Located approximately 41 miles north of Chicago, Waukegan is famous for being a manufacturing center and a notable industrial suburb of Chicago, Illinois. It is also the county seat and largest city in Lake County, Illinois.
Learn more about this city in our Waukegan local guide including information about:
There are several international airports near Waukegan, with the closest being the Chicago O’Hare International Airport, located just 36 miles southwest of the city. There is also the Waukegan National Airport which is the second busiest airport in Illinois for international arrivals. Being so close to such notable spots, it goes without saying that Waukegan will be a must-visit if you are up for some boisterous city life experience.
Waukegan City Hall
Waukegan Daniel T. Drew Municipal Complex
Waukegan Jack Benny Statue
Waukegan Police Vehicle
Waukegan Police Department
Waukegan Public Library Entrance Statue
Waukegan Public Library Sign
One major highway in Waukegan is The Amstutz Expressway, a dual freeway that runs along the city’s east, linking up with Sheridan Rd as it approaches North Chicago.
Now, for a little history.
History of Waukegan
Waukegan is one of the oldest settlements in Illinois and was first visited by Pere Marquette, a French missionary explorer, in 1673. But it was not always called Waukegan. This city began its history as a French trading post and as the Potawatomie Indian settlement named “Little Fort”.
Due to its rapidly increasing population and industrialization, this town known as Little Fort became the county seat of government in 1841.
Waukegan Mural
Waukegan Arts District Mural
First Presbyterian Church of Waukegan Sign
But as you could rightly guess, hardly anyone would want to be called little when they’ve grown big. Hence, the name Little Fort was changed to Waukegan – the Potawatomie word for “fort” or “trading post” – on March 31, 1849, after witnessing even more rapid population growth. And in 1859, Waukegan was incorporated as a city, with its population reaching over 2,500 and an area of 5.62 sq. miles.
On the map, you could clearly see Waukegan as a port city located off the coast of Lake Michigan. This feature attracted early settlers to Waukegan as it made shipping produce from Lake County and McHenry County farms to Chicago pretty easy. This was the onset of Waukegan’s industrialization as a business hotspot.
And subsequently, the Illinois Parallel Railroad (now known as the Chicago and North Western Railway) was created in 1855, further stimulating interest in Waukegan as an industrial hub.
Waukegan Genesee Theater
Waukegan Genesee Theater Marquee
Waukegan Lincoln Plaza
Waukegan County Coroner
First Presbyterian Church of Waukegan
Waukegan City Hall Sign
Moving around Waukegan
From Chicago to Waukegan is a 41-mile and 55-minute drive northwards via route I-94 W.
There are several hotels to spend your vacation in Waukegan. Among all, you may want to try out Sonesta Simply Suites Chicago Waukegan, Sonesta ES Suites Chicago Waukegan Gurnee, Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago/Waukegan, SpringHill Suites by Marriott Chicago Waukegan/Gurnee, or Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Waukegan/Gurnee, to name a few.
Now, you don’t want to miss the must-see tourist attractions of Waukegan.
Take a ride through N Genesee Street for a flawless evening out at the Genesee Theater Waukegan. This theater is home to world-class concerts, shows, comedy, and other events to fill your eyes and ears with an amazing experience. It sits very close to the Lake County Courthouse and Waukegan Public Library, with McDonald’s just north of the theater.
What about the Waukegan Harbor Light? Never miss this picturesque cylindrical lighthouse at the end of Government Pier at the foot of Madison Street. It’s open round-the-clock and best viewed at twilight.
Address: 101 N. West Street Waukegan, IL 60085 Phone: 847-360-9000 Fax: 847-360-9853 Administrative Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. https://www.waukeganil.gov/428/Police
City Hall
Address: 100 N Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue Waukegan, IL 60085 Phone: 847-599-2500 Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m to 5 p.m (except legal holidays) https://www.waukeganil.gov/27/City-Hall
Want the best of Waukegan cuisine? Then you need to check-in at any of the following restaurants
Chrissoulas If you want some Greek, Mediterranean, or seafood special, then Chrissoulas is the place to be. They also have a wide variety of Greek and Mediterranean wine. Dine-in, takeout, or order home delivery. Address: US 602 N. Milwaukee Libertyville, IL 60048 Phone: 847-549-3046 Opening Hours: Tue-Thur 4 p.m to 9 p.m, Fri-Sat 4 p.m to 10 p.m, Sun 10:30 a.m to 2:00 p.m https://chrissoulas.com/
BBQ Chicken Waukegan Treat yourself to a wonderful culinary experience by ordering their Kimchi fried rice, chicken wings, fries, soy garlic, Bowl, Tteok-Bokki, Chicken honey garlic chicken, Lemon pepper, or some other tasty Korean dish. Address: 554 N Green Bay Rd Waukegan, IL 60085 Phone: (224) 944-0411 Opening Hours: 11 a.m to 8 p.m https://www.bbqchickeneats.com/waukegan
Honey Bay’s BBQ One of the best places to come get some delicious BBQ and soul food. You can dine-in, take out, or place an order. Address: 1726 Belvidere St, Waukegan, IL 60085 Phone: 847-244-4711 Opening Hours: Mon-Thu 11:00 am – 9:00 pm, Fri-Sat 11:00 am – 11:00 pm, Sun 11:00 am – 8:00 pm http://bbqjohnson.com/
Waukegan Yacht Club This yacht racing club is currently making big plans for 2021. The first race for the year will take place on April 21, and the Grand Opening will follow two days later with a Fish Fry. A lot of dining and events will also take place in their restaurant subsequently, so you can check in on their website for the schedule if you do not want to miss out. The Waukegan Yacht Club burgee is well known worldwide and you can grab yours by making an order at their WYC online store. Address: 199 N. Harbor Place, Waukegan, IL 60085-5621 Phone: 847-623-4188 https://waukeganyachtclub.com/
Local Charities & Food Banks
There are several local charities and food pantries in Waukegan available to those who need help. However, you may have to call or stop by the center to know exactly what services they offer and how they are offered.
C.O.O.L. (Christian Outreach of Lutherans) Address: 123 West Water Street, Waukegan, Illinois 60085 Phone: (847) 662-1230 https://coolministries.org/
Saint Anastasia Church Address: 624 Douglas Avenue, Waukegan, IL 60085 Phone: to the pantry and soup kitchen – (847) 623-2875 https://www.littleflowerwaukegan.com/
Community Action Partnership of Lake County Address: 213 Water St., Waukegan, Illinois 60085 Phone: (847) 249-4330 http://www.caplakecounty.org/
Shiloh Baptist Church Address: The food pantry address is 800 South Genesee Street, Waukegan, Illinois 60085 Phone: (847) 662-6325 https://www.shilohbcw.org/
Catholic Charities, Lake County Services Address: 671 South Lewis Avenue, Waukegan, IL 60085 Phone: (847) 782-4000 The local branch for Lake County of one of the leading charity organizations. They offer assistance in utility bill payment, homeless services, foreclosure, rent counseling, among others. https://catholiccharities.net/Default.aspx
UMMA Center They offer assistance to the disabled and elderly, and a monthly food bank for the working poor. Address: 221 Washington Street, Waukegan, Illinois 60085 Phone: (847) 336-6136 http://www.ummacenters.org/
Greater Faith Church – Baptist Address: 565 Powell Avenue, Waukegan, IL 60085 Call (847) 244-4400 for hours on food and meal distribution. http://www.gfcb.net/
Christian Faith Fellowship Church Address: 1730 Washington Avenue, Waukegan, Illinois 60085 Phone: (847) 244-2332 http://cffcwaukegan.org/
The winner receives the whopping sum of $1,000! It may be you.
Waukegan, Illinois at a Glance
Founding Date
Waukegan was founded in 1829 but not with its current name. It was later incorporated as a town with the name Waukegan on March 31, 1849, and incorporated as a city on February 23, 1859.
Population
87,297 (2019)
County in Illinois
Lake County
Annual Festivals/Events:
FireLit Pizza – Deep Dish Pizza made to order – 04/09/21
Art Wauk – 04/17/21
Summer Cars and Coffee Car Show – 05/02/21
Chicago to Waukegan Race – 06/26/21
Fourth of July Celebration – 07/04/21
Art Wauk – 07/17/21
WHM – Paddling Event – 08/07/21
Unlimited Kids Fishing Derby – 09/18/21
Salmon Unlimited Kids Fishing Derby – 09/18/21
Notable People from Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan is home to Jack Benny (1894–1974), one of the most remarkable comedians of the twentieth century.
Ray Bradbury (1920–2012), a renowned science-fiction author and novelist, was also born in this great city.
Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Otto Graham (1921–2003) was born and bred in Waukegan.
Trivia Question
What is the official nickname of Waukegan?
Answer – The City of Progress
Why Others in Waukegan, Illinois have Chosen The Kryder Law Group to Help with their Personal Injury Cases
The Kryder Law Group is a personal injury law firm servicing Waukegan, Illinois and surrounding areas. Each personal injury lawyer at The Kryder Law Group has years of experience and has handled hundreds of accident claims. Each auto injury attorney has handled car, truck, bus and motorcycle accidents in the Waukegan area. In addition, the injury lawyers at The Kryder Law Group have handled work injuries, dog bite injuries, construction injuries, falls, nursing home neglect cases and many other types of injury claims for residents of Waukegan, Illinois and surrounding neighborhoods. You can be confident each injury lawyer at The Kryder Law Group has the experience to handle your personal injury case and maximize the value of your personal injury settlement or jury verdict.
Learn about Personal Injury Lawyer, Andrew Kryder and The Kryder Law Group
Andrew Kryder is the founding member of The Kryder Law Group LLC. With over 20 years of litigation experience, Andy has focused his practice on personal injury matters. Through the years Andy has compiled an impressive record of Verdicts and Settlements, some of which have been profiled in national and local verdict reporters.
In many instances, Andy meets his clients under very difficult circumstances. The aftermath of an injury can take a physical, emotional and economic toll on the individual and their family. Andy recognizes that each client has unique goals and expectations. That’s why every case starts with a conversation. Listening and developing a strategy is what sets Andy apart from many other attorneys.
With over two decades of experience, Andy has distinguished himself as a litigator at the Circuit Court level and Appellate Court level. Andy has taken numerous cases to verdict, handled hundreds of arbitrations, appeared in court thousands of times and argued multiple cases in front of the Illinois Appellate Court. In addition, Andy is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
The Kryder Law Group has compiled a record of results that few other firms can match. Collectively the firm has represented thousands of clients and recovered over $100 million dollars in compensation.
Education
The Ohio State University, BA 1995 DePaul Law School, JD 1998
Bar Admissions
Illinois Northern District of Illinois Northern District of Indiana U.S. Supreme Court
Past and Current Affiliations Include:
Chicago Bar Association Chicago Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee Illinois State Bar Association Lake County Bar Association
Should you have any legal questions or would like to set up a free legal consultation, please feel free to contact Andrew at (312) 584-8268 or at akryder@kryderlaw.com.
Cases Handled by The Kryder Law Group for Residents of Waukegan, Illinois and Surrounding Communities
Frequently Asked Questions about Waukegan Personal Injury Claims
Is it worth hiring a Waukegan personal injury attorney for my auto accident or other personal injury claims?
If you have a serious injury, a lawyer can help you maximize your recovery. An experienced lawyer knows the value of your case and how to make an insurance company pay the maximum compensations for your pain and suffering. A Waukegan personal injury lawyer can also help you recover lost wages and other compensation you may be entitled to.
How much is my injury claim worth?
Every case is different, but you may be entitled to lost wages, medical bills, future medical bills, disability, loss of a normal life compensation, money for pain and suffering. The personal injury lawyers at the Kryder Law Group can evaluate your case for free. If you are in Waukegan and have questions regarding your auto or injury claim, feel free to call us. The consultation with a lawyer is free and there is no charge for our work until we win your case.
How long will it take to settle my personal injury claim?
Some cases can be resolved quickly after your medical treatment has concluded. However, in other instances, cases can take longer if the injury causes permanent disability. The length of time a case resolves is heavily dependent on the length of your medical treatment. The longer and more extensive your medical care, the longer your case may take to resolve. If you live in Waukegan, Illinois and would like to discuss your case call the Kryder Law Group to have an experienced lawyer analyze your case for free. It is important to understand your rights
What will I get in my free personal injury consultation?
We like to understand the goals and expectations of every client before we begin. That is why the lawyers at the Kryder Law Group provide a free personal injury consultation to every client.
We will evaluate the strength or weakness of your case.
We will identify all compensation you can potentially recover.
We will evaluate the existence of available insurance.
We will discuss your injury and whether specialists are needed.
We will evaluate whether expert testimony is needed for your case.
We will listen to you and answer any questions you may have.
We can provide advice on the paperwork you may have received and what to do with it.
Can I get a loan on my injury case?
Attorneys are not allowed to loan their clients money, but some companies specialize in providing loans to victims of injury claims. Whether you qualify and the amount of the loan is up to the loan company. Your attorney can help you apply if you have an injury claim.
Learn about Waukegan, IL and The Kryder Law Group.
April 23rd, 2021
(312) 223-1700