WAUKEGAN, formerly LITTLEFORT, a flourishing post-village, capital of Lake county, Illinois, on the W. shore of Lake Michigan, and on the Chicago and Milwaukee railroad, 44 miles N. by W. from Chicago, and 50 miles S. from Milwaukee. The lake is about 80 miles wide opposite this place. The principal part of the village is built on a bluff which rises rather abruptly to the height of 60 feet, from which extensive views of water scenery may be obtained. Between the bluff and the shore there is a flat tract of ground about 400 yards wide, which is occupied by gardens, dwellings, and warehouses. Waukegan is a place of active trade, and is rapidly increasing in extent and business. Steamboats make frequent and regular passages from this town to Chicago, and other ports on the lake. The number of steamboat arrivals in 1850, was 1095. The exports in 1851 were valued at $283,107, and the imports at 69,081; total, $352,188. It contained in that year 6 churches, 1 academy, 2 book stores, 27 dry-goods stores, 2 newspaper offices, 2 steam flouring mills, and one bank shops. Pop.in 1860, 2949; in 1853, about 4500. (Baldwin's New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States..., 1854)
WAUKEGAN Waukegan, formerly called Littleport(sic), a flourishing post village, capital of Lake county, on the west shore of lake Michigan, and on the line of the Chicago and Milwaukee railroad, 44 miles north by west from Chicago, and 56 miles south from Milwaukee. The lake is about 80 miles wide opposite this place. The principal part of the village is built on a bluff which rises rather abruptly to the height of 50 feet, from which extensive views of water scenery may be obtained. Between the bluff and the shore there is a flat tract of ground about 400 yards wide, which is occupied by gardens, dwellings, and warehouses. Waukegan is a place of active trade, and is rapidly increasing in extent and business. During the summer, steamboats make regular passages from this town to Chicago and other ports on the lake. It contains two newspaper offices, and about 75 stores of different kinds. Population, 5,000. Henry W. Doesett, Postmaster. (Hawes' Illinois State Gazetteer...,1859)