Detailed Demographics 

• Population Trends, 1950-2000
• Population by Race and Ethnicity, Census 2000
• Total Not Hispanic or Latino Population by Race, Census 2000
• Total Hispanic or Latino Population by Race, Census 2000
• Population Age Trends,1970-2000
• Average Household Size & Family Size, 1990-2000
• Income Levels, 1989
• Education Level, 1990

Population Trends

With the post World War II suburban expansion of the Chicago metropolitan area, Lake County's population has increased steadily since 1950 when the county's population was just over 179,000. In 2000, the county's population was over 644,000. Most of Lake County's population lives in incorporated cities and villages as shown in the following table.

During the 1950s and 1960s, population growth occurred mostly in lake front communities such as Waukegan, North Chicago, Highland Park and Deerfield. During the 1980s and 1990s, population growth moved north and west to communities such as Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Grayslake, Mundelein, Round Lake Beach and Buffalo Grove.

Almost all the municipalities (47 out of 52) in Lake County gained population in the 1990s. Only 4 lost population and 1 remained zero (Lake County part of Wheeling). Waukegan represented the largest population increase with a net gain of over 18,500, followed by Gurnee and Grayslake with population increases of 15,133 and 11,118 respectively.

Also shown in the table are the population changes in the unincorporated townships. From 1950 to 2000, the total population of unincorporated areas of Lake County grew from 62,712 to 83,916, a net gain of 21,205 or 33.8%. 11 of the 18 townships increased their population in the unincorporated areas, while six lost population. Zion Township covers the same area as the City of Zion and has no unincorporated area or population.

Population Trends by Location, 1950-2000

*Municipality has not been incorporated or annexed land in Lake County.
^Census 2000 data subject to verification by future U. S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 data releases.

Population by Race and Ethnicity

The racial and ethnic diversity of the county has increased during the last 30 years. In 1970, approximately 11,000 Hispanics or Latinos lived in Lake County, accounting for less than 3% of the total population. In 1990, the number of Hispanics or Latinos increased to 38,570 (7.5% of the total population). In 2000, nearly 93,000 Hispanics or Latinos lived in Lake County, representing more than 14% of the total population. Black or African American population also grew between 1970 and 2000, although at a much slower pace. Lake County had 19,881 Blacks or African Americans (5.2% of the total population) in 1970, 34,771 (6.7% of total) in 1990 and 44,741 (6.9% of total) in the year 2000. Asian population also grew rapidly from 12,363 (2.4% of total) in 1990 to 25,103 (3.9% of total) in 2000.

The following table shows the 2000 total population by race by municipality.

The following table shows the population of not Hispanic or Latino by race by municipality. Non-Hispanic white persons account for 73% of the total Lake County population in 2000. Even though the percentage of non-Hispanic white persons is decreasing, the total number of non-Hispanic white persons continued to increase.

The distribution of the African American or Black population was highly concentrated in a few communities according to the 2000 census. Waukegan, North Chicago and Zion were home to more than 80% of the total Black or African American population in Lake County. The distribution of Asians was more dispersed, but still, more than 50% of the Asian population resided in only 5 municipalities in Lake County.

Total Not Hispanic or Latino Population by Race, Lake County Census 2000

The following table shows the population of Hispanic or Latino persons by race by municipality (Persons of Hispanic origin could be of any race). The distribution of the Hispanic or Latino population was also highly concentrated. The City of Waukegan alone was home to more than 42% of the total Hispanic or Latino population.

Total Hispanic or Latino Population by Race, Lake County Census 2000

Population by Age, 1970-2000

The following table displays population age trends of Lake County between 1970 and 2000 and provides a comparison to the 2000 population of the United States. 

Lake County's population trend mirrors the national trend - aging of population. In 1970, the median age of Lake County population was 24.3 years. In 2000, it reached 33.8 years. However, Lake County differs from the nation in that the county contains a larger proportion of younger population, a similar proportion of workforce age population, and a much smaller proportion of older population based on 2000 census data. The percentage of the population under 5 years was 8.2% for Lake County compared to 6.8% for the nation. School age children (5-17 years) represented 21.2% of Lake County's total population compared to 18.9 % for the nation. The proportions of the workforce age group (18-64 years) for Lake County and the nation were very close at 62.1% and 61.9% respectively. However, the population aged 65 and above accounted for only 8.5% in Lake County compared to 12.4% nationwide. Median age of Lake County population was 1.5 years younger than that of the nation.

Population Age Trends

Household Size and Family Size

During the 1950 to 1990 span, following national and regional trends, the average household size (the average number of persons who live in occupied housing units) of Lake County fell by 16.4% from 3.41 to 2.85. However, during the 1990s, the average household size increased slightly from 2.85 in 1990 to 2.88 in 2000. The average family size (the average number of persons who live in a family household) also increased from 3.27 in 1990 to 3.33 in 2000. These trends are different from those of the nation which continued to show a decline in household and family sizes in the 1990s. 

Among all municipalities in Lake County, the Village of Round Lake Beach ranked first in both household size (3.50) and family size (3.83) in 2000. Fox Lake and Lake Barrington had the lowest household sizes with 2.27 and 2.33 respectively. Lake Barrington also had the lowest family size in Lake County with only 2.8 persons per family in 2000. Waukegan had the largest growth in both household and family sizes between 1990 and 2000. One the other side, Hainesville had the biggest loss in both household size and family size during the 1990s.

Average Household Size and Family Size, 1990-2000

*Represents the whole village including areas outside Lake County.

A general demographic profile for every county, township, and municipality in northeastern Illinois with the latest 2000 Census results is available on the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission website: http://www.nipc.cog.il.us (click on "Census 2000 Updates")

Additional census data is available on the US Census Bureau website: http://www.census.gov.

For additional information, please contact the Lake County, Department of Planning, Building and Development, Planning Resource Center: (847) 377-2140.

Source: Data tabulated by the Lake County Planning, Building & Development Department from U.S. Census. Census 2000 data subject to verification by future U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 data releases.

Income Levels, 1989

There is a wide range of income levels in Lake County. In 1989, the median household income for Lake County was $46,047, while the mean household income was $63,545. The southern portion of the county is the most affluent, while the older urban centers are the least wealthy. This distribution closely relates to that of housing value because shelter cost is usually the largest household expenditure. Household income distribution is also closely linked to type of occupation: residents of higher-income areas are largely employed in white collar occupations; lower-income areas house mainly blue collar or service workers.

Education Level for persons 25 and older, 1990