Lake Zurich, Illinois

Last updated

Lake Zurich, Illinois
Village
Lake Zurich
Lakefront Promenade, Lake Zurich, IL, June 2009.jpg
View of Lake Zurich from the downtown promenade
Flag of Lake Zurich, Illinois.png
Flag
Seal of Lake Zurich, Illinois.png
Seal
Lake County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Lake Zurich Highlighted.svg
Location of Lake Zurich in Lake County, Illinois.
Coordinates: 42°11′44″N88°05′14″W / 42.19556°N 88.08722°W / 42.19556; -88.08722 [1]
Country United States
State Illinois
County Lake
Township Ela
FoundedSeptember 29, 1896
Government
 • MayorTom Poynton
Area
[2]
 • Total
7.33 sq mi (18.99 km2)
 • Land6.93 sq mi (17.94 km2)
 • Water0.41 sq mi (1.05 km2)
Elevation
[1]
886 ft (270 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
19,759
 • Density2,852.87/sq mi (1,101.45/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
60047
Area codes 847 and 224
FIPS code 17-41742
GNIS feature ID2398386 [1]
Website lakezurich.org

Lake Zurich is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States, a northwest suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 19,759. [3] The village is named after a body of water named "Lake Zurich," which is completely located inside the village.

Contents

History

The area of Lake Zurich was first settled by European descendants in the 1830s. Three early pioneers were George Ela, after whom the Ela township is named, Seth Paine, who established a number of commercial ventures in the town, and Nathan Kowitt, [4] who accompanied them on their voyage. Yankee farmers moved to the area in the 1830s and 1840s, and German immigrants began to move to the area later in the middle of the 19th century. The lake was originally named Cedar Lake, but Paine later renamed it Lake Zurich. [5] [6]

The village of Lake Zurich was incorporated on September 29, 1896. It remained primarily a farming community; although the village was connected to the railroad in 1910, the line was closed ten years later. However, the arrival of the highway system with Rand Road (U.S. Route 12) in 1922 and Half Day Road (Illinois Route 22) in 1927 established Lake Zurich as a convenient summer resort. The now-defunct Palatine, Lake Zurich, and Wauconda Railroad also served the community. Housing development began in the 1950s, with the population increasing throughout the latter part of the 20th century.

The town of Lake Zurich puts on an annual festival each summer, called the Alpine Fest. The Lake Zurich Lion's Club hosted the first Alpine Fest as a way to celebrate their victories from World War II. [7] The first-ever Alpine Fest took place in 1942 and has been a popular summer activity for families and adults of all ages. [8]

In 1988, a historic, landmark legal case in Illinois took place settling a dispute on Lake Zurich, thereby clarifying throughout Illinois property owners' rights on private lakes. In 1988, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in Beacham v. Lake Zurich Property Owners Association (123 Ill. 2d 227; 526 N.E.2d 154; 1988 Ill. LEXIS 91; 122 Ill. Dec 14, filed June 20, 1988) that each individual owner of the private (aka non-public) lake's bottom has the legal right to recreate over the surface waters of the entire private lake. The High Court ruled that by ownership of a lake bottom land, each partial-lake-bottom owner of a private lake can not be prohibited from recreating on the surface waters that may be located above other owners' lake bottom properties. Riparian land rights were defined in Illinois.

Eminent domain controversy

The village government has used eminent domain to obtain properties in an attempt to increase downtown revenue via new businesses. As of 2004 Lake Zurich had acquired all the property intended to fulfill its downtown redevelopment project. While many protests occurred regularly throughout 2005 near the promenade, the protests failed to garner much attention and ended up failing. [9] A 2007 court defeat brought the issue back into the public eye, as a village-owned rental parcel was denied eminent domain. The renters were granted the ability to stay through the end of their lease due to clerical errors made by the village's legal and administrative employees regarding this parcel in particular.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Lake Zurich has a total area of 7.187 square miles (18.61 km2), of which 6.77 square miles (17.53 km2) (or 94.2%) are land and 0.417 square miles (1.08 km2) (or 5.8%) are water. [10]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880 146—
1900 215—
1910 30441.4%
1920 3163.9%
1930 36816.5%
1940 42214.7%
1950 850101.4%
1960 3,458306.8%
1970 4,08218.0%
1980 8,225101.5%
1990 14,94781.7%
2000 18,10421.1%
2010 19,6318.4%
2020 19,7590.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [11]
2010 [12] 2020 [13]

2020 census

Lake Zurich 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 [14] Pop 2010 [12] Pop 2020 [13] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)16,11516,22315,55289.01%82.64%78.71%
Black or African American alone (NH)1421651740.78%0.84%0.88%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)181080.10%0.05%0.04%
Asian alone (NH)6891,4401,7813.81%7.34%9.01%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)21120.01%0.06%0.01%
Other race alone (NH)618310.03%0.09%0.16%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)1272435730.70%1.24%2.90%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)1,0051,5211,6385.55%7.75%8.29%
Total18,10419,63119,759 100.00%100.00%100.00%

2000 Census

As of the census [15] of 2000, there were 18,104 people, 5,746 households, and 4,866 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,792.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,078.1/km2). There were 5,828 housing units at an average density of 898.9 per square mile (347.1/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 92.31% White, 0.81% African American, 0.17% Native American, 3.82% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.97% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.55% of the population.

There were 5,746 households, out of which 54.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.3% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.3% were non-families. 12.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.12 and the average family size was 3.42.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 34.1% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the village was $101,872, and the median income for a family was $108,108. [16] Males had a median income of $63,909 versus $43,047 for females. The per capita income for the village was $30,287. About 2.0% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The village of Lake Zurich is headed by Village Mayor Thomas Poynton, who was reelected in 2017, and originally won a seat on the village board as Trustee in 2007. [17]

The village has a six-member Board of Trustees: Sujatha Bharadwaj (elected 2025), Jake Marx was (elected 2025), Marc Spacone (elected 2015), Roger Sugrue (elected 2023), William Riley (elected 2023), Greg Weider (elected 2017) [18] .

Education

Public schools

Public schools are managed by the Lake Zurich Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95. A small section of east Lake Zurich is served by Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 96 and Consolidated High School District 125.

Elementary schools (K-5):

Until 2009, Charles Quentin Elementary School was also a school in the district, located in nearby Kildeer, that served students in Kildeer, parts of Deer Park and a small part of Lake Zurich, but it closed due to the small total number of students attending it. The district was remapped and students attending Charles Quentin were assigned to various other schools. The site of the former Charles Quentin school became a large part of the retail shopping center known as Kildeer Village Square.

Middle schools (6–8):

High school (9–12):

Non-Lake Zurich schools:

Private schools

Library

Ela Area Public Library

Lake Zurich is the hometown of Sandra Bullock's character Dr. Ryan Stone in the 2013 science fiction film Gravity . [20]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Zurich, Illinois
  2. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Lake Zurich village, Illinois". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Top 10 End of Life Doulas in Lake Zurich, IL". Sofia Health. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  5. ↑ Archived October 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Grom, Korrina; src="https://patch.com/img/cdn/assets/layout/badges/verified-patch-staff.svg"/>, Patch Staff<img alt="Verified Patch Staff Badge" class="styles_Badge__PNwMX" (June 11, 2011). "Patch Passport: Travel Back In Time". Lake Zurich, IL Patch. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Lake Zurich Lions Club".
  8. ↑ "CooperatorNews Chicagoland".
  9. ↑ Kuczka, Barbara (April 4, 2006). "Eminent domain battle squashed; Last owners accept Lake Zurich's offer". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  10. ↑ "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  12. 1 2 "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lake Zurich village, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  13. 1 2 "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lake Zurich village, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  14. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lake Zurich village, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  15. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ↑ American FactFinder [ permanent dead link ]
  17. ↑ "Office of the Mayor | Lake Zurich, IL - Official Website".
  18. ↑ "Village Board | Lake Zurich, IL - Official Website". www.lakezurich.org. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Home - Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95". www.lz95.org. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  20. ↑ Pavin, Laura. "Lake Zurich Courier". Pioneer Press. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
  21. ↑ Blanchard, Matt. "@Matt_Blanchard_". Twitter.com. Retrieved February 2, 2018. Born and raised in Lake Zurich, IL. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Graduate. Current NFL QB. Psalm 16:11.
  22. ↑ Kufrin, Joan (1995). Star Reacher. Chicago: Leo Burnett Company, Inc. p. 243.
  23. ↑ "CNBC Titans". Hulu.com. CNBC. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  24. ↑ Database, OSDB-Online Sports. "OSDB - Anthony Castonzo - Indianapolis Colts". OSDB - Online Sports Database. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Robert H. "Bob" Parsons Obituary (2022)".
  26. ↑ "AL SALVI – Chicago Tribune". www.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  27. ↑ Danielewicz, Matt (November 17, 2022). "Bears linebacker Jack Sanborn living out his dream with his hometown team | Bears News". Marquee Sports Network - Television Home of the Chicago Cubs and Sky. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  28. ↑ Tribune, Steve Reaven | Chicago (July 8, 2025). "After 3 seasons with Chicago Bears, Lake Zurich's Jack Sanborn is 'grateful' for new start with Dallas Cowboys". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  29. ↑ Martin, Douglas (December 2, 1999). "Phoebe Snetsinger, 68, Dies; Held Record for Bird Sightings". The New York Times . Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  30. ↑ McGraw, Mike (April 18, 2025). "Lake Zurich's Svanson makes MLB debut with Cardinals". Daily Herald. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  31. ↑ Swartz, Tracy (June 6, 2016). "Chicago-area native describes what it's like writing music for Bieber". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved February 2, 2018.
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