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Lake Forest, Illinois

Lake Forest is a city in Lake County, Illinois, United States.
Population 19,367

Top Events in Lake Forest History

1
1830History
Preserved in perpetuity are wetlands, original pre-1830 prairie, woodland, and savanna, all within the community.
2
1836Culture
== History == === Early history === The Potawatomi inhabited Lake County before the United States Federal Government forced them out in 1836 as part of Indian Removal of tribe...
3
1857Government
Lake Forest was founded with Lake Forest College and was laid out as a town in 1857, a stop for travelers making their way south to Chicago.
4
1866Government
Members of this African-American community established the African Methodist Episcopal Church as of 1866, and it stood at what is now the corner of Maplewood and Washington Road.
5
1897Military
Formerly Howard Van Doren Shaw's summer retreat and built in 1897, the estate has accommodated the artist Sylvia Shaw Judson.
6
1898Architecture
The Lake Forest City Hall, designed by Charles Sumner Frost, was completed in 1898.
7
1900History
The second police officer hired in 1900 in Lake Forest was a black man from Kentucky, Walker Sales, who was hired in 1900 and stayed on for nearly 20 years.
8
1901Military
Designed, built and opened as the Central School in 1901, the original building was designed by James Gamble Rogers and remodeled in 1907 by Howard Van Doren Shaw.
9
1916Military
Market Square, designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw, was completed in 1916 as a commercial center for Lake Forest.
10
1926Government
Everett was annexed by Lake Forest in 1926, but did not become heavily developed for several decades.

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Historical Timeline

1830History
Preserved in perpetuity are wetlands, original pre-1830 prairie, woodland, and savanna, all within the community.
1836Culture
== History == === Early history === The Potawatomi inhabited Lake County before the United States Federal Government forced them out in 1836 as part of Indian Removal of tribe...
1857Government
Lake Forest was founded with Lake Forest College and was laid out as a town in 1857, a stop for travelers making their way south to Chicago.
1866Government
Members of this African-American community established the African Methodist Episcopal Church as of 1866, and it stood at what is now the corner of Maplewood and Washington Road.
1897Military
Formerly Howard Van Doren Shaw's summer retreat and built in 1897, the estate has accommodated the artist Sylvia Shaw Judson.
1898Architecture
The Lake Forest City Hall, designed by Charles Sumner Frost, was completed in 1898.
1900History
The second police officer hired in 1900 in Lake Forest was a black man from Kentucky, Walker Sales, who was hired in 1900 and stayed on for nearly 20 years.
1901Military
Designed, built and opened as the Central School in 1901, the original building was designed by James Gamble Rogers and remodeled in 1907 by Howard Van Doren Shaw.
1916Military
Market Square, designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw, was completed in 1916 as a commercial center for Lake Forest.
1926Government
Everett was annexed by Lake Forest in 1926, but did not become heavily developed for several decades.
1930Education
== Notable people == == References == == Further reading == Arthur Zilversmit, Changing schools: Progressive education theory and practice, 1930-1960 (University of Chicago ...
1933History
In August 1933, the Onwentsia Club of Lake Forest hosted the "World Series of Polo" that pitted the top polo players of the eastern and western United States against each other ...
1967History
In 1967, a group of 12 long-time residents of Lake Forest formed a land conservation organization, Lake Forest Open Lands Association.
1988Military
In 1988, the community expanded further westward, annexing 682 acres of land surrounding Lake Forest Academy and Conway Farms Golf Club, despite negative reactions from residents.
1992History
In 1992, Lake Forest gained national attention when it attempted to ban the sale of offensive music to anyone under the age of 18.
1997Disaster
The Chicago Bears training facility and headquarters, Halas Hall, opened in 1997 in west Lake Forest, and the Chicago Fire now train at the Bears' previous facility located on t...
2006History
As of 2006, Lake Forest had received this national honor for 26 years.
2020History
According to the 2020 US gazetteer files, the village has a total area of 17.266 square miles (44.72 km2; 4,472 ha), of which 17.2 square miles (45 km2; 4,500 ha) is land, and 0...

Did You Know?

1
Lake Forest is located in the state of Illinois.
2
Lake Forest has a population of 19,367 residents.
3
The population was 19,367 at the 2020 census.

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A
Aurora
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N
Naperville
Pop. 154,969
J
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R
Rockford
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E
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Famous People from Lake Forest, Illinois

RB
Ralph Austin Bard
Financier, Government Official · Born Jul 29, 1884 · Died Apr 5, 1975 (age 90)
MC
Morrill Cody
Diplomat, Literary Editor,, Author · Born Apr 10, 1901 · Died Nov 23, 1987 (age 86)
SH
Sarah Copeland Hanzas
Politician · Born Jul 9, 1970 · Age 55
HA
Harold Atteridge
Lyricist, Librettist · Born Jul 9, 1886 · Died Jan 15, 1938 (age 51)
NC
Nelson Chai
Investment Banker, Financial Executive · Born 1965 · Age 61
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