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Renting an Apartment in Waukegan
Waukegan is a city in Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city
had a total population of 87,901. Estimated population in 2006: 93,389 . It is
the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population.
Geography
Waukegan is located at [show location on an interactive map] 42°22′21″N,
87°51′41″W (42.372471, -87.861521).GR1 Waukegan is on the shore of Lake
Michigan, about 8 miles south of the border with Wisconsin and 40 miles north of
downtown Chicago, at an elevation of about 669 feet above sea level.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 59.8
km˛ (23.1 mi˛). 59.6 km˛ (23.0 mi˛) of it is land and 0.2 km˛ (0.1 mi˛) of it
(0.35%) is water.
Waukegan is commonly referred to as the midpoint between Chicago and Milwaukee.
Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 87,901 people, 27,787 households, and
19,450 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,475.0/km˛
(3,819.8/mi˛). There were 29,243 housing units at an average density of
490.7/km˛ (1,270.8/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city was 50.14% 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. Hispanic or Latino of
any race were 44.82% of the population.
There were 27,787 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 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 non-families. 24.2% of all
households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was
65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average
family size was 3.68.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 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
years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there
were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,335, and the median income
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 10.7% of
families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including
18.1% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
History
Waukegan, first visited by Pere Marquette in 1673, is one of the oldest
communities in Illinois. The city started as a French trading post and
Potawatomi Indian settlement known as "Little Fort". Records dating back to 1829
tell of a treaty signed by the Potawatomis in which they ceded all of their land
in this area to the Federal Government.
Little Fort became the County Seat of Government in 1841 by virture of its
population, replacing Libertyville. Between 1844 and 1846, the town's population
grew from 150 to 750 people. In 1849 when the town was incorporated, the
population had risen to 2,500.
Proud of the growth of their community and no longer wanting to be characterized
as "little", on March 31, 1849 the residents of Little Fort changed the name of
their town to Waukegan, the Potawatomi word for "fort" or "trading post".
Early settlers were initially attracted to Waukegan as a port city and shipped
produce and grain from Lake and McHenry County farms to Chicago. The creation of
the Illinois Parallel Railroad (now the Union Pacific Railroad) in 1855
stimulated interest in Waukegan as a manufacturing center. The town continued to
grow and diversify, and Waukegan was incorporated as a city on February 23,
1859, with an area of 5.62 square miles.
Superfund sites
Waukegan contains three Superfund sites 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 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 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 one mile 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 the
asbestos was completed. However, additional asbestos contamination was found
outside the Johns-Manville property which will require further cleanup. Pieces
of asbestos also continue to wash up at Illinois Beach State Park.
The Yeoman Creek Landfill is a Superfund site located 1.5 miles 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 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.
Revitalization
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
Johns-Manville site is to be converted into a recreational facility containing
16 soccer fields and five baseball diamonds. The city also set up several
tax increment financing zones which have been successful in attracting new
developers. The first step in the revitalization effort, the opening of the
Genesee Theatre, has been completed.