1835
Settlers from Warren, New York
The first settlers came from Warren, New York, by wagon or by the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes. Warren Township was later named after the same town.
Source: Wikipedia: Gurnee, Illinois
Living in Gurnee, Illinois
A village about 39 miles north of the Chicago Loop, on the Des Plaines River and I-94.
01 — At a Glance
A river village with the region’s favorite destinations.
Gurnee grew from a railroad stop called Gurnee Station and incorporated as a village in 1928. It’s named for Walter S. Gurnee, a former mayor of Chicago. The 2020 census counted 30,706 residents. Six Flags Great America, Gurnee Mills and Great Wolf Lodge draw more than 23 million visitors a year. The ZIP code is 60031.
02 — History
The story of Gurnee.
Gurnee started at a river crossing where the old road from Chicago to Milwaukee met the Des Plaines. A few chapters from the village’s past.
1835–1836
The Community House
A New York land company built a Community House to shelter families while they claimed their farms. It stood where the old Gurnee Grade School was later built.
Source: Wikipedia: Gurnee, Illinois
1842
Bridging the river
A floating log bridge crossed the river near an old Potawatomi ford in 1842. Wood and iron bridges came later, and the crossing became the hub of the township.
Source: Wikipedia: Gurnee, Illinois
1928
Gurnee Station
The railroad stop known as Gurnee Station became simply Gurnee, and the village incorporated in 1928.
Source: Wikipedia: Gurnee, Illinois
03 — Education
A tradition of learning.
Gurnee District 56 and Woodland District 50 serve the grade schools, and Warren Township High School District 121 serves the whole village.
Boundaries follow the address. Confirm school assignment for each address with the district before you buy.
Search HomesPublic · PreK–8
Gurnee School District 56
Serves most of the eastern half of the village.
- Spaulding School
- Prairie Trail School
- River Trail School
- Viking Middle School
Public · K–8
Woodland District 50
Serves the west side and parts of the east side.
- Woodland Primary, Elementary and Intermediate
- Woodland Middle School
Public · Grades 9–12
Warren Township High School District 121
Two campuses, O’Plaine Road and Almond Road.
- Warren Township High School
Charter · K–8
Prairie Crossing Charter School
Admits students from Districts 50 and 79.
- Grades K–8
Source: Wikipedia: Gurnee, Illinois
04 — Lifestyle
Everyday life in Gurnee.
Gurnee is where much of the region comes to play, and residents get it all close to home.
Destinations
Six Flags Great America
The amusement park and Hurricane Harbor Chicago water park.
Gurnee Mills
A major shopping mall off I-94.
Great Wolf Lodge
An indoor water park resort.
Community
Warren-Newport Public Library
A library with more than 270,000 books, serving about 60,000 residents.
Des Plaines River
The river that runs past the old village center.
Grand Avenue
The historic east-west road through the village.
Getting Around
I-94
The Tri-State runs right through Gurnee.
Chicago and Milwaukee
Gurnee sits roughly between the two cities.
Pace
Bus service connects the village with nearby towns.
Source: Wikipedia: Gurnee, Illinois