Lockport, Illinois

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Lockport

| official_name =

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| settlement_type = City

| image_skyline = Lockportdowntown838382.jpg

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| image_caption = A portion of downtown Lockport, 2010

| image_flag = Flag of Lockport, Illinois.svg

| image_seal = Seal of Lockport, Illinois.svg

| etymology =

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| image_map = Will County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Lockport Highlighted.svg

| mapsize = 260px

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Location of Lockport in Will County, Illinois.

| image_map1 = Illinois in United States (US48).svg

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| map_alt1 =

| map_caption1 = Location of Illinois in the United States

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| coordinates = {{Coord|41|35|25|N|88|01|45|W|type:city(26,000)_region:US-IL|display=inline,title}}

| grid_name =

| grid_position =

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = United States

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = Illinois

| subdivision_type2 = County

| subdivision_name2 = Will

| subdivision_type3 = Townships

| subdivision_name3 = Lockport, Homer

| subdivision_type4 =

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| established_title = Founded

| established_date = 1853

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| leader_title = Mayor

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| unit_pref = Imperial

| area_footnotes = {{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_17.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 15, 2022}}

| area_total_km2 = 30.01

| area_total_sq_mi = 11.59

| area_land_km2 = 29.90

| area_land_sq_mi = 11.55

| area_water_km2 = 0.10

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.04

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| elevation_ft = 696

| population_as_of = 2020

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| population_total = 26094

| pop_est_as_of =

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| population_density_km2 = 872.62

| population_density_sq_mi = 2260.00

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| timezone1 = CST

| utc_offset1 = −6

| timezone1_DST = CDT

| utc_offset1_DST = −5

| postal_code_type = ZIP Code

| postal_code = 60441

| area_codes = 815 and 779

| blank_name = FIPS code

| blank_info = 17-44225

| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank1_info = 2395740{{GNIS|2395740}}

| blank2_name_sec2 = Wikimedia Commons

| blank2_info_sec2 = Lockport, Illinois

| website = [http://www.cityoflockport.net www.cityoflockport.net]

| footnotes =

}}

Lockport is a city in Will County, Illinois, United States, located 30 miles southwest of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 26,094.{{Cite web|title=Lockport city, Illinois |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1744225|website=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 15, 2022}} The city was incorporated in 1853.{{Cite book |last1=Grossman |first1=James R. |last2=Keating |first2=Ann Durkin |date=October 15, 2004 |title=The Encyclopedia of Chicago |edition=1st |publisher=University of Chicago Press |page=491 |isbn=978-0226310152}} It is situated along the Illinois and Michigan (I&M) Canal,{{Cite book |title=The History of Will County, Illinois |date=1878 |publisher=Wm. Le Baron, Jr. & Co. |location=Chicago |pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyofwillcou00chic/page/431 431]–432 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofwillcou00chic |access-date=12 September 2018}} and was the headquarters of the canal when the canal was operating. A section of the canal runs through Lockport, including the remains of the canal's Lock No. 1 from which the town received its name.{{cite book|last=Gannett|first=Henry|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|year=1905|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n188 189]}} The canal right-of-way is now the Illinois and Michigan National Heritage Corridor.

Geography

Lockport is located on the east bank of the Des Plaines River just north of Joliet. The village of Lemont is about two miles to the north along the river.Joliet, IL 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1954

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1870= 1772

|1880= 1679

|1890= 2449

|1900= 2659

|1910= 2555

|1920= 2684

|1930= 3383

|1940= 3475

|1950= 4955

|1960= 7560

|1970= 9861

|1980= 9192

|1990= 9401

|2000= 15191

|2010= 24839

|2020= 26094

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=US Census Bureau}}
2010 2020

}}

=2020 census=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Lockport city, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition
{{nobold|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.}}

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 2000{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lockport city, Illinois |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=1600000US1744225&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date=}}

!Pop 2010{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lockport city, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US1744225&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}

!{{partial|Pop 2020}}{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lockport city, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US1744225&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}

!% 2000

!% 2010

!{{partial|% 2020}}

White alone (NH)

|14,080

|21,854

|style='background: #ffffe6; |21,818

|92.69%

|87.98%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |83.61%

Black or African American alone (NH)

|164

|329

|style='background: #ffffe6; |395

|1.08%

|1.32%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.51%

Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|33

|31

|style='background: #ffffe6; |12

|0.22%

|0.12%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05%

Asian alone (NH)

|114

|329

|style='background: #ffffe6; |455

|0.75%

|1.32%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.74%

Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1

|0.01%

|0.02%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%

Other race alone (NH)

|17

|style='background: #ffffe6; |57

|0.05%

|0.07%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.22%

Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|132

|248

|style='background: #ffffe6; |797

|0.87%

|1.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.05%

Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|660

|2,025

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,559

|4.34%

|8.15%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |9.81%

Total

|15,191

|24,839

|style='background: #ffffe6; |26,094

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

=2000 Census=

Although the population was 15,191 at the 2000 census (and then estimated it would be 22,161 in 2005), a special census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2003 counted 25,191 people, 13,599 households, and 12,137 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,144.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,835 housing units at an average density of {{convert|823.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.82% White, 1.11% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.94% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.34% of the population.

There were 8,599 households, out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 36.1% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $72,231, and the median income for a family was $81,717.{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=lockport&_cityTown=lockport&_state=04000US17&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010 |title=American FactFinder |website=Factfinder.census.gov |access-date=2012-11-18 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200211180551/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=lockport&_cityTown=lockport&_state=04000US17&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010 |archive-date=2020-02-11 |url-status=dead }} Males had a median income of $65,759 versus $42,551 for females. The per capita income for the city was $32,939. About 3.2% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

The City of Lockport, Illinois, has a park district titled the Lockport Township Park District that was created in 1945. It manages and maintains 38 parks and several recreational programs with the goal to "enrich the quality of life of the community". According to the city's website, each park should provide at least one of the following recreational activities: A place to engage in sports, open spaces in which children may play in, pavilions for picnics or gatherings, playgrounds, and other facilities.{{cite web|title=Lockport Township Park District|url=http://www.cityoflockport.net/206/Park-District|website=Lockport, IL - Official Website|publisher=City of Lockport|access-date=12 July 2017}}

Dellwood Park is also home to the "Hayride of Horror" and "Curse of the Bayou.'' These haunted attractions are open in October and feature spooky scenes that aim to scare guests. The haunts are family friendly and are welcoming to members of the community. They offer community service hours for acting in the haunt. The attractions are put together by community member, Andrea Vaughn, and her team of managers. They work all through the spring and summer planning new scenes, designing sets, and recruiting actors.{{cite web | url=https://www.lockportpark.org/HayrideOfHorror/curseofthebayou/ | title=– Hayride of Horror }}

=Museums and historic sites=

Downtown Lockport contains four museums, all within walking distance of one another, as well as other historic places.

;Gaylord Building.

The Gaylord Building is a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.{{cite web| url = https://savingplaces.org/places/gaylord-building| title = Gaylord Building, a National Trust Historic Site| access-date = November 30, 2019}} It was constructed in 1838 of local limestone for use as a warehouse and is situated on the east side of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, just north of downtown Lockport.{{cite web| url = https://savingplaces.org/stories/all-in-the-family-barbara-donnelly-dishes-about-lockports-gaylord-building| title = All in the Family: Barbara Donnelly Dishes About Lockport's Gaylord Building| access-date = November 30, 2019}} Renovated in the 1980s, the building now houses a restaurant and has historical galleries.{{cite web| url = https://gaylordbuilding.org/brief-history-gaylord-building/| title = History of the Gaylord building in Lockport Illinois| access-date = November 30, 2019}}

;Illinois and Michigan Canal Museum

Located in the original 1837 Canal headquarters building, the Illinois and Michigan Canal Museum offers 10 rooms filled with artifacts, pictures and documents relating to the construction and operation of the Canal, as well as period items specific to the region during the height of the Canal's operation.

;The Lockport Gallery

The Lockport Gallery celebrates Illinois through changing exhibits featuring paintings, drawings, sculptures, quilts and other media created by the state's artists and artisans. These rotating, theme-based exhibits are supplemented and showcased through educational events, group tours and outreach programs for all ages. An Illinois State Museum (ISM) facility, the Lockport Gallery is located in a structure that is itself a work of art and history. The historic Norton Building was constructed on the banks of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1850 to serve as a grain-processing facility. Today the building is a multi-use facility housing residential lofts, offices, commercial space and the Lockport Gallery. The Gallery's space incorporates the building's original features, including large windows (once arched portals used for loading and unloading), high ceilings, and hardwood floors.

;The Gladys Fox Museum

Maintained by the Lockport Township Park District, the Gladys Fox Museum is located in the 1839 Old Congregational Church. Beautifully restored, this historic building is now home to the museum's collection of historical photographs and memorabilia celebrating Dellwood Park and the Illinois and Michigan Canal.

;Lincoln Landing

Newly constructed just south of the Gaylord building and directly adjacent to the I&M Canal by the Give Something Back Foundation, the Lincoln Landing is a unique open air park and museum. The park shows the original I & M Canal lines with a statue of Lincoln contemplating the canal. Bronze medallions are placed all about the park with historical information. Each medallion then leads you to another with connected information.

Schools

=Taft School District 90=

{{citation needed span|date=July 2017|Taft School District 90 lies almost entirely within the southwest part of Lockport. The district dates from before 1888.}} In the 19th century it was called school district #9 of Lockport Township, and its school was called the South Lockport School. The district now has one school, called Taft School.{{cite web | url = http://www.taft90.org/history.htm | title = History | publisher = Taft School District 90 | location = Lockport, Illinois | date = 2008-10-13 | access-date = 2012-05-22 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140713165720/http://www.taft90.org/history.htm | archive-date = 2014-07-13 | url-status = dead }}{{citation | title = Taft History | first = Diannaha | last = Tielbur | year = 1997 | location = Lockport, Illinois}}

=Milne-Kelvin Grove School District 91=

{{citation needed span|date=July 2017|Milne-Kelvin Grove School District 91, also known as Lockport School District 91, lies almost entirely within the west central part of Lockport.}} It has two grade schools.{{cite web|url=http://www.d91.net/ |title=Milne-Kelvin Grove School District 91 Lockport, Illinois USA |website=D91.net |access-date=2012-11-18}}

;Milne Grove Elementary School

Milne Grove has kindergarten through grade three.{{cite web | url = http://www.d91.net/District91/index.htm | title = District 91 Info | publisher = Milne-Kelvin Grove School District 91 | location = Lockport, Illinois | date = 2012-05-08 | access-date = 2012-05-21 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120504203801/http://www.d91.net/District91/index.htm | archive-date = 2012-05-04 | url-status = dead }}

;Kelvin Grove Middle School

Kelvin Grove has grades four through eight; sixth through eighth grade operate as a middle school.

=Will County School District 92=

Will County School District 92 is a public grade school district which serves grades K–8. It mainly serves the communities of Lockport and Homer Glen. It contains four buildings: Walsh, Reed, Ludwig, and Oak Prairie with the administration building adjacent to Ludwig. Their mascot is a bulldog.

;Walsh School

Walsh School is an elementary school educating students from PreK through grade one. Mascot: Bulldog

;Reed School

Reed School is an elementary school educating students grades two and three. Mascot: Rocket

;Ludwig School

Ludwig School is an elementary school educating students grades four and five. Mascot: Oiler

;Oak Prairie Junior High School

Oak Prairie Junior High School is a junior high school educating students in grades six through eight. It is the most recent of the schools. Mascot: Bulldog

=High schools=

{{main|Lockport Township High School District 205|Homer Community Consolidated School District 33C|Will County School District 92}}

Three other grade school districts cover parts of Lockport. The eastern part of Lockport is in Homer Community Consolidated School District 33C. The northern part of Lockport is in Will County School District 92. The southern part of Lockport is served by the Fairmont School District 89.

All of the city is in Lockport Township High School District 205, which operates Lockport Township High School at a Central and East campus, both in the city. The district serves about 3,700 students from the communities of Crest Hill, Fairmont, Homer Glen, Lockport, Homer Township and Lockport Township. The Central Campus opened in 1910 and serves freshman students while the East Campus opened in 1964 and serves sophomores, juniors and seniors.

=Private schools=

Lockport has one private grade school: Saints Dennis & Joseph Catholic Academy.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sdjacademy.org/ |title=SDJCA Website |access-date=2024-05-28}} The North campus is located at 529 Madison St. and the South campus is located at 1201 S. Washington St.{{cite web | url = http://www.will.k12.il.us/NonPubSchoolDirectory.html | title = Non-Public School Directory | publisher = Will County Regional Office of Education | location = New Lenox, Illinois | date = 2011-09-16 | access-date = 2012-05-21 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111113131852/http://www.will.k12.il.us/NonPubSchoolDirectory.html | archive-date = 2011-11-13 | url-status = dead }}

There are also two private high schools in the area: Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox and Joliet Catholic Academy in Joliet.

File:Lockport IL Lock Number 3.jpg

Transportation

Lockport has a station on Metra's Heritage Corridor, which provides weekday rush hour rail service between Joliet, and Chicago, Illinois (at Union Station). Lockport is very close to Metra's Rock Island District.

Pace provides bus service on Routes 832 and 834 connecting Lockport to downtown Joliet and other destinations.{{cite web|url=https://www.rtachicago.org/uploads/files/general/RTA-System-Map.pdf|title=RTA System Map|access-date=January 28, 2024}}

=Major highways=

Major highways in Lockport include:

Interstate Highways

25px Interstate 355

US Highways

25px Historic US 66

Illinois Highways

In popular culture

Some scenes in the 2009 Michael Mann film Public Enemies were shot in Lockport.{{cite web |title=Company Credits |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1152836/companycredits?ref_=tt_dt_co |website=IMDb |access-date=12 September 2018}}

The Image Comics series Radiant Black in the Massive Verse is primarily set in Lockport, being the hometown of main characters Nathan Burnett and Marshall.{{cite web |title=The Radiant Black Universe is Taking Shape

|url=https://www.polygon.com/platform/platform/amp/22893556/radiant-black-comic-order-schedule-rogue-Sun-supermassive-preview |website=Polygon |access-date=30 October 2022}}

Notable people

Louis Bottino, Illinois state representative and educator, lived in Lockport.Illinois Blue Book 1959-1960, p. 276-277
Harry Decker, MLB all-positions player for several teams{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=deckeha01|title=Harry Decker Stats

|publisher=Baseball Almanac|access-date= October 30, 2012}}

Jim Donahue, catcher for the New York Metropolitans, Kansas City Cowboys, and Columbus Solons
Tom Haller, catcher for the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Detroit Tigers{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=halleto01|title=Tom Haller Stats

|publisher=Baseball Almanac|access-date= October 30, 2012}}

Richaun Holmes, basketball player for the Washington Wizards
Austin O'Connor (wrestler), two-time NCAA Champion wrestler for the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Daniel H. Paddock, Illinois state representative and lawyer, born in Lockport.'Souvenir of the Illinois Legislature of 1893,' J.L. Pickering-editor, Illinois State Journal Press, Springfield, Illinois: 1893, Biographical Sketch of Daniel H. Paddock, pg, 81
CM Punk, professional wrestler currently signed to WWE and retired mixed martial artist.
Luke Scanlan, Wisconsin State Assemblyman and farmer, was born near Lockport'Wisconsin Blue Book 1913,' Biographical Sketch of Luke Scanlan, p. 677
Alando Tucker, basketball player for the Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tuckeal02.html|title= Alando Forest Tucker|website=Basketball-reference.com |access-date= October 30, 2012}}
Mike Zimmer, NFL coach, former head coach for the Minnesota Vikings{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/ZimmMi0.htm|title=Mike Zimmer Coaching Stats|website=Pro-football-reference.com|access-date= December 3, 2017}}