North Chicago, Illinois
North Chicago is a city of 30,643 people in Lake County, Illinois, founded in 1892.
Why visit North Chicago
Townapedia lists 67 museums and landmarks, 29 parks and trails, 56 places to eat, 12 places to stay and 5 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Waukegan Harbor Light, Dewey House, Green Bay Road Historic District and Foss Park Golf Course.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 16°F.
Weather in North Chicago
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About North Chicago
North Chicago is a city in Lake County, Illinois, United States, and a suburb of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 30,759 at the 2020 census making it the third-most populous city by population in the county, after Waukegan and Mundelein.
From the Wikipedia article North Chicago, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do5
Waukegan Harbor Light
Lighthouse · 3.8 mi
Lighthouse in Illinois, United States
Belvidere Cinema Gallery
Cinema and theater · 2.2 mi
2145 Belvidere Road, Waukegan
Museums and landmarks67
Dewey House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
House in North Chicago
Green Bay Road Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Historic district in Illinois, United States
Helen Shedd Reed House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Hotel Waukegan
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Historic hotel in Waukegan, Illinois, USA
House at 965 Castlegate Court
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.3 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Howard and Lucy Linn House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Historic house at 555 Shoreacres Drive in Lake Bluff, Illinois
John Griffith Store Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Historic commercial building at 103-113 E. Scranton Avenue in Lake Bluff, Illinois
Karcher Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Hotel in Waukegan, United States of America
Lake Bluff Uptown Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Historic district in Illinois, United States
Lake Forest Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Cemetery in Lake Forest, Illinois
Lester Armour House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
United States historic place
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Mrs. C. Morse Ely House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Historic house at 111 Moffett Road in Lake Bluff, Illinois
55 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds29
Lake Bluff Golf Course
Golf course · 2.2 mi
355 West Washington Avenue, Lake Bluff
17 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes56
Hong Kong Buffet
Restaurant · Chinese · 2.2 mi
2253 Belvidere Road, Waukegan
44 more on the map.
History
Land speculators moved into the area south of what is now the city of Waukegan in the 1890s. Industrial development began almost immediately with a railroad depot being set up in 1892; most notable was the arrival of the Washburn and Moen Manufacturing Company, a major barbed wire maker.
The settlement was incorporated as a village in 1895 and as a city in 1909. In 1911, a naval training area was created, the present Great Lakes Naval Training Center, currently the only "boot camp" for Navy enlisted personnel after the closure of facilities in Florida, California, and Houston, MS.
A Veteran's Administration hospital went into service in 1926. This facility was also threatened with closure in recent years but has been retained on condition of a merger with the Naval Hospital.
From the History section of North Chicago, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay12
Americas Best Value Inn & Suites Waukegan Gurnee
Motel and hotel · 2.6 mi
411 South Green Bay Road, Waukegan
Days Inn by Wyndham Great Lakes Naval Base
Motel and hotel · 1.2 mi
3000 North Skokie Highway, Lake Bluff
Executive Inn and Suites
Motel and hotel · 2.3 mi
680 South Green Bay Road, Waukegan
Red Carpet Inn North Chicago, IL
Motel and hotel · 1.2 mi
3207 Buckley Road, North Chicago
Churches and places of worship23
Holy Family Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Shopping8
Gas and EV charging15
Schools, colleges and libraries58
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
School · 1.1 mi
3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago
Healthcare7
Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center
Hospital · 0.8 mi
3001 Green Bay Road, North Chicago
Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.2 mi
3420 Illinois Street, Great Lakes
Healthcare Plus Caregivers
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.3 mi
2215 Belvidere Road, Waukegan
North Central Community Health Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.2 mi
2215 14th Street, North Chicago
Map of North Chicago
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 16°F | 2.0 in |
| Feb | 34°F | 18°F | 2.0 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 27°F | 2.4 in |
| Apr | 55°F | 35°F | 4.0 in |
| May | 67°F | 47°F | 4.2 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 57°F | 4.6 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 63°F | 3.9 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 62°F | 3.9 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 54°F | 3.7 in |
| Oct | 61°F | 43°F | 3.4 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 2.4 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 2.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Waukegan (3 mi away), rain and snow from Lake Bluff 1.3 W, NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Lake County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for snowstorms.
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-05-10: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-03-17: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2008-06-24: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2008-03-13: Record Snow And Near Record Snow (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Waukegan National Airport (UGN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.
- Gurnee 5 mi northwest, about 9 min by car
- Lake Forest 6 mi south, about 9 min by car
- Libertyville 6 mi west, about 10 min by car
- Gages Lake 7 mi west, about 11 min by car
- Mundelein 9 mi west, about 14 min by car
- Beach Park 9 mi north, about 14 min by car
- Grayslake 9 mi west, about 15 min by car
- Highland Park 10 mi south, about 15 min by car
- Deerfield 10 mi south, about 17 min by car
- Buffalo Grove 12 mi southwest, about 19 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Greetings from North Chicago, Illinois - Large Letter Postcard (7599242886), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- McClory Bike Path along Commonwealth Ave - North Chicago, IL - July 2025, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- 24th St at entrance ramp to IL 137 south - North Chicago, IL - July 2025 04, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- McClory Bike Path crossing under the EJ&E - North Chicago, IL - July 2025, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- 24th St at disused entrance ramp to IL 137 north - North Chicago, IL - July 2025 02, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- 24th St at exit ramp from IL 137 north - North Chicago, IL - July 2025 03, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- 24th St crossing under Sheridan Rd - North Chicago, IL - July 2025, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- 24th St crossing under UP Kenosha Sub - North Chicago, IL - July 2025 01, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- Buckley Rd connector at Sheridan Rd - North Chicago, IL - July 2025, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- Buckley Rd connector approaching IL 137 - North Chicago, IL - July 2025, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- Outbound track at North Chicago, looking north, Jacob G., CC BY-SA 2.0
- Waukegan Building, Nyttend, Public domain
- William McCormick Blair Estate house, Nyttend, Public domain
- Great Lakes Bldg 1, Goldnpuppy, CC BY-SA 3.0
- John Griffith Store Building, Teemu08 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Waukegan Public Library, Carnegie building, Nyttend, Public domain
- Dewey House North Chicago, Teemu08 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Image Hosmer Morse House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- West Park Pavilion, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mrs. Kersey Coates Reed House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Innisfail Lake Forest, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ragdale, Howard Van Doren Shaw architect, Henry Fuerman photographer, Public domain
- Lester Armour House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Former Karcher Hotel in 2006 - Waukegan, Illinois, David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- House at 965 Castlegate Court-Deerpath Hill Estates, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Great Lakes Naval Museum 2013 or earlier, (U.S. Navy photo/Released), Public domain
- RosalindFranklinUMS 1, Ancheta Wis, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake Bluff Uptown, Teemu08 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mrs. C. Morse Ely House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Genesee and Cory in Waukegan, Nyttend, Public domain
- Holy Family Church North Chicago, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Barrell Memorial Gate, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Noble Judah Estate, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hotel Waukegan, Nyttend, Public domain
- Yom Kippur services at Great Lakes, Illinois (4991234099), Center for Jewish History, NYC, No restrictions
- Greetings from U. S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois - Large Letter Postcard (7886667432), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 138 North Branch (8674604509), LakeCountyIL, CC BY 2.0
- 137 North Branch (8675710340), LakeCountyIL, CC BY 2.0
- 136 North Branch (8674605177), LakeCountyIL, CC BY 2.0
- 139 North Branch (8674604167), LakeCountyIL, CC BY 2.0
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