Hazel Crest is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,382 at the 2020 census. History Hazel Crest was first settled in 1870 in a farming community known as South Harvey. An enterprising newspaper editor named William McClintock moved here from Ohio in 1890, buying from farmer Fred Puhrman. McClintock built a depot for a local milk train and subsequently opened transportation opportunities to Chicago and beyond. The depot also served as the area's first real estate office, public meeting place, Sunday school, day school, and post office. In 1900, the name was changed to Hazel Crest to reflect the large numbers of hazelnut bushes that grew on a rise of land just south of town. At the time, the southern border was 175th Street and the western edge of the village was Kedzie Avenue. Hazel Crest was incorporated in 1912. Many of the families of the early residents still live in the village. Over the years, significant developments have occurred because groups of residents joined together for common goals. Examples of this spirit range from the construction of the Community Church in 1894 to the 1984 adaptation of an elementary school building which has now become the Martin J. Kauchak Municipal Center, named for President Kauchak who served the village for twenty years (1973-1993). Geography Hazel Crest is located at . The village is primarily located in Bremen Township, while the portion of the village south of 183rd Street is located in Rich Township and the portion east of I-80/94 is in Thornton Township. The village is located near Chicago in an area known as the Chicago Southland and is approximately south of the Chicago Loop. The village is bordered by Markham to the north, Harvey to the northeast, East Hazel Crest to the east, Homewood to the southeast, Flossmoor to the south and Country Club Hills to the west. According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Hazel Crest has a total area of , of which (or 99.39%) is land and (or 0.61%) is water. The village lies on the Tinley Moraine. Demographics As of the 2020 census there were 13,382 people, 5,011 households, and 3,327 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 5,307 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 86.25% African American, 6.45% White, 0.26% Native American, 0.40% Asian,