McHenry County, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids McHenry County
U.S. county
Old McHenry County Courthouse in Woodstock, Illinois
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Illinois
Founded	January 16, 1836
Named for	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  (2023)	312,800
• Density	507.7/sq mi (196.04/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	9th, 10th, 11th, 16th

McHenry County is a large area of land, also known as a county, located in the state of Illinois in the United States. In 2020, about 310,229 people lived here. This makes it the sixth most populated county in Illinois! The main town, or county seat, is Woodstock.

McHenry County is one of five "collar counties" around the big city of Chicago. These counties are part of the larger Chicago area. For a long time, McHenry County was known for its farms and fun outdoor activities. Recently, more people have moved here, making it more like a city or suburb. However, the western part of the county still has lots of farms and open land.

History of McHenry County

McHenry County was created in 1836. It was formed from parts of Cook and LaSalle counties. The county was named after Major William McHenry. He was an important person in Illinois history. Major McHenry served in the Illinois Militia and fought in wars like the Blackhawk War in 1832. He was also a member of the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate. He passed away in 1835.

When it was first formed, McHenry County reached all the way east to Lake Michigan. The county seat was in McHenry. But in 1839, the eastern parts of the county were separated. This new area became Lake County.

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  McHenry County when it was first created in 1836.

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  McHenry County became its current size in 1839. This happened when Lake County, Illinois was formed.

What are the historical sites in McHenry County?

The Terwilliger House is one of many historical places in McHenry County.

McHenry County has many interesting historical places to visit:

• The Count's House, located at 3803 Waukegan Rd, McHenry
• Charles H. Hibbard House, located at 413 W Grant Hwy, Marengo
• Col. Gustavus A. Palmer House, located at 5516 Terra Cotta Rd., Crystal Lake
• Orson Rogers House, located at 19621 E Grant Hwy, Marengo
• Lucein Boneparte Covell House, located at 5805 Broadway, Richmond
• Memorial Hall, located at 10308 Main St, Richmond
• Old McHenry County Courthouse, located in Woodstock City Square, Woodstock
• Woodstock Opera House, located at 110 Van Buren St, Woodstock
• Woodstock Square Historic District, located in Woodstock
• George Stickney House, located at 1904 Cherry Valley Rd, Bull Valley
• Terwilliger House, located at Mason Hill Rd & Cherry Valley Rd, Bull Valley

Geography of McHenry County

McHenry County covers a total area of about 611 square miles (1,582 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 603 square miles (1,562 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 7.6 square miles (20 square kilometers), is water.

Which counties are next to McHenry County?

McHenry County shares its borders with several other counties:

• Walworth County, Wisconsin - to the north
• Kenosha County, Wisconsin - to the northeast
• Lake County - to the east
• Cook County - to the southeast
• Kane County - to the south
• DeKalb County - to the southwest
• Boone County - to the west

Climate and Weather in McHenry County

The weather in McHenry County is similar to much of the Upper Midwest. Summers are usually hot and humid. Winters are cold and snowy.

In Woodstock, the county seat, average temperatures range from 11°F (-12°C) in January to 85°F (29°C) in July. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -29°F (-34°C) in January 1979. The hottest was 109°F (43°C) in July 1936. On average, monthly rainfall is between 1.29 inches (3.3 cm) in February and 4.56 inches (11.6 cm) in June.

The county can experience strong winds, blizzards (heavy snowstorms), severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and floods.

What are some notable weather events in McHenry County?

Some important weather events that have affected McHenry County include:

• The 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
• The Blizzard of 1967
• The 1967 Belvidere - Oak Lawn tornado outbreak
• The Blizzard of 1979
• The Flood of 1996
• The Blizzard of 1999
• The Early Winter 2006 North American Storm Complex
• The 2007 Midwest flooding event
• The January 2008 tornado outbreak sequence
• The Blizzard of 2011

Population and Demographics of McHenry County

McHenry County has the highest percentage of white residents (who are not Hispanic or Latino) among the five "collar counties" of Chicago. These counties are McHenry, Lake, DuPage, Kane, and Will.

What is the racial and ethnic makeup of McHenry County?

In 2010, there were 308,760 people living in McHenry County. About 40.1% of households had children under 18. Most households (62.3%) were married couples. The average age of people in the county was 38 years old.

Communities in McHenry County

McHenry County has several types of communities:

Cities in McHenry County

• Crystal Lake
• Harvard
• Marengo
• McHenry (mostly)
• Woodstock (the county seat)

Villages in McHenry County

Census-designated places in McHenry County

These are areas identified by the census for statistical purposes:

Unincorporated communities in McHenry County

These are areas without their own local government:

Townships in McHenry County

Education in McHenry County

McHenry County College is a community college that opened in 1967. It serves most of the county's residents. The college has about 2,000 full-time students and 5,800 part-time students. Its main campus is in Crystal Lake, near U.S. Route 14. There are also smaller facilities in Crystal Lake and McHenry.

McHenry County also has many school districts. Here is a list of public high schools in the county:

Some students in McHenry County might also attend schools in other counties. For example, Dundee-Crown High School is in nearby Carpentersville.

Here is a list of private high schools in McHenry County:

Medical Facilities in McHenry County

McHenry County has several hospitals. These include Mercy Harvard Hospital, Centegra Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry, Centegra Memorial Medical Center in Woodstock, and Centegra's Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital. Other health systems like Amita and Advocate also have a presence. They have hospitals in nearby Elgin and Barrington.

In 2018, Centegra became part of Northwestern Medicine. Northwestern Medicine is a large network with more than 10 hospitals and 400 care locations.

Economy of McHenry County

McHenry County's economy is based on many different things. These include making products (manufacturing), working with metals, developing media, printing, and making transportation equipment. Farming (agriculture), healthcare, and education are also important. Other parts of the economy include stores (retail), food production, distribution, and technology. Mining for gravel also makes up a big part of the county's economy.

The main places for jobs are in Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Huntley, McHenry, and Woodstock. The southern parts of the county are close to the "Golden Corridor." This is an area with lots of businesses along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.

Shopping in McHenry County

McHenry County is known for its many shopping choices. McHenry, Crystal Lake, and Algonquin/Lake in the Hills are major shopping areas. They have large stores, special shops, and restaurants. There are no huge indoor malls right in the county. However, some are just outside its borders. These include Algonquin Commons and Algonquin Galleria, which are outdoor shopping centers. Also, Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee is a regional indoor mall.

Many historic downtown areas in the county also offer unique shops and places to eat. The Woodstock Square Historic District is famous. You can find antique shops in Richmond and Hebron. Downtown Crystal Lake and downtown Algonquin also have charming shops. McHenry's Green Street is another popular spot.

Recreation in McHenry County

Glacial Park is located in Northeast McHenry County.

The McHenry County Conservation District helps protect natural lands. It also offers fun outdoor activities for everyone. The District runs the McHenry County Prairie Path. This is a bike path that goes from the Wisconsin State Line in Richmond south to Algonquin. There, it connects with the Fox River Bike Trail, which continues south.

The Fox River, Kishwaukee River, and Chain O'Lakes offer many chances for boating, fishing, and swimming. Moraine Hills State Park and Chain O' Lakes State Park are both in the county, right next to the water. Other big lakes in the county include Crystal Lake, Wonder Lake, and McCullom Lake.

There are also many parks, golf courses, and country clubs. For skiing, you can visit Nordic Ski Jump in Fox River Grove or Buffalo Snowboarding Park in Algonquin. If you like hot air balloons, the Windy City Balloon Port in Fox River Grove offers rides over the Fox River Valley.

In 2012, the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge was created. It includes parts of McHenry County.

Culture in McHenry County

The Woodstock Opera House is a historic building.

McHenry County has a lively art and theater scene. The historic Woodstock Opera House and Crystal Lake's Raue Center for the Arts offer great shows. Algonquin is known for its Public Art Program, which displays art all year. The county is also a good place for photography and filming. Much of the 1993 movie Groundhog Day was filmed in Woodstock.

There are also several important places to visit. These include the Illinois Railway Museum and McHenry County Historical Museum in Union. The Old McHenry County Courthouse in Woodstock is another key spot. You can also see many historical homes. Some examples are the Orson Rogers House, George Stickney House, Charles H. Hibbard House, the Terwilliger House, the Count's House, and the Dole Mansion.

Throughout the year, many festivals take place in the county. The biggest is the McHenry County Fair, held in August in Woodstock. Many towns also have their own festivals. Some popular ones are Ground Hog Days and the Great Lake Steelpan Festival in Woodstock. Others include Fall Fest in Huntley, Summer Sunset Festival in Lake in the Hills, 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.

Transportation in McHenry County

Major Highways in McHenry County

Many major roads run through McHenry County. These include U.S. Highway 20, U.S. Highway 14, and U.S. Highway 12. Several Illinois state routes also cross the county. Some busy county roads are Randall Road, Algonquin Road, Rakow Road, and Walkup Road.

For a long time, McHenry County was the largest county in the U.S. without direct access to an Interstate Highway. Residents had to use Interstate 90 (the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway) through nearby Kane County. Now, a new connection at I-90 and Illinois Route 23 gives McHenry County direct access to the interstate system. Interstate 94 is also nearby, to the east in Lake County, Illinois.

Mass Transportation in McHenry County

Metra Rail serves McHenry County. It offers daily train service for people traveling to and from downtown Chicago. There are seven train stations in the county, all on the Union Pacific Northwest Line. Pace also provides bus services. They have four regular bus routes and a special "Dial-A-Ride" service called MCRide.

Airports in McHenry County

Lake in the Hills Airport offers general aviation services for smaller planes. Dacy Airport and Galt Airport in the northern part of the county also serve general aviation. For bigger flights, Chicago-O'Hare International Airport is about 30 to 40 miles (48 to 64 km) away. Milwaukee's Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is about 50 to 60 miles (80 to 97 km) away. Chicago Rockford International Airport, which handles a lot of cargo and some passenger flights, is about 42 miles (68 km) west of Woodstock.

Media in McHenry County

McHenry County is part of the Chicago media market. Most people in the county get their news and information from Chicago TV stations, radio stations, and newspapers. Some parts of the county, especially in the far north and west, also get media from Milwaukee and Rockford.

The county has an FM radio station called WZSR (Star 105.5 FM). It plays mostly adult contemporary and pop music. WZSR is based in Crystal Lake.

The Northwest Herald is the county's main newspaper. It is printed and published in Crystal Lake and serves the greater McHenry County area.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local online newspaper. It started in 2012 and covers news in McHenry County and nearby Lake County, Illinois.

Larger Chicago newspapers like the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times also serve the county. The suburban newspaper The Daily Herald is also available.

McHenry County Living is a magazine published every two months. It focuses on lifestyle topics and reaches many residents and businesses in the county.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de McHenry (Illinois) para niños