McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce

Fun Things to do in the McHenry Area

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Bring a picnic lunch and the family to Fort McHenry, one of McHenry County’s premier playgrounds.

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Attend McHenry County Conservation District’s October “Trail of History at Glacial Park.”

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Bring the bikes and travel through country fields and over county waterways on one of the State of Illinois’s newest bike paths.

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Attend one of Volo Bog’s outstanding programs and stroll or cross country ski along the areas rustic wooded paths.

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Attend the “Christmas Walk Along the Fox” in downtown McHenry the third Sunday in November. This is the city’s opening to the Christmas Season.

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Catch a summer movie at the McHenry Drive-In Outdoor theatre or at the indoor Downtown Theatre.

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Skate at our Skateboard Park.

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Attend a city-wide summer band concert featuring McHenry musicians and area restaurants.

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Golf on one of McHenry Area’s premier golf courses.

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Outstanding dining around town at area restaurants.

Important Phone Numbers

EMERGENCY NUMBERS:
Fire Department - 911
Police Department - 911
Rescue Squad - 911
McHenry County Sheriff's Department - 911
ComEd (Electric) - 1-800-EDISON-1
AT&T (Phone Repair) - 611
Nicor Gas Company - 1-800-942-6100

NON-EMERGENCY NUMBERS:
Fire Department - 815-385-0075
Police Departments -
  McHenry - 815-363-2200
    Johnsburg - 815-385-6024
    Lakemoor - 815-385-4111
    McCullom Lake - 815-385-2161
    McHenry County Sheriff's Police - 815-338-2144
A-Tec (Ambulance Service) - 847-697-7643

UTILITIES:
City of McHenry (Sewer & Water) - 815-363-2100
ComEd (Electricity) - 800-334-7661
Nicor Gas Company - 800-942-6100
AT&T (Telephone) - 800-244-4444

COMMUNITY NUMBERS:
Animal Control - 815-338-7040
Comcast Cable Services - 866-594-1234
Department of Veteran's Affairs - 815-334-4000 ext. 151
Illinois Department of Employment Securities - 815-338-7940
Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles - 815-338-3109
Illinois Department of Public Aid - 815-338-0234
Illinois Poison Center - 800-942-5969
McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce - 815-385-4300
McHenry County Defenders (Recycling) - 815-338-0393
McHenry County Government Center 815-334-4000
McHenry Municipal Building - 815-363-2100
PACE Dial-A-Ride - 800-451-4599
Post Office - 800-275-8777
Senior Services Associates - 815-344-3555
Social Security Administration - 815-338-3751

At A Glance
Population: 38,000 and growing
Government: City
County: McHenry/Lake
Median Income: $55,759
Average Home Price: $203,000
Average Age: 34 years old
Household Characteristics:
           63.8% married
           39% with children
           87.2% High School graduates
           22.1% College graduates
           29.5 minutes average drive time to work
Townships: McHenry/Nunda
Schools:
           Public -
           3 High Schools
           3 Junior High
           8 Elementary
Private -
           1 High School
           3 Junior Highs
           3 Elementary
Churches: 20
Rescue Squad/Fire Protection: 3 Stations
Police: 4 Stations
Public Transportation: PACE Dial-A-Ride; Metra
Postal Service: 2
Airports:
            Chicago - O'Hare
            Greater Rockford
            Milwaukee - Mitchell
Recreation:
            35 Parks
            3 Bowling Alleys
          4 Golf Courses
            1 Roller Rink
            McHenry Indoor Movie Theatre
            McHenry Outdoor Movie Theatre
            Snowmobile Trails
            Bike Trails
            Water Activities
            Ice Skating Rinks
            Skateboard Park
Industrial Parks: 5
Libraries: 3
Banking Facilities: 23
City of McHenry website: www.ci.mchenry.il.us

History of City of McHenry

Born out of an Illinois prairie frontier, this community known as McHenry first took shape as hunting and fishing grounds of the Potawatomie Indians.
            In 1836 McHenry County was created out of Cook County and included present day Lake County. Both the County and the City were named after major William McHenry who served in the War of 1812 and the Blackhawk War. McHenry served as the first seat of government until 1844 when Lake County was established on its own.
            In the early days McHenry's center of commerce had three divisions with a strong rivalry existing among them. The Riverside section (Riverside Drive) was the first to be established along the Fox River. The West McHenry area (Main Street) was named Gagetown for George Gage who owned the site and was influential in securing the Northwestern Railroad (Metra) in 1854. The Green Street area, was once called Centerville.
            During the first half of the 19th century, McHenry flourished as a resort area because of the Fox River, surrounding lakes and easy accessibility from Chicago. For decades, McHenry took very seriously its title as the "Gateway to the Chain-of-Lakes".
             In spite of its beauty and strong attraction to tourists, McHenry owed her growth to the stability provided by the many farmers who worked the fertile land as well as new factories such as Admiral, Borden and The Hunter Boat Co. arriving on the scene and industries such as lumber, cigars, clay, food products and brewing that helped draw new residents to the area. The drainage of large 60 acre pond that previously divided the community in half, contributed to increased development and improved roadways while the railroad allowed commuters to find this area the perfect place to settle with their families.
             McHenry's future is one of growth. The present city with population above 20,000 is located in a county experiencing one of the highest population increases in the nation. Balancing this growth with industry, quality schools and improved road systems while maintaining the beauty of the area will be our challenge as a community as we move forward into a new exciting era.

Notable Firsts
• First Church - 1837, Baptist organized by Reverend Joel E. Wheeler.
• First Post Office - 1837 in crude log building near the intersection of Riverside Drive and Elm Street. First Postmaster was Christy Wheeler.
• First School - 1840, located in the north end of B. B. Brown's log cabin tavern.
• First incorporated as a City - May 15, 1923 with President Dr. D. G. Wells and Trustees: Peter Doherty, John Knox, Albert Krause, R. Overton, Simon Stoffel, Frank Wattles; Clerk Will Schreiner.
• First Public Library - 1936 initiated by the Mothers Club and first located in what is now known as McHenry High School East Campus.
• First Hospital - 1956 located south of Boone Creek on Green Street spearheaded by beloved physician Dr. Lee Gladstone.

            Excerpts from McHenry County 1832 to 1968 and McHenry County in the Twentieth Century 1955; Landmark Commission's "Historic Preservation Ordinance" and "Escape to the Past", and McHenry's Commemorative Sesquicentennial Book, 1836-1986.