city was $19,028.

Crime
Before the 21st Century, Woodlawn boasted crime rates below the national average. However, around 2002, there were sharp declines in the amount of graduating students from High School.

Many local businesses began closing down and the city lost a portion of it's tax base. After property values fell, there was a large demographic change from upper middle class to lower middle class families in many areas. The crime rate officially ceased significant growth in 2007.

The city currently has neutral crime rates for both violent and property crimes. One of the most significant changes in crime rates was Assault, which rose 332% since 2000 and has been especially noted among teenagers and young adults.

The City of Woodlawn had 49 sworn officers working under the Woodlawn Police Department in 2010. However, there were 53 in 2005, and 67 in 2000. Loss of tax base has accommodated heavily to the declining number of police officers.

The Chief of Police in Woodlawn is Jack Wojcic, originally a member of the Wabash Heights Police Department.

Education
According to the 2010 US Census:


 * 28.7% did not finish High School
 * 71.3% of citizens were high school graduates
 * 1.6% attended less than one year of college
 * 2.4% attended college for more than one year but did not finish


 * 44.8% of citizens held a college degree
 * 8.6% associates
 * 19.1% bachelors
 * 12.4% masters
 * 4.7% doctorate