About Crystal Lake

Welcome to the City of Crystal Lake, Illinois. The City of Crystal Lake is committed to continuing the high quality of life enjoyed by the citizens and businesses of the Crystal Lake community.

Crystal Lake is located 50 miles northwest of Chicago, a short drive from O'Hare International Airport, near several major highways and interstates. The Union Pacific rail line provides easy access to Chicago. As a result, Crystal Lake residents enjoy the many employment, cultural and recreational opportunities of a major metro city, yet live in a pleasant, friendly, small-town atmosphere.

Beginning in the 1970's, Crystal Lake experienced significant changes in both its residential and business population. The population has grown from 14,000 in the early 1970's to over 38,000 today.

The local job market is expanding rapidly. And with this expansion, citizens have access to excellent educational, recreational and cultural activities. Crystal Lake boasts two of the very best public school systems in the region - Elementary School District 47 and Community High School District 155. Citizens are also served by the parochial grade schools of Saint Thomas and Immanual Lutheran. Ever-expanding McHenry County College is on Crystal Lake's northern border.

Crystal Lake is truly a great place to live and work and it's also a great place to play! One of Crystal Lake's greatest attractions is its public parks system. This includes over 1,600 acres of parks and open space as well as 230-acre Crystal Lake for fishing, boating, swimming, skating in the winter...it's truly year-round fun! The Crystal Lake Park District sponsors many of the recreational programs held throughout the City and maintains much of the open space.

Crystal Lake is a leader in the region in the areas of planning, growth management and municipal services. Crystal Lake offers residents a variety of excellent, high-quality programs and services at one of the lowest municipal tax rates in the area. Programs such as a fully staffed professional police department, three 24-hour fire/rescue stations, and aggressive street maintenance program and an annual leaf and brush pickup program. Crystal Lake also runs a comprehensive curbside recycling program. The City staff and elected officials are dedicated to continuing to make Crystal Lake one of the premier communities in northern Illinois.

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