Dolton, Illinois

History

A post office has been in operation in Dolton since 1854. The village was named for a family of early settlers. The villages of Dolton and nearby Riverdale were effectively one community until each incorporated separately in 1892.

Geography

In 2021, Dolton was an area of 4.69 sqmi, of which 4.57 sqmi (or 97.50%) is land and 0.12 sqmi (or 2.50%) is water.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 2010 2020

In the 2020 census there were 21,426 people, 7,985 households, and 5,361 families in the village. The population density was 4,570.39 PD/sqmi. There were 8,768 housing units at an average density of 1,870.31 /sqmi.

The racial makeup of the village was 90.69% African American, 3.25% White, 0.17% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.62% from other races, and 3.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 4.37% of the population.

There were 7,985 households. 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 25.45% were married couples living together. 35.94% had a female householder with no husband present. 32.86% were non-families. 29.42% of all households were made up of individuals. 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.44. The average family size was 2.78.

The village's age distribution consisted of 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 27% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $50,237. The median income for a family was $57,634. Males had a median income of $33,939 versus $33,354 for females. The per capita income for the village was $22,135. About 15.4% of families and 22.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.8% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Dolton Public Library opened in 1954. First located inside the Village Hall, it contained 5,000 books and magazines. The library moved to a new facility in 1967 and featured a collection of 35,000 books.

Parks and recreation

Dolton features over 120 acre of recreational properties, and 11 parks. A recreational center contains a gymnasium and fitness room.

Government

Most of the village is part of the Dolton Park District, with a small portion served by the Calumet Memorial Park District. The entire village is part of the Dolton Public Library District and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

Mayors

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Allegations of misspending and harassment

In November 2023, WGN News published a two-part series alleging widespread misspending and harassment of political opponents by the mayor, Tiffany Henyard.{{cite web |last1=Bradley |first1=Ben |last2=Schroedter |first2=Andrew

On February 20, 2024, it was reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had launched a probe into alleged misconduct by Mayor Henyard.

Education

The entire village is part of South Suburban Community College District 510.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Pace provides bus service on multiple routes connecting Dolton to destinations across the Southland. Metra's planned SouthEast Service will have a station in Dolton. The corridor previously had commuter train service that was operated by the Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad from 1904 to 1964.

Notable buildings

• Pope Leo XIV childhood home

Notable people

• Ronnie Baker Brooks, musician
• Susan Carlson, broadcast journalist and news anchor
• Kevin Duckworth, professional basketball player
• Nelsan Ellis, actor who played Lafayette Reynolds in True Blood
• Reggie Hayward, professional football player
• Andrew Holmes, activist and politician
• Perry Johnson, businessman
• Jane Lynch, entertainer
• Derek Needham, professional basketball player
• Pope Leo XIV, grew up in Dolton
• Richard Roeper, film critic; grew up in Dolton
• William Shaw, Illinois state legislator and mayor of Dolton
• Pops Staples, musician who lived many years in Dolton
• R. Bruce Waddell, politician

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Dolton village, Illinois, Illinois profile".
3. "Cook County". Jim Forte Postal History.
4. Callary, Edward. (September 29, 2008). "Place Names of Illinois". University of Illinois Press.
5. "Dolton, IL".
6. "Gazetteer Files".
7. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". [[US Census Bureau]].
8. "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois- Table 14 - Persons by Race and Table 16 (p. 18-28) - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 29-39)".
9. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Orogin".
10. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Dolton village, Illinois".
11. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dolton village, Illinois".
12. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dolton village, Illinois".
13. Compiliation of American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut categories
14. Compiliation of Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Asian Indian, and Vietnamese categories. Other Asian groups would be included in the Some Other Race category
15. Compiliation of Hawaiian, Guamanian, and Samoan categories. Other Pacific Islander groups would be included in the Some Other Race category
16. Derived from extracting Pacific Islander population from Asian population
17. Calculated as the difference between the total population and all other categories
18. Not an option in the 1980 Census
19. Not an option in the 1990 Census
20. Listed as Spanish origin in the 1980 Census. Racial identification for Hispanics only consisted of White, Black, and Some Other Race; hence, a small number of Latinos may be also be included in the counts for Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander
21. "Explore Census Data".
22. "History of the Dolton Public Library District". Dolton Public Library District.
23. "General Information". Dolton Park District.
24. [http://www.cookcountyclerk.gov Cook County Clerks Office] {{webarchive. link. (August 1, 2013)
25. (October 21, 1934). "F.J.Ehlert Dies of Heart Attack; Dolton's ex-Mayor". [[The Chicago Tribune]].
26. "Illinois blue book, 1923-1924". [[State of Illinois]].
27. "Illinois blue book, 1925-1926". [[State of Illinois]].
28. "Illinois blue book, 1927-1928". [[State of Illinois]].
29. "Illinois blue book, 1929-1930". [[State of Illinois]].
30. "Illinois blue book, 1931-1931". [[State of Illinois]].
31. "Illinois blue book, 1933-1934". [[State of Illinois]].
32. (October 29, 1986). "River Ferry Helped Dolton Grow as Settlers Flooded into Junction". [[The Chicago Tribune]].
33. (August 3, 1966). "Congressional Record - Volume 112 - Part 31 - Extension of Remarks of Hon. Edward J. Derwinski". [[United States Congress]].
34. (November 21, 2004). "Obituary: Ohlsen, Albert J.". [[The Chicago Tribune]].
35. (October 29, 1986). "Dolton, South Holland Echo Older Time". [[The Chicago Tribune]].
36. Ross, Sharon. (April 20, 1977). "Dolton Incumbents Recapture Seats". The Times.
37. (April 4, 1985). "Suburbs Sprinkled With Big Upsets". [[The Chicago Tribune]].
38. Lewandowski, Gregory. (February 24, 1985). "Peck, Fryzell agree on intent of transfer tax". The Times.
39. Rubin, Bonnie Miller. (May 14, 1995). "Mayor firmly at Dolton's helm in mind if not body". [[The Chicago Tribune]].
40. (July 26, 2021). "Former 9th Ward Ald. Robert Shaw, a South Side powerbroker, dies at 83". Chicago Tribune.
41. (April 2, 1997). "Shaw Campaign Sweeps in Dolton". The Times.
42. (February 25, 2009). "Dolton: Lewis Staves Off Challenger Rogers in Mayoral Primary Challenge". [[The Times (Munster)]].
43. (December 8, 2014). "Educator was Suburb's First Black Official". [[The Chicago Tribune]].
44. "Cook County Consolidation Election - Tuesday, April 07, 2009".
45. Edwards, Lee. (April 10, 2013). "Riley Rogers Triumphant in Dolton's Mayoral Race". The Weekly Citizen.
46. McAdams, Alexis. (May 8, 2021). "Dolton swears in Tiffany Henyard, 37, as village's first female, youngest mayor". ABC7 Chicago.
47. "Jason House sworn in as Dolton mayor, marking end of Tiffany Henyard era".
48. "Claims of political targeting spark drama in Dolton".
49. (November 8, 2023). "Dolton dysfunction: Bills go unpaid amid questionable expenses". WGN News.
50. (February 20, 2024). "FBI probes misconduct allegations against Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard". Fox 32 Chicago.
51. "RTA System Map".
52. Kukulka, Alexandra. (September 23, 2022). "Metra pauses plans for SouthEast line as regional group calls for more study". Chicago Tribune.
53. Daily, Frank. (September 6, 1964). "Last Commuter Train Ends Run to Dolton; ICC OK's closing". Chicago Tribune.
54. (November 22, 2021). "Ronnie Baker Brooks, SPACE, Evanston". Chicago Blues Guide.
55. (July 2007). "Susan Carlson - Chicago". Chicago Tribune Media Group.
56. (August 9, 2021). "DUCKWORTH CARVES GIANT NICHE AT EASTERN ILLINOIS". Chicago Tribune.
57. Parker, Ryan. (July 8, 2017). "'True Blood' Star Nelsan Ellis Dies at 39".
58. "Reggie Hayward". Pro Football Reference.
59. (4 March 2020). "His daughter's murder nearly ended Andrew Holmes' crusade against gun violence, but 5 years later he's still at it: 'I get out there and do what's on my heart'".
60. (June 22, 2023). "'I am anti-China': Dolton-native Johnson on a long-shot bid for presidency". South Cook News.
61. Schier, Anna. (May 27, 2022). "Jane Lynch Has A New Role: Illinois Tour Guide". Patch.
62. "Derek Needham". Fairfield University Athletics.
63. (May 8, 2025). "He Grew Up in a Parish on Chicago's South Side. Now He's the Pope.". The New York Times.
64. Barcus, Steven. (November 13, 2013). "Roeper reviewed: Silver screen critic scripted own success".
65. 'William "Bill" Shaw: 1937-2008,' ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', Rick Pearson and Stacy St. Clair, November 28, 2008
66. Uhelszki, Jaan. (December 20, 2000). "Pops Staples Dies".
67. (1974). "Illinois blue book, 1973-1974". State of Illinois.