Lake in the Hills, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake in the Hills, IL
Village
Flag Seal
Location of Lake in the Hills in McHenry County, Illinois.
Lake in the Hills, IL Location in Illinois
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	McHenry
Township	Grafton, Algonquin
Incorporated	1952
Government
• Type	Village President/Trustee
Area
• Total	10.44 sq mi (27.03 km2)
• Land	10.20 sq mi (26.43 km2)
• Water	0.23 sq mi (0.61 km2)  2.17%
Population  (2020)
• Total	28,982
• Density	2,840.54/sq mi (1,096.72/km2)
Standard of living
• Per capita income	$26,239 (median: $73,313)
• Home value	$177,691 (median: $166,400)
ZIP code(s)	60156
Area code(s)	847 & 224
Geocode	41183
FIPS code	17-41183

Lake in the Hills (often called L.I.T.H. or LITH) is a village in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 28,982 people lived there.

The village is famous for its fast growth in the 1990s. It used to be a quiet village with small homes by a lake. But its population grew a lot as new homes were built. The number of people living there increased by almost 400% during that time. This made it one of the fastest-growing suburbs near Chicago.

During this building boom, the village faced challenges. It needed to provide more services like libraries, schools, and fire departments. Many of these services were already handled by nearby towns. Lake in the Hills is still working to add more services and businesses for its residents.

History of Lake in the Hills

Lake in the Hills began in 1923. Federal Judge Walter J. La Buy started it around Woods Creek Lake. This is the main lake in the village. By 1926, La Buy owned a large area of land. He built five stucco homes there. Only one of these original homes still looks the same today. The village now owns it.

In the early days, people from Chicago came to Lake in the Hills for vacations. They wanted to escape the busy city. By 1950, some of these visitors decided to live there all year. On November 29, 1952, the Village of Lake in the Hills officially became a town.

For many years, Lake in the Hills stayed a small, friendly lakeside community. It relied on nearby towns like Algonquin and Crystal Lake for many services. In 1987, the village built its first shopping center. It was at Algonquin Road and Oakleaf Road.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the village grew a lot. It added many new areas, stretching west to Illinois Route 47. Many new neighborhoods were built in the 1990s and 2000s. New stores also opened along Randall Road. By the mid-2000s, growth slowed down. The village then focused on developing its remaining land.

Geography of Lake in the Hills

Lake in the Hills is located at 42°11′12″N 88°20′51″W / 42.18667°N 88.34750°W / 42.18667; -88.34750.

In 2010, the village covered about 10.614 square miles (27.03 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 97.8%, is land. The rest, about 2.2%, is water.

Population and People

The village has grown a lot over the years.

In 2010, there were 28,965 people living in Lake in the Hills. There were 9,544 households, which are groups of people living together. The average household had about 3 people.

About 31.6% of the people were under 18 years old. About 33.4% were between 25 and 44 years old. The average age in the village was 33.9 years.

The median income for a household in 2015 was $84,300. This means half the households earned more and half earned less. The median income for a family was $89,035.

Neighborhoods in Lake in the Hills

Many people think the "Old Section" is the heart of Lake in the Hills. This area has the lake and hills that give the town its name. The Old Section looks different from the newer neighborhoods. It has a mix of styles, not just one type of house.

Within the Old Section, there are four main areas:

• Original section: This is where the first homes were built.
• Indian section: Streets here are named after Native American tribes.
• Tree section: Streets here are named after different kinds of trees.
• Presidents section: Streets here are named after presidents.

Besides the older parts, Lake in the Hills has many newer neighborhoods. These were built as the village grew.

• Prairie Point: This neighborhood is on the east side. It has condominium buildings and a community pool.
• Boulder Ridge: This is a private community with a gate. It has expensive homes and the village's only 18-hole golf course. There's also a country club for events.
• The Lakes of Boulder Ridge: This area has a 9-hole golf course and duplex homes.
• Big Sky and Harvest Gate: These were some of the first new neighborhoods built. They are divided by Woods Creek. The new Village Hall and Lincoln Prairie Elementary School are in these areas.
• Spring Lake Farm (north): This area has both single-family and multi-family homes.
• Spring Lake Farm (south): This was the first neighborhood built west of Lakewood Road. Homes here are generally in the $200,000 range.
• Bellchase: This neighborhood has different types of homes, from duplexes to large houses. It also has Bellchase Commons and LeRoy Guy Park.
• Sumner Glen and Provence: These neighborhoods are along Lakewood Road. Normandy Park and Exner Marsh Nature Preserve are central to this area. Provence has smaller homes, while Sumner Glen has larger, more expensive ones.
• Heron Bay: This small neighborhood has slightly more upscale homes. It is next to Exner Marsh and has a large pond.
• Meadowbrook: This is the village's largest neighborhood. It includes several smaller areas like Impressions, Summit Ridge, Sunrise, Drake Park, and Regatta. Sunset Park is also located here.
• Cheswick Place: This neighborhood has over 100 single-family homes. It also has stores, offices, and a gas station. There are two village parks and a small gazebo park here.
• Fox Ridge Farm: This is a planned neighborhood that will likely be the last major new development. This is because the village is now surrounded by other towns.

Education in Lake in the Hills

Four different school districts serve the village. Most of the village is covered by Consolidated School District 158. Other parts are served by Community Unit School District 300, Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47, and Community High School District 155.

Elementary Schools

• Lake in the Hills Elementary School
• Lincoln Prairie Elementary School
• Glacier Ridge Elementary School, Canterbury Elementary School, Woods Creek Elementary School, and Indian Prairie Elementary School
• May Chesak and Hannah Martin Elementary Schools
• Mackeben and Marion Conley Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

• Westfield Community School
• Richard F. Bernotas Middle School and Leon J. Lundahl Middle School
• Henry Marlowe Middle School
• Bernice Heinemann Middle School

High Schools

• Huntley High School
• Harry D. Jacobs High School
• Crystal Lake South High School and Crystal Lake Central High School

All four high schools are part of the Fox Valley Conference. They are big rivals in sports.

Colleges and Libraries

For college, students can attend McHenry County College in Crystal Lake or Elgin Community College in Elgin.

The Huntley Area Public Library serves the western part of the village. The Algonquin Area Public Library District serves the eastern part.

Fun and Recreation

Lake in the Hills has 34 parks and a recreation department. They offer many programs and different types of parks.

• Sunset Park: This is one of the village's biggest parks. It has baseball and soccer fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, tennis and basketball courts, a splash pad, and a skate park. It's also where the annual Summer Sunset Festival is held.
• Bark Park: Located near Sunset Park, this is a special park for dogs to run and play.
• Leroy Guy Park: This park has ballfields, playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts, and a picnic shelter.
• Exner Marsh: This natural area has trails, prairies, lakes, and swamps. It's home to many animals, including rare Blanding's turtles.
• Boulder Ridge Golf Course and Country Club: This is a private golf course in a fancy neighborhood.
• Richard Taylor Park & Skate Park: This park behind the police station has soccer fields and a skate park.
• The Lake in the Hills Fen: This is a 260-acre (1.05 km²) natural prairie. It has many types of wildlife, including rare and endangered species.
• Woods Creek Lake: This is the village's main lake. It has beaches, boat launches, and nearby recreation areas. The oldest homes in the village are around this lake.
• Lynn Dillow Park: This park has playgrounds, a gazebo, a basketball court, and a bike obstacle course.
• Ken Carpenter Park: This park was updated in 2018. It has a basketball court, beach volleyball, and a trail.
• Ryder Park: This park has three baseball fields and a playground.
• Barbara Key Park: This park has a playground, beach volleyball court, basketball court, and a trail.

Shopping in Lake in the Hills

Lake in the Hills is near Randall Road. This is a very popular area for stores and restaurants in the Chicago metropolitan area. So, the village has many shops along Randall Road.

Another main shopping area is along Algonquin Road. Here you can find stores and restaurants in places like Bellchase Commons, Randall Plaza, Acorn Plaza, and The Centre.

Community Activities and Traditions

Lake in the Hills has many fun events and traditions throughout the year.

• Rockin' Rotary Ribfest: This event in early July features food, live music, and more. It's held at Sunset Park.
• Summer Sunset Festival: This is the village's biggest festival. It takes place at Sunset Park on Labor Day weekend. It has live music, food, a carnival, and fireworks.
• National Night Out: The village takes part in this event. It helps residents and police get to know each other better. It includes block parties and other activities to build community spirit.
• Summer Sunset Idol: This is a singing competition for amateur performers. It's like a local version of American Idol.
• Community Oriented Police Programs: These programs help police work with the community.
• Concerts: There are many concerts held at a small outdoor stage near the Village Hall.
• Youth Sports: The village has many youth sports programs. These include football, cheerleading, wrestling, soccer, baseball, and softball.

Transportation in Lake in the Hills

Lake in the Hills has several ways to get around.

• Bus Service: Pace provides bus service on Route 550. This bus connects Lake in the Hills to Crystal Lake, Elgin, and other places.
• Lake in the Hills Airport: The village owns and runs this airport. It's a general aviation airport for the local area.
• Randall Road: This is a major four-lane highway that runs north and south. It often divides the older "East Side" from the newer "West Side" of the village. Most of the village's stores and restaurants are along this road.
• Algonquin Road: This is the main east-west road in the village. It's also a four-lane highway. Both homes and businesses can be found along this road.
• Lakewood Road: This is a two-lane highway that runs north and south on the western side of the village. Many neighborhoods and the Exner Marsh are along this road.
• Miller Road: This is an east-west village road lined with neighborhoods. Sunset Park is also on this road.
• Pyott Road: This road runs north and south through the eastern part of the village. The Lake in the Hills Airport, the Lake in the Hills Fen, homes, and businesses are along this road.
• Illinois Route 31: This state highway runs north and south along the eastern edge of the village. Many industrial areas are along this highway.
• Other Roads: Important local roads include Crystal Lake Road, Hilltop Road, Oak Street, Frank Road, Reed Road, Albrecht Road, Annandale Drive, Ackman Road, and Haligus Road.

Famous People from Lake in the Hills

• Joe Becker, a musician
• Josh Caterer, a singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the band Smoking Popes