Apple Canyon Lake, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Apple Canyon Lake, Illinois
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![]() Branigar's original Apple Canyon Lake logo (1968)
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Country | United States |
State | Illinois |
County | Jo Daviess |
Area | |
• Total | 4.37 sq mi (11.32 km2) |
• Land | 3.72 sq mi (9.62 km2) |
• Water | 0.66 sq mi (1.70 km2) |
Elevation | 853 ft (260 m) |
Population
(2020)
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• Total | 574 |
• Density | 154.47/sq mi (59.64/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Area codes | 815 & 779 |
GNIS feature ID | 2629890 |
Apple Canyon Lake is a special community in Thompson Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States. It is known as a "census-designated place," which means it's an area identified by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes. In 2020, about 574 people lived there.
Contents
History of Apple Canyon Lake
Apple Canyon Lake was created in the late 1960s. It was designed as a place where people could buy homes for vacations. The Branigar Organization from Medinah, Illinois, developed it. They had already built similar vacation spots in Wisconsin, like Dutch Hollow Lake and Lake Redstone. For those projects, they built a dam to create a lake, then sold lots along the water.
Building the Community
Branigar bought about 2,700 acres of land in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. Farmers thought this land was not very good for growing crops because it had steep hills and rocky areas.
One interesting thing about Apple Canyon Lake is that most of its 15 miles of shoreline is kept as green space. This means it's not divided into lots for houses. This allows people who don't live right on the lake to still get to the water. Also, the main road is set back from the lake. Houses are reached by small side roads called cul-de-sacs.
Creating the Lake
In the summer of 1969, construction began on the Apple Canyon Lake dam. This dam helped create a large lake, about 400 acres in size. The lake is quite deep, with an average depth of 40 feet.
To make the community attractive, Branigar also built many facilities. These included a clubhouse, a swimming pool, a golf course, a marina for boats, and even a private airport. By the fall of 1969, they were actively selling vacation lots. They focused on people living in the Chicago area.
The individual lots were different sizes, from about half an acre to two acres. Each lot had access to water and underground electricity and phone lines. In 1969, the prices for these lots ranged from $12,000 to $34,000.
Education in Apple Canyon Lake
Students living in Apple Canyon Lake attend public schools operated by the Scales Mound Community Unit School District 211.
- Scales Mound Elementary School
- Scales Mound Junior High School
- Scales Mound High School
Some other parts of the community are served by the Warren and Stockton school districts.
See also
In Spanish: Apple Canyon Lake para niños