Lake County, Illinois
Lake County is the farthest north-east county in the U.S. state of Illinois. A 2006 census estimated the population was 713,076. Its county seat is Waukegan. According to the 2000 United States Census, Lake County is the 31st richest county by per-capita income. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Its lakefront communities from Lake Bluff south (including some in Cook County) are part of an area known as the North Shore, and are generally known for their affluence, with a few exceptions.Originally part of McHenry County, the townships comprising Lake County were carved out into a separate county in 1839.Lake County is also the location of Naval Station Great Lakes, which is the United States Navy's Headquarters Command for training, and their only recruit training center, located in the city of North Chicago.
History
The county, which was primarily unsettled prairie and was still home to its native Potawatomie Indians, was created by the Illinois State Legislature in 1839. At that time, Libertyville, then known as Independence Grove, was the first county seat. In 1841, however, the county's residents voted to move the county government to Little Fort, now known as 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 the jail, but in 1853, commissioners constructed a building to accommodate county administration offices and house records. When fire decimated 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 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 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 1982-1988. The justice center, which houses the county jail, work release program, sheriff's administration offices and three courtrooms, 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 km2).
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 644,356 people, 216,297 households, and 163,953 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,440 people per square mile (556/km²). There were 225,919 housing units at an average density of 505 per square mile (195/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.11% White, 6.94% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 3.90% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.72% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. 14.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.0% were of German, 9.0% Irish, 7.2% Polish, 6.4% Italian and 5.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 78.7% spoke English, 12.9% Spanish and 1.0% Russian as their first language.The Census estimates of 2005 showed Lake County with 68.6% of its residents being non-Hispanic whites, 18.2% Latinos, 6.8% African American and 5.5% Asian.According to the 2000 census there were 216,297 households out of which 42.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.20% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.20% were non-families. 19.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.33.In the county the population was spread out with 29.40% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 31.60% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 8.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.30 males. Waukegan and North Chicago account for 20% of the county's population.The median income for a household in the county was $66,973, and the median income for a family was $76,424 (these figures had risen to $76,940 and $88,851 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $50,789 versus $33,458 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,102. About 4.00% of families and 5.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.00% of those under age 18 and 4.80% of those age 65 or over. The 2000 Census reported that Lake County had the second median highest household income of any county in the state, behind DuPage County.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,368 square miles (3,543 km²), of which, 448 square miles (1,159 km²) of it is land and 920 square miles (2,384 km²) of it is water, much of it in Lake Michigan. The total area is 67.28% water.
Adjacent counties
Kenosha County,Wisconsin- north
Allegan County,Michigan- northeast1
Van Buren County,Michigan- east1
Berrien County,Michigan- southeast1
Cook County,Illinois- south
McHenry County,Illinois- west
1 Boundary lies entirely in Lake Michigan.
State parks
Illinois Beach State Park
North Point Marina
Volo Bog State Natural Area
Lakes
Besides Lake Michigan, lakes in the county include:
Forest preserves and natural areas
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 the Ryerson Conservation Area, as well as golf courses and historic homes, such as the Adlai Stevenson historic home.
Major highways
Interstate 94
U.S. Highway 12
U.S. Highway 14
U.S. Highway 41
U.S. Highway 45
Illinois Route 22
Illinois Route 43
Illinois Route 53
Illinois Route 59
Illinois Route 60
Illinois Route 83
Illinois Route 120
Illinois Route 131
Illinois Route 132
Illinois Route 137
Illinois Route 134
Illinois Route 173
Townships
The county is divided into eighteen townships.
Sports
The following sports teams play in Lake County:- Lake County Fielders baseball
Amusement Parks
Six Flags Great Americalocated inGurnee, Illinois.
Museums
Volo Auto Museum- an automobile museum inVolo, Illinois. It is part of a largerantique mall.
Shopping
Gurnee Mills Malllocated inGurnee, Illinois.
Westfield Hawthorn Centerlocated inVernon Hills, Illinois.
Notable natives and residents
Notable people who are natives of or have lived in Lake County include:Michael Jordan(born February 17, 1963) - a retired American professional basketball player and active businessman. Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest and most popular basketball players of all time. As of 2010, Jordan lives inHighland Park, Illinois.
Ray Bradbury(born August 22, 1920) - American mainstream, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer. Best known for hisdystopiannovelFahrenheit 451andThe Martian Chronicles, Bradbury is widely considered one of the greatest and most popular American writers ofspeculative fictionof the twentieth century. Bradbury was born inWaukegan, Illinois.
Marlon Brando(April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) American actor. As a youngsex symbol, he is best known for his roles inA Streetcar Named Desire,On the WaterfrontandGuys and Dolls. Brando and his family moved toLibertyville, Illinoiswhere he lived from 1937 until 1942.
Vince Vaughn(born March 28, 1970) - American actor. Best known for his roles inSwingersandWedding Crashers. Vaughn grew up inBuffalo Grove, Illinois. He then moved toLake Forest,Illinois, where he graduated fromLake Forest High Schoolin 1988.
Gary Coleman(February 8, 1968 - May 28, 2010) - American actor. Best known for his role asArnold Jacksonin the American sitcomDiff'rent Strokes(1978–1986). Coleman was born inZion, Illinois.
Jack Benny(February 14, 1894 - December 26, 1974) - American entertainer. Comedian, actor and musician, Benny was one of America's greatest stars of radio and television, and also appeared in many films. Benny was raised inWaukegan, Illinois.
Lake County in popular culture
The most notable movies which filmed through the years at Lake county are:Ordinary People(1980) - the movie was filmed in Highwood, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Northbrook and Wilmette.
Class(1983) - the movie was filmed at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest and other locations in Chicago.
Risky Business(1983) - the movie was filmed in Deerfield, Highland Park and Skokie.
Chain Reaction(1996) - the movie has scenes filmed at a famous Lake Bluff estate and was largely shot in downtown Chicago.