Lake Forest, Illinois | |
|---|---|
 Lake Forest City Hall | |
 Location of Lake Forest in Lake County, Illinois. | |
  Lake Forest Location within Illinois Show map of Chicago metropolitan area Lake Forest Location within United States Show map of Illinois Lake Forest Lake Forest (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:42°14′15″N87°51′43″W / 42.23750°N 87.86194°W /42.23750; -87.86194[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Lake |
| Township | Moraine,Shields,Vernon,West Deerfield |
| Founded | 1857 |
| Incorporated | 1861 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-manager |
| Area | |
• Total | 17.27 sq mi (44.72 km2) |
| • Land | 17.20 sq mi (44.55 km2) |
| • Water | 0.066 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 663 ft (202 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 19,367 |
| • Density | 1,126.0/sq mi (434.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code | 60045 |
| Area codes | 847, 224 |
| FIPS code | 17-41105 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395590[1] |
| Website | www |
Lake Forest is a city inLake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 19,367 at the2020 census.[3] The city is along the shore ofLake Michigan, and is part of theChicago metropolitan area and theNorth Shore. Lake Forest was founded withLake Forest College and was laid out as a town in 1857, a stop for travelers making their way south toChicago. The Lake Forest City Hall, designed byCharles Sumner Frost, was completed in 1898. It originally housed the fire department, the Lake Forest Library, and city offices.[4]
ThePotawatomi inhabited Lake County before the United States Federal Government forced them out in 1836 as part ofIndian Removal of tribes to areas west of theMississippi River.[5]
As Lake Forest was first developed in 1857, the planners laid roads that would provide limited access to the city in an effort to prevent outside traffic and isolate the tranquil settlement from neighboring areas. Though the town is considerably more accessible today, due in part to the extensive new construction taking place further west, the much smaller neighborhood of eastern Lake Forest, near the coast ofLake Michigan, remains relatively secluded. It is one of the most scenic, historical, and architecturally significant suburbs of Chicago. These neighborhoods include estates and homes designed by distinguished architects such asHoward Van Doren Shaw,David Adler,Frank Lloyd Wright, Arthur Heun, Jerome Cerny,Henry Ives Cobb, and modernistGeorge Fred Keck, among others. Landscape architectsFrederick Law Olmsted andJens Jensen also designed projects in Lake Forest.Market Square, designed byHoward Van Doren Shaw, was completed in 1916 as a commercial center for Lake Forest.
Lake Forest had an African-American community from very early on in its history, drawn to employment opportunities on the estates and educational institutions in the late 19th century. Unlike other communities in the area, Lake Forest had many residents who were associated with theAbolitionist movement.[6] Lake Forest's first mayor and a founder of Lake Forest College, Sylvester Lind, was a major figure on theUnderground Railroad, and was known to help escaped slaves settle in Lake Forest. Roxana Beecher, niece of abolitionistHarriet Beecher Stowe, taught integrated school in Lake Forest. A prominent early Lake Forest businessman was Samuel Dent, an escaped slave and Union veteran who ran a livery stable. A local jazz band was named in Dent's memory.[7] Another black entrepreneur was Julian Matthews, who ran a bakery, restaurant, and ice cream parlor with his wife Octavia. The second police officer hired in 1900 in Lake Forest was a black man from Kentucky, Walker Sales, who was hired in 1900 and stayed on for nearly 20 years. Members of this African-American community established the African Methodist Episcopal Church as of 1866, and it stood at what is now the corner of Maplewood and Washington Road. By 1900, another black church, the First Baptist Church of Lake Forest, had opened and is still active.[8] By the 1980s, increased housing prices had encouraged some older black residents to sell their properties lucratively, but others stayed in the community.[7] Lake Forest also had a small community of Jews, typified by wealthy socialites such asAlbert Lasker andDavid Adler.[9]
The secluded style of Lake Forest was intended as a form of protection. According to the president of the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society, the captains of industry and upper-class elite who first settled in Lake Forest sought a refuge from late 19th and early 20th-century Chicago. In their view, the city was overrun with immigrants from southern and eastern Europe who had dangerous socialist ideas and indulged in excessive alcoholic consumption.[5]
Country clubs became important centers of social activity in Lake Forest's early decades. TheOnwentsia Club was, in the words of one writer, "the premiere social and sporting club in the Midwest".[5]
Beginning in the 1950s, Lake Forest's population increased dramatically due to an aggressive program of real estate development and annexation of surrounding areas. While city limits did not originally extend west of Green Bay Road, they gradually expanded. The neighborhood now known as "West Lake Forest" was started as an unincorporated community known as Everett, with many Irish farm workers, who were served by Saint Patrick's Catholic Church. This expansion was not without controversy, as many residents felt that the community was losing its character. NovelistArthur Meeker Jr., who grew up in West Lake Forest in the early 1900s, considered moving back to his childhood community, but upon visiting in the 1950s "to my dismay I found this region wasn't really rural anymore. … The Lake Forest of my childhood had all but vanished".[10] Everett was annexed by Lake Forest in 1926, but did not become heavily developed for several decades.[11] In 1988, the community expanded further westward, annexing 682 acres of land surroundingLake Forest Academy andConway Farms Golf Club, despite negative reactions from residents. The city government justified the expansion as necessary to prevent unwanted commercial development encroaching the edges of the community.[12]
One of Lake Forest's most notable features is its virginprairies and othernature preserves. In 1967, a group of 12 long-time residents of Lake Forest formed aland conservation organization, Lake Forest Open Lands Association.[13] Its express purpose was to purchase or otherwise set aside the rapidly disappearingopen spaces in the city, in the interests of preservinganimalhabitat, restoringecosystems, and providingenvironmental education for the city's children. In the next 38 years, the group managed to acquire more than 700 acres (2.8 km2) within the city limits, which now form six nature preserves with 12 miles (19 km) ofwalking trails open to the public.
Preserved in perpetuity arewetlands, original pre-1830 prairie,woodland, andsavanna, all within the community. The restoration of these lands is celebrated by an annual "Bagpipes and Bonfire" event in September, which started as a community event in which controlled fires were burned to clear underbrush and preserve the savannah. From an early time, the playing of bagpipes has accompanied the community gathering, as the town had numerous Scots-Irish residents in its early years. This has also been an annual fundraising event for Lake Forest Open Lands Association.[14]
Gorton Center, which originally housed the town's first K-8 school, is a hub for arts and culture and a community venue. Gorton presents live music, storytelling, children's events and community events; has a film program; produces and offers classes for youth and adults, including Gorton Drama Studio, theater and acting classes for all ages; houses a children's learning center; houses other nonprofits; provides places for others to rent for their special events and meetings. Designed, built and opened as the Central School in 1901, the original building was designed by James Gamble Rogers and remodeled in 1907 by Howard Van Doren Shaw.
The Ragdale Foundation, an artists' community and residence, is located in Lake Forest. FormerlyHoward Van Doren Shaw's summer retreat and built in 1897, the estate has accommodated the artistSylvia Shaw Judson.
In 1992, Lake Forest gained national attention when it attempted to ban the sale of offensive music to anyone under the age of 18.[15] City council members used existing ordinances against obscenity—defined in the codes as "morbid interest in nudity, sex or excretion"—to buttress their campaign.[15] Mayor Charles Clarke stated, "If they sell an obscene tape to somebody underage, we will prosecute."[15] The person who came up most frequently in discussions of obscene content wasIce-T, a rapper who has since also performed as an actor.
Lake Forest has been named aTree City USA by theNational Arbor Day Foundation in recognition of its commitment to community forest. As of 2006, Lake Forest had received this national honor for 26 years.[citation needed] The actorMr. T angered town residents by cutting down more than 100 oak trees on his estate, in what is now referred to as the "Lake Forest Chain Saw Massacre".[16]
Lake Forest is a suburb of the city of Chicago, located in the extreme northeastern region of Illinois on theNorth Shore. According to the 2020 USgazetteer files, the village has a total area of 17.266 square miles (44.72 km2; 4,472 ha), of which 17.2 square miles (45 km2; 4,500 ha) is land, and 0.066 square miles (0.17 km2; 17 ha) (or 0.38%) is water.[17]
Due to its proximity to the city, Lake Forest's climate shares many of the same traits as Chicago. Lake Forest lies in ahumid continental climate zone (Köppen:Dfa) and experiences four distinct seasons.[18] Like all Chicago suburbs, Lake Forest lies withinUSDA planthardiness zone 5b.[19]
Commercial development in Lake Forest is focused in three areas, two of which have public railway stations. The central business district includes aMetra commuter railroad station on theUnion Pacific/North Line. It extends beyond Market Square, providing a mixture of retail, banking, and professional services, as well as restaurants. Market Square is composed of a wide variety of shops and restaurants. The business district to the west includes a Metra commuter railroad station on theMilwaukee District/North Line. It extends beyond Settlers' Square to provide a mixture of retail, banking and professional services, as well as restaurants. A third area of business development, consisting mostly of corporate and office space, has been developed along the city's northwestern border with theTri-State Tollway.
The headquarters ofFortune 500 companiesBrunswick, andHospira are located in Lake Forest;Akorn, Covered Logistics,Horizon Therapeutics,IDEX,Packaging Corporation of America,Pactiv, Prestone, andTrustmark also have their headquarters in Lake Forest, whileW. W. Grainger andBFG Technologies are located inunincorporated Lake County, near Lake Forest. TheChicago Bears training facility and headquarters,Halas Hall, opened in 1997 in west Lake Forest, and theChicago Fire now train at the Bears' previous facility located on the campus of Lake Forest.
Lake Forest is the base for Linking Efforts Against Drugs (LEAD),[20] a national organization aimed at discouraging youth from getting involved in drugs. It empowers parents and community members to encourage the drug-free choice.
According to Lake Forest's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[21] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital | 1,395 |
| 2 | Pfizer | 700 |
| 3 | Abbott | 826 |
| 4 | Trustmark Insurance Company | 712 |
| 5 | Lake Forest College | 415 |
| 6 | Pactiv | 388 |
| 7 | Lake Forest Elementary School District 67 | 321 |
| 8 | Packaging Corporation of America | 298 |
| 9 | Lake Forest Community High School District 115 | 275 |
| 10 | City of Lake Forest | 210 |
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 877 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,203 | 37.2% | |
| 1900 | 2,215 | 84.1% | |
| 1910 | 3,349 | 51.2% | |
| 1920 | 3,657 | 9.2% | |
| 1930 | 6,554 | 79.2% | |
| 1940 | 6,885 | 5.1% | |
| 1950 | 7,819 | 13.6% | |
| 1960 | 10,687 | 36.7% | |
| 1970 | 15,642 | 46.4% | |
| 1980 | 15,245 | −2.5% | |
| 1990 | 17,836 | 17.0% | |
| 2000 | 20,059 | 12.5% | |
| 2010 | 19,375 | −3.4% | |
| 2020 | 19,367 | 0.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[22] 2010[23] 2020[24] | |||
As of the2020 census[25] there were 19,367 people, 7,203 households, and 5,139 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,121.68 inhabitants per square mile (433.08/km2). There were 7,671 housing units at an average density of 444.28 per square mile (171.54/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.84%White, 1.27%African American, 0.16%Native American, 5.78%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 1.20% fromother races, and 5.72% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 4.72% of the population.
There were 7,203 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.61% were married couples living together, 4.21% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.65% were non-families. 22.87% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.51% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.08 and the average family size was 2.56.
The city's age distribution consisted of 21.1% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 16% from 25 to 44, 28% from 45 to 64, and 24.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $189,118, and the median income for a family was $227,064. Males had a median income of $136,677 versus $55,443 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $98,058. About 1.6% of families and 2.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[26] | Pop 2010[23] | Pop 2020[24] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 18,537 | 17,474 | 16,380 | 92.41% | 90.19% | 84.58% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 263 | 196 | 232 | 1.31% | 1.01% | 1.20% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 8 | 19 | 17 | 0.04% | 0.10% | 0.09% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 691 | 899 | 1,114 | 3.44% | 4.64% | 5.75% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 26 | 1 | 3 | 0.13% | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 14 | 21 | 62 | 0.07% | 0.11% | 0.32% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 144 | 223 | 645 | 0.72% | 1.15% | 3.33% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 376 | 542 | 914 | 1.87% | 2.80% | 4.72% |
| Total | 20,059 | 19,375 | 19,367 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Lake Forest hasInterstate Highway access through theTri-State Tollway (I-94). In addition, theSkokie Highway (U.S. Highway 41) andSkokie Valley Trail runs through Lake Forest, roughly bisecting the city. Lake Forest is connected with suburbs west of it throughIllinois Route 60. Additionally, Lake Forest has two Metra commuter railroad stations, both of which share the same name. TheUnion Pacific North Line has a station inEast Lake Forest, while theMilwaukee District North Line has a station inWest Lake Forest. The station atFort Sheridan is located just outside city borders on the UP-N Line and has connections toPace Route 472.[27]
Most Lake Forest residents attendLake Forest School District 67 andLake Forest High School.[28] Lake Forest High School serves Lake Forest as well as parts of neighboringLake Bluff.[29]
Lake Forest also has another school district,Rondout School District 72, which serves far-eastern parts of Libertyville, and all parts of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff that lie withinLibertyville Township. It has one school, Rondout Elementary School, which serves grades K-8. Students attendLibertyville High School after graduating.
Lake Forest is home to the Gorton Center, which houses the John & Nancy Hughes Theater,[32] the Citadel Theatre Company[33] and the Music Institute of Chicago Lake Forest Campus. Lake Forest is known for its country clubs, including theOnwentsia Club, Knollwood Club,Conway Farms Golf Club, the Lake Forest Winter Club, and the Lake Forest Club.[34]
Lake Forest is noted in theChicago area for its history ofpolo, once being the westernmost establishment of the sport in the United States.[citation needed] In August 1933, the Onwentsia Club[35] of Lake Forest hosted the "World Series of Polo" that pitted the top polo players of the eastern and western United States against each other in a best-of-three series. Dubbed the World Series of Polo by the press, each match drew thousands of spectators to Lake Forest from Chicago and across the country.[36] It was home to the "East-West clash of 1933",[37] in which a team of "Westerners" (who would today be consideredMidwesterners), challenged the best of the Eastern US polo teams, winning two of three matches. Box seats sold for $5.50, and the general public was admitted for $1.10. The Chicago press covered the match extensively, including the arrival of every horse and player, the color of the horseflesh, and the color of the goalposts. The match was described as a "gleaming moment in American polo, if not the very zenith of the game in this country." Today, polo is played yearly throughout August.
Places adjacent to Lake Forest, Illinois | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofLake County, Illinois,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Villages |
| |
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other unincorporated communities | ||
| Former settlements | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
