McHenry County, Illinois | |
|---|---|
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 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIllinois | |
 Illinois's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:42°19′N88°27′W / 42.32°N 88.45°W /42.32; -88.45 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Illinois |
| Founded | January 16, 1836[1] |
| Named after | William McHenry |
| Seat | Woodstock |
| Largest city | Crystal Lake |
| Area | |
• Total | 611 sq mi (1,580 km2) |
| • Land | 603 sq mi (1,560 km2) |
| • Water | 7.6 sq mi (20 km2) 1.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 310,229 |
• Estimate (2024) | 315,959 [2] |
| • Density | 514/sq mi (199/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 9th,10th,11th,16th |
| Website | www |
McHenry County is located in theU.S. state ofIllinois. According to the2020 Census, it had a population of 310,229,[3] making it the sixth-most populous county in Illinois. Itscounty seat isWoodstock.[4] McHenry County is one of the five Illinoiscollar counties in theChicago metropolitan area. Long known as a center ofrecreation along with agriculture in the western portion, it has recently experienced rapid rates ofsuburbanization,exurbanization andurbanization, but the western segment of the county remains primarily agricultural and rural.
McHenry County was formed in 1836 out ofCook andLaSalle counties. The county was named for MajorWilliam McHenry, a member of the Illinois Militia during Tecumseh's War, a major during the Blackhawk War in 1832, and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate. He died inVandalia, Illinois in 1835.
McHenry County originally stretched all the way east toLake Michigan, with the county seat centrally inMcHenry, but in 1839, the eastern townships of the county were carved out formingLake County.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 611 square miles (1,580 km2), of which 603 square miles (1,560 km2) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km2) (1.3%) is water.[5]
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In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Woodstock have ranged from a low of 11 °F (−12 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −29 °F (−34 °C) was recorded in January 1979 and a record high of 109 °F (43 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.29 inches (33 mm) in February to 4.56 inches (116 mm) in June.[6]
McHenry County is like much of theUpper Midwest, as it usually sees hot, humid summers, and cold, snowy winters. The county is notably susceptible to high wind events, blizzards, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding.
Some of the most notable weather events in the county include the1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, theBlizzard of 1967, the 1967Belvidere - Oak Lawn tornado outbreak, theBlizzard of 1979, the Flood of 1996, theBlizzard of 1999, theEarly Winter 2006 North American Storm Complex, the2007 Midwest flooding event, theJanuary 2008 tornado outbreak sequence, and theBlizzard of 2011.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 2,578 | — | |
| 1850 | 14,978 | 481.0% | |
| 1860 | 22,089 | 47.5% | |
| 1870 | 23,762 | 7.6% | |
| 1880 | 24,908 | 4.8% | |
| 1890 | 26,114 | 4.8% | |
| 1900 | 29,759 | 14.0% | |
| 1910 | 32,509 | 9.2% | |
| 1920 | 33,164 | 2.0% | |
| 1930 | 35,079 | 5.8% | |
| 1940 | 37,311 | 6.4% | |
| 1950 | 50,656 | 35.8% | |
| 1960 | 84,210 | 66.2% | |
| 1970 | 111,555 | 32.5% | |
| 1980 | 147,897 | 32.6% | |
| 1990 | 183,241 | 23.9% | |
| 2000 | 260,077 | 41.9% | |
| 2010 | 308,760 | 18.7% | |
| 2020 | 310,229 | 0.5% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 315,959 | [7] | 1.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2019[12]2020[13] | |||
McHenry county has the highest percentage ofnon-Hispanic whites amongst the fivecollar counties of Chicago (McHenry,Lake,DuPage,Kane, andWill).
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[14] | Pop 1990[15] | Pop 2000[16] | Pop 2010[17] | Pop 2020[18] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 143,792 | 175,299 | 233,026 | 258,584 | 238,659 | 97.22% | 95.67% | 89.60% | 83.75% | 76.93% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 108 | 287 | 1,379 | 3,045 | 4,073 | 0.07% | 0.16% | 0.53% | 0.99% | 1.31% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 145 | 281 | 352 | 455 | 325 | 0.10% | 0.15% | 0.14% | 0.15% | 0.10% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 551 | 1,246 | 3,734 | 7,712 | 8,669 | 0.37% | 0.68% | 1.44% | 2.50% | 2.79% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[19] | x[20] | 42 | 68 | 45 | x | x | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 276 | 62 | 150 | 210 | 872 | 0.19% | 0.03% | 0.06% | 0.07% | 0.28% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[21] | x[22] | 1,792 | 3,437 | 10,881 | x | x | 0.69% | 1.11% | 3.51% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,025 | 6,066 | 19,602 | 35,249 | 46,705 | 2.05% | 3.31% | 7.54% | 11.42% | 15.06% |
| Total | 147,897 | 183,241 | 260,077 | 308,760 | 310,229 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 census, there were 308,760 people, 109,199 households, and 82,288 families residing in the county.[23] The population density was 511.9 inhabitants per square mile (197.6/km2). There were 116,040 housing units at an average density of 192.4 per square mile (74.3/km2).[5] The racial makeup of the county was 90.1% white, 2.5% Asian, 1.1% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 4.3% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 11.4% of the population.[23] In terms of ancestry, 34.4% were ofGerman heritage, 18.7% were ofIrish ancestry, 14.2%Polish, 10.8%Italian, 7.8%English, and 3.7% ofAmerican heritage.[24]
Of the 109,199 households, 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.6% were non-families, and 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.25. The median age was 38.0 years.[23]
The median income for a household in the county was $76,482 and the median income for a family was $86,698. Males had a median income of $61,971 versus $42,125 for females. The per capita income for the county was $31,838. About 4.9% of families and 6.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.[25]
| Racial / Ethnic Profile of places in McHenry County, Illinois (2020 Census) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Following is a table of towns and census designated places in NcHenry County, Illinois. Data for the United States (with and without Puerto Rico), the state of Illinois, and McHenry County itself have been included for comparison purposes. The majority racial/ethnic group is coded per the key below. Communities that extend into and adjacent county or counties are delineated with a‡ followed by an accompanying explanatory note. The full population of each community has been tabulated including the population in adjacent counties.
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Before the2020 Census, onlyChemung andPistakee Highlands were CDPs.[80]
McHenry County government is based primarily out of Woodstock, the county seat. The McHenry County Government Center, located on the north end of Woodstock alongIllinois Route 47, features county offices as well as judicial facilities.[citation needed]
The current Chairman of the McHenry County Board is Michael Buehler, who was first elected in 2020.[81]
The current Sheriff of McHenry County, Illinois is Robb Tadelmann, who was first elected in 2022.[82]
As one of theYankee-settled and prosperous outer suburban "collar counties", McHenry County was a stronghold of the Free Soil Party in its first few elections, being one of nine Illinois counties to give a plurality to Martin van Buren in 1848. McHenry County has voted for the Republican candidate for president in all but two elections since1852 (the Republican party was founded in 1854), the first being when “Bull Moose” candidate and former Republican presidentTheodore Roosevelt won the countyin 1912.[83] Recent elections in 2004 and 2000 sawGeorge W. Bush capture 59.72% and 58.5% of the county vote, respectively. In2008,DemocratBarack Obama, then a Senator from Illinois, captured McHenry County with 52% of the vote—the first time a Democrat had carried the county since 1852.[83] In the2012 presidential election, Obama only received 44% of the vote whereas RepublicanMitt Romney captured 53% of the vote.[84] In the2016 presidential election, RepublicanDonald Trump received 50% of the vote whereas DemocraticHillary Clinton received 42% of the vote. In2020,Joe Biden came within 3% of carrying the county for the Democrats for the second time since 1852. McHenry County is now the only collar county that still leans Republican.
No person with significant ties to McHenry County has ever been elected to the United States Congress or Illinois governorship.[citation needed] The mother of U.S. President Gerald Ford,Dorothy Ayer Gardner, was born inHarvard in 1892.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 3,205 | 55.16% | 2,311 | 39.78% | 294 | 5.06% |
| 1896 | 5,047 | 70.91% | 1,913 | 26.88% | 157 | 2.21% |
| 1900 | 5,234 | 70.09% | 2,076 | 27.80% | 158 | 2.12% |
| 1904 | 5,409 | 77.21% | 1,309 | 18.68% | 288 | 4.11% |
| 1908 | 5,331 | 71.07% | 1,887 | 25.16% | 283 | 3.77% |
| 1912 | 2,370 | 31.82% | 1,913 | 25.69% | 3,164 | 42.49% |
| 1916 | 9,024 | 72.00% | 3,278 | 26.15% | 231 | 1.84% |
| 1920 | 9,885 | 85.10% | 1,536 | 13.22% | 195 | 1.68% |
| 1924 | 8,751 | 67.24% | 1,372 | 10.54% | 2,892 | 22.22% |
| 1928 | 10,661 | 65.33% | 5,596 | 34.29% | 62 | 0.38% |
| 1932 | 9,880 | 53.14% | 8,260 | 44.42% | 454 | 2.44% |
| 1936 | 12,031 | 60.56% | 6,893 | 34.70% | 942 | 4.74% |
| 1940 | 16,480 | 72.30% | 6,170 | 27.07% | 145 | 0.64% |
| 1944 | 15,666 | 73.55% | 5,567 | 26.14% | 66 | 0.31% |
| 1948 | 15,387 | 73.45% | 5,459 | 26.06% | 103 | 0.49% |
| 1952 | 20,975 | 74.23% | 7,218 | 25.54% | 64 | 0.23% |
| 1956 | 24,912 | 78.34% | 6,820 | 21.45% | 66 | 0.21% |
| 1960 | 25,787 | 66.97% | 12,659 | 32.87% | 62 | 0.16% |
| 1964 | 22,503 | 55.54% | 18,014 | 44.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 27,245 | 66.15% | 10,896 | 26.46% | 3,044 | 7.39% |
| 1972 | 36,114 | 74.75% | 12,090 | 25.02% | 108 | 0.22% |
| 1976 | 37,115 | 67.50% | 16,799 | 30.55% | 1,075 | 1.95% |
| 1980 | 40,045 | 64.95% | 14,540 | 23.58% | 7,070 | 11.47% |
| 1984 | 47,282 | 76.21% | 14,420 | 23.24% | 340 | 0.55% |
| 1988 | 46,135 | 70.44% | 18,919 | 28.88% | 445 | 0.68% |
| 1992 | 41,356 | 46.84% | 24,783 | 28.07% | 22,155 | 25.09% |
| 1996 | 41,136 | 49.41% | 31,240 | 37.52% | 10,880 | 13.07% |
| 2000 | 62,112 | 58.49% | 40,698 | 38.33% | 3,375 | 3.18% |
| 2004 | 76,412 | 59.72% | 50,330 | 39.34% | 1,206 | 0.94% |
| 2008 | 64,845 | 46.44% | 72,288 | 51.77% | 2,499 | 1.79% |
| 2012 | 71,598 | 53.34% | 59,797 | 44.55% | 2,842 | 2.12% |
| 2016 | 71,612 | 49.75% | 60,803 | 42.24% | 11,515 | 8.00% |
| 2020 | 82,260 | 49.98% | 78,154 | 47.49% | 4,164 | 2.53% |
| 2024 | 83,933 | 51.47% | 75,370 | 46.22% | 3,779 | 2.32% |
McHenry County College, a growing community college established in 1967, serves the majority of county residents. The college includes 2,000 full-time students and 5,800 part-time students. The main campus is located on the northwest side of Crystal Lake, alongU.S. Route 14. Secondary facilities exist in Crystal Lake and McHenry.
McHenry County also includes dozens of school districts. This is a list of high schools that can be found in the county:
Students in McHenry County may also be zoned into schools in other counties, such asDundee-Crown High School in neighboringCarpentersville.
| Name of School | Religious Affiliation | Enrollment | Athletic Conference | Team Mascot | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marian Central Catholic High School | Roman Catholic | 590[91] | East Suburban Catholic Conference | Hurricanes | Woodstock |
Hospitals currently in the county include Mercy Harvard Hospital,Centegra Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry,Centegra Memorial Medical Center in Woodstock, and Centegra's Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital. Amita (formerly Presence) and Advocate health systems also maintain a strong influence in the county, and have hospitals in nearby Elgin and Barrington. On September 1, 2018, Centegra was acquired by Northwestern Medicine of Chicagonois. Prior to its acquisition by Northwestern Medicine, Centegra was the largest independent employer in McHenry County. It is now part of a network of more than 10 hospitals and 400 care locations.
Much of McHenry County's economy centers around manufacturing, metalworking, media development and printing, transportation equipment, agriculture, health care, education, retail, food production, distribution, and technology. Gravel mining makes up a sizable portion of the county's economy.[92]
The major employment centers can be found in Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Huntley, McHenry, and Woodstock.[93][citation needed] The southern portions of the county are within the scope of theGolden Corridor, the region of commerce along theJane Addams Memorial Tollway.
The county is known for its wide variety of shopping options. McHenry, Crystal Lake, and Algonquin/Lake in the Hills have established themselves as major retail areas, all featuring an array of big box stores, specialty stores, and restaurants. While there are no major malls located within the county, several lie just outside its borders: thelifestyle centersAlgonquin Commons andAlgonquin Galleria, and the regional indoor mallSpring Hill Mall inWest Dundee.
In addition, several historic downtowns throughout the county offer unique shops and eateries in charming environments. TheWoodstock Square Historic District, antique shops in Richmond and Hebron, downtownCrystal Lake and downtownAlgonquin, and shops in other historic downtowns throughout the county accommodate residents and tourists alike. McHenry's Green Street is also a major attraction in the county.
The entire county is served by theMcHenry County Conservation District, which preserves sensitive land throughout the county and provides recreational opportunities for residents. The District also operates theMcHenry County Prairie Path, a regional bike path that extends from the Wisconsin State Line inRichmond southward toAlgonquin, where the path connects with theFox River Bike Trail, which continues south toAurora.
In addition, theFox River, Kishwaukee River andChain O'Lakes provide immense opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, and other water activities.Moraine Hills State Park andChain O' Lakes State Park are both located in the county, adjacent to the waterway. Other major lakes in the county include Crystal Lake, Wonder Lake, and McCullom Lake.
There are also dozens of parks, golf courses, and country clubs throughout the county. Majorskiing areas include Nordic Ski Jump in Fox River Grove and Buffalo Snowboarding Park in Algonquin. In addition, the Windy City Balloon Port in Fox River Grove offershot air balloon rides over the Fox River Valley.
In 2012, theHackmatack National Wildlife Refuge was established and encompasses parts of McHenry County.
McHenry County has an active art and theater scene. The historicWoodstock Opera House and Crystal Lake's Raue Center for the Arts both provide exceptional programs. In addition, Algonquin is noted for its Public Art Program, which showcases artwork year-round throughout the community. The county is also ideal for photography and filming. Much of the filming for the 1993 movieGroundhog Day took place in Woodstock.
There are also several important points of interest in the county including theIllinois Railway Museum and McHenry County Historical Museum in Union, the Old McHenry County Courthouse in Woodstock, and a variety of historical homes including theOrson Rogers House,George Stickney House,Charles H. Hibbard House, theTerwilliger House, theCount's House, and theDole Mansion.
Throughout the year are a variety of festivals throughout the county, the centerpiece of which is the McHenry County Fair, occurring during a week in August in Woodstock. Many towns also have their own festivals throughout the year. Some of the most notable ones are the Ground Hog Days and the Great Lake Steelpan Festival in Woodstock, Fall Fest in Huntley, the Summer Sunset Festival in Lake in the Hills, the Lakeside Festival in Crystal Lake, Milk Days in Harvard, Settler's Days in Marengo, Cary Days in Cary, Founders Days in Algonquin, and Fiesta Days in McHenry.
Several Federal and state highways run through McHenry County, includingU.S. Highway 20,U.S. Highway 14,U.S. Highway 12,Illinois Route 22,Illinois Route 23,Illinois Route 173,Illinois Route 120,Illinois Route 176,Illinois Route 47,Illinois Route 31, andIllinois Route 62. Highly traveled county highways includeRandall Road, Algonquin Road, Rakow Road, and Walkup Road.
McHenry County was the most populous county in the United States without direct access to anInterstate Highway within its borders. As a result, residents usually used the nearbyInterstate 90 (theJane Addams Memorial Tollway), viainterchanges in neighboringKane County. But a new interchange is now completed at I-90 and Illinois Route 23, which provides McHenry County with direct access to the interstate highway system.
Interstate 94 lies to the east of McHenry County in Lake County, Illinois.
McHenry County is served byMetra Rail, which provides daily commuter service to and from downtown Chicago. There are seven stations in the county, all of them located along theUnion Pacific Northwest Line. The county is also served byPace, which provides four fixed bus routes (550, 806, 807, and 808), and MCRide Dial-A-Ride transit service operated by Pace and First Transit. Those who receive anRTA Reduced Fare, Ride Free or ADA Paratransit Permit can also apply for MCRide Connect, a local version of the Rideshare Access Program (RAP) that provides vouchers for rides on eitherUber or UZURV as long as either the pick-up, destination or both are in the county.
Lake in the Hills Airport offers general aviation service, as do Dacy Airport and Galt Airport, in the northern part of the county.Chicago-O'Hare International Airport is approximately 30 to 40 miles (48 to 64 km) from the county, while Milwaukee'sMilwaukee Mitchell International Airport is approximately 50 to 60 miles (80 to 97 km) away.Chicago Rockford International Airport, a busy cargo airport with limited, scheduled passenger service is located approximately 42 miles (68 km) west of the central part of the county (Woodstock).
McHenry County is entirely within the scope of theChicagomedia market and the majority of the county relies primarily on Chicago television stations, radio stations, and newspapers for the source of its news and information. Certain sections of the county, particularly the rural far northern and far western parts, are also within the scope of the Milwaukee and Rockford media markets, respectively.
The county has an FM radio station,WZSR (Star 105.5 FM), which plays mostlyadult contemporary andpop music. WZSR is based out of Crystal Lake.
TheNorthwest Herald, with a circulation of approximately 21,000,[94] is the county's primary newspaper, serving the greater McHenry County area, and printed and published in Crystal Lake.
Lake and McHenry County Scanner, launched in 2012 by Sam Borcia, is a local digital newspaper which covers McHenry County and nearbyLake County, Illinois.[95]
The county is also served by the larger Chicago newspapersChicago Tribune,Chicago Sun-Times, and the suburban-focused newspaperThe Daily Herald.
McHenry County Living, a bimonthly lifestyle magazine serving the county, reaches tens of thousands of area residents and businesses.
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Places adjacent to McHenry County, Illinois | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofMcHenry County, Illinois,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
