Grayslake is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The village's population at the 2020 census was 21,248. It is located in the Chicago metropolitan area, about north of Chicago's downtown, west of Lake Michigan, and south of the Wisconsin border.
Grayslake is home to the College of Lake County, Grayslake North High School, Grayslake Central High School, the University Center of Lake County and the Lake County Fairgrounds. At the south end of Grayslake, there are plans for a development containing light industry, office space and residential space.
History
Early history
In 1840, Massachusetts-born William M. Gray settled along the then-unnamed Grays Lake. Other farmers trickled into the area in 1840s. Gray moved to Waukegan in 1845.
In 1880, the Wisconsin Central Railroad built a line from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Chicago that passed by the east side of Grays Lake. In 1886, the railroad built a station there, naming it Grayslake. The village incorporated in 1895.
Lakes
Grays Lake is located in the center of the village and is bounded by Route 120, Lake Street, Harvey Avenue, and Alleghany Road.
Portions of Highland Lake (Illinois) are located within Grayslake.
Major streets
- 20px U.S. Route 45
- 20px Barron Boulevard/Ivanhoe Road
- 20px Belvidere Road
- 20px Buckley Road