86-605: North Chicago is a city in Lake County, Illinois , United States, and a suburb of the Chicago metropolitan area . The population was 30,759 at the 2020 census making it the third-most populous city by population in the county, after Waukegan and Mundelein . An industrial center, North Chicago is home to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and Great Lakes Barracks Military housing. The city
172-576: A "V", and those located on the eastern half begin with a "W". As of the 2010 Census , there were 703,462 people, 241,712 households, and 179,428 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,585.6 inhabitants per square mile (612.2/km ). There were 260,310 housing units at an average density of 586.7 per square mile (226.5/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 75.1% white, 7.0% black or African American, 6.3% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 8.5% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 19.9% of
258-428: A 166-vote plurality in 1996–the only time that Clinton won any of the collar counties besides Will County during his two campaigns for president. After narrowly voting for George W. Bush twice, in 2008 it swung over dramatically to support Democrat Barack Obama , who carried it by almost 20 points. Obama won it but by a slimmer margin in 2012. Hillary Clinton won it handily in 2016, tallying her second-best margin in
344-661: A Racial Category (2023) NH=Non-Hispanic Racial Makeup of Hispanics in Waukegan (2023) As of the 2010 United States Census , 89,078 people were living in the city. The racial makeup of the town was 46.6% White (21.7% non-Hispanic White), 19.2% African-American , 4.3% Asian , 1.2% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander , 24.6% some other race, and 4.1% of two or more races . 53.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). Majority of residents of Latin American descent in Waukegan are of Mexican descent, Waukegan also has one of
430-546: A barbed-wire manufacturer that prompted both labor migration and land speculation beginning in 1891, U.S. Starch Works, and Thomas Brass and Iron Works. Immigrants followed, mostly from southeastern Europe and Scandinavia, with especially large groups from Sweden, Finland, and Lithuania. The town also became home to a considerable Armenian population. One member of this community, Monoog Curezhin, even became embroiled in an aborted plot to assassinate Sultan Abdul Hamid II , reviled for his involvement in massacres of Armenians in
516-416: A conversation they had on The Jack Benny Program on Mother's Day of 1950 while they were discussing the itinerary for his summer tour that year: On a 1959 episode of the television game show What's My Line? , Benny quipped to host John Charles Daly They say that I put Waukegan on the map. But it's not true. Waukegan really put me on the map. That's a fact. Nevertheless, Benny did put Waukegan on
602-579: A county route system and a county highway system. While both systems' can be seen on official road maps, only the County Route designations have been indicated with highway markers on traffic signals or dedicated poles. The county route system in use today by Lake County was purportedly intended to be the dominant system for all of Illinois' counties and was proposed by the National Association of Counties (NACo), however their system
688-632: A historic Yankee settlement, Lake County was initially a stronghold of the Free Soil Party . In the 1848 presidential election , it was Free Soil nominee and former president Martin van Buren ’s strongest county, giving him over 58 percent of the vote. Consequently, Lake County would turn rock-solid Republican for most of the next century and a half. After narrowly supporting Democrat Franklin Pierce in 1852 , it voted Republican at all but one presidential election from 1856 to 1960. This tradition
774-438: A hotel reserved for African Americans. Although newspaper reports and rumors suggested that the officer's wife was hit with glass from the broken windshield, subsequent reports revealed that the officer was not married. The sailors called for lynchings, but were kept back by the intervention of the police. Marines and sailors renewed their attack on the hotel several days later. The Sherman House residents fled for their lives as
860-676: A household in the city was $ 42,335, and for a family was $ 47,341. Males had a median income of $ 30,556 versus $ 25,632 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 17,368. About 24% of families and 24.7% of the population were below the poverty line. Over half (54.4%) of the population identified as members of a religious group. The largest group were Roman Catholics, who comprised 31.0% of city residents. Other Christian groups included Lutherans (3.2%), Baptists (1.9%), Presbyterians (1.6%), and Methodists (1.5%); about 11% adhered to other Christian denominations. Other faiths practiced include Judaism (2.7%) and Islam (1.4%). Christ Episcopal Church on
946-492: A merger with the Naval Hospital. Historically, North Chicago was known for large populations of Eastern Europe immigrants. With the onset of the " Great Migration ", large numbers of African Americans arrived in the city from states such as Arkansas and Alabama , and toward the end of the 20th century, became the best known demographic group. Housing was segregated in the mid-20th century, and until as late as 1957
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#17327756243901032-585: A significant role in dividing North Chicago based on ethnicity. Workers were relocated from the Worcester plant, and later on, Swedes , Finns , and other Eastern Europeans were brought in. In the northern part of North Chicago, Slovaks , who referred to the area as "Kompanija," founded the Mother of God Roman Catholic Church. Moving further south, Polish residents established Holy Rosary Catholic Church, while German and Irish residents set up schools and churches in
1118-505: A single term. Waukegan is the hometown of comedian Jack Benny (1894–1974), one of the 20th century's most notable and enduring entertainers. Although Benny claimed for decades on his radio and television shows to have been born in Waukegan, he was actually born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago. Despite this, Benny's affection for the town where he grew up can clearly be felt by this exchange with his wife and co-star Mary Livingstone during
1204-497: A tavern/restaurant, was constructed in 1843. This structure, once located at the corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Rte. 45/Old Half Day Road, was one of the oldest structures in Lake County until it was demolished in 2007 to make way for retail space, condominiums, and a retention pond. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,368 square miles (3,540 km ), of which 444 square miles (1,150 km )
1290-808: Is 108 °F (42 °C), which was set in July 1934, while the record low is −27 °F (−33 °C), set in January 1985. Waukegan's proximity to Lake Michigan helps cool the city throughout the year. Waukegan contains three Superfund sites of hazardous substances that are on the National Priorities List . In 1975, PCBs were discovered in Waukegan Harbor sediments. Investigation revealed that during manufacturing activities at Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC), hydraulic fluids containing PCBs had been discharged through floor drains at
1376-509: Is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Illinois , along the shores of Lake Michigan . As of the 2020 census , it has a population of 714,342, making it the third-most populous county in Illinois . Its county seat is Waukegan , the tenth-largest city in Illinois . The county is primarily suburban, with some urban areas and some rural areas. Due to its location, immediately north of Cook County , Lake County
1462-405: Is a list of school districts with any territory in Lake County, no matter how slight, even if the school districts' administrative headquarters and/or schools are outside of the county: K-12: Secondary: Elementary: 42°26′N 87°47′W / 42.43°N 87.78°W / 42.43; -87.78 Waukegan Waukegan ( / w ə ˈ k iː ɡ ən / wə- KEE -ghən )
1548-620: Is also home to Illinois Beach State Park , featuring over six miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, as well as dune areas, wetlands, prairie, and black oak savanna. Several local environmental groups operate in Lake County, such as Conserve Lake County and Citizens for Conservation , working to improve habitat. Volunteer opportunities also exist with the Lake County Forest Preserve District. Lake County's county road system currently covers 300 miles of road. The county also employs two different numbering systems,
1634-615: Is also home to Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science , which houses the Chicago Medical School . Land speculators moved into the area south of what is now the city of Waukegan in the 1890s. Industrial development began almost immediately with a railroad depot being set up in 1892; most notable was the arrival of the Washburn and Moen Manufacturing Company, a major barbed wire maker. The settlement
1720-486: Is an industrial suburb located 36 miles (58 km) north of Chicago . It is the most populous city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois , United States. As of the 2020 census , its population was 89,321, making it the seventh-most populous city within the Chicago metropolitan area and the 10th-most populous city in Illinois . Unlike nearby wealthy North Shore suburbs, Waukegan has long been classified by
1806-785: Is conducted annually for cities over 65,000 via sampling), the population of Lake County, Illinois was 61.8% White (57.8% Non-Hispanic White and 4.0% Hispanic White ), 6.3% Black or African American , 8.4% Asian , 1.1% Native American and Alaskan Native , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 7.5% Some Other Race, and 14.8% from two or more races . The White population continued to remain the largest racial category and included 17.3% of Hispanics in Lake County who identify as White. A plurality of Hispanics identified as Multiracial (48.5%) with others continuing to identify as Some Other Race (29.1%) and smaller amounts identifying as Black (0.5%), American Indian and Alaskan Native (4.0%), Asian (0.4%), and Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (0.1%). By ethnicity, 23.1% of
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#17327756243901892-465: Is known as "Scoop Unplugged". The City of Waukegan is run on a mayor–council government . The city government consists of a single elected mayor and city clerk, with a city council composed of nine alderpersons, who are elected to represent the nine wards of the city. Any new membera are sworn on the first Monday in May of their respective election year, as it coincides with the first city council meeting of
1978-600: Is land and 935 square miles (2,420 km ) (67.6%) is water. It is the second-largest county in Illinois by total area and the only one that has more water area than land area. Most of the water is in Lake Michigan . Besides Lake Michigan , lakes in the county include: Lake County's forest preserves and natural areas are administered by the Lake County Forest Preserves district. These facilities include traditional nature preserves, such as
2064-688: Is named after him. Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Otto Graham (1921–2003) was born and raised in Waukegan and attended nearby Northwestern University on a basketball scholarship, though football soon became his main sport. Graham played quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL), taking his team to league championships every year between 1946 and 1955, winning seven of them. While most of Graham's statistical records have been surpassed in
2150-485: Is on the shore of Lake Michigan , about 11 miles (18 km) south of the border with Wisconsin and 37 miles (60 km) north of downtown Chicago at an elevation around 650 feet (200 m) above sea level. Chicago has two major streets that venture north to Waukegan, one being Sheridan Road , which extends north from Diversey Parkway in Lincoln Park . The second street is Milwaukee Avenue , which starts at
2236-515: Is one of the collar counties of the Chicago metropolitan area . Its northern boundary is the Wisconsin state line. According to the 2010 census , Lake County is the second wealthiest county in the state by per capita income , after DuPage County . Additionally, Lake County ranks as the 27th wealthiest county in the nation. The county includes the affluent North Shore communities of Lake Forest , Lake Bluff , and Highland Park , and much of
2322-712: Is the city's high school. Two Metra stations provide commuter rail service to North Chicago along the Union Pacific North Line , the North Chicago station and the Great Lakes station . Trains serving these stations travel south to Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago, and north to Kenosha. Additionally, Pace provides bus service on multiple routes connecting North Chicago to Waukegan and other destinations. [REDACTED] Chicago portal Lake County, Illinois Lake County
2408-565: Is the county's main print newspaper. It is printed and published in Gurnee. Lake and McHenry County Scanner , launched in 2012 by Sam Borcia, is the county's biggest digital newspaper which covers Lake County as well as nearby McHenry County . The publication's work has been quoted in top news outlets such as Fox News and Yahoo! News. The county is also covered by the Chicago Sun-Times and The Daily Herald . The following
2494-462: The Chicago and Milwaukee Railway through Waukegan by 1855 stimulated the growth and rapid transformation and development of the city's industry, so much that nearly 1000 ships were visiting Waukegan harbor every year. During the 1860s, a substantial German population began to grow inside the city. Waukegan's development began in many ways with the arrival of industries such as United States Sugar Refinery, which opened in 1890, Washburn & Moen,
2580-685: The George Floyd police shooting in Minneapolis turned violent when a portion of the protesters looted and damaged local businesses along Lewis Avenue from Glen Flora Street north into the Village of Beach Park . According to local activist Ralph Peterson, who organized the earlier peaceful march moving east along Grand Avenue into the downtown area, two intoxicated locals and about five “professional provocateurs” not recognized by attendees attempted to incite to violence 50-75 protesters gathered at
2666-575: The Ottoman Empire . Curezhin lost two fingers on his right hand while testing explosives for this purpose in Waukegan in 1904. By the 1920s and 1930s, African Americans began to migrate to the city, mostly from the South . The town was afflicted with racial strife. In June 1920, an African-American boy allegedly hit the car of an off-duty sailor from nearby Great Lakes Naval Base with a rock, and hundreds of white sailors gathered at Sherman House,
North Chicago, Illinois - Misplaced Pages Continue
2752-543: The census of 2000, there were 35,918 people, 7,661 households, and 5,577 families living in the city. The population density was 4,586.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,770.8/km). There were 8,377 housing units at an average density of 1,069.6 units per square mile (413.0 units/km). The racial makeup of the city was 47.72% White , 36.26% African American , 0.84% Native American , 3.59% Asian , 0.15% Pacific Islander , 7.66% from other races , and 3.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.24% of
2838-822: The engineering projects of the 19th century , to the Illinois and thence to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico . North Chicago includes a Lake County Forest Preserve unit, the Greenbelt Cultural Center and Forest Preserve. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 32,574 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 47.89% White (36.3% Non-Hispanic White), 29.92% Black or African American , 3.76% Asian , 0.71% Native American , 0.13% Pacific Islander , 13.30% of some other race and 4.29% of two or more races. 27.19% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). As of
2924-560: The 2010 census, North Chicago has a total area of 7.915 square miles (20.50 km), of which 7.9 square miles (20.46 km) (or 99.81%) is land and 0.015 square miles (0.04 km) (or 0.19%) is water. The city is situated on Lake Michigan , immediately to the south of Waukegan . Most of its territory drains directly to the lake, but the western region drains to the North Branch of the Chicago River , and ultimately, since
3010-544: The African-American section of town lacked sewers and paved roads. Latinos have arrived in significant numbers, particularly from Mexico , and now form the largest racial/ethnic group in the city (36% as of 2020), just as they do in Waukegan to the north (60% in 2020). North Chicago may have over time been the most diverse and multicultural municipality in Lake County. Companies such as Washburn and Moen played
3096-400: The Chicago metropolitan area during the 2000 census . This inclusion took place as a result of suburban sprawl , effectively dissolving the region's identity as self-standing. Despite this, Waukegan has retained a distinct industrial character in contrast to many of the residential suburbs along Chicago's North Shore . The financial disparity created by the disappearance of manufacturing from
3182-610: The Illinois state government as overall "socioeconomically distressed" despite having some middle class inhabitants. The site of present-day Waukegan was recorded as Rivière du Vieux Fort ("Old Fort River") and Wakaygagh on a 1778 map by Thomas Hutchins . By the 1820s, the French name had become "Small Fort River" in English, and the settlement was known as "Little Fort". The name "Waukegance" and then "Waukegan" (meaning "little fort"; cf. Potawatomi wakaigin "fort" or "fortress")
3268-448: The OMC plant, directly to Waukegan Harbor and into ditches discharging into Lake Michigan. The OMC plants were subsequently added to the National Priorities List , and was designated as one of 43 Great Lakes Areas of Concern . Cleanup of the site began in 1990, with OMC providing $ 20–25 million in funding. During the OMC cleanup, additional soil contaminants were found at the location of
3354-717: The Ryerson Conservation Area, as well as golf courses and historic homes, such as the Adlai Stevenson historic home. A long north–south string of the preserves in Lake County, including Half Day Woods, Old School Forest Preserve, Independence Grove, and Van Patten Woods, form the Des Plaines River Greenway, which contains the Des Plaines River Trail, a popular place for walking, running, and biking. Lake County
3440-569: The addition of the jail in 1969 and courts in 1970. Shortly thereafter, the Lake County Board commissioned the construction of a multi-faceted justice facility and ground was broken in 1986 for the Robert H. Babcox Justice Center, named in memory of Sheriff Babcox, who served as Lake County Sheriff from 1982 to 1988. The justice center, which houses the county jail, work release program, sheriff's administration offices and three courtrooms,
3526-606: The area. At one time, Navy personnel were a major part of the scene in North Chicago, both the "swabbies" (enlisted men) and the officers. Now, with the degeneration of "the Strip", or entertainment district along several blocks of Sheridan Road, sailors are rarely seen north of the railroad trestle. In the fall of 2007, the city finished demolishing the buildings on Sheridan Road between Martin Luther King Drive and
North Chicago, Illinois - Misplaced Pages Continue
3612-582: The asbestos was completed. However, additional asbestos contamination was found outside the Johns-Manville property, which will require further cleanup. The Yeoman Creek Landfill is a Superfund site located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of the Johns Manville site. The site operated as a landfill from 1959 to 1969. In 1970, it was discovered that the lack of a bottom liner in the landfill had allowed leachate to enter groundwater, contaminating
3698-404: The average family size was 3.64. In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 34.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 9.2% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 156.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 176.3 males. The median income for a household in the city
3784-414: The building was reconstructed at a cost of $ 45,000. In 1895, the first jail building was added to the government complex and a west addition was added to the courthouse in 1922. By 1938, county commissioners saw a need for additional space and approved the addition of a 5th Floor. This courthouse, however, was demolished in 1967 to make room for a new high-rise administration building, which was completed with
3870-416: The city in part contributed to the Waukegan riot of 1966 . Central to this event and the remainder of Waukegan's 20th-century history was Robert Sabonjian , who served as mayor for 24 years, and earned the nickname the " Mayor Daley of Waukegan" for his personal and sometimes controversial style of politics. 2020 George Floyd Protests and Unrest On Sunday, May 31, 2020 a peaceful protest in reaction to
3956-534: The city was 30.92% White, 19.21% African American, 0.54% Native American, 3.58% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 22.96% from other races, and 3.50% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 44.82% of the population. Of the 27,787 households, 40.4% had children under 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were not families. About 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who
4042-532: The city were: The city has plans for redevelopment of the lakefront. The lakefront and harbor plan calls for most industrial activity to be removed, except for the Midwest Generation power plant and North Shore wastewater treatment facilities. The existing industry would be replaced by residential and recreational space. The city also set up several tax increment financing zones, which have been successful in attracting new developers. The first step in
4128-414: The confrontations, and over twenty people were arrested with no injuries reported. Upon finding that the vast majority of rioters were Waukegan residents, Cunningham stated, “That really hurts, that you would hurt your own block, your own store, your own business, your own neighborhood, city.” The next day, local business owners and volunteers gathered to clean up the damage. Later on Monday, another protest
4214-459: The corner of Glen Flora and North Lewis Avenue. Following the arrival of police, Peterson and Clyde McLemore, founder of the Lake County chapter of Black Lives Matter , attempted to disperse the crowd and diffuse police confrontations. Many in the dispersed and agitated crowd then began damaging and looting local businesses near Waukegan Plaza, as well as confronting arriving police with displays of violence and damage to police vehicles. The crowd size
4300-416: The corner of Grand Avenue and West Street is a historic church, one of the first ones in Waukegan. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago operates Catholic churches. On July 1, 2020, St. Anastasia Parish and St. Dismas Parish merged, with the former having the parish school and the latter having the parish church. According to Waukegan's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in
4386-612: The county and comprise 24% of the county's population in 2020. Naval Station Great Lakes is located in the city of North Chicago . It is the United States Navy 's Headquarters Command for training, and the Navy's only recruit training center. The county was created by the Illinois State Legislature in 1839. At that time, the county was mostly unsettled; Libertyville , then known as Independence Grove,
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#17327756243904472-515: The county's wealth is concentrated in this area, as well as in communities bordering Cook County to the south and McHenry County to the west. The north and northwest areas of the county, though historically rural and exurban, have experienced rapid suburbanization in the past three decades, while the lakefront communities of Waukegan , North Chicago , and Zion are postindustrial areas that have majority-minority populations. The Hispanic population has seen significant increases in nearly all areas of
4558-490: The county. The following sports teams play in Lake County: The county is divided into eighteen townships . County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff , coroner , clerk, treasurer , State's attorney, regional superintendent, and circuit court clerk . Each of these elected officers serves a term of four years and oversees a different part of county government. As
4644-480: The first Democrat to win an absolute majority in the county since James K. Polk in 1844, and the first to win it at all since Pierce in 1852. Between 1968 and 1988, however, Lake County became powerfully Republican once more, with no Democrat cracking forty percent of the vote. However, as in the other collar counties, the Republican edge narrowed considerably in the 1990s, and Bill Clinton actually won it with
4730-492: The former Waukegan Manufactured Gas and Coke Company. Soil removal was completed at the coke site in 2005, and cleanup of that soil will continue for several years. The Johns Manville site is located 1 mi (1.6 km) north of the OMC site. In 1988, asbestos contamination found in groundwater and air prompted listing on the National Priorities List and subsequent cleanup. In 1991, the soil cover of
4816-485: The highest Honduran population in Illinois, as well as many Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central American descendants. 5.3% of Waukegan's non-Hispanic white population were of German ancestry. As of the census of 2000, 87,901 people, 27,787 households, and 19,450 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,475.0 people/km (3,820 people/sq mi). The 29,243 housing units had an average density of 490.7 units/km (1,271 units/sq mi). The racial makeup of
4902-566: The house at 518 Clayton Street is the only one of them still standing. It was designated a landmark by the town on April 17, 2006. Science-fiction author and novelist Ray Bradbury (1920–2012) was born in Waukegan. Although he moved with his family to the West Coast while still a child, many of his stories are built on his formative years in the town of Waukegan, often called Green Town in his stories, such as Dandelion Wine . The Ray Bradbury Park, located at 99 N. Park Ave. in Waukegan,
4988-434: The intersection of Desplaines Street and Kinzie Street in downtown Chicago. According to the 2010 census, Waukegan has a total area of 24.50 square miles (63.45 km ), of which 0.24 square miles (0.62 km ), or 0.99%, is covered by water. Waukegan is located within the humid continental climate zone ( Köppen : Dfa ) with warm to hot (and often humid) summers, and cold and snowy winters. The record high temperature
5074-468: The jail, but in 1853, commissioners constructed a building to accommodate county administration offices and house records. When fire damaged the courthouse on October 19, 1875, the county records were saved because they were in the adjacent building. After the fire, proposals were made to move the county seat to Highland Park, Libertyville or another site in central Lake County. The county commissioners, however, decided to rebuild in Waukegan. The east half of
5160-577: The largest wrongful conviction settlement in United States history, including $ 2 million from John E. Reid & Associates, who were known for the Reid technique of questioning suspects. This technique has been widely criticized for its history of eliciting confessions that were later determined to be false. Rivera was questioned twice at Reid headquarters by an employee of the company during his interrogation, which lasted for several days. Another payout
5246-694: The map for millions of his listeners, and later viewers, over the years. The community was proud of his success. The Jack Benny Middle School in Waukegan is named in his honor, which Benny said holds as the greatest thrill he had ever experienced. A statue of Benny, dedicated in 2002, stands in downtown facing the Genesee Theater, which hosted the world premiere of his film Man about Town in 1939, with wife Mary, Dorothy Lamour , Phil Harris , Andy Devine , Don Wilson and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson appearing onstage. Benny's family lived in several places in Waukegan during his formative years there, but
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#17327756243905332-509: The military members carried torches, gasoline, and the American flag. The Waukegan police once again turned them away, but not before firing and wounding two members of the crowd. The police were not always so willing to protect Waukegan's citizens. The chief of police and the state's attorney in the 1920s, for example, were avowed members of the Ku Klux Klan , facts that came to light when a wrongfully convicted African-American war veteran
5418-560: The modern era, he still holds the NFL record for career average yards gained per pass attempt, with 8.98. He also holds the record for the highest career winning percentage for an NFL starting quarterback, at 0.814. Graham is one of only two people (the other being Gene Conley) to win championships in two of the four major North American sports—1946 NBL (became NBA) and AAFC championship, plus three more AAFC and three NFL championships. Olympian and All-American track star Shakedia Jones (1979–Present)
5504-509: The month. The members of the city council as of 2021 are: Members of the city council serve for four years, and are all elected on the same election year. The last election was in April 2023. The mayor of Waukegan as of 2021 is Ann B. Taylor, the city's first female mayor. She was elected in April 2021, defeating incumbent Sam Cunningham , the city's first African American mayor. Since at least 1996, no mayor has been elected for more than
5590-408: The population. There were 7,661 households, out of which 46.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 18.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and
5676-463: The population. In terms of ancestry, 20.5% were German , 12.9% were Irish , 9.4% were Polish , 6.9% were Italian , 6.5% were English , and 4.0% were American . Of the 241,712 households, 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.8% were non-families, and 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size
5762-417: The production of highway markers near the beginning of 2009, but the seemingly arbitrary numbering system as well as the cost to produce the markers resulted in a lot of confusion and backlash, and ultimately only some of the markers were produced and mounted. For Lake County, all East–West-bound County Routes begin with an "A", while North—South-bound County Routes on the western half of the county begin with
5848-471: The railroad trestle to the north, within the framework of a new development project involving tax increment financing . A number of movies have been filmed on the Illinois Route 137 highway through North Chicago including Groundhog Day . North Chicago is located at 42°19′20″N 87°51′16″W / 42.322272°N 87.854470°W / 42.322272; -87.854470 . According to
5934-598: The revitalization effort, the opening of the Genesee Theatre , has been completed, many new restaurants have opened, buildings have been renovated, and the City of Waukegan has made substantial investments in the pedestrian areas and other infrastructure. The city has had an annual "Scoop the Loop" summer festival of cruising since 1998, which since 2010 has become a monthly event during the summer. The current incarnation
6020-399: The state. At 36%, Donald Trump 's performance in the county was the worst of any Republican presidential nominee since 1912. In 2020, Joe Biden won 61% of the vote, the highest percentage of the vote for any candidate since 1988 and the highest ever attained by a Democrat. Lake County has the highest payout for wrongful conviction in the United States. Juan Rivera was awarded $ 20 million,
6106-546: The total population was Hispanic-Latino (of any race) and 76.9% is Non-Hispanic (of any race). If treated as a separate category, Hispanics are the largest minority group in Lake County, Illinois surpassing the Black population from the 1990 Census onward. The majority of Hispanic/ Latino residents in Lake County, Illinois are of Mexican descent (18.0% of the county population in 2021). There are also communities of Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central American, and South American ancestry in
6192-501: The water with volatile organic compounds and PCBs, and releasing gases that presented an explosion hazard. All major cleanup construction activities were completed in 2005, and monitoring of local water and air continues. The book Lake Effect by Nancy Nichols gives an account of the effects of PCBs on Waukegan residents. The Johns Manville site was cited due to its high concentration of PCBs and asbestos. Racial Makeup of Waukegan (2023) Racial Makeup of Waukegan treating Hispanics as
6278-603: Was $ 38,180, and the median income for a family was $ 40,485. Males had a median income of $ 24,480 versus $ 23,736 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 14,564. About 12.0% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over. North Chicago census figures include the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. North Chicago Community Unit School District 187 operates public schools. North Chicago High School
6364-738: Was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.31. The median age was 36.7 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 78,948 and the median income for a family was $ 91,693. Males had a median income of $ 62,042 versus $ 44,200 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 38,120. About 4.8% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over. Racial Makeup of Lake County (2021) Racial Makeup of Lake County excluding Hispanics from Racial Categories (2021) NH=Non-Hispanic Racial Makeup of Hispanics in Lake County (2021) According to 2021 US Census Bureau American Community Survey one-year estimates (which
6450-400: Was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.09, and the average family size was 3.68. In the city, the age distribution was 30.2% under 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 103.2 males. The median income for
6536-426: Was campaigning in the town in 1860, he was interrupted by a ringing fire alarm. During the middle of the 19th century, Waukegan was becoming an important industrial hub. Industries included ship and wagon building, flour milling, sheep raising, pork packing, and dairying. William Besley's Waukegan Brewing Company was one of the most successful of these businesses, being able to sell beyond America. The construction of
6622-474: Was created by John H. Kinzie and Solomon Juneau , and the new name was adopted on March 31, 1849. Waukegan had an abolitionist community dating to these early days. In 1853, residents commemorated the anniversary of emancipation of slaves in the British Empire with a meeting. Waukegan arguably has the distinction of being the only place where Abraham Lincoln failed to finish a speech. When he
6708-473: Was finished in 1989 at a cost of $ 29.6 million. Additional county government facilities have been built or expanded throughout Lake County, including the Coroner's Office, Health Department/Community Health Center facilities, Division of Transportation, Public Works and Winchester House. Lake County government services extend throughout the county's 470 square miles (1,200 km ). The historic Half Day Inn,
6794-535: Was held at Waukegan Plaza, which was peaceful and caused no damage. On Tuesday, local faith leaders organized a vigil to denounce looting as counterproductive while demanding justice for the shooting of George Floyd. At least one attendee and long-time resident was also present at the 1966 Waukegan Riot and expressed regret that it had occurred again. Waukegan is located at 42°22′13″N 87°52′16″W / 42.37028°N 87.87111°W / 42.37028; -87.87111 (42.3703140, −87.8711404). Waukegan
6880-513: Was incorporated as a village in 1895 and as a city in 1909. In 1911, a naval training area was created, the present Great Lakes Naval Training Center , currently the only "boot camp" for Navy enlisted personnel after the closure of facilities in Florida , California , and Houston, MS . A Veteran's Administration hospital went into service in 1926. This facility was also threatened with closure in recent years but has been retained on condition of
6966-569: Was made to Jerry Hobbs. Kathleen Zellner settled Jerry Hobbs' civil rights case for $ 7.75 million. Hobbs was incarcerated for 66 months. This was the largest pre-trial detainee settlement in the United States. Lake County is covered by the Chicago and Milwaukee media market and the county relies on Chicago and Milwaukee television stations, radio stations, and newspapers for the source of its news and information. The county has multiple radio stations, including 102.3 FM XLC and 98.3 FM WRLR. The Lake County News-Sun , owned by Tribune Publishing ,
7052-437: Was not chosen and instead each county was given the freedom to number their own county routes as well as choose whether or not to produce and display highway markers . Currently, only Lake County, Boone County , McHenry County and Cook County use NACo's proposed numbering system, and of the four only Lake and McHenry counties chose to fully display the county route designations on highway markers. Cook County began to roll out
7138-640: Was only broken in 1912 , when the GOP was mortally divided and Lake County voted for Progressive Party nominee and former president Theodore Roosevelt over conservative incumbent William Howard Taft . In 1964 the Republican Party nominated Barry Goldwater , whose hostility to the Yankee establishment and strongly conservative platform were sufficient to leave many traditional Republicans to stay home or even to vote for Lyndon Johnson, who narrowly became
7224-613: Was released from prison on appeal after 25 years. Labor unrest also occurred regularly. In 1919, a strike at the US Steel and Wire Company – which had acquired Washburn & Moen – led to a call for intervention from the state militia. Noted organized crime boss Johnny Torrio served time in Waukegan's Lake County jail in 1925. He installed bulletproof covers on the windows of his cell at his own expense for fear of assassination attempts. The Waukegan urban area developed independently of Chicago, before being officially incorporated into
7310-414: Was the first county seat. In 1841, however, the county's residents voted to move the county government to Little Fort, now Waukegan, where the commissioners had purchased a section of land from the state. Lake County's first courthouse was built on part of that land in 1844 and the remainder was sold to pay for the $ 4,000 construction cost. The county's first courthouse was used solely for court sessions and
7396-582: Was then estimated have grown to several hundred. Businesses from Glen Flora Avenue north to Yorkhouse Road in Beach Park suffered looting of merchandise, property damage and vandalism. In addition to the Waukegan Police Department, about 100 officers from neighboring departments and several dozen sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the area. Mayor Sam Cunningham issued a city-wide curfew. Five county squad cars were damaged during
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