Grayslake, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Grayslake, Illinois
Village
Downtown Grayslake (2014)
Flag Logo
Location in Lake County and the state of Illinois
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Lake County
Settled	1840
Incorporated	1895
Area
• Total	11.13 sq mi (28.81 km2)
• Land	10.90 sq mi (28.23 km2)
• Water	0.23 sq mi (0.58 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	21,248
• Density	1,949.18/sq mi (752.61/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	60030
Area code(s)	847
FIPS code	17-31121

Grayslake is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 21,248 people lived there. It is part of the larger Chicago metropolitan area. Grayslake is located about 40 miles (64 km) north of downtown Chicago. It is also about 14 miles (23 km) west of Lake Michigan and 15 miles (24 km) south of the Wisconsin border.

Grayslake is home to important places like the College of Lake County, Grayslake North High School, and Grayslake Central High School. The Lake County Fairgrounds are also located here.

History of Grayslake

How Grayslake Started

In 1840, a man named William M. Gray moved to the area from Massachusetts. He settled near a lake that was not yet named. Other farmers also began to move into the area in the 1840s. William Gray later moved to Waukegan in 1845.

In 1880, the Wisconsin Central Railroad built a train line. This line went from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Chicago. It passed right by the east side of the lake where William Gray had settled. In 1886, the railroad built a station there and named it Grayslake. The village officially became a town in 1895.

Geography of Grayslake

Grayslake is located in the middle of Lake County. Its exact location is 42°20′54″N 88°1′57″W / 42.34833°N 88.03250°W / 42.34833; -88.03250. Nearby towns include Libertyville, Mundelein, and Round Lake Park. Most of Grayslake is in Avon Township. A small part is in Fremont Township.

In 2010, Grayslake covered about 10.08 square miles (26.10 km2). Most of this area, about 9.87 square miles (25.56 km2), is land. The rest, about 0.21 square miles (0.54 km2), is water.

Lakes in Grayslake

Grays Lake is right in the center of the village. It is surrounded by Route 120, Lake Street, Harvey Avenue, and Alleghany Road. Parts of Highland Lake (Illinois) are also within Grayslake.

Main Roads in Grayslake

• U.S. Route 45
• Barron Boulevard/Ivanhoe Road
• Belvidere Road
• Buckley Road

Population and People

Grayslake's Population in 2020

In 2020, Grayslake had a population of 21,248 people. The largest group was White people, making up about 71.44% of the population. Hispanic or Latino people made up about 13.42% of the population. Other groups included Black or African American people (4.33%) and Asian people (6.50%).

Getting Around Grayslake

Grayslake has two Metra train lines that connect to downtown Chicago. One station in south Grayslake is on the Milwaukee District North Line. This line goes between Fox Lake and Union Station. Another station on Washington Street is on the North Central Service. This line runs on weekdays between Antioch and Union Station, with a stop at O'Hare International Airport.

Bus service is provided by Pace routes. Route 570 and the Round Lake On Demand service are the main options. Other routes like 565, 572, and 574 also stop at the College of Lake County campus.

Four main roads pass through Grayslake: Route 120, Route 45, Route 83, and Washington Street. These roads can get busy during morning and afternoon rush hours.

Campbell Airport is a small, private airport southwest of town.

Public Services in Grayslake

The Village of Grayslake has its own police department and a fire protection district.

Police Department

The Grayslake Police Department has 32 full-time police officers. They also have part-time officers and staff. Their job is to keep the residents of Grayslake and Hainesville safe. They offer programs like Bike Patrol and School Liaison. The police department is officially recognized for its high standards by a national group.

Fire Protection District

The Grayslake Fire Protection District covers about 24 square miles (62 km2) in Lake County. This includes the village of Grayslake. They have 33 full-time and 30 part-time members. These members include firefighter/paramedics, Battalion Chiefs, and Lieutenants. They work 24-hour shifts to provide service every day of the year.

The district has three fire stations. The main station is in downtown Grayslake. They use fire engines, a ladder truck, ambulances, and other special vehicles. They also have rescue boats. When there is an emergency, they work with nearby towns to make sure help arrives quickly.

Drinking Water Supply

Grayslake gets its drinking water from the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency (CLCJAWA). This agency cleans water from Lake Michigan for the village.

Education in Grayslake

Grayslake offers many educational options for students of all ages.

Colleges

• College of Lake County: Offers associate degrees (two-year degrees).
• University Center of Lake County: Offers bachelor's and graduate degrees.

High Schools

• Grayslake Central High School
• Grayslake North High School
• Lake County Vocational Center

Elementary Schools

• Grayslake Middle School
• Park Campus K–8
• Frederick
• Meadowview
• Prairieview
• Avon
• Woodview
• Westlake Christian Academy K–12
• St. Gilbert (Catholic) School PK–8
• Prairie Crossing Charter School K–8

Sports Teams in Grayslake

Grayslake has many youth sports programs.

• AYSO region 396 is a local soccer organization.
• The youth football team is called the Colts.
• Grayslake Youth Lacrosse Association is the local lacrosse program.

For high school sports:

• Grayslake Central High School teams are called the Rams.
• Grayslake North High School teams are called the Knights.
• The high school ice hockey club is called Lakers Hockey. This club includes students from Grayslake Central, Grayslake North, Lakes, Antioch, and Grant high schools.

The Grayslake Youth Baseball Association (GYBA) is a group run by volunteers. It offers T-ball and baseball for both girls and boys. In 2008, the Grayslake Park District opened a new sports complex. It has baseball/softball fields, tennis courts, soccer fields, and a concession stand.

Fun Things to Do in Grayslake

Grayslake offers many ways to have fun outdoors. In summer, you can go fishing, swimming, and boating. In winter, you can enjoy ice fishing, skating, and hockey.

There are two public golf courses:

• Carillon: A nine-hole course run by the Park District.
• Brae Loch: A course run by the Lake County Forest Preserve.

The Park District also has many tennis courts. Both high schools have over eight courts each that are open to the public. Most neighborhoods have their own parks with playground equipment.

On the north side of town, you'll find Rollins Savannah. This is a county forest preserve that covers about 1,200 acres (4.9 km2). It has a bird observation deck, trails, and walkways through wetlands.

Right next to the old downtown area is Central Park. This park has many fun facilities:

• The Esper A. Petersen Foundation Family Aquatic Center: Opened in 2000, it has two water slides and pools for swimming.
• The Daniel Barry Skate Park: Located near the aquatic center, next to a community garden.
• Grayslake Library: Moved to a new building in 1997. It has books, meeting rooms, and computers with internet access.
• Central Park also has fields for baseball, softball, football, soccer, and lacrosse. These fields have lights for night games. There's also a concession stand, a band shell, and a playground with a water feature for small children. You can also find a bocce court, a shuffleboard court, and a disc golf course in the woods. All of this is close to the Grayslake Senior Center.

Festivals and Events

Grayslake hosts several exciting festivals and events throughout the year.

Grayslake Days

Grayslake Days usually happens in mid-August. It lasts for two days, Friday and Saturday, in the downtown area. This family music festival has live music and fun activities for everyone. You can find carnival games, arts and crafts, and food from local vendors.

During Grayslake Days, there's also an annual Bike and Pet Parade on Saturday morning. Kids decorate their bikes, and families dress up their pets for a parade through downtown. The festival also features a "Grayslake's Got Talent" contest. The main Summer Days Parade takes place on Saturday evening.

Taste of Grayslake

The Taste of Grayslake is held in late June, usually the weekend before Independence Day. It takes place in Grayslake's Central Park. This festival is a great way to try food from all the local restaurants and food vendors in Grayslake. It also has live entertainment all day long. Kids can enjoy activities like face painting, balloon animals, and obstacle courses. The Taste of Grayslake ends with a fireworks show around dusk.

Grayslake Arts Festival

Grayslake's annual Arts Festival has been a tradition for almost 20 years. It happens every June on Center Street in downtown Grayslake. The festival features art and crafts from over 70 artists. There's also an art exhibit from local high schools. You can enjoy entertainment throughout the day, try food from various local vendors, and find activities for children.

Notable People from Grayslake

Many interesting people have connections to Grayslake:

• Korbin Albert: A soccer player who won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
• Tyler Blevins (better known as Ninja): A famous online streamer and professional gamer.
• Mike Ditka: A former National Football League player and coach for the Chicago Bears.
• Melvin Gordon: A professional football player and Super Bowl champion for the Kansas City Chiefs. He attended Grayslake Central High School for a short time.
• Sara Gruen: The author of the book Water for Elephants.
• Jo Jorgensen: The Libertarian Party candidate for president in 2020.

Bands from Grayslake

• Chevelle: An alternative metal band.
• Sworn In: A metalcore band.

See also

In Spanish: Grayslake para niños