''(Fortress or Trading Post)'' , image_flag = , image_seal = , blank_emblem_size = 150 , blank_emblem_type = Logo , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_type1 = State , subdivision_type2 = Counties , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_name1 = Illinois , subdivision_name2 = Lake , government_type = Mayor–council , leader_title = Mayor , leader_name = Ann B. Taylor , area_magnitude = , area_total_sq_mi = 24.47 , area_land_sq_mi = 24.22 , area_water_sq_mi = 0.26 , area_water_percent = 0.99 , area_urban_sq_mi = , area_metro_sq_mi = , population_as_of =

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

, population_total = 89321 , population_rank = 10th largest in Illinois
390th largest in U.S. , population_footnotes = , population_density_sq_mi = 3688.36 , population_metro = 9472676 , population_demonym = Waukeganite , timezone = CST , utc_offset = −6 , timezone_DST = CDT , utc_offset_DST = −5 , area_code = 847 & 224 , elevation_footnotes = , elevation_m = , elevation_ft = 715 , postal_code_type = ZIP Codes , postal_code = 60079, 60085, 60087 , coordinates = , website = , pop_est_as_of = , pop_est_footnotes = , population_est = , unit_pref = Imperial , blank_name = FIPS code , blank_info = 17-79293 , blank2_name =

U.S. Routes The United States Numbered Highway System (often called U.S. Routes or U.S. Highways) is an integrated network of roads and highways numbered within a nationwide grid in the contiguous United States. As the designation and numbering of these h ...

, blank2_info = US 41

, blank3_name = Major State Routes , blank3_info = Illinois 120

, blank4_name = Waterways , blank4_info =

Waukegan River The Waukegan River, a small river in Lake County, Illinois, is a member of the very small class of Illinois rivers that flow into Lake Michigan. It drains part of the city of Waukegan, Illinois, including the city's historic downtown area. The r ...

, blank5_name = Airports , blank5_info =

Waukegan National Airport Waukegan National Airport is a public airport in Waukegan, Illinois, Waukegan, in Lake County, Illinois, Lake County, Illinois. The airport is north of Chicago. It was originally Waukegan Memorial Airport. It has been operated by the Waukegan Po ...

, area_footnotes = , area_total_km2 = 63.38 , area_land_km2 = 62.72 , area_water_km2 = 0.66 , population_density_km2 = 1424.06 , image_map = File:Lake County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Waukegan Highlighted.svg , map_caption = Location of Waukegan in Lake County, Illinois. , pushpin_map = USA , pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States Waukegan (), is the most populous city in and the county seat of Lake County, Illinois, United States. An industrial suburb of Chicago, Waukegan is situated approximately north of Chicago’s city limits. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 89,321, ranking it the seventh most populous city within the Chicago metropolitan area, and the tenth most populous city in Illinois. Waukegan has a significant

working-class The working class (or labouring class) comprises those engaged in manual-labour occupations or industrial work, who are remunerated via waged or salaried contracts. Working-class occupations (see also " Designation of workers by collar colou ...

population, as well as some

poor Poverty is the state of having few material possessions or little

income< ...

areas within the city. Additionally, Waukegan has a moderately sized

middle-class The middle class refers to a class of people in the middle of a social hierarchy, often defined by occupation, income, education, or social status. The term has historically been associated with modernity, capitalism and political debate. Comm ...

community that exists within the city.

History

Founding and 19th century

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 Thomas Hutchins ( Monmouth County, NJ 1730 – April 18, 1789, Pittsburgh) was an American military engineer, cartographer, geographer and surveyor. In 1781, Hutchins was named Geographer of the United States. He is the only person to hold that ...

. 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 The Potawatomi , also spelled Pottawatomi and Pottawatomie (among many variations), are a Native American people of the western Great Lakes region, upper Mississippi River and Great Plains. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a m ...

''wakaigin'' "fort" or "fortress") was created by

John H. Kinzie John Harris Kinzie (July 7, 1803 – June 19, 1865) was a prominent figure in Chicago politics during the 19th century. He served as the president of the Board of Trustees of Chicago when it was still a town and thrice unsuccessfully ran for Chic ...

and

Solomon Juneau Solomon Laurent Juneau, or Laurent-Salomon Juneau (August 9, 1793 – November 14, 1856) was a French Canadian fur trader, land speculator, and politician who helped found the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was born in Repentigny, Quebec, Canad ...

, 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 campaigned in the town in 1860, a fire alarm rang, and the man soon-to-be president had his words interrupted. 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 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 one thousand ships were visiting Waukegan harbor every year. During the 1860s, a substantial

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

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, 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 Abdülhamid or Abdul Hamid II ( ota, عبد الحميد ثانی, Abd ül-Hamid-i Sani; tr, II. Abdülhamid; 21 September 1842 10 February 1918) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 31 August 1876 to 27 April 1909, and the last sultan to ...

, reviled for his involvement in massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Curezhin lost two fingers on his right hand while testing explosives for this purpose in Waukegan in 1904. Waukegan Illinois 1920

20th and 21st century

1900 to 1990

By the 1920s and 1930s, African-Americans began to migrate to the city, mostly from the south. The town was no stranger to racial strife. In June 1920, an African-American boy allegedly hit the car of an off-duty sailor from nearby

Great Lakes Naval Base Naval Station Great Lakes (NAVSTA Great Lakes) is the home of the United States Navy's only recruit training, boot camp, located near North Chicago, Illinois, North Chicago, in Lake County, Illinois. Important tenant commands include the Recruit ...

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. The sailors cried "lynch 'em," but were successfully kept back by the intervention of the police. Marines and sailors renewed their attack on the hotel several days later. The Sherman's residents fled for their lives as 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 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 the Chicago metropolitan area during the 2000 census. This inclusion took place as a result of

suburban sprawl Urban sprawl (also known as suburban sprawl or urban encroachment) is defined as "the spreading of urban developments (such as houses and shopping centers) on undeveloped land near a city." Urban sprawl has been described as the unrestricted growt ...

, affectively 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 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.

Geography

Waukegan is located at (42.3703140, −87.8711404). Waukegan is on the shore of

Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the east, its basin is conjoined with that o ...

, about south of the border with Wisconsin and north of Downtown Chicago at an elevation of about 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 Lincoln Park is a park along Lake Michigan on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. Named after US President Abraham Lincoln, it is the city's largest public park and stretches for seven miles (11 km) from Grand Avenue (500 N), on the south, ...

. The second street is Milwaukee Avenue, which starts at the intersection of Desplaines street and Kinzie street in Downtown Chicago. According to the 2010 census, Waukegan has a total area of , of which are land and , or 0.99%, are water.

Major streets

* Skokie Highway * Waukegan Road * Belvidere Road * Green Bay Road * Grand Avenue * Sheridan Road *

Amstutz Expressway Amstutz is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Adrian Amstutz (born 1953), Swiss politician * Dan Amstutz (1932–2006), American lobbyist * Hobart Baumann Amstutz (1896–1980), American Methodist bishop * Reto Amstutz (born 1993 ...

* Lewis Avenue * Washington Street * Genesee Street

Climate

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 is , which was set in July 1934, while the record low is , set in January 1985. Waukegan's proximity to

helps cool the city throughout the year.

Superfund sites

Waukegan contains three

Superfund Superfund is a United States federal environmental remediation program established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). The program is administered by the United States Environmental Pro ...

sites of hazardous substances that are on the

National Priorities List The National Priorities List (NPL) is the priority list of hazardous waste sites in the United States eligible for long-term remedial investigation and remedial action (cleanup) financed under the federal Superfund program. Environmental Protec ...

. 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

, and was designated as one of 43

Great Lakes Areas of Concern Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" *Artel Great (born ...

. 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 Johns Manville is an American company based in Denver, Colorado, that manufactures insulation, roofing materials and engineered products. For much of the 20th century, the then-titled Johns-Manville Corporation was the global leader in the ma ...

site is located one mile (1.6 km) north of the OMC site. In 1988,

asbestos Asbestos () is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fibre being composed of many microscopic "fibrils" that can be released into the atmosphere b ...

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. The Yeoman Creek Landfill is a Superfund site located 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 A leachate is any liquid that, in the course of passing through matter, extracts soluble or suspended solids, or any other component of the material through which it has passed. Leachate is a widely used term in the environmental sciences wher ...

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. The book ''Lake Effect'' by Nancy Nichols gives an account of the effects of PCBs on Waukegan residents. Johns Manville is a site that was cited due to its high concentration of PCBs and Asbestos.

Demographics

2020 census

''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 can be of any race.''

2019 United States Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates

As of the

2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servin ...

, there were 89,078 people 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 Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 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 the highest Honduran population in Illinois, as well as many Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central American descendants. 5.3% of Waukegans non-Hispanic white population were of

ancestry. As of the census of 2000, there were 87,901 people, 27,787 households, and 19,450 families living in the city. The population density was 1,475.0/km² (3,762.8/mi²). There were 29,243 housing units at an average density of 490.7/km² (1,270.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 30.92% White, 19.21% African American, 0.54% Native American, 3.58%

, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 22.96% from other races, and 3.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

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 24% of families and 24.7% of the population were below the poverty line.

Religion

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%); approximately 11% adhered to other Christian denominations. Other faiths practiced include Judaism (2.7%) and Islam (1.4%). Christ Episcopal Church on 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.

Government

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 aldermen. The alderman are elected to represent the nine wards that the city is made up of. Any new member is sworn on the first Monday in May of their respective election year, as it coincides with the first city council meeting of the month.

City Council

The current members of the city council with their respective political affiliation are as follow: * 1st Ward – Dr. Sylvia Sims Bolton;

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

* 2nd Ward – Patrick D. Seger; Democratic Party * 3rd Ward – Greg "Coach Mo" Moisio; Democratic Party * 4th Ward – Dr. Roudell Kirkwood; Democratic Party * 5th Ward – Edith L. Newsome;

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

* 6th Ward – Keith E. Turner; Democratic Party * 7th Ward – Felix L. Rivera; Independent * 8th Ward – Dr. Lynn M. Florian; Democratic Party * 9th Ward – Thomas J. Hayes; (appointed to fulfill remainder of term) Independent Members of the city council serve for four years, and are all elected on the same election year. The last election was in April 2019, with the next one scheduled for April 2023. The 9th Ward seat was replaced by Thomas Hayes, appointed by Ann Taylor as she gave up her seat to be inaugurated as mayor.

Mayor

The current mayor of Waukegan 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 a single term.

Economy

Top employers

According to Waukegan's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city were:

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 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, 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 is known as "Scoop Unplugged".

Tourism

Popular events

*ArtWauk is an art event that happens every third Saturday of the month in downtown Waukegan. ArtWauk features paintings, sculptures, films, dance, theater, comedy, music, performance art, food, and pedicabs all in the Waukegan Arts District in downtown Waukegan. * Chicago Latino Film Festival *The Fiestas Patrias Parade and Festival in downtown Waukegan highlights and celebrates the independence of the many Hispanic countries that are represented in Waukegan, including Mexico, Belize, Honduras, etc. *HolidayWAUK (HolidayWalk) is downtown Waukegan's holiday festival.

Popular tourist destinations

*Downtown Waukegan *:Downtown Waukegan is the urban center of Lake County. Many restaurants, bars, shops, the

Waukegan Public Library The Waukegan Public Library is the public library serving Waukegan, Illinois. It is at the intersection of County and Clayton streets in downtown Waukegan, near the county government complex. The library has approximately 205,000 books as of 2011, ...

, the

College of Lake County The College of Lake County, commonly referred to as CLC, is a public community college in Lake County, Illinois. CLC's primary campus is located in Grayslake and two other campuses exist in nearby Waukegan and Vernon Hills. It is located in th ...

, the Lake County Courthouse (including the

William D. Block Memorial Law Library The William D. Block Memorial Law Library serves the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Lake County, Illinois, Lake County, Illinois. The Law Library is named after the late William D. Block, who served as a Judge for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit from ...

), and much more call Downtown Waukegan their home. * Genesee Theatre *Waukegan Municipal Beach *

Waukegan Harbor Light Waukegan Harbor Light is a lighthouse at the end of Government Pier at the foot of Madison Street in Waukegan, Illinois. It was first built in 1889 and moved when the pier was extended in the early twentieth century. At that time a fog signal buil ...

*Green Town on the Rocks outdoor music venue *Ray Bradbury sites *Waukegan History Museum * Bowen Park *

Jack Benny Center for the Arts The Jack Benny Center for the Arts, located in Bowen Park, Waukegan, Illinois, is the Cultural Arts Division of the Waukegan Park District. The Center plays host to the Bowen Park Theatre and Opera Company (a professional theatre/opera company), t ...

*Lake County Sports Center

Notable people

Jack Benny

Waukegan is the hometown of comedian Jack Benny (1894–1974), one of the 20th century's most notable and enduring entertainers, but although he claimed for decades on his radio and television shows to have been born there, he was actually born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago. Benny's affection for the town in which he grew up can clearly be felt by this exchange with his co-star (and wife) Mary Livingstone during 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: :Mary Livingstone: Aren't you going to bring your show to Waukegan? :Jack Benny: Mary, I was ''born'' in Waukegan — how can you ''follow'' that?!. 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 the map for millions of his listeners (and later viewers) over the years, and the community was proud of his success. A Waukegan middle school is named in his honor (which he said was the greatest thrill he had ever experienced), and a statue of him, dedicated in 2002, stands in the downtown facing the Genesee Theater, which hosted the world premiere of his film ''Man about Town'' in 1939, with Jack, Mary, Dorothy Lamour, Phil Harris, Andy Devine, Don Wilson and Rochester ( Eddie Anderson) appearing onstage. Jack Benny's family lived in several buildings in Waukegan during the time he was growing up there, but the house at 518 Clayton Street is the only one of them that still stands. It was designated a landmark by the city on April 17, 2006.

Ray Bradbury

The science-fiction author and novelist Ray Bradbury (1920–2012), was born in Waukegan, and though he moved with his family to the

West Coast West Coast or west coast may refer to: Geography Australia * Western Australia *Regions of South Australia#Weather forecasting, West Coast of South Australia * West Coast, Tasmania **West Coast Range, mountain range in the region Canada * Britis ...

while still a child, many of his stories explicitly build on Waukegan (often called Green Town in his stories, such as ''

Dandelion Wine ''Dandelion Wine'' is a 1957 novel by Ray Bradbury set in the summer of 1928 in the fictional town of Green Town, Illinois, based upon Bradbury's childhood home of Waukegan, Illinois. The novel developed from the short story "Dandelion Wine", wh ...

'') and his formative years there. Ray Bradbury Park, located at 99 N. Park Ave. in Waukegan, is named after him.

Otto Graham

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 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.

Education

Waukegan is served by the

Waukegan Public School District 60 Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 (also known as Waukegan Public Schools or District 60, WCUSD) is in Waukegan, Illinois, and serves Waukegan, Park City, and parts of Beach Park. Total enrollment is approximately 16,000 in kindergarte ...

. It serves about 17,000 students in preschool through grade twelve. Waukegan has three early childhood schools, fifteen elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high school campuses. The multi-campus

Waukegan High School Waukegan High School, or WHS, is a public four-year high school located in Waukegan, Illinois, USA, a city to the north of Chicago, Illinois. It is part of Waukegan Community Unit School District 60. Students attend classes at the Washington Cam ...

serves high school students. From 1999 to 2009, the current Washington campus served as the Ninth Grade Center, while Brookside Campus served students in grades 10–12. Since then, both campus have served students in grades 9–12, who are split into numbered houses.

Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, formerly St. Martin de Porres High School, is a private school, private high school in Waukegan, Illinois, established in 2004. It is a member of the Cristo Rey Network, Cristo Rey work-study network of high sch ...

, a private Catholic high school, is in Waukegan. Immanuel Lutheran School is a Pre-K-8 grade school of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Waukegan.

Government services

Transportation

Waukegan has a port district which operates the city harbor and regional airport. *Waukegan Harbor: **Marina provides services and facilities for recreational boaters. **Industrial port provides access for 90–100 large shipping vessels yearly. Companies with cargo facilities at the port currently include Gold Bond Building Products (capacity for 100,000 tons of gypsum), LaFarge Corp (12 cement silos), and St Mary's Cement Co (2 cement silos). *

: **FAA certified for general aviation traffic **Has a

U.S. Customs The United States Customs Service was the very first federal law enforcement agency of the U.S. federal government. Established on July 31, 1789, it collected import tariffs, performed other selected border security duties, as well as conducted ...

facility, allowing for direct international flights. * The Lake County McClory recreational trail passes through Waukegan. It provides a non-motor route spanning from Kenosha, Wisconsin, to the North Shore, along the right of way of the former Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad. * Metra provides service between Waukegan and downtown Chicago via the Union Pacific/North Line. Service runs daily from early morning to late evening.

Pace Pace or paces may refer to: Business *Pace (transit), a bus operator in the suburbs of Chicago, US * Pace Airlines, an American charter airline *Pace Foods, a maker of a popular brand of salsa sold in North America, owned by Campbell Soup Compan ...

provides public bus service throughout Waukegan and surrounding areas. Most buses run Monday thru Saturday with limited Sunday/Holiday service on two routes. * Waukegan has three licensed taxi companies. 303 Taxi, Metro Yellow&Checker Cabs and Speedy Taxi which operate under city ordinances.

Fire department

The Waukegan Fire Department provides fire protection and paramedic services for city. There are five fire stations. Firefighters, lieutenants, and captains are represented by the

International Association of Fire Fighters The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is a labor union representing paid full-time firefighters and emergency medical services personnel in the United States and Canada. The IAFF was formed in 1918 and is affiliated with the AFL ...

Historical sites

* Bowen Park *

Naval Station Great Lakes Naval Station Great Lakes (NAVSTA Great Lakes) is the home of the United States Navy's only recruit training, boot camp, located near North Chicago, Illinois, North Chicago, in Lake County, Illinois. Important tenant commands include the Recruit ...

Waukegan Building The Waukegan Building is a historic skyscraper in Waukegan, Illinois, United States. Located in what was the central business district, it was the city's first skyscraper when it opened in March 1925. History By 1920, Waukegan, Illinois had grown ...

Artistic references

* Ray Bradbury spent his childhood in Waukegan and used it as the basis for Green Town, the setting of three of his books: ''

'' (1957), '' Something Wicked This Way Comes'' (1962), and ''

Farewell Summer ''Farewell Summer'' is a novel by American writer Ray Bradbury, published on October 17, 2006. It was his last novel released in his lifetime. It is a sequel to his 1957 novel ''Dandelion Wine'', and is set during an Indian summer in October 192 ...

'' (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. * In her poem 'Twee visschers', written in Dutch by the Surinam writer Rudie van Lier two men, a white and a black are fishing together near Waukegan. They are described as the new future. *

Eleanor Taylor Bland Eleanor Taylor Bland (December 31, 1944 – June 2, 2010) was an African-American writer of crime fiction. She was the creator of Lincoln Prairie, Illinois (based on Waukegan, Illinois) police detective Marti McAllister. Biography Bland was b ...

is an author of crime fiction taking place in "Lincoln Prairie" an

amalgam Amalgam most commonly refers to: * Amalgam (chemistry), mercury alloy * Amalgam (dentistry), material of silver tooth fillings ** Bonded amalgam, used in dentistry Amalgam may also refer to: * Amalgam Comics, a publisher * Amalgam Digital, an in ...

of Waukegan, North Chicago, and Zion. *The character Johnny Blaze from the Marvel comic book '' Ghost Rider'' is described as having been born in Waukegan.Ghost Rider Marveldirectory.com.
/ref> *Waukegan's

, locally known as the "Expressway to Nowhere", has been used as a shooting location for such films as ''

Groundhog Day Groundhog Day ( pdc, Grund'sau dåk, , , ; Nova Scotia: Daks Day) is a popular North American tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from ...

'', '' The Ice Harvest'', '' The Blues Brothers'', '' Contagion'' and '' Batman Begins''. *The music video "In Love with a Thug" sung by Sharissa featuring

R. Kelly Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and sex offender convicted of racketeering and multiple sex offenses. During his recording career, Kelly sold over 75 million records worldwid ...

was filmed in Waukegan predominantly on the corner of Water Street and Genesee Street. *In 2005

Ringo Starr Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the ...

and the Round heads recorded a concert for an episode of '' Soundstage'' at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan. *In their 1979 novel ''

Stardance ''Stardance'' is a science fiction novel by Spider Robinson and Jeanne Robinson, published by Dial Press in 1979 as part of its Quantum science fiction line. The novel's opening segment originally appeared in ''Analog (magazine), Analog'' in 1977 ...

'', Spider & Jeanne Robinson refer to Waukegan as if it were a prototypical Earth location, as identified by gravity vs. free fall. *The hip-hop group

Atmosphere An atmosphere () is a layer of gas or layers of gases that envelop a planet, and is held in place by the gravity of the planetary body. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A s ...

namechecks the city in live performances of the song "You." * Tom Waits mentions Waukegan in the song "Gun Street Girl" from his album ''

Rain Dogs ''Rain Dogs'' is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Tom Waits, released in September 1985 on Island Records. A loose concept album about "the urban dispossessed" of New York City, ''Rain Dogs'' is generally considered the middle ...

'' (1985): "He left Waukegan at the slamming' of the door". *The band The

Ike Reilly Assassination Ike Reilly (born Michael Christopher Reilly) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and writer as well as frontman and founder of the rock band the Ike Reilly Assassination. He started his music career with various rock bands near his hometo ...

mentions Waukegan in the song "The Ex-Americans" from the 2004 album ''Sparkle in the Finish''. *The band Eddie From Ohio has a song titled "HoJo's in Waukegan" on the album ''Actually Not''.

Sister cities

Waukegan has one sister city: Miyazaki, Japan Although there is no official sister city relationship, Waukegan is home to approximately 6,000 people from Tonatico, Mexico, according to a February 2017 article in '' The Washington Post''. This has created ongoing ties between the two cities.

References

External links

* {{authority control 1829 establishments in Illinois Chicago metropolitan area Cities in Illinois Cities in Lake County, Illinois County seats in Illinois Illinois populated places on Lake Michigan Majority-minority cities and towns in Lake County, Illinois Populated places established in 1829