McHenry, Illinois

McHenry, Illinois
City of McHenry
The McHenry Riverwalk
The McHenry Riverwalk
Nickname: 
"Heart of the Fox River"[1]
Location of McHenry in McHenry County, Illinois
Location of McHenry in McHenry County, Illinois
McHenry, Illinois is located in Illinois
McHenry, Illinois
McHenry, Illinois
Location of McHenry within Illinois
McHenry, Illinois is located in the United States
McHenry, Illinois
McHenry, Illinois
McHenry, Illinois (the United States)
Coordinates: 42°20′21″N 88°16′54″W / 42.33917°N 88.28167°W / 42.33917; -88.28167
CountryUnited States United States
StateIllinois Illinois
CountyMcHenry
TownshipsMcHenry Township, Nunda Township, Grant Township, Wauconda Township.
FoundedMay 10, 1836[2]
Incorporated (village)1872
Named forWilliam McHenry
Government
 • TypeMayor–council government
 • MayorWayne Jett
Area
 • Total14.96 sq mi (38.74 km2)
 • Land14.54 sq mi (37.65 km2)
 • Water0.42 sq mi (1.09 km2)
Elevation
797 ft (243 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total27,135
 • Density1,866.74/sq mi (720.74/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)
60050 and 60051
Area codes815 and 779
FIPS code17-45694
GNIS feature ID424159
Wikimedia CommonsMcHenry, Illinois
Websitewww.ci.mchenry.il.us Edit this at Wikidata

McHenry is a city in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. It is located about 35 miles northwest of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 27,135.[4] McHenry was at one time the county seat of McHenry County, which once included adjoining Lake County to the east. McHenry took its name from the county, which was named for Major William McHenry, a prominent US Army officer in the Black Hawk War.[5]

It rests at an elevation of 797 feet and the Fox River flows through the eastern portion of the city.[6] It is surrounded by natural lakes and streams, grassy moraine hills, gravel banks and shallow nutrient-rich peat bogs, remnants of receding glaciers from the last ice age. Moraine Hills State Park, Glacial Park Conservation Area, and Volo Bog State Natural Area preserve some of these natural features.[7]

  1. ^ Martin, Douglas. "City of McHenry, Heart of the Fox River" (PDF). cityofmchenry.org. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  2. ^ "McHenry Turns 175 - McHenry County Living". June 2, 2011.
  3. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "McHenry city, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 100.
  6. ^ "GNIS Detail - McHenry". geonames.usgs.gov.
  7. ^ "About". www.dnr.illinois.gov. Retrieved June 12, 2018.