Fox Lake, Illinois

For the lake, see Chain O'Lakes.

Fox Lake, Illinois
Village
Fox Lake Shoreline, 2024
Motto(s):  "Anchoring Tradition, Linking the Future"
Location of Fox Lake in Lake County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Coordinates: 42°24′12″N88°10′58″W / 42.40333°N 88.18278°W / 42.40333; -88.18278
Country	United States
State	Illinois
Counties	Lake, McHenry
Townships	Grant, Antioch, Burton
Incorporated	April 13, 1907 (1907-04-13)
Government
• Village president	Donny Schmit
Area [1]
• 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)
• 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
Area codes	847 & 224
FIPS code	17-27442
Wikimedia Commons	Fox Lake, Illinois
Website	www.foxlake.org
[2]

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. ^[3] It is located approximately 57 miles north of Chicago.

History

The original Mineola Hotel

The village was incorporated on December 15, 1906, and certified by the state on April 13, 1907. ^[4] The area was first explored during the 17th century by the French. In the late 19th century, it was known as Nippersink Point. ^[5] 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. ^[6] 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. ^[7]

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. ^[8]

Boating accidents are prevalent in today's society, however, number of accidents on Fox Lake have decreased in part to stricter regulations on boating under the influence of alcohol and other factors. Fiscal year 2010 had only one accident and death by boat. That number rose in 2015 to 3 accidents, 1 injury and 1 death. The two fatalities in 2015 were caused by drowning due to alcohol use.

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. ^[9]

Fox Lake came under the national spotlight in September 2015 when Joe Gliniewicz of the Fox Lake Police Department was found deceased in a marsh via gunshot wounds after radioing that he was pursuing three subjects. The subsequent manhunt for the alleged shooters employed over 400 law enforcement personnel, impacted the entire local community, and sparked a debate in the media regarding the "War on Cops" and the Black Lives Matter movement. Thousands of people, including then-Governor Bruce Rauner, gathered for a funeral and memorial procession to show their support. After a two-month investigation, authorities concluded that Gliniewicz committed "a carefully staged suicide". It was learned that he had been involved in financial malfeasance related to his job as the head of the local Police Explorers program and had even attempted to hire a gang member to kill the village administrator who he was concerned would discover his crimes during her financial audit of the program. ^[10]

Village government

"Fox Lake incorporated under a Village form of government, with an elected village president, six trustees, and a village clerk. The village president is also recognized as the mayor." ^[11] The table below is a list of mayors from the village's inception in 1907 to present.

Mayor's name	Date(s)	Mayor's name	Date(s)
John Brown	1907–1913	C.H. Ostrander	1913–1914
Harry A. Maypole	1915–1917	William C. Nagle	1917–1921
Ernest Hummel	1921–1923	Louis Deproft	1923–1929
George Hollister	1929–1931	Arthur J. Amundsen	1935–1949
Carl E. Erickson	1949–1953	Albert E. Hoffmeyer	1953–1957
Joseph Armondo	1957–1961	Marius "Bossie" Olsen	1961–1965
Joseph Armondo	1965–1975	John Hodge	1976–1978
Richard "Butch" Hamm	1978–1985	William Dam	1985–1989
Frank Meier	1989–1993	Ken Hamsher	1993–1997
Jim Pappas	1997–2001	Nancy Koske	2001–2005
Cindy Irwin	2005–2009	Ed Bender	2009–2013
Donny Schmit	2013–present

Geography

Fox Lake is located at 42°24′12″N88°10′58″W / 42.40333°N 88.18278°W / 42.40333; -88.18278 (42.4032677, -88.1828850), ^[2] 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. ^[12]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
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 [13] 2010 [14] 2020 [15]

Fox Lake village, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000 [16]	Pop 2010 [14]	Pop 2020 [15]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	8,405	9,289	8,748	91.58%	87.81%	79.69%
Black or African American alone (NH)	69	96	219	0.75%	0.91%	1.99%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	20	26	15	0.22%	0.25%	0.14%
Asian alone (NH)	60	97	134	0.65%	0.92%	1.22%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	5	1	4	0.05%	0.01%	0.04%
Other race alone (NH)	3	3	16	0.03%	0.03%	0.15%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	83	127	456	0.90%	1.20%	4.15%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	533	940	1,386	5.81%	8.89%	12.63%
Total	9,178	10,579	10,978	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2000 Census

As of the census ^[17] of 2000, there were 9,178 people, 4,046 households, and 2,330 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,249.1 inhabitants per square mile (482.3/km²). There were 4,652 housing units at an average density of 633.1 per square mile (244.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.5% White, 0.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.8% of the population.

There were 4,046 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.4% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $46,548, and the median income for a family was $58,843. Males had a median income of $42,009 versus $29,063 for females. The per capita income for the village was $24,350. 6.4% of the population and 4.1% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 7.2% of those under the age of 18 and 9.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

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. ^[18]

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. ^{[19] [20] [21] [22] [23]}
• Alexander Joseph McGavick, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
2. "Geographic Names Information System". United States Geological Survey . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. "Fox Lake village, Illinois". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved April 15, 2022.
4. Illinois Regional Archives Depository System. "Name Index to Illinois Local Governments". Illinois State Archives. Illinois Secretary of State . Retrieved March 24, 2014.
5. Paul J. Jaxtas, Postcard History Series: Fox Lake (Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing Co., 2006), p. 9
6. Paul J. Jaxtas, Postcard History Series: Fox Lake, p. 7
7. Jaxtas, Postcard History, 2006, p. 37
8. Jaxtas, 2006
9. "FLLIB.org: Home Page". www2.youseemore.com.
10. Castillo, Mariano (November 4, 2015). "Death of Fox Lake, Illinois, officer a 'carefully staged suicide'". CNN. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
11. 1907–2007: Illinois: Fox Lake (Fox Lake–Grant Township Area Historical Society, 2007), 24
12. "G001 – Geographic Identifiers – 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
13. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
14. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fox Lake village, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
15. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fox Lake village, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
16. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Fox Lake village, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
18. "RTA System Map" (PDF). Retrieved January 28, 2024.
19. "The Swedish Side Of Ann-margret". chicagotribune.com. June 15, 1988. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
20. "Famous residents from our communities". dailyherald.com. January 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
21. "Illinois Hall of Fame: Ann-Margret – Illinois Review". illinoisreview.typepad.com. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
22. "[ Ann-Margret – Saturday Evening Post, May 4, 1963 ]". ann-margret-from-sweden.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
23. "Ann-Margret with family and friends, Fox Lake,... – Life". life.tumblr.com. Retrieved April 13, 2018.

External links

• Village of Fox Lake