Waukegan, Illinois
Excellent medical centers serve the residents of Waukegan in a comprehensive, focused effort to ensure health and wellbeing. Vista Medical Center East and Vista Medical Center West, part of the Vista Health System Network, provide a stand-alone same-day surgery and treatment center along with several locations for imaging and patient therapy.
Numerous local clinics offer extensive medical services. The Lake County Health Department has a number of clinics providing both physical and mental health care. The health department also provides homebound patients with visiting skilled nurses.
As with most large population centers, Waukegan and its surrounding area has a large base of hospitals, doctors and health care organizations. Health Grades lists all of the hospitals in Illinois with ratings for specific procedures. Individual doctors in Waukegan can be found and evaluated with UCompare Health Care, a free online database service. In addition, the United Cerebral Palsy of Illinois website provides a wealth of information on health care, disabilities, and prevention of certain disabilities. You can also refer to the Illinois Hospital Directory for contact and medical information.
Waukegan, Illinois is the county seat in Lake County; its 23-square-mile landmass is located at the northeast corner of Illinois near the Wisconsin border. Waukegan is the ninth largest city in Illinois by population, which as of the 2000 U.S. Census was 87,901, and which the 2006 estimate shows climbing to 92,066.
Waukegan is centered between Chicago and Milwaukee, at the “top” of Illinois. The city is unique in its diversity of cultures, religions, and ethnic heritages. Waukegan has award-winning schools and magnificent public parks, easy access to major transportation systems, a vital downtown, and a thriving business climate. Some of the most picturesque residential areas in northern Illinois, nestled along the western shores of Lake Michigan, contribute to its reputation as an ideal place to live, work and play.
Waukegan is starting to see the fruits of the Downtown and Lakefront Redevelopment Master Plan. Utilizing many public/private partnerships, significant improvements have been made to buildings in the downtown and lakefront area, new buildings have been constructed, and new businesses have opened or are in the process of opening. Over 100 acres of lakefront property are experiencing development activity.
Waukegan started as a French trading post along the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan. It is one of the oldest known communities in the state and was originally a Potawatomi Indian settlement called Little Fort. A treaty between Potawatomi natives and the federal government in 1829 transferred the land in this area to government control. Little Fort became the county seat in 1841, changed its name to Waukegan in 1949, and incorporated as a city on February 23, 1859.
Waukegan Regional Airport is a modern general aviation facility specifically designed to handle international arrivals as a reliever airport for O’Hare International. It is the second busiest Illinois airport for servicing international flights. There are over 50 corporate jets based at Waukegan Regional, owned by many of Illinois’ major corporations. Their 6,000-foot-long runway, instrument landing system, manned air traffic control tower, and U.S. Customs office provides for easy clearance of direct international arrivals.
