Antioch, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Antioch is a village in the Antioch Township
of Lake County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 14,430 at the 2010 census. Antioch is part of the Chicago metropolitan area.
The first permanent white settlement in Antioch was the Gage Brothers' cabin on Sequoit Creek, a tributary of the Fox River
. In 1839, Hiram Buttrick built a sawmill along the creek, making Antioch a center of commerce. A replica of the mill has been built a few hundred feet downstream from where it once stood.
The influence of the Gage brothers is important when trying to understand the history and names of the Antioch area, as many local businesses, as well as ACHS sports teams, bear the word "Sequoit." There is no Native American tribe named "Sequoit" or any Native American word for that matter stemming from Antioch's Pottawatomi inhabitants. Though the word "sequoit" has Native American origins, the story behind the name is as complicated as it is historically interesting. Fred Willman explains in his in-depth book examining Illinois high school nicknames, "Why Mascots Have Tales", "The word Sequoit is a form of spelling of the Iroquois Indian word Sa-da-quoit, which was the name the Iroquois Indians gave to a stream that flows through Oneida County in New York state. In the Iroquois language, Sa-da-quoit literally means ‘smooth pebbles in the bed of a stream.’ When white settlers moved into Oneida County, they modified the spelling and pronunciation of the stream to Sequoit Creek." This was later transplanted and modified when the Gage brothers moved from New York State to northern Illinois.
by a congregation of the Disciples of Christ
, also known as the Church of Christ. In 1843, less enthusiastically religious residents mockingly recommended the Christian name "Antioch
" (the name of a city in present-day Turkey that was a chief center of early Christianity), and the name stuck. Partly due to being a regional center of the Abolitionist movement, Antioch is noted as having sent a disproportionately high number of its young men to the Union Army. Shortly after the Civil War, the town disincorporated, as many of the initial religious settlers moved away.
In 1892, Antioch reincorporated as a village, which it has been continuous to this day. The town grew as new settlers (primarily of English and German descent) established farms and businesses.
In the late 1800s, Antioch became a popular vacation spot for Chicagoans. Tourism grew quickly once the rail line to Chicago was laid in 1886. Originally, farmers near the lake accepted boarders, then they added guest rooms onto their homes. Eventually hotels and subdivisions of summer cottages were built. The tourists took excursion boats through the renowned flowering lotus beds. Hunting, fishing, dancing and gambling were big draws, but most tourists (not to mention year-round residents) simply preferred the quiet country life over the hustle and bustle of Chicago. During Prohibition
, one famous Antioch resident was Al Capone
, who owned a summer home on nearby Bluff Lake.
Fire destroyed much of downtown in 1891, 1903, and 1904. What remained was a little known cottage, entitled "Steve's Cottage", on what is commonly called "Loon Lake." In 1905, the town rebuilt with brick and started a public water system. The base of the first water tower
is still found at the corner of Toft and Orchard Streets. A volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1913.
The town grew at a steady pace through the years. Harvesting ice to supply icebox
es was a major industry in the area for many years. Pickard China, a manufacturer of fine china, has been a steady employer in Antioch since 1937. In the 1950s, the village developed a large industrial park
along Anita Avenue, which greatly contributes to the tax and employment base.
Home of Bencher, Inc the leading manufacturer of iambic keys for amateur radio operators worldwide.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 7.64 square miles (19.8 km²), of which 7.38 square miles (19.1 km²) is land and 0.26 square mile (0.6733969086 km²) (3.4%) is water.
The village lies in a gently rolling moraine
landscape, dominated by lakes of glacial
origin. Among these are the Antioch Lake, located south of the village center, Lake Marie, located west of the village center and the Redwing Slough Lake, located east of the village center. There are several smaller lakes and ponds, along with a complement of wetlands.
, Antioch lies in a humid continental climate
zone and experiences four discernible seasons. Lincolnshire receives an average of 36.74 inches (933.2 mm) of precipitation
each year.
of 2000, there were 8,788 people, 3,235 households, and 2,351 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,190.4 people per square mile (459.8/km²). There were 3,346 housing units at an average density of 453.2 per square mile (175.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.19% White, 1.07% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.08% from other races
, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.42% of the population.
There were 3,235 households out of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples
living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the village the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $56,481, and the median income for a family was $66,589. Males had a median income of $51,503 versus $31,389 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $25,711. About 2.3% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
. Since 1996, Metra
's North Central Service
has played an increasingly important role in the development of Antioch. Weekday train service to and from Chicago appeals to many commuters and has given rise to new commercial development near the train depot
. The village is currently undergoing rapid commercial and residential growth, with a majority of it along the Illinois Route 173 corridor. One of the last remaining operating Dairy Farms in Lake County also resides near much of the residential growth on Route 173 in Antioch. There was once over 1,700 farms, over four hundred which were dairy farms operating in the County in 1940. But this number has since been reduced to just 3 to 4 dairies still in operation and a little over 22000 acres (89 km²) of harvested corn and soybeans left in the County. Glenraven Farms resides just west of Highway 45 on Route 173 on 325 acres (1.3 km²) and has been in constant operation since the early 1950s. Golden Oaks Farms which bordered the property into the late 90's and was also a Dairy Farm was bought by the Lake County Forest Preserve and turned into a park and conservation area.
The village has some small industry, including the world famous Pickard China factory (where Air Force One
and Camp David
china comes from). Downtown has a mix of small retail focused on antiques, quilting, small clothing boutiques and a wide range of ethnic restaurants.
During the 2000s Antioch experienced extensive commercial development – in addition to the establishment of branches of chain restaurants such as Culvers, Popeyes, and Arbys, and a CVS Pharmacy store during the mid-2000s a new commercial center was established on the outskirts of Antioch which includes, among others, a Wal-Mart
shopping center and a Menards
home improvement store.
municipality
which functions under the council-manager form of government
with a village President and a six-member Board of Trustees, all of whom are elected to four-year terms. The Village President and three of the Trustees are elected every four years. The other group of three Trustees are also elected for four-year terms, but this election is staggered and takes place two years after the first group.
As of 2011, the village office holders are:
The Antioch Fire Department provides fire protection 24/7 with paid on call firefighters. The fire department currently uses 3 fire stations to house its different equipment, although currently only Station #1 in the downtown area is staffed 24/7 with part-time personnel. Antioch Fire Department has a vast array of equipment to use including several engines, a tower ladder truck, 2 tankers, 2 boats including an air boat, and a six wheeled vehicle to access hard to reach areas. Antioch Fire Dept. also owns several pieces of special equipment including new state of the art extrication equipment used to extricate injured people from wrecked cars. The Antioch First Fire Protection District was the first organized fire protection district in the state. The Fire Department also has an Explorer post for youths ages 15 to 20 interested in making the fire service a career.
A volunteer rescue squad provides 911 ambulance service to the community. The Antioch Rescue Squad was the first Advanced Life Support (ALS) licensed rescue squad in the state, with the first licensed paramedics in the State of Illinois. Currently, the Antioch Rescue Squad maintains a fleet of 4 ALS ambulances and 4 non transport vehicles and is the sole 911 ambulance service provider for the Antioch community. The Antioch Rescue Squad operates out of the north side of Antioch Fire Station 1 which is located in downtown Antioch. Rescue squad paramedics also staff Antioch Fire Station 2 (located on Deep Lake Rd) with an ambulance crew 24/7.
The police department and the fire department are housed in separate buildings next to each other. The Antioch police department communications division dispatches for the Police Departments of Antioch, Lake Villa, and Lindenhurst - along with fire and rescue departments of Antioch and Lake Villa. The 911 Center serves 65,000 residents in these three communities. In March 1993, the Antioch Police Department became a part of the Lake Country Enhanced 911 system . The Antioch Police Department has a state-of-the-art 911 center—one of the most sophisticated 911 centers in the State of Illinois.
Public schools are managed by the Antioch Community Consolidated School District 34.
The schools in the district include:
Public schools
Middle Schools (6-8)
High School (9-12)
The Antioch Public Library began as an Antioch Women's Club project in 1921. Initially the Women's Club raised funds for the establishment of a village library and the residents donated books for the library. This first village library was located at 934 Main Street and was open only two days a week. In 1922 the library was moved to to the Antioch Village Hall at 875 Main Street. In 1930 the library was moved again to the corner of Main Street and Depot Street. In 1941, the Library was moved again to 883 Main Street. In 1950 William Schroeder family donated the property located at 757 Main Street to the Village of Antioch for use as a library. The new library building was officially opened in 1970. In August 2001 construction began of a 18,000-square-foot addition to the Antioch Public Library facility. The construction was completed in January 2003.
found along the Fox River
, serves as an aquatic mecca for boating and summer leisure while skiing and snowmobiling abound during the winter months. Along with neighboring Fox Lake
, Antioch has become host to numerous pro and amateur national fishing tournaments. For instance, on Loon Lake
every July, fishers from all over the world try to catch the elusive "Batman fish".
The "Batman Fish" has been a legend ever since Forest Lithgard claimed to have discovered a new breed of fish with a brownish pattern resembling the Batman
symbol. The Batman fish is believed to have been imported by Lithgard, who claimed to have caught the fish near the Malay Archipelago
. Marine biologist Dr. McBunty disputes this, pointing out that the dark brown markings indicate a species native to the Atlantic Ocean
.
Kite
flying is also a popular sporting event on Loon Lake during Labor Day Weekend. Currently, the Swiss Kiting Federation holds the record for the longest kite flight of 1 hour and 24 minutes.
The village is bordered by four holdings of the Lake County Forest Preserve District, an award winning and nationally recognized land conservation organization.
There is currently a thriving performing arts scene, centered around the PM&L Theatre as well as the civic bandstand behind Main Street.
Antioch is the home of the Antioch Fine Arts Foundation (AFAF) , serving Antioch, Greater Lake County, IL and Southeast WI since 2001. AFAF is a not-for-profit organization whose function is to coordinate and promote area arts programs. AFAF offers a gallery, regular special exhibits, an artists' library, classes, workshops, and other special events. Membership is open to artists, patrons of the arts, and anyone interested in art appreciation. The AFAF Gallery is a not-for-profit gallery staffed by member volunteers. The gallery displays work by area artists and presents exhibits of unique diversity and excellence. Throughout the year, the gallery hosts special receptions and openings for artists' new works. The AFAF Gallery is conveniently located at 983 Main Street, Antioch, Illinois 60002 (corner of Main (Rt. 83) and Ida). AFAF Gallery also hosts a casual folk music presentation on the second Saturday of every month from 1 to 4 pm. The music is free, and open to the public.
As mentioned earlier, Antioch serves as a terminal for Metra's North Central Service line. Riders can use the line to travel to Chicago and various northwestern suburbs. They can also use the line to reach the O'Hare International Airport.
Western Kenosha County Transit
Route 2 serves parts of Antioch Monday-Saturday, connecting riders to several towns, villages and unincorporated municipalities throughout Kenosha County. Riders can also transfer to Route 1 and Route 3 to travel to Kenosha and Lake Geneva, respectively.
Antioch Township, Lake County, Illinois
Antioch Township is located in Lake County, Illinois. The population was 21,879 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Antioch Township covers an area of ; of this, or 15.82 percent is water...
of Lake County
Lake County, Illinois
Lake County is a county in the northeastern corner of the state of Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 703,462, which is an increase of 9.2% from 644,356 in 2000. Its county seat is Waukegan. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 14,430 at the 2010 census. Antioch is part of the Chicago metropolitan area.
Prior to incorporation
The Pottawatomi Indian Tribe, nomadic hunters who lived in tepees, inhabited Antioch when white men began to arrive. They fought with the British in the War of 1812 and then with the American settlers in the Blackhawk War of 1832. It was in 1832 that the Indians began to leave the area, although arrowheads and other remnants of their history can still be found today if one knows where to look. The winding Highway 173 was once an Indian trail and Highway 83 was the Muquonago Trail.The first permanent white settlement in Antioch was the Gage Brothers' cabin on Sequoit Creek, a tributary of the Fox River
Fox River (Illinois River tributary)
The Fox River is a tributary of the Illinois River in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois in the United States. There are two other "Fox Rivers" in southern Illinois: the Fox River and a smaller "Fox River" that joins the Wabash River near New Harmony, Indiana.-Wisconsin:The Fox River rises near...
. In 1839, Hiram Buttrick built a sawmill along the creek, making Antioch a center of commerce. A replica of the mill has been built a few hundred feet downstream from where it once stood.
The influence of the Gage brothers is important when trying to understand the history and names of the Antioch area, as many local businesses, as well as ACHS sports teams, bear the word "Sequoit." There is no Native American tribe named "Sequoit" or any Native American word for that matter stemming from Antioch's Pottawatomi inhabitants. Though the word "sequoit" has Native American origins, the story behind the name is as complicated as it is historically interesting. Fred Willman explains in his in-depth book examining Illinois high school nicknames, "Why Mascots Have Tales", "The word Sequoit is a form of spelling of the Iroquois Indian word Sa-da-quoit, which was the name the Iroquois Indians gave to a stream that flows through Oneida County in New York state. In the Iroquois language, Sa-da-quoit literally means ‘smooth pebbles in the bed of a stream.’ When white settlers moved into Oneida County, they modified the spelling and pronunciation of the stream to Sequoit Creek." This was later transplanted and modified when the Gage brothers moved from New York State to northern Illinois.
Incorporation as village
Antioch was officially founded just prior to the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
by a congregation of the Disciples of Christ
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Christian Church is a Mainline Protestant denomination in North America. It is often referred to as The Christian Church, The Disciples of Christ, or more simply as The Disciples...
, also known as the Church of Christ. In 1843, less enthusiastically religious residents mockingly recommended the Christian name "Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
" (the name of a city in present-day Turkey that was a chief center of early Christianity), and the name stuck. Partly due to being a regional center of the Abolitionist movement, Antioch is noted as having sent a disproportionately high number of its young men to the Union Army. Shortly after the Civil War, the town disincorporated, as many of the initial religious settlers moved away.
In 1892, Antioch reincorporated as a village, which it has been continuous to this day. The town grew as new settlers (primarily of English and German descent) established farms and businesses.
In the late 1800s, Antioch became a popular vacation spot for Chicagoans. Tourism grew quickly once the rail line to Chicago was laid in 1886. Originally, farmers near the lake accepted boarders, then they added guest rooms onto their homes. Eventually hotels and subdivisions of summer cottages were built. The tourists took excursion boats through the renowned flowering lotus beds. Hunting, fishing, dancing and gambling were big draws, but most tourists (not to mention year-round residents) simply preferred the quiet country life over the hustle and bustle of Chicago. During Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, one famous Antioch resident was Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
, who owned a summer home on nearby Bluff Lake.
Fire destroyed much of downtown in 1891, 1903, and 1904. What remained was a little known cottage, entitled "Steve's Cottage", on what is commonly called "Loon Lake." In 1905, the town rebuilt with brick and started a public water system. The base of the first water tower
Water tower
A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
is still found at the corner of Toft and Orchard Streets. A volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1913.
The town grew at a steady pace through the years. Harvesting ice to supply icebox
Icebox
An icebox is a compact non-mechanical refrigerator which was a common kitchen appliance before the development of safe powered refrigeration devices.- Design :...
es was a major industry in the area for many years. Pickard China, a manufacturer of fine china, has been a steady employer in Antioch since 1937. In the 1950s, the village developed a large industrial park
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
along Anita Avenue, which greatly contributes to the tax and employment base.
Home of Bencher, Inc the leading manufacturer of iambic keys for amateur radio operators worldwide.
Geography
Antioch is located nearly halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee at 42°28′45"N 88°5′27"W (42.479069, -88.090878).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 7.64 square miles (19.8 km²), of which 7.38 square miles (19.1 km²) is land and 0.26 square mile (0.6733969086 km²) (3.4%) is water.
The village lies in a gently rolling moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
landscape, dominated by lakes of glacial
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
origin. Among these are the Antioch Lake, located south of the village center, Lake Marie, located west of the village center and the Redwing Slough Lake, located east of the village center. There are several smaller lakes and ponds, along with a complement of wetlands.
Climate
Similar to ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Antioch lies in a humid continental climate
Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
zone and experiences four discernible seasons. Lincolnshire receives an average of 36.74 inches (933.2 mm) of precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
each year.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,788 people, 3,235 households, and 2,351 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,190.4 people per square mile (459.8/km²). There were 3,346 housing units at an average density of 453.2 per square mile (175.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.19% White, 1.07% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.08% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.42% of the population.
There were 3,235 households out of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the village the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $56,481, and the median income for a family was $66,589. Males had a median income of $51,503 versus $31,389 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $25,711. About 2.3% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Most of Antioch's residents work outside of the village, in Chicago or neighboring villages. Residents can reach both Chicago and Milwaukee by way of Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 41U.S. Route 41
U.S. Route 41 is a north–south United States Highway that runs from Miami, Florida to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, was U.S...
. Since 1996, Metra
Metra
Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by...
's North Central Service
North Central Service
The North Central Service is a commuter rail line provided and operated by Metra in Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs. While Metra does not specifically refer to any of its lines by a particular color, the timetable accents for the North Central Service line are printed in light "Soo...
has played an increasingly important role in the development of Antioch. Weekday train service to and from Chicago appeals to many commuters and has given rise to new commercial development near the train depot
Antioch (Metra)
Antioch is a station on Metra's North Central Service in Antioch, Illinois. The station is away from Union Station, the southern terminus of the line. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Antioch is in zone K....
. The village is currently undergoing rapid commercial and residential growth, with a majority of it along the Illinois Route 173 corridor. One of the last remaining operating Dairy Farms in Lake County also resides near much of the residential growth on Route 173 in Antioch. There was once over 1,700 farms, over four hundred which were dairy farms operating in the County in 1940. But this number has since been reduced to just 3 to 4 dairies still in operation and a little over 22000 acres (89 km²) of harvested corn and soybeans left in the County. Glenraven Farms resides just west of Highway 45 on Route 173 on 325 acres (1.3 km²) and has been in constant operation since the early 1950s. Golden Oaks Farms which bordered the property into the late 90's and was also a Dairy Farm was bought by the Lake County Forest Preserve and turned into a park and conservation area.
The village has some small industry, including the world famous Pickard China factory (where Air Force One
Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. In common parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft whose primary mission is to transport the president; however, any U.S. Air Force aircraft...
and Camp David
Camp David
Camp David is the country retreat of the President of the United States and his guests. It is located in low wooded hills about 60 mi north-northwest of Washington, D.C., on the property of Catoctin Mountain Park in unincorporated Frederick County, Maryland, near Thurmont, at an elevation of...
china comes from). Downtown has a mix of small retail focused on antiques, quilting, small clothing boutiques and a wide range of ethnic restaurants.
During the 2000s Antioch experienced extensive commercial development – in addition to the establishment of branches of chain restaurants such as Culvers, Popeyes, and Arbys, and a CVS Pharmacy store during the mid-2000s a new commercial center was established on the outskirts of Antioch which includes, among others, a Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
shopping center and a Menards
Menards
Menards is a chain of home improvement stores in the Midwestern United States.The privately held company headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin has 262 stores in 13 states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, and...
home improvement store.
Top employers
According to Antioch's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the village were:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | W.C. Petty Elementary | 470 |
| 2 | Super WalMart | 360 |
| 3 | Jewel/Osco | 185 |
| 4 | Antioch Community High School | 130 |
| 5 | Raymond Chevrolet/Kia | 108 |
| 6 | The Advertiser | 100 |
| 7 | Janis Plastics | 75 |
| 8 | Pickard China | 75 |
| 9 | Piggly Wiggly | 72 |
| 10 | State Bank of the Lakes | 70 |
Elected officials
The village of Antioch is a non-home ruleHome rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
which functions under the council-manager form of government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
with a village President and a six-member Board of Trustees, all of whom are elected to four-year terms. The Village President and three of the Trustees are elected every four years. The other group of three Trustees are also elected for four-year terms, but this election is staggered and takes place two years after the first group.
As of 2011, the village office holders are:
| Name | Profession | Term Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lawrence M. Hanson | Village mayor | 2009-2013 |
| Dennis B. Crosby | Village trustee | 2011-2015 |
| Mary C. Dominiak | Village trustee | 2011-2015 |
| Jay Jozwiak | Village trustee | 2009-2013 |
| Scott A. Pierce | Village trustee | 2009-2013 |
| Ted P. Poulos | Village trustee | 2009-2013 |
| George C. Sakas | Village trustee | 2011-2015 |
Safety
The Antioch Police Department employs 42 persons, consisting of 30 sworn personnel. The Department has a Chief of Police, 2 Commanders, and 5 Sergeants with the remaining sworn personnel being in the Detective Division and the Patrol Division. The Department also has an explorer post consisting of an explorer chief, lieutenant, 2 sergeants, and 3 explorers. The entire department continues to grow as the Village of Antioch expands.The Antioch Fire Department provides fire protection 24/7 with paid on call firefighters. The fire department currently uses 3 fire stations to house its different equipment, although currently only Station #1 in the downtown area is staffed 24/7 with part-time personnel. Antioch Fire Department has a vast array of equipment to use including several engines, a tower ladder truck, 2 tankers, 2 boats including an air boat, and a six wheeled vehicle to access hard to reach areas. Antioch Fire Dept. also owns several pieces of special equipment including new state of the art extrication equipment used to extricate injured people from wrecked cars. The Antioch First Fire Protection District was the first organized fire protection district in the state. The Fire Department also has an Explorer post for youths ages 15 to 20 interested in making the fire service a career.
A volunteer rescue squad provides 911 ambulance service to the community. The Antioch Rescue Squad was the first Advanced Life Support (ALS) licensed rescue squad in the state, with the first licensed paramedics in the State of Illinois. Currently, the Antioch Rescue Squad maintains a fleet of 4 ALS ambulances and 4 non transport vehicles and is the sole 911 ambulance service provider for the Antioch community. The Antioch Rescue Squad operates out of the north side of Antioch Fire Station 1 which is located in downtown Antioch. Rescue squad paramedics also staff Antioch Fire Station 2 (located on Deep Lake Rd) with an ambulance crew 24/7.
The police department and the fire department are housed in separate buildings next to each other. The Antioch police department communications division dispatches for the Police Departments of Antioch, Lake Villa, and Lindenhurst - along with fire and rescue departments of Antioch and Lake Villa. The 911 Center serves 65,000 residents in these three communities. In March 1993, the Antioch Police Department became a part of the Lake Country Enhanced 911 system . The Antioch Police Department has a state-of-the-art 911 center—one of the most sophisticated 911 centers in the State of Illinois.
Schools
The schools in the district include:
Public schools
Middle Schools (6-8)
- W.C. Petty Elementary School
- Antioch Upper Grade School
- Hillcrest Elementary School
- Emmons Grade School
- Oakland Elementary School
- Antioch Elementary School
- Grass Lake Elementary School
High School (9-12)
- Antioch Community High SchoolAntioch Community High SchoolAntioch Community High School, Antioch, or ACHS, is a public four-year high school located in Antioch, Illinois, a far north suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Community High School District 117, which also includes Lakes Community High School.-History:ACHS was built...
- A public four-year high schoolHigh schoolHigh school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in the center of Antioch. It is part of Community High School District 117Community High School District 117Community High School District 117 is a 9-12 high school district based in Lake Villa, Lake County, Illinois that serves both the city where it is based and the village of Antioch, Illinois, alongside Old Mill Creek and Lindenhurst.District 117 is composed of two high schools: Antioch Community...
.
Private schools
Private middle schools:- Saint Peter Elementary School (Grades KG-8)
- Faith Evangelical Lutheran School (Grades PK-8)
Library
The Antioch Public Library is located at 757 Main Street (Route 83). The collection of the library contains 135,716 volumes. The library circulates 371,105 items per year. The library serves a population of 25,706 residents.The Antioch Public Library began as an Antioch Women's Club project in 1921. Initially the Women's Club raised funds for the establishment of a village library and the residents donated books for the library. This first village library was located at 934 Main Street and was open only two days a week. In 1922 the library was moved to to the Antioch Village Hall at 875 Main Street. In 1930 the library was moved again to the corner of Main Street and Depot Street. In 1941, the Library was moved again to 883 Main Street. In 1950 William Schroeder family donated the property located at 757 Main Street to the Village of Antioch for use as a library. The new library building was officially opened in 1970. In August 2001 construction began of a 18,000-square-foot addition to the Antioch Public Library facility. The construction was completed in January 2003.
Arts and recreation
The Chain O'LakesChain O'Lakes
The Chain O'Lakes is a waterway system in northeast Illinois composed of 15 lakes connected together by the Fox River and man-made channels. Encompassing more than of water, of shoreline and of river, the Chain is the busiest inland recreational waterway per acre in the United States...
found along the Fox River
Fox River (Illinois River tributary)
The Fox River is a tributary of the Illinois River in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois in the United States. There are two other "Fox Rivers" in southern Illinois: the Fox River and a smaller "Fox River" that joins the Wabash River near New Harmony, Indiana.-Wisconsin:The Fox River rises near...
, serves as an aquatic mecca for boating and summer leisure while skiing and snowmobiling abound during the winter months. Along with neighboring Fox Lake
Fox Lake, Illinois
Fox Lake is a village in Grant Township, Lake County, Illinois and Richmond Township, McHenry County, Illinois. The population was 9,178 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Antioch has become host to numerous pro and amateur national fishing tournaments. For instance, on Loon Lake
Loon Lake (Lake County, Illinois)
Loon Lake is a glacial lake found in northern Lake County, Illinois, United States. It comprises three lakes; East Loon, West Loon, and North Loon. . It is located near the town of Antioch, IL, near the intersection of Route 83 and Grass Lake Rd. It is home to many different species of fish,...
every July, fishers from all over the world try to catch the elusive "Batman fish".
The "Batman Fish" has been a legend ever since Forest Lithgard claimed to have discovered a new breed of fish with a brownish pattern resembling the Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
symbol. The Batman fish is believed to have been imported by Lithgard, who claimed to have caught the fish near the Malay Archipelago
Malay Archipelago
The Malay Archipelago refers to the archipelago between mainland Southeastern Asia and Australia. The name was derived from the anachronistic concept of a Malay race....
. Marine biologist Dr. McBunty disputes this, pointing out that the dark brown markings indicate a species native to the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
Kite
Kite
A kite is a tethered aircraft. The necessary lift that makes the kite wing fly is generated when air flows over and under the kite's wing, producing low pressure above the wing and high pressure below it. This deflection also generates horizontal drag along the direction of the wind...
flying is also a popular sporting event on Loon Lake during Labor Day Weekend. Currently, the Swiss Kiting Federation holds the record for the longest kite flight of 1 hour and 24 minutes.
The village is bordered by four holdings of the Lake County Forest Preserve District, an award winning and nationally recognized land conservation organization.
There is currently a thriving performing arts scene, centered around the PM&L Theatre as well as the civic bandstand behind Main Street.
Antioch is the home of the Antioch Fine Arts Foundation (AFAF) , serving Antioch, Greater Lake County, IL and Southeast WI since 2001. AFAF is a not-for-profit organization whose function is to coordinate and promote area arts programs. AFAF offers a gallery, regular special exhibits, an artists' library, classes, workshops, and other special events. Membership is open to artists, patrons of the arts, and anyone interested in art appreciation. The AFAF Gallery is a not-for-profit gallery staffed by member volunteers. The gallery displays work by area artists and presents exhibits of unique diversity and excellence. Throughout the year, the gallery hosts special receptions and openings for artists' new works. The AFAF Gallery is conveniently located at 983 Main Street, Antioch, Illinois 60002 (corner of Main (Rt. 83) and Ida). AFAF Gallery also hosts a casual folk music presentation on the second Saturday of every month from 1 to 4 pm. The music is free, and open to the public.
Transportation
Western Kenosha County Transit
Western Kenosha County Transit
Western Kenosha County Transit is a regional fixed-route bus service operating throughout Kenosha County, Wisconsin and serving its many towns and villages. Western Kenosha County Transit is made up of three routes and two rush hour commuter shuttles. The system operates Monday–Friday at headways...
Route 2 serves parts of Antioch Monday-Saturday, connecting riders to several towns, villages and unincorporated municipalities throughout Kenosha County. Riders can also transfer to Route 1 and Route 3 to travel to Kenosha and Lake Geneva, respectively.
Major Streets
Several major highways and state routes cross over and travel around Antioch, Illinois. The following table lists the major roads in the Antioch region and a brief description about the location of the route.| Sign | Route Number | Local Name | Location Description |
|---|---|---|---|
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Illinois Route 83 Illinois Route 83 Illinois Route 83 is a major north–south state road in northeast Illinois. It stretches from U.S. Highway 30 by Lynwood and Dyer, Indiana north to the Wisconsin border by Antioch at Highway 83. Incidentally, this alignment is concentric with Interstate 294... |
Main Street | Crosses through the town center |
 |
Illinois Route 59 Illinois Route 59 Illinois Route 59 is a north–south state highway in northeastern Illinois. It runs south from Illinois Route 83 in Antioch to Interstate Highway 55 in Shorewood, spanning the north–south width of Chicago's western suburbs... |
Lake Street | ends at the center of Antioch at the junction with Illinois Route 83 Illinois Route 83 Illinois Route 83 is a major north–south state road in northeast Illinois. It stretches from U.S. Highway 30 by Lynwood and Dyer, Indiana north to the Wisconsin border by Antioch at Highway 83. Incidentally, this alignment is concentric with Interstate 294... |
 |
Illinois Route 173 Illinois Route 173 Illinois Route 173 is an east–west state road that runs from Illinois Route 251 in the Rockford suburb of Machesney Park east to Illinois Route 137 in Zion near the Illinois-Wisconsin border; this is a distance of . Illinois Route 173 is also one of the northernmost east-west state highways... |
Kenosha Street | |
 |
U.S. Route 45 U.S. Route 45 U.S. Route 45 is a north–south United States highway. US 45 is a border-to-border route, from Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico. A sign at the highway's northern terminus notes the total distance as .... |
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| North Avenue | |||
| Depot Street | |||
| Deep Lake Road | |||
Recreation
Pools
Golf courses
Lakes
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Parks
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Notable current and past residents
Notable people who are natives of or have lived in Antioch include:- John ThainJohn ThainJohn Alexander Thain is an American businessman, investment banker, and currently chairman and CEO of the CIT Group.Thain was the last chairman and chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch before its merger with Bank of America...
(born May 26, 1955), businessman, investment banker, and currently the Chairman & CEO of the CIT Group. - Fred HawkinsFred HawkinsFred Hawkins is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour from the mid 1940s to the mid 1960s.Hawkins was born in Antioch, Illinois. He attended the University of Illinois and the Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy . He turned professional in 1947...
(born September 3, 1923), professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour from the mid 1940s to the mid 1960s. - Dale BarnstableDale BarnstableDale Barnstable is an American retired basketball player from Antioch, Illinois who was banned from the NBA for life in 1951 for point shaving. He had an outstanding college career at the University of Kentucky before his career came to an abrupt end.- Biography :Barnstable was born in Antioch,...
(born September 1925), basketball player. Played basketball at the University of Kentucky, which won the NCAA Championships in 1948 and 1949. Barnstable was also drafted in the 7th round of the 1950 NBA Draft1950 NBA DraftThe 1950 NBA Draft was the fourth annual draft of the National Basketball Association . This is the first draft after the Basketball Association of America was renamed the NBA. The draft was held on April 25, 1950 before the 1950–51 season. In this draft, 12 remaining NBA teams took turns...
by the Boston CelticsBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, but never played in the NBA due to a point shaving scandalCCNY Point Shaving ScandalThe CCNY point shaving scandal of 1950-1951 was a college basketball point shaving gambling scandal that involved seven schools in all, with four in Greater New York and three in the Midwest...
that rocked college basketball in the 1950s. - Tom WittumTom WittumTom Wittum was an American football player. He had a 5-year career in the National Football League from 1973 to 1977 as a punter. He played in two Pro Bowls as a member of the San Francisco 49ers....
(January 11, 1950 – January 22, 2010), football player whom played in the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
during the 1970s.