Waukegan, Illinois

Waukegan, Illinois
City
Downtown Waukegan
Flag of Waukegan, Illinois
Flag
Nickname(s): 
WaukTown, Green Town
Motto: 
An Illinois Arts-Friendly Community
Location of Waukegan in Lake County, Illinois.
Location of Waukegan in Lake County, Illinois.
Waukegan is located in Illinois
Waukegan
Waukegan
Waukegan is located in the United States
Waukegan
Waukegan
Coordinates: 42°22′13″N 87°52′16″W / 42.37028°N 87.87111°W / 42.37028; -87.87111
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountiesLake
Founded1829
Incorporated (town)March 31, 1849
Incorporated (city)February 23, 1859
Named forPotawatomi: Wakaigin
(Fortress or Trading Post)
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • MayorAnn B. Taylor
Area
[1]
 • City24.47 sq mi (63.38 km2)
 • Land24.22 sq mi (62.72 km2)
 • Water0.26 sq mi (0.66 km2)  0.99%
Elevation
[2]
715 ft (218 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City89,321
 • Rank10th largest in Illinois[3]
390th largest in U.S.[4]
 • Density3,688.36/sq mi (1,424.06/km2)
 • Metro
9,472,676
DemonymWaukeganite
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
60079, 60085, 60087
Area code(s)847 & 224
FIPS code17-79293
U.S. Routes
Major State Routes
WaterwaysWaukegan River
AirportsWaukegan National Airport
Websitewww.waukeganil.gov

Waukegan (/wəˈkiːɡən/ wə-KEE-ghən) is an industrial suburb located 36 miles (58 km) north of Chicago. It is the most populous city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 89,321,[5] making it the seventh-most populous city within the Chicago metropolitan area and the 10th-most populous city in Illinois.

Unlike nearby wealthy North Shore suburbs, Waukegan has long been classified by the Illinois state government as overall "socioeconomically distressed" despite having some middle class inhabitants.[6][7]

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  2. ^ "City of Waukegan". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ "All cities, towns, villages and unincorporated places in Illinois of more than 15,000 inhabitants". Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  4. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  5. ^ "Waukegan city, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Waukegan city, Illinois". www.census.gov. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  7. ^ "2025 Economically Distressed Communities List" (PDF). dnr.illinois.gov. Retrieved September 25, 2024.