Shields Township is a township in Lake County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2020 census, its population was 37,685. The Naval Station Great Lakes is located in this township.
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Shields Township has a total area of , of which (or 99.90%) is land and (or 0.10%) is water.
The township contains two cemeteries: Lake Forest and Saint Marys.
As of the 2020 census there were 37,685 people, 10,203 households, and 6,351 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 10,672 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 61.00% White, 15.00% African American, 0.79% Native American, 5.19% Asian, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 10.17% from other races, and 7.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.16% of the population.
There were 10,203 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.68% were married couples living together, 9.02% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 37.75% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.18.
The township's age distribution consisted of 16.3% under the age of 18, 30.8% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 129.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 137.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $92,183, and the median income for a family was $116,356. Males had a median income of $41,162 versus $26,983 for females. The per capita income for the township was $51,744. About 7.1% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.