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Chicago Executive Airport Economic Impact Study–2007 Page 2-1
Chapter 2 - Demographic & Economic Trends
Various industries in the State of Illinois, and specifically within the greater Chicago area, are
dependent on air transportation for the sustainability of current operations and for expanding
market access to customers, suppliers, and business collaborations. Air transportation enables
industries and specific companies to become and remain competitive in an economic
environment that persistently compels an increasingly quicker and more efficient exchange of
goods, services, and ideas. This section summarizes recent trends in population, current
employment, and household income levels. This data provides the context from which to
compare the airport economic impact findings presented in the subsequent sections.
2.1 Population
Cook County is, by far, the largest populated county in the State of Illinois and the second
largest populated county in the United States, next only to Los Angeles County, California. In
fact, with nearly 5.3 million people in 2006, Cook County has a population greater than the
population of 31 states. 3 Chicago is located within the entirety of Cook County and contributes
to the large population. However, Cook County population declined slightly (3.7%) from about
5.49 million in 1970 to 5.29 million in 2006, as shown in Exhibit 2-1. Conversely, Lake County,
Illinois, which is located between the borders of Cook County and the State of Wisconsin, nearly
doubled over the same historical time period, growing from about 382,000 to 713,000 people.
Exhibit 2-1
Historical Population Trends (1970 to 2006)
Chicago Executive Airport Economic Impact Study
Population Year
Change
Geography 1970 1980 1990 2000 2006 1970-2006
Study Area
Cook County 5,493,766 5,253,628 5,105,067 5,376,741 5,288,655 -3.7%
Lake County 382,638 440,388 516,418 644,356 713,076 86.4%
Subtotal 5,876,404 5,694,016 5,621,485 6,021,097 6,001,731 2.1%
State of Illinois 11,110,285 11,427,409 11,430,602 12,419,293 12,831,970 15.5%
Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing, Population and Housing Unit Counts, and 2000 Census
Between 2000 and 2030, population in the Cook-Lake County study area is expected to grow, in
nearly 14% while the State of Illinois is expected to grow at almost 22%, as shown in Exhibit 2-
2. Lake County is expected to grow more quickly than Cook County and Illinois, due lack of
physical room for expansion due to high population density.
3 US Census Bureau: Annual Estimates of the Population for the United States, Regions, and States and
for Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006
Wilbur Smith Associates November 2007