Cicero, Illinois is a town located just west of Chicago in Cook County. With a population of over 80,000, it is one of the largest municipalities in Illinois. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Cicero, including information about its population, economy, major employers, attractions, sports teams, and more.
Population
According to the 2020 census, Cicero has a population of 80,796 making it the 11th largest municipality in Illinois. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area which has an estimated population of over 9.5 million. The population density of Cicero is approximately 10,000 people per square mile.
Cicero has seen its population decline somewhat since its peak of 87,893 in 1970. However, it remains a densely populated inner-ring suburb with a diverse mix of ethnic groups including a large Hispanic/Latino population making up around 80% of residents.
Economy and Major Employers
Cicero has a robust manufacturing and transportation economy. Major employers in Cicero include:
- Walmart
- Home Depot
- Menards
- UPS
- Coca-Cola
- O’Hare Precision Metals
In addition, Cicero is home to the Chicago/Cicero Industrial Corridor which houses over 100 industrial and commercial businesses. The corridor provides over 7,000 jobs and contributes over $100 million in revenue for Cicero annually.
Other major industries in Cicero include food processing, printing, transportation, and warehousing. The town has experienced healthy job growth in recent years thanks in part to its convenient location near Chicago and O’Hare International Airport.
Attractions
Despite its small size, Cicero offers several attractions for visitors and residents:
- Hawthorne Race Course – a famous horse racing track that hosts races throughout the year.
- J. Sterling Morton High School East – one of the first high schools west of Chicago with a unique dome building.
- Chodl Auditorium – historic performing arts theater built in 1919.
- Cicero Stadium – home stadium for local sports teams.
- Cicero Public Library – large public library established in 1917.
In addition, Cicero is home to several beautiful public parks such as Grant Park, Cermak Park, and Cicero Community Park which offer recreational activities.
Sports Teams
Cicero is home to the following local sports teams:
- Cicero Morton Bulldogs – high school sports teams competing in the West Suburban Conference.
- Cicero Stadium is home to several local men’s soccer teams in competitive leagues.
The Cicero Morton Bulldogs have a longstanding rivalry with nearby high school Berwyn Morton West in football, basketball, and other sports.
Local Government
Cicero has operated under a presidential system of local government since 1923. The Town President acts as the chief executive while a Board of Trustees serves as the legislative body. The current Town President is Larry Dominick who has held office since 2005.
Cicero’s local government has faced corruption issues for decades but has worked to reform itself in recent years. The police department was disbanded in 2020 and replaced with contracted services from the Cook County Sheriff due to scandals.
Cicero Community
Cicero has an active community presence on social media, specifically through the Town of Cicero Facebook page which has over 15,000 followers. The page shares municipal news and events happening in Cicero.
There are also many Cicero-focused groups on Facebook for community members to discuss local news and issues.