# Mokena, Illinois

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**Mokena** (/moʊkinə/ moh-KEE-nuh) is a village in [Will County](/source/Will_County,_Illinois), [Illinois](/source/Illinois), United States. It is a southwest suburb of [Chicago](/source/Chicago). The population was 19,887 at the [2020 census](/source/2020_United_States_census). The Census Bureau's 2019 estimate found that the population had increased to 20,159.[2]

## Etymology

Mokena is a name apparently derived from a Native American language meaning "mud turtle".[3] While the particular language from which the name originates is not documented, likely candidates are [Anishinaabemowin](/source/Ojibwe_language), whose word for "snapping turtle" is *mikinaak*,[4] and its close sister language [Potawatomi](/source/Potawatomi_language), in which the same animal is called *mkenak*.[5] Both languages were once spoken in the area now occupied by the town.

Mokena is located at [41°32′4″N 87°52′37″W](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?params=41_32_4_N_87_52_37_W).[6] According to the 2010 census, Mokena has an area of 8.893 square miles (23.03 km2), of which 8.89 square miles (23.02 km2) (or 99.97%) is land and 0.003 square miles (0.01 km2) (or 0.03%) is water.[7] It is bordered by [Tinley Park](/source/Tinley_Park,_Illinois) to the northeast, [Orland Park](/source/Orland_Park,_Illinois) to the north, [Homer Glen](/source/Homer_Glen,_Illinois) to the northwest, [Frankfort](/source/Frankfort,_Illinois) to the south, and [New Lenox](/source/New_Lenox,_Illinois) to the west.

## Education

Elementary school services are provided by one of four school districts: Mokena School District 159, [New Lenox School District 122](/source/New_Lenox_School_District_122), Frankfort School District 157C, and Summit Hill School District 161. Schools within District 159 include MES (Mokena Elementary School), MIS (Mokena Intermediate School), and MJHS (Mokena Junior High School). Mokena is served by [Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210](/source/Lincoln-Way_Community_High_School_District_210); students living in districts 159 or 122 attend [Lincoln-Way Central High School](/source/Lincoln-Way_Central_High_School), and students living in districts 157C or 161 attend [Lincoln-Way East High School](/source/Lincoln-Way_East_High_School). Higher education is provided at [Joliet Junior College](/source/Joliet_Junior_College), the nation's first public community college, and at [Rasmussen College](/source/Rasmussen_College).

## Demographics

### Racial and ethnic composition

Mokena village, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[8] Pop 2010[9] Pop 2020[10] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020 White alone (NH) 13,812 17,046 style='background: #ffffe6; |17,317 94.71% 90.96% style='background: #ffffe6; |87.08% Black or African American alone (NH) 71 238 style='background: #ffffe6; |347 0.49% 1.27% style='background: #ffffe6; |1.74% Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 8 21 style='background: #ffffe6; |14 0.05% 0.11% style='background: #ffffe6; |0.07% Asian alone (NH) 183 381 style='background: #ffffe6; |398 1.25% 2.03% style='background: #ffffe6; |2.00% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 5 5 style='background: #ffffe6; |2 0.03% 0.03% style='background: #ffffe6; |0.01% Other race alone (NH) 5 4 style='background: #ffffe6; |25 0.03% 0.02% style='background: #ffffe6; |0.13% Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 78 142 style='background: #ffffe6; |470 0.53% 0.76% style='background: #ffffe6; |2.36% Hispanic or Latino (any race) 421 903 style='background: #ffffe6; |1,314 2.89% 4.82% style='background: #ffffe6; |6.61% Total 14,583 18,740 style='background: #ffffe6; |19,887 100.00% 100.00% style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

### 2020 census

As of the [2020 census](/source/2020_United_States_census), Mokena had a population of 19,887. The median age was 42.7 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males age 18 and over.[11][12]

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.[13]

There were 7,198 households in Mokena, of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 64.8% were married-couple households, 11.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]

There were 7,394 housing units, of which 2.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%.[11]

### 2010 census

As of the [census](/source/Census)[14] of 2010, there were 18,740 people, 6,358 households, and 5,120 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,432.4 inhabitants per square mile (939.2 /km2). There were 4,848 housing units at an average density of 808.6 inhabitants per square mile (312.2 /km2). The racial makeup of the village was 94.5% [White](/source/White_(U.S._Census)), 1.3% [African American](/source/African_American_(U.S._Census)), 0.01% [Native American](/source/Native_American_(U.S._Census)), 2.0% [Asian](/source/Asian_(U.S._Census)), 0.01% [Pacific Islander](/source/Pacific_Islander_(U.S._Census)), 0.9% from [other races](/source/Race_(United_States_Census)), and 0.63% from two or more races. [Hispanic](/source/Hispanic_(U.S._Census)) or [Latino](/source/Latino_(U.S._Census)) of any race were 4.8% of the population.

### 2000 census

As of the [census](/source/Census) of 2000, there were 4,703 households, out of which 48.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.7% were [married couples](/source/Marriage) living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.8% were non-families. 14.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.46.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 32.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

### Income and poverty

The median family income is $82,596 and the median income for a household is $91,817. Males had a median income of $58,226 versus $31,522 for females. The [per capita income](/source/Per_capita_income) for the village was $31,944. As of 2008, the median house value was $350,130, up from $211,300 in 2000.[15]

About 0.7% of families and 1.0% of the population were below the [poverty line](/source/Poverty_line), including 0.6% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

## Transportation

The Village of Mokena is serviced by the [Metra](/source/Metra) rail service [Rock Island District](/source/Rock_Island_District). Mokena has two commuter rail stations, [Hickory Creek](/source/Mokena_%E2%80%93_Hickory_Creek_(Metra_station)) and [Front Street](/source/Mokena_%E2%80%93_Front_Street_(Metra_station)), providing service to downtown [Chicago](/source/Chicago)'s [LaSalle Street Station](/source/LaSalle_Street_Station), connecting with components of the [Chicago Transit Authority](/source/Chicago_Transit_Authority). Mokena is also served by [I-80](/source/Interstate_80_in_Illinois), which runs along its northern border. Through [I-80](/source/Interstate_80_in_Illinois) commuters have convenient access to [I-355](/source/Interstate_355_(Illinois)) (Veteran's Memorial Tollway) and [I-57](/source/Interstate_57_in_Illinois). The main north–south thoroughfares are [US Route 45](/source/U.S._Route_45_in_Illinois) (LaGrange Rd) and Wolf Rd. The main east–west thoroughfares are 191st St, LaPorte Rd., and [US Route 30](/source/U.S._Route_30_in_Illinois) ([Lincoln Highway](/source/Lincoln_Highway)). Rail freight traffic travels along both the [Metra RI District Railway](/source/Rock_Island_District) (Metra RI) and the [Canadian National Railway](/source/Canadian_National_Railway) (CN). The CN tracks run east/west along Mokena's southern boundary, while the Metra Rock Island District (Metra) tracks approximately bisect the town in a northeastern/southwestern direction.

## Notable people

- [Dean Anna](/source/Dean_Anna), MLB player; born in Mokena
- [James Augustine](/source/James_Augustine), former [University of Illinois](/source/Illinois_Fighting_Illini_men's_basketball) and NBA player
- [Terry Boers](/source/Boers_and_Bernstein), sports radio host and [Chicago Sun-Times](/source/Chicago_Sun-Times) columnist [16]
- [Exene Cervenka](/source/Exene_Cervenka), singer and writer; grew up in Mokena
- [Karla DeVito](/source/Karla_DeVito), actress, voice actress, and singer; born in Mokena
- [Clay Guida](/source/Clay_Guida), mixed martial artist, Jason's brother[17]
- [Jason Guida](/source/Jason_Guida), mixed martial artist, Clay's brother
- [Don C. Hall](/source/Don_C._Hall), state actor and Wisconsin state legislator; lived in Mokena[18]
- [Ron Kittle](/source/Ron_Kittle), former MLB player, lives in Mokena[19]
- [Denise Richards](/source/Denise_Richards), model and actress, lived in Mokena[20]
- [Bob Strait](/source/Bob_Strait), racing driver; born in Mokena

## References

1. ["Mokena IL ZIP Code"](https://www.zipdatamaps.com/60448). zipdatamaps.com. 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.

1. ["2010 Census Interactive Population Search"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160615024027/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=17). Archived from [the original](https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=17) on June 15, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2017.

1. Gannett, Henry (1905). [*The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States*](https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. [211](https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n210)

1. ["The Ojibwe People's Dictionary"](https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/main-entry/mikinaak-na). *ojibwe.lib.umn.edu*. Retrieved January 7, 2021.

1. ["Potawatomi Language Dictionary - View Word"](https://potawatomidictionary.com/Dictionary/Word/4203). *potawatomidictionary.com*. Retrieved January 7, 2021.

1. ["US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990"](https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html). [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau). February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.

1. ["G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1"](https://archive.today/20200213041655/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1749854). [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau). Archived from [the original](http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1749854) on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2015.

1. ["P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mokena village, Illinois"](https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US1749607&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004). *[United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau)*

1. ["P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mokena village, Illinois"](https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1749607&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2). *[United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau)*

1. ["P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mokena village, Illinois"](https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1749607&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2). *[United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau)*

1. ["2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A49854&in=state%3A17). *United States Census Bureau*. 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2026.

1. ["2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A49854&in=state%3A17). *United States Census Bureau*. 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2026.

1. ["2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)"](https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A49854&in=state%3A17). *United States Census Bureau*. 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2026.

1. ["U.S. Census website"](https://www.census.gov). [United States Census Bureau](/source/United_States_Census_Bureau). Retrieved January 31, 2008.

1. ["Mokena, Illinois (IL 60448) profile: population, maps, real estate, averages, homes, statistics, relocation, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, moving, houses, news, sex offenders"](http://www.city-data.com/city/Mokena-Illinois.html). *www.city-data.com*

1. ["Boers: Leaving Home Produces Rush Of Vivid Memories"](https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/12/23/boers-the-memories-of-leaving-home/). December 23, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2020.

1. Sherdog.com. ["Jason Guida MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com"](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jason-Guida-8185). *Sherdog*. Retrieved January 4, 2020.

1. 'Don C. Hall, 87, Veteran Show Trouper, Dies,' **Stevens Point Daily Journal,** October 29, 1953, pg. 15

1. ["Ron Kittle: Renaissance Man | Chicagoly Magazine"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190622172531/https://chicagolymag.com/web/2016/06/ron-kittle-renaissance-man/). Archived from [the original](https://chicagolymag.com/web/2016/06/ron-kittle-renaissance-man/) on June 22, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2019.

1. Sotonoff, Jamie (August 30, 2011). ["Denise Richards: Suburban upbringing kept me grounded"](https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110830/news/708309985/). *Daily Herald*

## External links

- [Mokena official website](http://www.mokena.org/)
- [Mokena School District 159](http://www.mokena159.com)
- [Frankfort School District 157C](http://www.fsd157c.org)
- [Summit Hill School District 161](http://www.summithill.org)
- [Wikimapia Contributions](http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=41.5179125&lon=-87.8886509&z=16&l=0&m=a&v=2&show=/6597065/Wolf-Rd-Bridge-over-Hickory-Creek-Scene-of-1991-Beaver-Tragedy)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mokena, Illinois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mokena%2C_Illinois) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mokena%2C_Illinois?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.