Crystal Lake - A Good Place To Live

Welcome to the City of Crystal Lake, Illinois! Our longstanding motto is "A Good Place To Live" and that is certainly true. Crystal Lake is also a very good place to visit, dine, shop, play, and enjoy all of the amenities of our modern city of over 40,000, which still retains its small-town charm.

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. Our Route 14 corridor is filled with big name retailers and restaurants, interspersed with many local specialty shops and dining places.  

The Park District, a separate government body, oversees more than 1,600 acres of parks and open space as well as 230-acre Crystal Lake. Crystal Lake boasts wonderful schools, including two of the very best public school systems in the region, Elementary School District 47 and Community High School District 155. We are also the home of McHenry County College.

We are proud that Crystal Lake is a regional leader in planning, growth management, and municipal services. Our residents enjoy high-quality programs and services at one of the lowest municipal tax rates in the area. Some of our amenities include a fully-staffed professional police department, three 24-hour fire rescue stations, an aggressive street maintenance program, an annual leaf and brush pickup program, and a comprehensive curbside recycling program.

Our Mayor, City Council, and all the City staff strive to make Crystal Lake one of the premier communities in northern Illinois, and we hope you enjoy your stay here.