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Index
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 Gurnee History |
Mother Rudd Home |
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| Gurnee Living |
Bike Trails |
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| Gurnee Schools |
Library |
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| Higher Education |
Park District |
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| Gurnee Days |
Gurnee Shopping |
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| Gurnee Fun |
Gurnee Services |
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Gurnee History
A permanent bridge over the DesPlaines River near what is now Grand Avenue helped create an east-west road which connected McHenry County to the port of Little Fort (now Waukegan). Milwaukee Road also ran through the area, connecting Chicago and Milwaukee. From its earliest days, Gurnee was a hub of commerce.
In the 1830s, the area was known as "Wentworth" after Long John Wentworth, a Chicago congressman. In the early 1870s, the name was changed to O'Plain, a shortened form of Aux Plaines, the early spelling of the DesPlaines River.
When the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad went through in 1873, the town was renamed Gurnee Station. There is controversy about whom it was named after: either Louis Gurnee, a railroad surveyor, or Walter S. Gurnee, a Democratic leader and Chicago mayor. The name was eventually shortened to "Gurnee."
Gurnee became the first village established in Warren Township, but that came much later-in 1928, when the village was incorporated.
Residents who want to learn more about Gurnee's past may visit the Warren-Newport Public Library, which has a collection on local history. Artifacts, documents and publications are also housed at the Mother Rudd Home, formerly a stage-coach stop known as Marm Rudd's Tavern, and a center then, as now, of community activity.
 The Independent Order of Vikings managed this historic building as a hotel and clubhouse. They soon added an outside dining room and dance hall. When summer came, Scandinavians from across the U.S. came to picnic, dance, and visit. Later a brick nursing home was added for elderly Swedish people. |
The Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul Railroad Station still stands today The first train came in 1873 to the new Gurnee Station, named after one of the board members of the railroad, Walter S. Gurnee. The rest is history. |
Mother Rudd Home
The Mother Rudd Home, 4690 Old Grand Avenue in Gurnee, is Warren Township's oldest building. Renovated by the Village of Gurnee and local contractors, it now houses a local history museum operated by the Warren Township Historical Society.
The Historical Society also hosts 5th graders for special tours the week preceding Memorial Day. Visits by the 5th graders have become a tradition since the Mother Rudd Home opened several years ago.
Each open house features different exhibits. Some recent displays have been "School Days," "Wash Day on the Farm," "Warren Township Residents in the Civil War," "Christmas in Old Gurnee," "My Mother's Trunk," "Mother Rudd's Home and the Underground Railroad."
Local history archives are also available on an appointment basis by residents and former residents studying the Warren Township area, its history and people.
The Warren Township Historical Society has published a brochure, "A History of the Mother Rudd Home." Information about it or the Warren Township Historical Society may be obtained by calling the Mother Rudd Home at (847) 263-9540.
Gurnee is a community which honors its past, enjoys a prosperous present, and plans for its future. The qualities which make the village of Gurnee an attractive hometown for families and businesses and a popular destination for tourists have their roots in a planning process which began decades ago.
A land-use plan, adopted early in the 1970s and updated in 1983 and 1990, has guided the development and growth of Gurnee. It calls for a community which integrates open space for quiet enjoyment or active recreation, a variety of businesses, and housing of every size and type--rental apartments, townhomes and single-family dwellings.
What surprises many newcomers to the Gurnee area is that, although it is one of the fastest-growing communities in northern Illinois, Gurnee retains a small-town atmosphere.
The heart of Gurnee is the Village Center. It forms a T, which includes O'Plaine Road from Washington Street north to its end at Grand Avenue. It includes Grand Avenue east to its end at Route 132 and west to Old Grand Avenue and Kilbourne. The Center has distinctive signage, lighting, landscaping, and special zoning.
Many governmental services are found in the Village Center: the Village Hall, police building, fire department, public works complex, United States Post Office, schools, parks, library, and dozens of businesses.
The Village Center retains 2-family residential zoning but allows homes in the area to be used for business purposes if the residential character of the building isn't changed.
West of the Village Center is a business corridor on Grand Avenue which features two of the area's largest tourist attractions: Six Flags Great America and Gurnee Mills. Both contribute substantially to Gurnee's economic viability. Gurnee is also home to industrial parks, medical facilities, and small shopping centers which help create a stable economic setting.
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Shopping centers and amusement parks draw tourists, but families choose Gurnee as their home for another reason: the quality of life. And that quality includes excellent schools, a park district which offers year-round recreational programs for young and old alike, a library which is a center of educational activity for all ages.
The variety of retail and service businesses in the Gurnee area means that most residents can find everything they need nearby: florists, pharmacies, movie theaters, restaurants, banks, hardware stores, and supermarkets.
More important than buildings is the spirit of the people. Never is that spirit more evident than at Gurnee Days, an annual summer festival. It features music, entertainment, sports competition, food, fun activities and a parade. It brings together people who have lived in Gurnee all their lives and newcomers in a true celebration of community--and exemplifies the qualities which make Gurnee a great place to live and work.
Bike TrailA planned pedestrian/bicycle trail will link Gurnee's neighborhoods with each other and with the Village Center. A citizens advisory committee has worked with Village officials to develop the trail, which will complement and link with current and existing sidewalks and regional trails. The trail could also provide access to a scenic walk along the DesPlaines River.
The committee includes residents from different neighborhoods and members of civic organizations: representatives from the Gurnee Park District, School Districts 50 and 56, Warren Township High School, Warren Newport Public Library, and Warren Township. They worked with Village trustees, staff and consultant to develop the trails system plan.
The goal is to offer enhanced outdoor recreation opportunities and coincides with the need to reduce dependence on the automobile to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion. The trail is designed to be safe, convenient to use, and aesthetically pleasing, and to make minimal impact on the environment.
Children are a priority in Gurnee and, because they are important, providing the finest educational opportunities is the goal of parents, school board members, educators and the community.
This emphasis on education has been fruitful. Gurnee offers quality education for children from pre-school through high school. And for adults, college-level education also thrives.
For toddlers, both public and private pre-school programs are available. The Village of Gurnee publishes a flier called "Welcome to Gurnee," which lists pre-schools 
in the area, along with other information.
Grammar-school children who live in Gurnee will attend school in one of two public school districts: District 56 or District 50. District 56 operates four schools: Spaulding, O'Plaine, Gurnee Grade and Viking Junior High. District 50 operates four schools: Woodland Intermediate, Woodland Middle, Woodland Primary East and Woodland Primary West.
Private elementary education is available at St. Patrick School (Wadsworth), St. Gilbert School (Grayslake), Country Meadows Montessori School, and the Seventh Day Adventist Christian School (Gurnee).
High School students who live in Gurnee are served by Warren Township High School. A new high school building was completed and opened in 1987. It is a modern facility which maintains a tradition of quality education, extracurricular opportunities and community involvement. Carmel High School in Mundelein offers a co-educational Catholic program .
High schoolers may also attend Lake County Area Vocational School in Grayslake for specialized technical training.
Special education students are served by the Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL).
The Gurnee area is served by the Warren-Newport Public Library at 224 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee. Founded just two decades ago, the library today is a center of activity for the community, with an average of more than 20,000 patrons visiting each month.
The Warren-Newport Public Library offers something for patrons of every age and with any interest, from "story times" for the youngest patrons to computerized data bases for serious students of any age. The Library publishes The Library Lamp quarterly and mails it to district residents. It outlines programs and services, and includes the bookmobile schedule.
Librarians in the adult and youth departments are eager to help acquaint new patrons with the library and answer questions. They can also help locate books which are not in the Warren-Newport Library collection through inter-library loan.
In addition to books, the collection includes magazines, newspapers, video- and audio-cassettes, maps, software, and college catalogs available for check-out. Computer data bases, reference materials, typewriters, microfilm reader/printers, telephone books, and other materials may be used in the library.
Getting a library card is simple. New residents may apply by showing proof of residency: a driver's license, a piece of mail, a utility bill. Library hours are: Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays (during the school year) 1 - 5 p.m. For more information, call the Library at (847) 244-5150.
Lake County is home to several institutions of higher learning. College of Lake County is a publicly supported two-year community college which offers transfer and career programs, along with adult and continuing education programs.
Four colleges which offer baccalaureate degrees have their main campuses within Lake County: Lake Forest College, Barat College in Lake Forest, Trinity College in Lincolnshire and Shimer College in Waukegan.
Several colleges and universities regularly offer off-campus courses in Lake County locations. The institutions and class locations are: Aurora University, Waukegan; College of St. Francis, Waukegan; Columbia College, Waukegan; Concordia College, Gurnee; Keller Graduate School of Management, Lincolnshire.
Also offering courses in Lake County are: Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, Lake Forest; National-Louis University, Gurnee; DeVry, Gurnee; Northeastern Illinois University, Lake County; Saint Xavier University, Grayslake (CLC); Webster University, Deerfield.
The North Suburban Higher Education Consortium publishes a joint class schedule with listings from of colleges and universities offering junior, senior and graduate college classes in the north and northwest suburbs. For a copy, call the Consortium at (847) 467-5445.
Formed in 1968, the Gurnee Park District's first acquisition was Viking Park. Today, Viking Park is just one of four community parks; the district also encompasses 10 neighborhood parks and five sites yet to be developed.
Community parks are: Gowe Park (4621 McClure)--Beach, water-slide, concessions, ball field, ice-skating, summer camps, paddle-boat rentals, picnic area; Pembrook Community Park (Pinewood Road)--Playground, tennis courts, softball fields, soccer fields, restrooms/shelter, sand volleyball/ice rink; Russell Community Park (Russell Avenue)--Playground, basketball courts, baseball fields, restrooms/shelter and walkway; Viking Park (4374 Grand Avenue)--Administrative office, picnic facilities, band shell, dance hall, youth activity building, 
playground, tennis and basketball courts, softball fields, concessions, soccer fields, jogging trail.
Dedicated to its mission to provide open space for both active and passive recreation for the entire community, the Park District offers programs for young and old and every age in between. Among the activities are aquatics, fitness, athletic leagues, trips, day camps, arts and crafts, music and dance.
The Park District publishes and distributes four program booklets each year. The booklets contain information about all programs during the coming season, a list of all parks and facilities, and registration information. The booklets are distributed as follows: Fall--early August; Winter--late October; Spring--mid-January; and Summer--mid-April.
The Park District is governed by a board of five elected members who appoint an executive director, treasurer and attorney. For more information on Park District parks, facilities, programs and meetings, call (847) 623-7788.
Gurnee Days is held the second full weekend of August and is organized by a not-for-profit organization, the Gurnee Days Corporation. The festival is organized by volunteers and funded by contributions from business and civic organizations. Many of the activities are offered without charge.
The celebration traditionally begins with a Thursday evening testimonial dinner honoring Gurnee residents--individuals or couples--who have made significant contributions to the community.
Friday events usually include a bike rodeo, library show, and Beach Bash. Saturday brings golf and volleyball tournaments, a 10K race and 2-mile fun run, baby contest, bike and trike contests, Viking Fest, and police and fire department open houses.
On Saturday and Sunday, Viking Park features exhibits, food and games, stage events, and a volleyball tournament. The Mother Rudd Home is also open for visitors with special exhibits and activities.
Special Sunday events include a pancake breakfast, children's pony rides and a parade along Grand Avenue.
A schedule of activities is mailed to Gurnee residents, and local newspapers contain information about events. Information may also be obtained by calling Village Hall at (847) 599-7500.
With the opening of Gurnee Mills in 1991, the Gurnee area has become a mecca of sorts for shoppers from throughout the Midwest. Tour buses abound, and most weekends parking lots are full, adding as many as 100,000 temporary residents.
With more than 300 shops and 2.2 million square feet of space, Gurnee Mills is a shopper's dream. But it also serves other functions within the community with its programs: a "Mills Miler" club, fashion shows, music festivals and celebrity visits.
Information on events or community programs at Gurnee Mills may be obtained by calling 1-800-YES-SHOP.
Since the arrival of Gurnee Mills, other retail stores have been drawn to the area at Grand Avenue and Hunt Club Road on the west side of Gurnee. This includes several large national chains. The central and eastern portions of Gurnee have their own well-established shopping areas, too. The entire length of Grand Avenue, east to west, boasts an incredible variety of retail stores offering everything from sporting goods to books, from hardware to office supplies, from furniture to vintage clothing, from custom signs to party goods.
And the everyday necessities and services are available in a variety of convenient areas throughout the Village: video stores, dry cleaners, supermarkets, pharmacies, beauty and barber shops, banks, doctors' and dentists' offices, and specialty stores which sell maternity and children's clothing, gifts, and collectibles.
A season pass to Six Flags Great America is at the top of every youthful Gurnee resident's wish list, and the theme park certainly provides its share of fun in Gurnee. But that's just the beginning.
Head east a few miles, and you bump right into Lake Michigan--a haven for sailing and salmon fishing. Marinas in Waukegan and Winthrop Harbor provide docking facilities for thousands of boats, including many for charter. Head west, and there's the Chain of Lakes, with miles and miles of waterway connecting to the Fox River.
There's no need for cabin fever during the winter months, because winter sports opportunities abound: cross-country skiing in many Lake County Forest Preserves and the Illinois Beach State Park; ice-skating in nearby arenas and local ponds; down-hill skiing just a 40-minute drive west or north.
Sports enthusiasts can find many activities to join in or watch. Local park districts schedule activities for children and adults year round. Golf courses and driving ranges dot the landscape. Fans will find professional sports contests just a short drive north to Milwaukee or south to Chicago. And there's nothing like the excitement of watching amateur sports at Warren Township High School or local colleges.
If your idea of entertainment is a concert, play or movie, entertainment is as close as a local school auditorium, the band-shell at Viking Park or the 20-screen Gurnee Cinema. A quick ride by car or train will bring the riches of the Chicago-Milwaukee area's concert halls, stages and festivals.
Restaurants of all kinds can be found in Lake County. For a special treat, try one of the fine dining establishments in nearby Highwood or lunch at Lamb's Farm in Libertyville.
Then there's a trip to Long Grove for shopping in antique and specialty stores, a visit to the fairgrounds for the annual Lake County Fair or monthly antique show, or an evening of listening to classical music at the Ravinia Festival.
For information on attractions, events and places to visit, call the Lake County Convention and Visitors' Bureau at 1-800-525-3669. The Bureau, in Gurnee at 5465 W. Grand Avenue, Suite 100, also has a list of hotel and motel accommodations for visitors.
The Gurnee area is served by several large medical facilities and hundreds of physicians, dentists and other health-care professionals.
For highly specialized care, teaching hospitals in Milwaukee and Chicago provide the latest in medical knowledge and equipment.
Gurnee Industry
Gurnee's land-use plan, adopted in the 1970s, has guided the development and growth of the Village. It calls for a well-balanced community which has open space, a wide variety of housing options, and a variety of businesses: retail, commercial and industrial.
Having a diverse business base allows the Village to utilize a variety of revenue sources rather than relying on property tax. Revenue from industries in the community enhances many of the Village's services and amenities and allows the municipal tax rate to remain stable or even decline.
Several factors have combined to make Gurnee attractive to business: a location near a full tollway interchange and other transportation centers, excellent infrastructure, an educated work force to tap as employees, a professional Village staff to work with, and a well-articulated land-use plan to follow.
Village of Gurnee / Color Brochure / Originally Created by Amerigraphix, Ltd. 1994
Information in this guide is subject to change without notice.
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