Lake Zurich, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lake Zurich, Illinois
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| Lake Zurich | |||
View of Lake Zurich from the downtown promenade
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Location of Lake Zurich in Lake County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Illinois | ||
| County | Lake | ||
| Township | Ela | ||
| Founded | September 29, 1896 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 7.33 sq mi (18.99 km2) | ||
| • Land | 6.93 sq mi (17.94 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.41 sq mi (1.05 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 850 ft (260 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 19,759 | ||
| • Density | 2,852.87/sq mi (1,101.45/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP Code(s) |
60047
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| Area codes | 847 and 224 | ||
| FIPS code | 17-41742 | ||
Lake Zurich is a village located in Lake County, Illinois, in the United States. It's a suburb northwest of the big city of Chicago. According to the 2020 census, about 19,759 people live there. The village gets its name from a lake called "Lake Zurich," which is entirely within the village's borders.
Contents
Geography of Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich is found at 42°11′32″N 88°5′17″W / 42.19222°N 88.08806°W. It sits about 850 feet (260 m) above sea level.
The village covers a total area of about 7.187 square miles (18.61 km2). Most of this area, about 6.77 square miles (17.53 km2) (or 94.2%), is land. The rest, about 0.417 square miles (1.08 km2) (or 5.8%), is water, which includes the lake itself.
History of Lake Zurich
The Lake Zurich area was first settled by people of European descent in the 1830s. Some of the first pioneers were George Ela, Seth Paine, and Nathan Kowitt. Farmers from New England moved to the area in the 1830s and 1840s. Later, in the mid-1800s, German immigrants also began to settle there. The lake we now call Lake Zurich was originally known as Cedar Lake.
The village of Lake Zurich officially became a village on September 29, 1896. For a long time, it was mostly a farming community. Even though a railroad line connected the village in 1910, it closed just ten years later.
However, things changed with the arrival of major roads. Rand Road (U.S. Route 12) came in 1922, and Half Day Road (Illinois Route 22) followed in 1927. These roads made Lake Zurich an easy place to visit for summer vacations. The Palatine, Lake Zurich, and Wauconda Railroad also served the area for a while, but it no longer exists. New homes started to be built in the 1950s, and the number of people living in the village grew a lot during the second half of the 20th century.
Alpine Fest Tradition
Every summer, the town of Lake Zurich holds a special event called the Alpine Fest. The Lake Zurich Lion's Club started the first Alpine Fest in 1942 to celebrate their successes after World War II. It has been a popular summer event for families and people of all ages ever since.
Understanding Lake Rights
In 1988, an important legal case happened in Illinois that helped explain the rights of property owners on private lakes. This case was called Beacham v. Lake Zurich Property Owners Association. The Illinois Supreme Court decided that if you own a part of the bottom of a private lake, you have the right to use the entire surface of that lake for fun activities like boating or swimming. This ruling helped define what are called "riparian land rights" in Illinois.
Population Growth in Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich has grown quite a bit over the years. Here's a look at how its population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 146 | — | |
| 1900 | 215 | — | |
| 1910 | 304 | 41.4% | |
| 1920 | 316 | 3.9% | |
| 1930 | 368 | 16.5% | |
| 1940 | 422 | 14.7% | |
| 1950 | 850 | 101.4% | |
| 1960 | 3,458 | 306.8% | |
| 1970 | 4,082 | 18.0% | |
| 1980 | 8,225 | 101.5% | |
| 1990 | 14,947 | 81.7% | |
| 2000 | 18,104 | 21.1% | |
| 2010 | 19,631 | 8.4% | |
| 2020 | 19,759 | 0.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
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Notable People from Lake Zurich
Many interesting people have connections to Lake Zurich, including:
- Matt Blanchard, a former player in the National Football League
- Leo Burnett, a famous person who created well-known advertising characters like Tony the Tiger and the Marlboro Man
- Anthony Costanzo, a former offensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts
- Bob Parsons, another former National Football League player
- Al Salvi, who used to be an Illinois state legislator
- Jack Sanborn, a current National Football League player for the Chicago Bears
- Phoebe Snetsinger, a very famous birdwatcher who grew up in Lake Zurich and was Leo Burnett's daughter
- Justin Tranter, a songwriter and singer for the band Semi Precious Weapons
Education in Lake Zurich
Schools in Lake Zurich are mostly managed by the Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95. A small part of east Lake Zurich is served by other school districts.
Public Schools
Here are the public schools in the area:
Elementary Schools (Grades K-5)
- Isaac Fox
- Sarah Adams
- Seth Paine
- Spencer Loomis
- May Whitney (also has Pre-K)
Charles Quentin Elementary School used to be part of the district until 2009. It closed because not enough students were attending. The students were then assigned to other schools. The old school site is now part of a shopping center.
Middle Schools (Grades 6-8)
- Lake Zurich Middle School South (for students from Fox, Adams, and Whitney schools)
- Lake Zurich Middle School North (for students from Paine, Loomis, and Whitney schools)
High School (Grades 9-12)
- Lake Zurich High School
Other Nearby Public Schools
- Willow Grove Kindergarten Center (K) (in Buffalo Grove)
- Kildeer Countryside Elementary School (1-5) (in Long Grove)
- Woodlawn Middle School (6-8) (in Long Grove)
- Adlai E. Stevenson High School (9-12) (in Lincolnshire)
Private Schools
- St. Francis de Sales (Catholic school for Preschool-8th grade)
- St. Matthew (Lutheran school for K-8th grade)
- Quentin Road Christian School (Baptist school for K-12th grade)
Public Library
The Ela Area Public Library serves the community.
See also
In Spanish: Lake Zurich (Illinois) para niños
