Commonly know as "Cal City," the village of Calumet City is located in Cook County, 19 miles south of Chicago's downtown area. Calumet City is bordered to the east by Hammond, Indiana, bordered to the west by South Holland, Illinois, bordered by Burnham, Illinois to the north, and Lansing, Illinois to the south. According to 2000 U.S....
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Commonly know as "Cal City," the village of Calumet City is located in Cook County, 19 miles south of Chicago's downtown area. Calumet City is bordered to the east by Hammond, Indiana, bordered to the west by South Holland, Illinois, bordered by Burnham, Illinois to the north, and Lansing, Illinois to the south. According to 2000 U.S. Census figures, the population of Calumet City is 39,071.
A notable landmark in Calumet City is the two large water towers that are painted like the well-known "Have a Nice Day" smiley faces. Painted in 1973, they're often referred to by Calumet City residents as "The Smiley Towers." Located at the River Oaks Shopping Center and on Paxton Avenue and 142nd Street, they were the brainchild of area resident Kim Fornero when she was a child. She asked then Calumet City Mayor Robert Stefaniak about the idea, and after the city council agreed to have the two towers painted, the move made national headlines.
To do their shopping, many area residents visit the River Oaks Shopping Center at 159th Street and Torrence Avenue in Calumet City, located a few miles from the Bishop Ford Freeway. Built in 1966, the shopping center has approximately 100 stores and attracts customers from the southern suburbs and Chicago's South Side. A renovation of the mall in the 1990s completely enclosed the previously open-air shopping center.
Residents can also take advantage of the five nearby antiquing communities: Blue Island, Crete/Beecher, Lemont, Frankfort and Orland Park- that feature numerous antique stores. In their leisure time, residents can also visit the Calumet City Public Library, located on Manistee Avenue. Among its offerings is an extensive collection of fiction and non-fiction books, as well as approximately 400 different magazines and newspapers. The library also sponsors events for adults including book discussions, travelogues, reading clubs, and informational seminars.
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