North Chicago, IL

North Chicago is best known as the home of Naval Station Great Lakes, the site of the Navy’s only boot camp. That means the city is the first stop for recruits from all over the country, and you will often see visiting families in town for weekly graduation ceremonies. The military installation occupies a large stretch of the Lake Michigan shoreline, while residential neighborhoods, schools, and local businesses spread west toward Green Bay Road and Route 41. Commuting is straightforward, with two Metra stops on the Union Pacific North line offering direct train rides into downtown Chicago or up toward Kenosha and Milwaukee.

ATTRTeemu08 / CC BY-SA 3.0

The naval base carries more than a century of history, marked by handsome brick architecture from the early 1900s. It also holds an important place in American history: during World War II, it was home to Camp Robert Smalls, where over 100,000 Black sailors trained and the pioneering "Golden Thirteen" became the Navy's first African American officers. Today, the active military grounds blend those landmark buildings with modern training facilities, and the steady rhythm of recruit graduations keeps local hotels, diners, and coffee shops full of proud visitors throughout the year.

ATTRAdam Moss from East Amherst, New York, United States / CC BY-SA 2.0

Beyond the military, North Chicago is a major hub for healthcare and bioscience. Rosalind Franklin University draws hundreds of medical students and researchers to town, while the neighboring Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center delivers care to veterans, active service members, and military families. Global pharmaceutical company AbbVie also maintains a massive presence here, serving as a primary employer for the region. When residents want to spend time outdoors, Foss Park offers sports fields, a golf course, and lakefront green space, while local festivals like North Chicago Community Days bring neighbors together for food, music, and family fun.