Old Mill Creek, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Old Mill Creek
Village
Location of Old Mill Creek in Lake County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Lake
Area
• Total	10.85 sq mi (28.09 km2)
• Land	10.67 sq mi (27.64 km2)
• Water	0.17 sq mi (0.45 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	162
• Density	15.18/sq mi (5.86/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	60083, 60046
Area code(s)	847
FIPS code	17-55639
Wikimedia Commons	Old Mill Creek, Illinois

Old Mill Creek is a small village located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It's a quiet place with a population of 162 people, according to the 2020 census. This article will tell you more about its interesting history and what the village is like today.

History of Old Mill Creek

Early Settlement and the Sawmill

The story of Old Mill Creek began around 1838. A man named Jacob Miller built a sawmill here. It was located along a small river that flows into the Des Plaines River. He named this smaller river "Mill Creek." Some historians think the sawmill might have been built a little earlier, between 1835 and 1840.

Schools in the Village

For a while, there were no public schools in the Old Mill Creek area. But by 1840, things started to change. Between the mid-1800s and 1900, about a dozen school buildings were built. One of the most famous was Browe School. It is believed to have opened in 1859 and stayed open for a very long time, 101 years, until 1960. After it closed, the land was sold to a private owner.

Browe School, Old Mill Creek in 1894

Growth and Transportation

In 1873, a new train station was built nearby in the village of Gurnee. This station was part of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. Having a train station close by helped Old Mill Creek grow. More people and businesses came to the area because it was easier to travel and transport goods.

Becoming an Official Village

Old Mill Creek officially became a village in 1959. This means it got its own local government to manage things like roads and services. Since the 1960s, the village has received fire support from the nearby community of Wadsworth, IL.

Geography and Location

Old Mill Creek is located at coordinates 42°25′19″N 87°58′57″W / 42.42194°N 87.98250°W / 42.42194; -87.98250. It covers an area of about 10.804 square miles (28.09 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 10.63 square miles (27.64 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.174 square miles (0.45 square kilometers), is water.

Important Roads in Old Mill Creek

Several important roads pass through or near Old Mill Creek. These roads help people travel to and from the village and connect it to other towns.

• Tri-State Tollway
• U.S. Route 45
• Rosecrans Road
• Edwards Road
• Hunt Club Road
• Main Street
• Old Town Court
• Wadsworth Road
• Millburn Road
• Stearns School Road

Population and People

Old Mill Creek is a small community. Let's look at how its population has changed over the years.

Who Lives in Old Mill Creek?

The 2020 census helps us understand the different groups of people who live in Old Mill Creek.

Notable People

• Bruce Wolf is a famous sportscaster and radio host from Chicago. He is one of the well-known people connected to Old Mill Creek.

See also

In Spanish: Old Mill Creek (Illinois) para niños