Waukegan, IL

Waukegan, IL is a city and county seat in Lake County, IL.  Population 92,046 with a median income of $42,300 and a median age of 29.  Waukegan was first visited in 1673 by Pere Marquette and was recorded as Riviere du Vieux Fort (Old River Fort) and Wayaygagh on a 1778 map by Thomas Hutchings ( an American military engineer and surveyor).  By the 1820s the French name became Small Fort River in English and the settlement was known as Little Fort,  The name Waukegance and Waukegan (Potawatomi Indian word wakaigin meaning little fort) was created by John H Kinzie (2nd President of Chicago) and Solomon Juneau (founded Milwaukee, WI) in 1849 when Waukegan was incorporated.  Waukegan was one of the first cities in Illinois and became a trade hub from Wisconsin to Chicago. 
Today Waukegan is in the process of revitalizing the Lake front and downtown area.  All industry (except the power plant and water treatment facilities) are being removed from the lake front so that residential and recreational space can be built.  The downtown area started renovations in the early 2000s and the first major project, The Genesee Theater, was completed in 2004.  The Genesee Theater is a concert hall and movie theater that seats 2427.   It originally opened in 1927  as a Vaudeville and Movie theater.  It closed in 1989 but reopened in 2004 after $25 Million renovation was completed.  With the Genesee theater open again it has brought several new restaurants to downtown Waukegan and business are returning as buildings are being renovated. 
Waukegan has many notable people from the city but one of the biggest is Jack Benny (1894-1974), the comedian,vaudevillian, radio, television and film actor.  He was known as the comic who was a penny-pinching miser who was forever the age of 39 and played the violin badly. ( He was actually a very good violinist).  His catch phrase "well".  Jack Benny loved and was loyal to Waukegan.  A statue of Jack Benny stands in downtown Waukegan across from the Genesee theater. 
Another notable person from Waukegan is Ray Bradbury (1920-2012) a fantasy, science fiction, horror and mystery writer. His reference in his writings, Green Town, is Waukegan and  Green Town means safety and home. A large mural across the street from the Genesee Theater depicts the famous people from Waukegan.
Waukegan, IL is a big city that has everything you need to live.  The downtown area is going to be a success after renovation especially since the buildings area amazing.  It already is a successful city but with the revitalization of the Lake front and the downtown area it will bring even more growth to the city and bring tourism to Waukegan.