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Village Background Oak Park is a thriving community of about 52,000 people located immediately west of the City of Chicago and known for its architectural heritage and diverse population. Within its 4.5 square miles live one of the region's most diverse mixes of cultures, races, ethnicities, professions, lifestyles, religions, ages and incomes. Primarily a residential community, Oak Park is the birthplace and childhood home of novelist Ernest Hemingway. An annual festival has traditionally been held to celebrate his July birthdate. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright lived in Oak Park from 1889 - 1909, and 25 buildings here were designed by him, including his first public building, Unity Temple, a Unitarian Universalist church. His restored home and studio is open for daily tours. Many other architecturally significant homes can be found in Oak Park's three historic districts as well, ranging from Victorian to Prairie style. Other famous Oak Parkers include Edgar Rice Burroughs, the creator of Tarzan; chemist Percy Julian whose research led to the development of Cortisone; Joseph Kerwin, an astronaut on the first NASA Skylab team; Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald's; and Marjorie Judith Vincent, 1991 Miss America.
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Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Village of Oak Park, All Rights Reserved |
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