Industrial development began almost immediately with a railroad depot being set up in 1892; most notable was the arrival of the Washburn and Moen Manufacturing Company, a major barbed wire maker.

With the onset of the "Great Migration", large numbers of African Americans arrived in the city from states such as Arkansas and Alabama, and toward the end of the 20th century, became the best known demographic group.

Companies such as Washburn and Moen played a significant role in dividing North Chicago based on ethnicity.

In the northern part of North Chicago, Slovaks, who referred to the area as "Kompanija," founded the Mother of God Roman Catholic Church.

[5] At one time, Navy personnel were a major part of the scene in North Chicago, both the "swabbies" (enlisted men) and the officers.

Now, with the degeneration of "the Strip", or entertainment district along several blocks of Sheridan Road, sailors are rarely seen north of the railroad trestle.

In the fall of 2007, the city finished demolishing the buildings on Sheridan Road between Martin Luther King Drive and the railroad trestle to the north, within the framework of a new development project involving tax increment financing.

A number of movies have been filmed on the Illinois Route 137 highway through North Chicago including Groundhog Day.

Trains serving these stations travel south to Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago, and north to Kenosha.

Additionally, Pace provides bus service on multiple routes connecting North Chicago to Waukegan and other destinations.