History of Dolton, Illinois in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 8, 2025

Dolton, Illinois, is a village located in Cook County, just west of Interstate 94 and south of Chicago. According to the 2020 census, its population was 21,426. Its location provides proximity to Chicago and access to transportation via I-94.

1935: End of commuter service

In 1935, commuter service ended in the corridor that would later be served by Metra's planned SouthEast Service in Dolton.

1954: Dolton Public Library opened

In 1954, the Dolton Public Library opened inside the Village Hall, containing 5,000 books and magazines.

1967: Library moved to a new facility

In 1967, the Dolton Public Library moved to a new facility, featuring a collection of 35,000 books.

2020: Population recorded at 21,426

In 2020, the village of Dolton had a population of 21,426 according to the census.

2020: Census Data

In the 2020 census, Dolton recorded 21,426 people living in 7,985 households with 5,361 families. The population density was 4,570.39 inhabitants per square mile, and there were 8,768 housing units at an average density of 1,870.31 per square mile.

2021: Area of Dolton measured

In 2021, Dolton was measured to be an area of 4.69 square miles, with 4.57 square miles being land and 0.12 square miles being water.

November 2023: WGN News published series alleging misspending

In November 2023, WGN News published a two-part series alleging widespread misspending and harassment of political opponents by the mayor, Tiffany Henyard.