Evanston, Illinois is a suburban Chicago municipality on Lake Michigan in Cook County, Illinois irectly north of the City of Chicago, east of Skokie, and south of Wilmette. Evanston was first settled in 1836 and has a total population of 74,239. It is part of Chicago's affluent North Shore region. Evanston is concurrently a city and township, according to state and municipal charters. Evanston Township includes Evanston and a large portion of Skokie.