Fox Lake, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fox Lake, Illinois
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| Motto(s):
"Anchoring Tradition, Linking the Future"
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Location of Fox Lake in Lake County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| Counties | Lake, McHenry |
| Townships | Grant, Antioch, Burton |
| Incorporated | April 13, 1907 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.44 sq mi (24.44 km2) |
| • Land | 7.83 sq mi (20.29 km2) |
| • Water | 1.60 sq mi (4.15 km2) |
| Elevation | 735 ft (224 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,978 |
| • Density | 1,401.51/sq mi (541.13/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
60020
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| Area codes | 847 & 224 |
| FIPS code | 17-27442 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Fox Lake, Illinois |
Fox Lake is a village in Grant and Antioch townships in Lake County, Illinois and Burton Township, McHenry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,978 at the 2020 census. It is located approximately 57 miles north of Chicago.
Contents
History
The village was incorporated on December 15, 1906, and certified by the state on April 13, 1907. The area was first explored during the 17th century by the French. In the late 19th century, it was known as Nippersink Point. Early in the 20th century, there were but a few hundred residents. During the summer season, however, the population would reach an estimated 20,000 people, and at its peak, the area had 50 hotels and 2,000 cottages. Infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone is reported to have utilized an establishment now known as the Mineola Hotel and Restaurant as a hideout, although this has never been documented. In 1979, the Mineola was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and may be the largest wooden frame structure in the state.
Many Chicagoans have established summer homes in Fox Lake. The village is situated among the Chain O'Lakes, where swimming, boating, jet skiing, tubing and boarding are popular activities. In 2006, there were an estimated 28,000 boats registered on the lake system.
Boating accidents are prevalent in today's society, however, the number of accidents on Fox Lake has decreased.
In 2010, the new library opened next to the old library building. The new facility included expanded Adult and Youth Departments, a large public computer area, quiet study and reading rooms, and a Young Adult area.
Geography
Fox Lake is located at 42°24′12″N 88°10′58″W / 42.40333°N 88.18278°W (42.4032677, -88.1828850), 55 miles (89 km) northwest of downtown Chicago and 20 miles (32 km) west of Waukegan, Illinois. The village center is located on the east shore of Pistakee Lake, and south shore of Nippersink Lake and Fox Lake, three connected water bodies that form part of the Chain O'Lakes system, flowing southwest via the Fox River to the Illinois River. The village limits extend north in a sinuous manner all the way to the Wisconsin border.
According to the 2010 census, Fox Lake has a total area of 9.942 square miles (25.75 km2), of which 8.12 square miles (21.03 km2) (or 81.67%) is land and 1.822 square miles (4.72 km2) (or 18.33%) is water.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 400 | — | |
| 1920 | 467 | 16.8% | |
| 1930 | 880 | 88.4% | |
| 1940 | 110 | −87.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,238 | 1,934.5% | |
| 1960 | 3,700 | 65.3% | |
| 1970 | 4,511 | 21.9% | |
| 1980 | 6,831 | 51.4% | |
| 1990 | 7,478 | 9.5% | |
| 2000 | 9,178 | 22.7% | |
| 2010 | 10,579 | 15.3% | |
| 2020 | 10,978 | 3.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
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2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 9,289 | 8,748 | 87.81% | 79.69% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 96 | 219 | 0.91% | 1.99% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 26 | 15 | 0.25% | 0.14% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 97 | 134 | 0.92% | 1.22% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 4 | 0.01% | 0.04% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 3 | 16 | 0.03% | 0.15% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 127 | 456 | 1.20% | 4.15% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 940 | 1,386 | 8.89% | 12.63% |
| Total | 10,579 | 10,978 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Education
- Grant Community High School (9–12)
- Fox Lake Grade School District #114
- Stanton Middle School (5–8)
- Big Hollow Elementary School Big Hollow School District 38 (K–8)
- Saint Bede School (K–8)
- Gavin Elementary School (was across the hwy from St. Bede's Catholic School)
Transportation
Pace provides bus service on Routes 570 and 806 connecting Fox Lake to Crystal Lake, Grayslake, and other destinations.
Fox Lake station is the terminus of the Milwaukee District North Line over which Metra provides commuter rail service to Union Station in Chicago.
Major streets
- Wilmot Road
- State Park Road
- Grass Lake Road
U.S. Route 12/Fox Lake Road
Grand Avenue/Lake St.
Illinois Route 173- Rollins Road
- Big Hollow Road
- Nippersink Road
Notable people
- Shane Webb, pitcher and first basemen for one Major League Baseball teams; born in Fox Lake.
- Ann-Margret, Ann-Margret Olsson, actor, singer, dancer ("Carnal Knowledge," "Tommy") Once lived in Fox Lake. She is related to Marius "Bossie” Olsen, former mayor.
- Alexander Joseph McGavick, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse
