As of the2020 census, its population was 89,321,[6] making it the most populous city in Lake County, the seventh-most populous city within theChicago metropolitan area and the10th-most populous city inIllinois. However, unlike nearby wealthyNorth Shore suburbs, Waukegan has long been classified by the Illinois state government as overall "socioeconomically distressed" despite having somemiddle class inhabitants.[7][8]
The site of present-day Waukegan was recorded asRivière du Vieux Fort ("Old Fort River") andWakaygagh on a 1778 map byThomas 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.Potawatomiwakaigin "fort" or "fortress") was created byJohn H. Kinzie andSolomon Juneau, and the new name was adopted on March 31, 1849.[9][10]
Waukegan had anabolitionist community dating to these early days. In 1853, residents commemorated the anniversary ofemancipation of slaves in the British Empire with a meeting.[11] Waukegan arguably has the distinction of being the only place whereAbraham Lincoln failed to finish a speech. When he was campaigning in the town in 1860, he was interrupted by a ringing fire alarm.[12]
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.[13] The construction of theChicago 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.[13] During the 1860s, a substantialGerman population began to grow inside the city.[13]
Waukegan's development began in many ways with the arrival of industries such as United States Sugar Refinery, which opened in 1890,[14] Washburn & Moen. This barbed-wire manufacturer prompted both labor migration and land speculation beginning in 1891,[15] U.S. Starch Works, and Thomas Brass and Iron Works. Immigrants followed, mostly from southeastern Europe and Scandinavia, with large groups from Sweden, Finland, and Lithuania.[16][17] The town also became home to a considerable Armenian population.[18][19] One member of this community, Monoog Curezhin, even became embroiled in an aborted plot to assassinate SultanAbdul Hamid II, reviled for his involvement inmassacres of Armenians in theOttoman Empire. Curezhin lost two fingers on his right hand while testing explosives for this purpose in Waukegan in 1904.[20]
By the 1920s and 1930s, African Americans began to migrate to the city, mostly from theSouth.[21] The town was afflicted with racial strife. In June 1920, an African-American boy allegedly hit the car of an off-duty sailor from nearbyGreat Lakes Naval Base with a rock, and hundreds of white sailors gathered at Sherman House, 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.[22] The sailors called for lynchings, but were kept back by the intervention of the police.[23]
Marines and sailors renewed their attack on the hotel several days later. The Sherman House residents fled for their lives as the military members carried torches, gasoline, and the American flag.[24] The Waukegan police once again turned them away, but not before firing and wounding two members of the crowd.[25] 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 theKu Klux Klan, facts that came to light when a wrongfully convicted African-American war veteran was released from prison on appeal after 25 years.[26][27] 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.[28][29]
Noted organized crime bossJohnny 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.[30]
The Waukegan urban area developed independently of Chicago before being officially incorporated into the Chicago metropolitan area during the2000 census. This inclusion took place as a result ofsuburban 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'sNorth Shore.[17] The financial disparity created by the disappearance of manufacturing from the city in part contributed to theWaukegan riot of 1966. Central to this event and the remainder of Waukegan's 20th-century history wasRobert 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.[31]
On Sunday, May 31, 2020, apeaceful protest against themurder of George Floyd by police 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 ofBeach 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 the corner of Glen Flora and North Lewis Avenue. Following the arrival of police, Peterson and Clyde McLemore, founder of the Lake County chapter ofBlack 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 was then estimated to have grown to several hundred.[32]
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. MayorSam Cunningham issued a city-wide curfew. Five county squad cars were damaged during the confrontations, and over twenty people were arrested[32] with no injuries reported.[33] 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 was held at Waukegan Plaza, which was peaceful and caused no damage.[34] On Tuesday, local faith leaders organized a vigil to denounce looting as counterproductive while demanding justice for the murder of George Floyd. At least one attendee and long-time resident was also present at the1966 Waukegan Riot and expressed regret that it had occurred again.[35]
Waukegan is on the shore ofLake Michigan, about 11 miles (18 km) south of the border withWisconsin and 37 miles (60 km) north ofdowntown Chicago at an elevation around 650 feet (200 m) above sea level. Chicago has two major streets that venture north to Waukegan, one beingSheridan Road, which extends north fromDiversey Parkway inLincoln Park. The second street isMilwaukee Avenue, which starts at the intersection of Desplaines Street and Kinzie Street in downtown Chicago.
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Waukegan has a total area of 24.48 square miles (63.40 km2), of which 24.23 square miles (62.76 km2) (or 98.99%) is land and 0.25 square miles (0.65 km2) (or 1.01%) is water.[36]
Waukegan is located within thehumid continental climate zone (Köppen:Dfa) with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold and snowy winters. The record high temperature is 108 °F (42 °C), which was set in July 1934, while the record low is −27 °F (−33 °C), set in January 1985.[37] Waukegan's proximity to Lake Michigan moderates the climate, cooling it in the summer and warming it in the winter.
In 1975,PCBs were discovered in Waukegan Harbor sediments. Investigation revealed that during manufacturing activities atOutboard Marine Corporation (OMC), hydraulic fluids containing PCBs had been discharged through floor drains at the OMC plant, directly to Waukegan Harbor and into ditches discharging into Lake Michigan.[39] The OMC plants were subsequently added to theNational Priorities List, and was designated as one of 43Great 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 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.
TheJohns Manville site is located 1 mi (1.6 km) north[40] 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 the asbestos was completed. However, additional asbestos contamination was found outside the Johns-Manville property, which will require further cleanup.[41][42]
The Yeoman Creek Landfill[43] 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 allowedleachate to enter groundwater, contaminating the water withvolatile 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.[44] The bookLake Effect by Nancy Nichols gives an account of the effects of PCBs on Waukegan residents.[45] The Johns Manville site was cited due to its high concentration of PCBs and asbestos.[46]
As of the2020 census[50] there were 89,321 people, 29,822 households, and 20,264 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,649.48 inhabitants per square mile (1,409.07/km2). There were 31,756 housing units at an average density of 1,297.49 per square mile (500.96/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 23.11%White, 16.99%African American, 2.70%Native American, 5.23%Asian, 0.07%Pacific Islander, 35.04% fromother races, and 16.86% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 59.45% of the population.
There were 29,822 households, out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.11% were married couples living together, 17.44% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.05% were non-families. 26.29% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.41% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.50 and the average family size was 2.85.
The city's age distribution consisted of 26.7% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 29% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $53,778, and the median income for a family was $63,401. Males had a median income of $34,308 versus $26,367 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $24,827. About 12.6% of families and 15.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Waukegan city, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
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%).[citation needed]
Christ Episcopal Church on the corner of Grand Avenue and West Street is a historic church, one of the first in Waukegan.
TheRoman 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.[53]
The city has plans for the redevelopment of the lakefront.[55] 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 severaltax increment financing zones, which have been successful in attracting new developers. The first step in the revitalization effort, the opening of theGenesee 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 ofcruising since 1998, which, since 2010, has become a monthly event during the summer. The current incarnation is known as "Scoop Unplugged".[56]
ArtWauk is an art event that happens every third Saturday of the month in downtown Waukegan. It features paintings, sculptures, films, dance, theater, comedy, music, performance art, food, and pedicabs all in the Waukegan Arts District.[57] Other events include theChicago Latino Film Festival and HolidayWauk. The Fiestas Patrias Parade and Festival in downtown Waukegan highlights and celebrates the independence of the many Hispanic countries that are represented in Waukegan.
Waukegan is run on amayor–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.[58] Any new members are sworn in on the first Monday in May of their respective election year, as it coincides with the first city council meeting of the month.
The mayor of Waukegan isSam Cunningham. He was elected in April 2025, defeating incumbent Ann B. Taylor.[59][60] He had previously been mayor from 2017–2021.[61] Early mayors (1849–1909) served one-year terms.[62]
The majority of Waukegan is withinWaukegan Public School District 60.[66] It serves about 17,000 students in preschool through grade 12. Waukegan has three early childhood schools, 13 elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools. The multicampusWaukegan High School serves local high school students in two different campuses: Brookside and Washington. Brookside Campus serves as a 9th–10th grade learning center, while Washington Campus serves as an 11th–12th grade learning center.
Waukegan has a port district that operates the city harbor and regional airport. Waukegan Harbor has a recreational marina and an industrial port, which provides access for 90–100 large shipping vessels yearly. Companies with cargo facilities at the port include Gold Bond Building Products (capacity for 100,000 tons ofgypsum), LaFarge Corp (12 cement silos), and St Mary's Cement Co (two cement silos).[69][70][71]
Pace provides bus service on numerous routes throughout the city with a hub in downtown Waukegan. Separated from downtown by the Amstutz Expressway, theWaukegan station providesMetra commuter rail service along theUnion Pacific North Line. Trains travel south toOgilvie Transportation Center in Chicago and north to Kenosha, Wisconsin.[72]
In her poem 'Twee visschers' (two fishermen), written in Dutch by the Surinam writerRudie van Lier [nl] two men, a white and a black, are fishing together near Waukegan. They are described as the new future.[citation needed]
Ray Bradbury spent his childhood in Waukegan and used it as the basis for Green Town, the setting of three of his books:Dandelion Wine (1957),Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962), andFarewell Summer (2006). In his essay "Just This Side of Byzantium" and poem "Byzantium, I come not from," Bradbury explains the relationship between Green Town and his memories of Waukegan.[citation needed]
The music video "In Love with a Thug" sung bySharissa featuringR. Kelly was filmed in Waukegan, predominantly on the corner of Water Street and Genesee Street.[citation needed]
In their 1979 novelStardance, Spider & Jeanne Robinson refer to Waukegan as if it were a prototypical Earth location, as identified by gravity vs. free fall.[citation needed]
The hip-hop groupAtmosphere namechecks the city in live performances of the song "You."[citation needed]
Tom Waits mentions Waukegan in the song "Gun Street Girl" from his albumRain Dogs (1985): "He left Waukegan at the slamming' of the door".[citation needed]
Although the city has no official sister city relationship, Waukegan is home to about 6,000 people fromTonatico, Mexico, according to a February 2017 article inThe Washington Post. This has created ongoing ties between the two cities.[76]
^abKirkpatrick, Clayton (January 31, 1951). "Waukegan: It's Working Man's Town – and How! City Glories in Smoking Stacks along Lake".Chicago Daily Tribune.
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