Illinois

Lake

714,342
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Lake

Lake, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 2,634. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 714,342.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 96 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020714,342
2010703,462
2000644,356
1990516,418
1980440,372
1970382,638
1960293,656
1950179,097
1940121,094
1930104,387
192074,285
191055,058
190034,504
189024,235
188021,296
187021,014
186018,257
185014,226
18402,634
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Lake

National Register of Historic Places listings in Lake, Illinois.

Armour, Lester, House
Lake Bluff
Holy Family Church
North Chicago
Willits, Ward Winfield, House
Highland Park
Public Service Building
Libertyville
Millard, Sylvester, House
Highland Park
Waukegan Public Library
Waukegan
Dewey House
North Chicago
Green Bay Road Historic District
Lake Forest
Proctor Building
Libertyville
Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Passenger Depot
Deerfield
Adams, Mary W., House
Highland Park
Adler, Mrs. Isaac D., House
Libertyville
Lake Forest Cemetery
Lake Forest
Judah, Noble, Estate
Lake Forest
Churchill, Richard, House
Highland Park
Bowen, Joseph T., Country Club
Waukegan
Lake Bluff Uptown Commercial Historic District
Lake Bluff
Near North Historic District
Waukegan
North Shore Sanitary District Tower
Highland Park
Millard, George Madison, House
Highland Park
Linn, Howard and Lucy, House
Lake Bluff
Zion Chapter House
Zion
Water Tower, Building 49
Fort Sheridan
Church of the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery
Libertyville
Browse all Illinoishistoric sites ›

Other counties in Illinois

Explore census history and historic records for more Illinois counties.

SchuylerScottShelbySt. ClairStarkStephensonTazewellUnionVermilionWabashWarrenWashingtonWayneWhiteWhitesideWillWilliamsonWinnebagoWoodfordAdams
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Everything a full report reveals about Lake County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Lake County, Illinois. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Illinoishistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Illinois›

Frequently asked about Lake

When does Lake first appear in the US census?
Lake, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 2,634.
What is the population of Lake?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lake had a recorded population of 714,342.
How many historic places are in Lake?
96 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lake, Illinois.
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