Trout Valley, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Trout Valley
Village
Location of Trout Valley in McHenry County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	McHenry
Township	Algonquin
Founded	March 19, 1996
Area
• Total	0.43 sq mi (1.11 km2)
• Land	0.43 sq mi (1.11 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	515
• Density	1,203.27/sq mi (465.11/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	60013
Area code(s)	847 & 224
FIPS code	17-76160
Wikimedia Commons	Trout Valley, Illinois

Trout Valley is a small village located in McHenry County, Illinois, in the United States. It officially became a village on March 19, 1996. According to the 2020 census, about 515 people live there.

History of Trout Valley

From Farm to Village

Trout Valley was once a large farm owned by the Curtiss Candy Company. In 1952, two brothers, Norm and Don Maxon, bought the farm. They were developers who built many communities. They renamed the area "Trout Valley" because Norman loved fly fishing.

Before the Maxon brothers, the land was a private estate owned by John D. Hertz, who started Hertz Car Rentals. His estate was like a fancy English countryside home. It had stables for horses, polo fields, and places for trout fishing and pheasant hunting.

A Showcase Community

Norman Maxon, who loved the outdoors, brought back the trout hatchery on the property. The Maxon brothers worked with a company called National Homes to build new, modern homes in Trout Valley. In 1956, Trout Valley was even named the "National Home development of the year."

To keep the community nice, Don Maxon came up with the idea of a homeowners association. This group helps make sure the village stays beautiful and well-maintained.

Becoming an Official Village

For a long time, Trout Valley was just a part of McHenry County without its own local government. But on March 19, 1996, it officially became its own village. This means residents now have their own local leaders.

The children in Trout Valley go to schools in the Cary School District. The village itself does not have its own schools, fire department, or police department. These services are provided by nearby communities or the county.

Historic Gates

At the western edge of the village, there are impressive iron gates with stone pillars. These gates were likely built by John D. Hertz in the 1920s. In 2006, these gates were recognized as a local landmark. This means they are protected and preserved because of their historical importance. The first mayor of Trout Valley was Steve Barrett.

Geography of Trout Valley

Where is Trout Valley?

Trout Valley is located in Illinois at coordinates 42.199265 degrees North and -88.253357 degrees West. It's a small place, covering about 0.43 square miles (1.11 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land, with only a tiny bit being water.

Water Features

Even though it's mostly land, Trout Valley has several small ponds connected by streams. The village is also located right next to the Fox River. This river is a tributary of the Illinois River.

Population Information

How Many People Live Here?

The population of Trout Valley has changed a bit over the years. Here's a quick look at how many people lived in the village during recent United States Census counts:

• In 2000, there were 599 people.
• In 2010, the population was 537.
• In 2020, there were 515 people living in Trout Valley.

Diverse Community

Trout Valley is home to people from different backgrounds. The U.S. Census collects information about race and ethnicity. Here's a summary of the community's makeup:

See also

In Spanish: Trout Valley (Illinois) para niños