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West Dundee, Illinois facts for kids

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West Dundee
Village of West Dundee
Village Hall
Village Hall
Motto(s): 
At the River's Bend
Location of West Dundee in Kane County, Illinois.
Location of West Dundee in Kane County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Location of Illinois in the United States
Country United States
State Illinois
County Kane
Township Dundee
Government
 • Type The Village of West Dundee, Kane County, Illinois is a home rule municipality as provided under Article VII, Section 6 of the Constitution of the State of Illinois.
Area
 • Total 3.87 sq mi (10.01 km2)
 • Land 3.75 sq mi (9.71 km2)
 • Water 0.12 sq mi (0.30 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 7,686
 • Density 2,049.05/sq mi (791.20/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)
60118
Area code(s) 847
FIPS code 17-80125
Wikimedia Commons West Dundee, Illinois

West Dundee is a village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,686 as of the 2020 US Census. It is considered a far northwest Chicago suburb.

West Dundee lies across the Fox River from East Dundee and Carpentersville.

Geography

West Dundee is located at 42°5′43″N 88°17′9″W / 42.09528°N 88.28583°W / 42.09528; -88.28583 (42.095327, -88.285809).

According to the 2010 census, West Dundee has a total area of 3.811 square miles (9.87 km2), of which 3.71 square miles (9.61 km2) (or 97.35%) is land and 0.101 square miles (0.26 km2) (or 2.65%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 585
1890 873 49.2%
1900 1,348 54.4%
1910 1,380 2.4%
1920 1,587 15.0%
1930 1,697 6.9%
1940 1,831 7.9%
1950 1,948 6.4%
1960 2,530 29.9%
1970 3,295 30.2%
1980 3,551 7.8%
1990 3,728 5.0%
2000 5,428 45.6%
2010 7,331 35.1%
2020 7,686 4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
2010 2020

2020 census

West Dundee village, Illinois - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 5,824 5,461 79.44% 71.05%
Black or African American alone (NH) 129 261 1.76% 3.40%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 10 9 0.14% 0.12%
Asian alone (NH) 519 500 7.08% 6.51%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 3 0 0.04% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 8 26 0.11% 0.34%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 87 270 1.19% 3.51%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 751 1,159 10.24% 15.08%
Total 7,331 7,686 100.00% 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

History

In 1835 Elder John and Nancy Oatman established a tavern and a store that became the core of the community. Others settlers came, and in 1837 they held a lottery to determine who would name the town. Alexander Gardiner won and named the town Dundee in honor of his Scottish hometown, with which West Dundee is now sister cities. In 1843 Scotsman Allan Pinkerton, later the renowned detective, set up business as a cooper. The town was incorporated in 1887.

Dundee was hemmed in from development for years. The Fox River formed a natural eastern barrier. To the north and west, the D. Hill Nursery, founded in 1855 by William Hill, specialized in fruit trees. The business grew to include evergreens, some of which were sent to Chicago for the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. Expanding to 900 acres, the nursery survived the Great Depression by running a cattle feed operation that continued through World War II. Some of the thousands of seasonal workers traveled to work from Chicago by electric rail, while the majority lived on the nursery grounds.

In the 1950s a segment of the Hill property was sold and turned into the Highlands subdivision, which was annexed into West Dundee in 1956. The community also annexed property west of Illinois 31 in 1957, Royal Lane in 1960, and the Old World subdivision in 1966. The nursery eventually sold all of its land and moved to McHenry County. Plans for the Spring Hill Mall on Hill's land began in 1973 and the project was completed in 1980. The 1.1 million-square-foot mall's retail sales boosted West Dundee's economy and created an estimated 1,600 jobs by 1982. New subdivisions were built to the west of Spring Hill Mall.

With a population of 7,331 (2010 Census data), West Dundee has managed to keep its quaintness and small-town feeling intact. Designated historical sites fill the downtown and surrounding residential neighborhood. Restored buildings include structures reported to have provided refuge for slaves on the Underground Railroad. Portions of downtown West Dundee are included with the Dundee Township Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

Events

Heritage Fest

In mid-September (second weekend after Labor Day), the Villages of East Dundee and West Dundee host a 3-day community celebration with no cost for admission. Heritage Fest includes live entertainment, a fireworks display, craft & antique fairs, car show, kids activities, carnival and much more. For more information, please visit the Heritage Fest website.

Dickens In Dundee

In the tradition of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, each year during the first weekend of December (second weekend after Thanksgiving) downtown East and West Dundee come to life in a Victorian Christmas celebration with small town atmosphere. Dickens in Dundee includes tree lighting ceremonies, visits from Santa and live portrayals of Christmas scenes in the merchant windows along Main Street, the Spirit of Christmas Parade, Gingerbread House Making, Festival of Trees, Santa's Petting Zoo and Christmas tree sales by the Dundee Lions Club in Grafelman Park. For more information, please visit the Dickens in Dundee website.

St. Patrick's Day Celebration

Each year, Dundee holds a large St. Patrick's Day celebration that takes place in the quaint downtown area. Festivities include the "Dublindee Kilted 5K" where participants are encouraged to wear kilts or other festive attire. All donations go toward the FISH Food Pantry. The parade route stretches throughout the community and includes local high school and veteran groups. One crowd favorite event would be the annual Big Wheel race sponsored by local Emmet's Brewing Company. The competition consists of adults racing down a nearby steeply declining road on children's plastic Big Wheel bikes. Participants are encouraged to bring along duct tape for "repairs in the field". The St. Patrick's Day celebration continues to grow each year and is a longtime Dundee tradition.

Concerts & Movies in the Park

Each summer, the Dundee Township Park District puts on a series of free live concerts and occasionally a big screen movie in the Dundee area parks. Grafelman Park in West Dundee plays host to several such events, typically during the month of July, with locations in East Dundee and Carpentersville hosting during June and August (weather permitting). For more information, please visit the Dundee Township Park District website.

Notable residents

Riley Elmore, a top 48 artist on The Voice, but was eliminated in the Live Playoffs.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: West Dundee (Illinois) para niños

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