50-655: The Old McHenry County Courthouse , in McHenry County, Illinois , was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 1, 1974. Once the courthouse in the county seat of McHenry County, Woodstock , today the courthouse is occupied by various private tenants including a restaurant and an art gallery. It is one of the key structures in the Woodstock Square Historic District . The 1857 Italianate Old Courthouse
100-448: A Greek cross. The building stands two stories tall with a brick basement. A cupola is found at the center of the cross. A bay was later added to the southern wing, and small additions were made from the judge's chamber and a vault. The southwest corner has a one-story addition. The jail was originally found in the basement, but was moved to a new building along the north wall in the 1870s. McHenry County, Illinois McHenry County
150-497: A conversation between one of the original surveyors of the town and a Vandalia resident. The surveyor, Colonel Greenup , explained that Van was suggested by one of the men. He recommended this as an abbreviation to the word vanguard meaning the forefront of an advancing movement. Another suggestion was made for the term dalia , derived from the Anglo-Saxon word dale which means a valley between hills. Greenup takes credit in
200-633: A member of the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate. He died in Vandalia, Illinois in 1835. McHenry County originally stretched all the way east to Lake Michigan , with the county seat centrally in McHenry , but in 1839, the eastern townships of the county were carved out forming Lake County . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 611 square miles (1,580 km ), of which 603 square miles (1,560 km )
250-614: A sizable portion of the county's economy. The major employment centers can be found in Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Huntley, McHenry, and Woodstock. The southern portions of the county are within the scope of the Golden Corridor , the region of commerce along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway . The county is known for its wide variety of shopping options. McHenry, Crystal Lake, and Algonquin/Lake in
300-681: A strong influence in the county, and have hospitals in nearby Elgin and Barrington. On September 1, 2018, Centegra was acquired by Northwestern Medicine of Chicagonois. Prior to its acquisition by Northwestern Medicine, Centegra was the largest independent employer in McHenry County. It is now part of a netwwith of more than 10 hospitals and 400 care locations. Much of McHenry County's economy centers around manufacturing, metalworking, media development and printing, transportation equipment, agriculture, health care, education, retail, food production, distribution, and technology. Gravel mining makes up
350-531: Is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois . According to the 2020 Census , it had a population of 310,229, making it the sixth-most populous county in Illinois. Its county seat is Woodstock . McHenry County is one of the five Illinois collar counties in the Chicago - Naperville - Elgin , IL- IN - WI Metropolitan Statistical Area . Long known as a center of recreation along with agriculture in
400-570: Is a city in and the county seat of Fayette County , Illinois , United States . At the 2020 Census , the population was 7,458. Vandalia is on the Kaskaskia River , and 60 miles (97 km) northeast of the St. Louis area. The city served as the state capital of Illinois from 1819 until 1839, when the seat of state government moved closer to the center of the state in Springfield . In
450-614: Is a list of high schools that can be found in the county: Students in McHenry County may also be zoned into schools in other counties, such as Dundee-Crown High School in neighboring Carpentersville . Hospitals currently in the county include Mercy Harvard Hospital, Centegra Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry, Centegra Memorial Medical Center in Woodstock, and Centegra's Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital. Amita (formerly Presence) and Advocate health systems also maintain
500-534: Is a local digital newspaper which covers McHenry County and nearby Lake County, Illinois . The county is also served by the larger Chicago newspapers Chicago Tribune , Chicago Sun-Times , and the suburban-focused newspaper The Daily Herald . McHenry County Living , a bimonthly lifestyle magazine serving the county, reaches tens of thousands of area residents and businesses. 42°19′N 88°27′W / 42.32°N 88.45°W / 42.32; -88.45 Vandalia, Illinois Vandalia
550-741: Is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km ) (1.3%) is water. In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Woodstock have ranged from a low of 11 °F (−12 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −29 °F (−34 °C) was recorded in January 1979 and a record high of 109 °F (43 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.29 inches (33 mm) in February to 4.56 inches (116 mm) in June. McHenry County
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#1732797201891600-533: Is like much of the Upper Midwest , as it usually sees hot, humid summers, and cold, snowy winters. The county is notably susceptible to high wind events, blizzards, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding. Some of the most notable weather events in the county include the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak , the Blizzard of 1967 , the 1967 Belvidere - Oak Lawn tornado outbreak , the Blizzard of 1979 ,
650-438: Is located approximately 42 miles (68 km) west of the central part of the county (Woodstock). McHenry County is entirely within the scope of the Chicago media market and the majority of the county relies primarily on Chicago television stations, radio stations, and newspapers for the source of its news and information. Certain sections of the county, particularly the rural far northern and far western parts, are also within
700-502: Is that Vandalia was named by those who located the state capital in the town; according to the story, they mistakenly thought the Vandals were a brave Native American tribe, rather than of Germanic origins. The law under which Vandalia was founded included a provision that the capital would not be moved for twenty years. Even before the end of this period, the population center of the state had shifted far north of Vandalia. In 1837,
750-425: The 2020 Census , only Chemung and Pistakee Highlands were CDPs. McHenry County government is based primarily out of Woodstock, the county seat. The McHenry County Government Center, located on the north end of Woodstock along Illinois Route 47 , features county offices as well as judicial facilities. The current Sheriff of McHenry County, Illinois is Robb Tadelmann, who was first elected in 2022. As one of
800-523: The 2020 census there were 7,458 people, 2,253 households, and 1,247 families residing in the city. The population density was 913.63 inhabitants per square mile (352.75/km ). There were 2,629 housing units at an average density of 322.06 per square mile (124.35/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 83.70% White , 10.24% African American , 0.86% Native American , 0.48% Asian , 0.00% Pacific Islander , 1.98% from other races , and 2.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.91% of
850-600: The Pullman Strike . Until 1973 McHenry County government offices were located in the Old Courthouse. When the government moved out, the building was threatened with demolition, as it stood on prime commercial property. On November 1, 1974, it was recognized by the National Park Service on the National Register of Historic Places . Eight years later it was listed as a contributing property to
900-936: The Terwilliger House , the Count's House , and the Dole Mansion . Throughout the year are a variety of festivals throughout the county, the centerpiece of which is the McHenry County Fair, occurring during a week in August in Woodstock. Many towns also have their own festivals throughout the year. Some of the most notable ones are the Ground Hog Days and the Great Lake Steelpan Festival in Woodstock, Fall Fest in Huntley,
950-606: The Woodstock Square Historic District , a 13-acre (5.3 ha) corridor in downtown Woodstock. Today the two buildings house two restaurants, one in each building, and art gallery (in the courthouse), a pottery shop (in the jail building) and the Chester Gould-Dick Tracy Museum. Chester Gould , creator of Dick Tracy comic strips, was a 50-year Woodstock resident. The Chester Gould-Dick Tracy Museum features original comic strips and Dick Tracy memorabilia and collectibles including artifacts related to
1000-666: The Yankee -settled and prosperous outer suburban "collar counties", McHenry County was a stronghold of the Free Soil Party in its first few elections, being one of nine Illinois counties to give a plurality to Martin van Buren in 1848. McHenry County has voted for the Republican candidate for president in all but two elections since 1852 ( the Republican party was founded in 1854 ), the first being when “Bull Moose” candidate and former Republican president Theodore Roosevelt won
1050-656: 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 , and the Blizzard of 2011 . McHenry county has the highest percentage of non-Hispanic whites amongst the five collar counties of Chicago (McHenry, Lake , DuPage , Kane , and Will ). As of the 2010 census , there were 308,760 people, 109,199 households, and 82,288 families residing in
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#17327972018911100-616: The Fox River Valley. In 2012, the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge was established and encompasses parts of McHenry County. McHenry County has an active art and theater scene. The historic Woodstock Opera House and Crystal Lake's Raue Center for the Arts both provide exceptional programs. In addition, Algonquin is noted for its Public Art Program, which showcases artwork year-round throughout
1150-697: The General Assembly voted to move the capital to Springfield . On November 21, 1915, the Liberty Bell passed through Vandalia on its nationwide tour, while being returned to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco . In the early 1960s the sociologist Joseph Lyford examined the social structure of Vandalia in a book-length study that revealed
1200-517: The Hills Airport offers general aviation service, as do Dacy Airport and Galt Airport, in the northern part of the county. Chicago-O'Hare International Airport is approximately 30 to 40 miles (48 to 64 km) from the county, while Milwaukee's Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is approximately 50 to 60 miles (80 to 97 km) away. Chicago Rockford International Airport , a busy cargo airport with limited, scheduled passenger service
1250-644: The Hills have established themselves as major retail areas, all featuring an array of big box stores, specialty stores, and restaurants. While there are no major malls located within the county, several lie just outside its borders: the lifestyle centers Algonquin Commons and Algonquin Galleria , and the regional indoor mall Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee . In addition, several historic downtowns throughout
1300-1099: The Summer Sunset Festival in Lake in the Hills, the 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. Several Federal and state highways run through McHenry County, including U.S. Highway 20 , U.S. Highway 14 , U.S. Highway 12 , Illinois Route 22 , Illinois Route 23 , Illinois Route 173 , Illinois Route 120 , Illinois Route 176 , Illinois Route 47 , Illinois Route 31 , and Illinois Route 62 . Highly traveled county highways include Randall Road , Algonquin Road, Rakow Road, and Walkup Road. McHenry County
1350-682: The United States Congress or Illinois governorship. The mother of U.S. President Gerald Ford, Dorothy Ayer Gardner , was born in Harvard in 1892. McHenry County College , a growing community college established in 1967, serves the majority of county residents. The college includes 2,000 full-time students and 5,800 part-time students. The main campus is located on the northwest side of Crystal Lake, along U.S. Route 14 . Secondary facilities exist in Crystal Lake and McHenry. McHenry County also includes dozens of school districts. This
1400-598: The center each year purchases property in Vandalia, builds a house, and sells the improved property. They have sold 33 homes constructed by students. According to the 2010 census, Vandalia has a total area of 8.116 square miles (21.02 km ), of which 8.1 square miles (20.98 km ) (or 99.8%) is land and 0.016 square miles (0.04 km ) (or 0.2%) is water. Vandalia is situated on Interstate 70 , U.S. Route 40 (the National Road) and U.S. Route 51 . As of
1450-402: The character's depiction in radio, television and film. The Museum closed its doors in June 2008 and went virtual. The Old McHenry County Courthouse faces the Woodstock public square. The Italianate structure was built out of brick with limestone trim. With four identical, 20-by-44-square-foot (1.9 m × 4.1 m) wings around a 44-square-foot (4.1 m) core, the building resembles
1500-522: The city was $ 35,862, and the median income for a family was $ 48,454. Males had a median income of $ 28,600 versus $ 23,833 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 17,994. About 16.8% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over. Vandalia is governed using the mayor council system. The council consists of eight members elected from one of four wards with each ward electing two members. The mayor along with
1550-755: The community. The county is also ideal for photography and filming. Much of the filming for the 1993 movie Groundhog Day took place in Woodstock. There are also several important points of interest in the county including the Illinois Railway Museum and McHenry County Historical Museum in Union, the Old McHenry County Courthouse in Woodstock, and a variety of historical homes including the Orson Rogers House , George Stickney House , Charles H. Hibbard House ,
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1600-593: The constant threat of flooding. The townsite, located in Bond County at the time, was hastily prepared for the 1820 meeting of the Illinois General Assembly. In 1821, Fayette County was created, including Vandalia. The history of the name Vandalia is uncertain. Different theories can be found in almost all of the books written about Vandalia over the years. In her book Vandalia: Wilderness Capital of Lincoln's Land , Mary Burtschi tells of
1650-469: The conversation for connecting the two terms to form the name Vandalia . Another possible source of the name is the Vandalia colony , a failed attempt to establish a fourteenth colony in part of what is now West Virginia and Kentucky. The Vandalia colony was named in honor of Queen Charlotte , who claimed descent from the Wendish tribe of Obodrites , also called the Vandals . Another theory put forth
1700-433: The county in 1912 . Recent elections in 2004 and 2000 saw George W. Bush capture 59.72% and 58.5% of the county vote, respectively. In 2008 , Democrat Barack Obama , then a Senator from Illinois, captured McHenry County with 52% of the vote—the first time a Democrat had carried the county since 1852. In the 2012 presidential election , Obama only received 44% of the vote whereas Republican Mitt Romney captured 53% of
1750-895: The county and provides recreational opportunities for residents. The District also operates the McHenry County Prairie Path , a regional bike path that extends from the Wisconsin State Line in Richmond southward to Algonquin , where the path connects with the Fox River Bike Trail , which continues south to Aurora . In addition, the Fox River , Kishwaukee River and Chain O'Lakes provide immense opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, and other water activities. Moraine Hills State Park and Chain O' Lakes State Park are both located in
1800-632: The county offer unique shops and eateries in charming environments. The Woodstock Square Historic District , antique shops in Richmond and Hebron, downtown Crystal Lake and downtown Algonquin , and shops in other historic downtowns throughout the county accommodate residents and tourists alike. McHenry's Green Street is also a major attraction in the county. The entire county is served by the McHenry County Conservation District , which preserves sensitive land throughout
1850-557: The county, adjacent to the waterway. Other major lakes in the county include Crystal Lake, Wonder Lake, and McCullom Lake. There are also dozens of parks, golf courses, and country clubs throughout the county. Major skiing areas include Nordic Ski Jump in Fox River Grove and Buffalo Snowboarding Park in Algonquin. In addition, the Windy City Balloon Port in Fox River Grove offers hot air balloon rides over
1900-402: The county. The population density was 511.9 inhabitants per square mile (197.6/km ). There were 116,040 housing units at an average density of 192.4 per square mile (74.3/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 90.1% white, 2.5% Asian, 1.1% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 4.3% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 11.4% of
1950-686: The early 19th century, Vandalia became the western terminus of the National Road from the East Coast . Since 1933, the Vandalia State House State Historic Site preserves and interprets the State House capital building and grounds, originally constructed in 1836. Vandalia was founded in 1819 as a new capital city for Illinois. The previous capital, Kaskaskia , was unsuitable because it was under
2000-594: The east of McHenry County in Lake County, Illinois. McHenry County is served by Metra Rail, which provides daily commuter service to and from downtown Chicago. There are seven stations in the county, all of them located along the Union Pacific Northwest Line . The county is also served by Pace , which provides four fixed bus routes (550, 806, 807, and 808), and MCRide Dial-A-Ride transit service operated by Pace and First Transit. Lake in
2050-815: The essentially corporatist nature of decision-making in the city; this work was recently revisited by the Economist newspaper. The city has a Board of Education. Among the public schools in the city are Jefferson Elementary School and former Central School, which was condemned in 1980. The city's first high school was established in 1858. Vandalia is home to the Okaw Valley Area Vocational Center, which trains high school students in vocational trades. It also serves vocational students from nearby high schools such as those in Greenville and Mulberry Grove . The building trades class at
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2100-399: The population. There were 2,253 households, out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.21% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.65% were non-families. 39.28% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
2150-485: The population. In terms of ancestry, 34.4% were of German heritage, 18.7% were of Irish ancestry, 14.2% Polish , 10.8% Italian , 7.8% English , and 3.7% of American heritage. Of the 109,199 households, 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.6% were non-families, and 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size
2200-540: The scope of the Milwaukee and Rockford media markets, respectively. The county has an FM radio station, WZSR (Star 105.5 FM), which plays mostly adult contemporary and pop music . WZSR is based out of Crystal Lake. The Northwest Herald , with a circulation of approximately 21,000, is the county's primary newspaper, serving the greater McHenry County area, and printed and published in Crystal Lake. Lake and McHenry County Scanner , launched in 2012 by Sam Borcia,
2250-480: The vote. In the 2016 presidential election , Republican Donald Trump received 50% of the vote whereas Democratic Hillary Clinton received 42% of the vote. In 2020 , Joe Biden came within 3% of carrying the county for the Democrats for the second time since 1852. McHenry County is now the only collar county that still leans Republican. No person with significant ties to McHenry County has ever been elected to
2300-555: The western portion, it has recently experienced rapid rates of suburbanization , exurbanization and urbanization , but the western segment of the county remains primarily agricultural and rural. McHenry County was formed in 1836 out of Cook and LaSalle counties. The county was named for Major William McHenry , a member of the Illinois Militia during Tecumseh's War, a major during the Blackhawk War in 1832, and
2350-465: Was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.25. The median age was 38.0 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 76,482 and the median income for a family was $ 86,698. Males had a median income of $ 61,971 versus $ 42,125 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 31,838. About 4.9% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over. Before
2400-402: Was 2.97 and the average family size was 2.25. The city's age distribution consisted of 16.2% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 29% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 144.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 148.2 males. The median income for a household in
2450-606: Was constructed to closely resemble the 1853 Cook County Courthouse (which was eventually destroyed during the Great Chicago Fire ). The structure was designed by John M. Van Osdel , the first licensed architect in Chicago. The adjoining structure, the Sheriff's House and Jail was built in 1887. It was there, in the Sheriff's House and Jail that Eugene Debs was held for his refusal to comply with an injunction during
2500-510: Was the most populous county in the United States without direct access to an Interstate Highway within its borders. As a result, residents usually used the nearby Interstate 90 (the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway ), via interchanges in neighboring Kane County . But a new interchange is now completed at I-90 and Illinois Route 23, which provides McHenry County with direct access to the interstate highway system. Interstate 94 lies to
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