Lake Bluff, Illinois

Geobox|Settlement
name = Lake Bluff
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category = Village
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country = United States
state = Illinois
region = Lake
region_type = County
district =
district_type = Township
municipality =
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lat_d = 42
lat_m = 16
lat_s = 52
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long_d = 87
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long_EW = W
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area_imperial = 4.1
area_land_imperial = 4.1
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population = 6056
population_date = 2000
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leader_type = Village president
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code = 60044
area_code = 847
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map_caption = Location of Lake Bluff within Illinois
map_background = Illinois - background map.png map_locator = Illinois2
commons = Lake Bluff, Illinois
statistics =
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Lake Bluff is a village in Lake County, Illinois. It is the closest moderate-sized town near the Great Lakes Navy Base. The population is 6,056 according to the 2000 census. The town has a volunteer fire department, and police department.

History

In 1836, John and Catherine Cloes were the first to claim land, 100 Acres, in the area that would become Lake Bluff. In 1855, the first railroad in Lake County was completed between Chicago and Waukegan. When the railroad depot was built in Lake Bluff, the land became known as Rockland; although the village is no longer known by that name, there is still a Rockland Road in the unincorporated section of Lake Bluff, Knollwood. The area had previously been known as the Dwyer Settlement, and Oak Hill. The Lake Bluff Camp Meeting Association was formed and the little settlement of Rockland was renamed "Lake Bluff." The Association planned a resort similar to the Chautauqua movement in the east, one that would provide not only religious activities but also social, cultural, educational, and recreational programs. In 1895, Lake Bluff ensured its future as a suburb and incorporated as a Village. Charles Trusdell, the first Village President, built his home at 115 East Center Avenue. The East School opened in September 1895. In 1904, the brick railroad station was erected, and in 1905 the present Village Hall was built.

Knollwood, an unincorporated residential neighborhood west of Lake Bluff but within Lake Bluff's park and school districts, made unsuccessful petitions for annexation in 1978, 1982, and 1996. [http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/705.html Retrieved Oct. 5,2006]

Geography

Lake Bluff is located in the North Shore area, more precisely, coor dms|42|16|52|N|87|50|56|W|city (42.281122, -87.849019)GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 4.1 square miles (10.5 km²), all of it land. It is bordered by Lake Michigan on the east, Great Lakes Naval Training Station and unincorporated Lake County (Arden Shores) to the north, Lake Forest, Illinois to the South and unincorporated Lake County (Knollwood, Illinois) to the west.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,056 people, 2,118 households, and 1,743 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,492.0 people per square mile (575.9/km²). There were 2,202 housing units at an average density of 542.5/sq mi (209.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.29% White, 0.51% African American, 0.03% Native American, 3.30% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population.

There were 2,118 households out of which 45.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.3% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the village the population was spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $114,521, and the median income for a family was $124,674. Males had a median income of $93,794 versus $50,352 for females. The per capita income for the village was $54,824. 1.1% of the population and 0.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 0.6% are under the age of 18 and 0.0% are 65 or older.

Transportation

Road

Lake Bluff has Interstate Highway access via U.S. Route 41 and directly west of Lake Bluff is Interstate 94, both providing access for commuters to Chicago or Milwaukee.

Rail

Until its bankruptcy in 1964, the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee interurban railroad made a stop in Lake Bluff. As of 2007, the Union Pacific Railroad (Formerly the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad) runs through Lake Bluff. The Union Pacific line is currently used by the Metra commuter rail agency, providing access to Chicago and Kenosha, Wisconsin. Although not a passenger rail line, the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad has trackage in Lake Bluff as well.

Lake Bluff Schools

Lake Bluff East Elementary School, originally known as "Lake Bluff School", was the first school in Lake Bluff. In 1960, Lake Bluff West Elementary School was built for children living in west Lake Bluff, also known as Knollwood, Illinois. In 1967, Lake Bluff Central Elementary School was constructed for students in north Lake Bluff. In the 1970's, West School was shut down, and held many other titles, and the whole system changed into what it is today. In April 2007, a referendum passed by a narrow margin to build a new school. In a land swap with the park district, District 65 acquired land adjacent to its Central School and gave up land adjacent to West School. West School was sold in May of 2007 for approximately 1 million dollars, which was also the minimum bid for the property. The new school is being built on the newly reparcelled area just north of Central School. There will also be additions and remodeling to the middle school. East School will hold final classes in spring of 2009. The new facilities and remodeling will cost nearly 24 million, will be 80,000 square feet, and will be completed in August of 2009.

School System:

Public:
* Lake Bluff East Elementary School (Kindergarten through 2nd grade)
* Lake Bluff Central Elementary School (3rd grade through 5th grade)
* Lake Bluff Middle School (Middle School)
* (Lake Bluff High School students attend Lake Forest High School in Lake Forest, Illinois)

Private:
* [http://www.forestbluffschool.com Forest Bluff School] (Ages 18 months through 8th grade)

Defunct:
* Lake Bluff West Elementary School

Media Associated with Lake Bluff

* The comedy film "A Wedding" was filmed almost entirely in Lake Bluff, near the border between Lake Bluff and the Great Lakes Naval Facility.
* The Academy Award winning film "Ordinary People" was filmed mostly in neighboring Lake Forest and nearby Fort Sheridan and Highland Park, although some scenes were filmed in Lake Bluff.
* Ray Bradbury chose Lake Bluff as the location of his short story "The Lake" (1944).

Notable residents

*Andrew Bird, musician
*Martha Sleeper, silent film and Broadway actress
*Richard Marx, singer and songwriter
*Cynthia Rhodes, dancer and actress
*Philip Danforth Armour, founder of Armour and Company meatpacking firm
*Brian Urlacher, linebacker for the Chicago Bears
*Casey Urlacher, brother of Brian Urlacher and Arena Football League player
*Mark Morettini, actor
*Charles Tillman, cornerback for the Chicago Bears
*Patrick Mannelly, long snapper for the Chicago Bears
*John Paxson, General Manager for the Chicago Bulls
*Phil Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune columnist
*Rob Pelinka, sports agent for Kobe Bryant
*Robin Rotman, Rhodes scholar
*Elise Wang, Rhodes scholar

References

External links

* [http://www.lakebluff.org/ Village of Lake Bluff]
* [http://www.lakebluff.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={E6944056-B601-4B88-9884-336D836225A5} Village history]
* [http://www.lflbhistory.org/ Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society]
* [http://www.lakebluffonline.com/ Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce]