Lake in the Hills, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Lake in the Hills is a village in McHenry County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 23,152 at the 2000 census. A 2006 special census put the village's population at 29,175.
The village is most known for its rampant residential growth which occurred most heavily in the 1990s. Once a sleepy lakeside village of cottages and small ranches, its population skyrocketed as developers flocked to the area in the 1990s. Its population increased by 17,000 people (a nearly 400% increase) over this period, making it one of the most rapidly growing suburbs of Chicago
and in the United States
at that time. At the height of its building boom, the village issued over 1,000 residential building permits in 1995.
In the late 1990s, the village faced the challenge of providing adequate services and infrastructure as well as establishing an identity and community unity, since many community services (Libraries, Schools, Fire Districts) were pre-delegated to neighboring communities like Huntley
, Algonquin
and Crystal Lake
. However, the village continues to expand its resources and community offerings and is also endeavoring to diversify its tax base and provide more commercial and industrial businesses.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), of which, 9.4 square miles (24.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (2.39%) is water.
The early days of Lake in the Hills saw vacationers from the Chicago
area, who wanted to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of the city. By 1950, some of the vacationers became year round residents of Lake in the Hills. On November 29, 1952, the Village of Lake in the Hills was formed and the original mayor was Bosethus Platt.
The village of Lake in the Hills remained a small, close-knit lakeside residential community for much of the 20th Century, relying on nearby towns like Algonquin
and Crystal Lake
for services. In 1987, the Village's first shopping center was constructed; it was built at the intersection of Algonquin Road and Oakleaf Road±. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Village made a series of large annexations extending west of Randall Road
, all the way west to Illinois Route 47
. Numerous subdivisions were constructed in this area throughout the 1990s and 2000s and retail development blossomed along Randall Road during this time period as well. By the mid 2000s, development had slowed down and as the Village became landlocked by other municipalities, it worked to appropriately develop its remaining parcels.
of 2000, there were 23,152 people, 7,652 households, and 6,297 families residing in the village. The population density
was 2,461.9 people per square mile (951.0/km²). There were 7,866 housing units at an average density of 836.5 per square mile (323.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 91.59% White, 1.50% African American, 0.14% Native American, 3.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.86% from other races
, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.31% of the population.
There were 7,652 households out of which 51.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.4% were married couples
living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 13.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the village the population was spread out with 33.4% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 44.5% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 3.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $80,992, and the median income for a family was $84,761 as of 2007 estimate. Males had a median income of $51,598 versus $34,449 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $26,239. About 1.6% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.
Aside from the village's older section, the village has developed several neighborhoods, especially due to the rise of subdivisions in the village over the past 15 years.
serves a majority of the village, covering its densely populated western half. School District 300 serves the older sections of town on the eastern side, and Elementary School District 47
and Community High School District 155
serve the a small portion of the central sections of the village.
(school evaluation tests).
All three high schools are in the Fox Valley Conference
and are major rivals of each other.
in Crystal Lake, IL
and Elgin Community College
in Elgin, IL are the community colleges that serve the village.
serves residents in the eastern sections of the village.
corridor, one of the most sought-after retail corridors in the Chicago metropolitan area. As a result, the village has a good portion of its retail in this section. The village's other major retail area is along Algonquin Road.
story reported that 89 percent of the driveways in Lake in the Hills were coated with coal tar sealants. Driveway dust study in the town was contaminated with very high levels of benzo(a)pyrene, a highly toxic chemical found in coal tar
, and the "amount was 5,300 times higher than the level that triggers an EPA Superfund
cleanup at polluted industrial sites." Coal tar sealants are permitted to be sold since the coal tar industry pressured the Environmental Protection Agency to remove coal tar-based pavement sealants from environmental laws.
McHenry County, Illinois
McHenry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 308,760, which is an increase of 18.7% from 260,077 in 2000. Its county seat is Woodstock. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is the sixth largest county, in...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 23,152 at the 2000 census. A 2006 special census put the village's population at 29,175.
The village is most known for its rampant residential growth which occurred most heavily in the 1990s. Once a sleepy lakeside village of cottages and small ranches, its population skyrocketed as developers flocked to the area in the 1990s. Its population increased by 17,000 people (a nearly 400% increase) over this period, making it one of the most rapidly growing suburbs of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at that time. At the height of its building boom, the village issued over 1,000 residential building permits in 1995.
In the late 1990s, the village faced the challenge of providing adequate services and infrastructure as well as establishing an identity and community unity, since many community services (Libraries, Schools, Fire Districts) were pre-delegated to neighboring communities like Huntley
Huntley, Illinois
Huntley is a rapidly-growing village in McHenry and Kane Counties, Illinois. In 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the village's population to be 22,923. As of the 2000 Census, the village had a mere 5,730 people, meaning the village's population has more than tripled in eight years...
, Algonquin
Algonquin, Illinois
Algonquin is a village in Illinois located in both McHenry and Kane counties. It is a northwest suburb of Chicago, located approximately 40 miles from the Loop...
and Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake, Illinois
Crystal Lake is a city located in southeastern McHenry County in northeastern Illinois, in the Chicago suburbs. It is named after Crystal Lake, a lake located west-southwest of downtown. Crystal Lake is also a suburb of the city of Chicago. The population was 38,000 at the 2000 census, but as of...
. However, the village continues to expand its resources and community offerings and is also endeavoring to diversify its tax base and provide more commercial and industrial businesses.
Geography
Lake in the Hills is located at 42°11′12"N 88°20′51"W (42.186729, -88.347429).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), of which, 9.4 square miles (24.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (2.39%) is water.
History
Lake in the Hills was started in 1923 by Federal Judge Walter J. La Buy around Woods Creek Lake, which is the main lake in Lake in the Hills. By the year 1926, La Buy bought 472 acres (1.9 km²) of land which is currently Indian Trail. On this land, he built five stucco homes; only one stands in its original state, which is currently owned by the Village of Lake in the Hills. The other four original stucco homes have been altered in some way, but all still stand in the original spot by Woods Creek Lake.The early days of Lake in the Hills saw vacationers from the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area, who wanted to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of the city. By 1950, some of the vacationers became year round residents of Lake in the Hills. On November 29, 1952, the Village of Lake in the Hills was formed and the original mayor was Bosethus Platt.
The village of Lake in the Hills remained a small, close-knit lakeside residential community for much of the 20th Century, relying on nearby towns like Algonquin
Algonquin, Illinois
Algonquin is a village in Illinois located in both McHenry and Kane counties. It is a northwest suburb of Chicago, located approximately 40 miles from the Loop...
and Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake, Illinois
Crystal Lake is a city located in southeastern McHenry County in northeastern Illinois, in the Chicago suburbs. It is named after Crystal Lake, a lake located west-southwest of downtown. Crystal Lake is also a suburb of the city of Chicago. The population was 38,000 at the 2000 census, but as of...
for services. In 1987, the Village's first shopping center was constructed; it was built at the intersection of Algonquin Road and Oakleaf Road±. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Village made a series of large annexations extending west of Randall Road
Randall Road
Randall Road is a major north-south county highway in McHenry and Kane County, Illinois. The road is named after Norman Randall, a prominent area landowner in the 1930s. It serves as the western extent of the Fox Valley suburbs in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its southern terminus is in Aurora,...
, all the way west to Illinois Route 47
Illinois Route 47
Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...
. Numerous subdivisions were constructed in this area throughout the 1990s and 2000s and retail development blossomed along Randall Road during this time period as well. By the mid 2000s, development had slowed down and as the Village became landlocked by other municipalities, it worked to appropriately develop its remaining parcels.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 23,152 people, 7,652 households, and 6,297 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,461.9 people per square mile (951.0/km²). There were 7,866 housing units at an average density of 836.5 per square mile (323.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 91.59% White, 1.50% African American, 0.14% Native American, 3.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.86% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.31% of the population.
There were 7,652 households out of which 51.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 13.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the village the population was spread out with 33.4% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 44.5% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 3.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $80,992, and the median income for a family was $84,761 as of 2007 estimate. Males had a median income of $51,598 versus $34,449 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $26,239. About 1.6% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.
Neighborhoods
The heart and soul of Lake in the Hills is considered by many to be the collection of older neighborhoods colloquially dubbed the "Old Section". For many L.I.T.H. natives, the Old Section is considered the "true" Lake in the Hills, as it contains the lake and the hills from which the town derives its name. The Old Section is unique for its eclectic appearance, as opposed to the newer neighborhoods more homogeneous tract style. Within the Old Section there are four main neighborhoods. These four neighborhoods are as follows: the Original section, the Indian section, the Tree section, and the Presidents section. All, besides the Original section, derive their names from the street names of the area. So the Presidents section contains streets named after presidents, the Indian section of Indian tribes, and the Tree section of different species of trees. The Original section is dubbed so because it is where most of the early settlement took place.Aside from the village's older section, the village has developed several neighborhoods, especially due to the rise of subdivisions in the village over the past 15 years.
- Princeton Crossing, located along Ackman and Lakewood Road, is the area's most pristine townhome community. This neighborhood consists of 67 townhomes and plush landscaping.
- Cunat Court is a neighborhood on the village's eastern side, just west of Pyott Road. It included 3-story condominium buildings and a neighborhood recreational center and pool.
- Boulder Ridge is a gated communityGated communityIn its modern form, a gated community is a form of residential community or housing estate containing strictly-controlled entrances for pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles, and often characterized by a closed perimeter of walls and fences. Gated communities usually consist of small residential...
in the central section of town, north of Algonquin Road, south of Miller Road and east of Frank Road. It features homes worth between $400,000 and $1,000,000. It also includes the village's only 18 hole golf course, and an immaculate country club which is a popular spot for banquets. On the west side of Frank Road, is the child development "The Lakes of Boulder Ridge", which offers a 9-hole golf course, scenic setting, and expensive duplex homes. - Big Sky and Harvest Gate are neighborhoods just west of Randall RoadRandall RoadRandall Road is a major north-south county highway in McHenry and Kane County, Illinois. The road is named after Norman Randall, a prominent area landowner in the 1930s. It serves as the western extent of the Fox Valley suburbs in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its southern terminus is in Aurora,...
and south of Miller Road, just east of Boulder Ridge. They are some of the village's first actual subdvisions and were built by the same developer, Town and Country Homes. Woods Creek divides them. Big Sky Park, the new Lake in the Hills Village Hall, and Lincoln Prairie Elementary School are all located within these neighborhoods. - Spring Lake Farm (north) is a subdivision south of Miller Road, west of Frank Road. It was also among the village's first subdivisions, built circa early 1990s, by Sundance Homes and Americana Homes. It includes both single-family and multi-family homes.
- Spring Lake Farm (south) is a single-family home subdivision built by Sundance Homes on Algonquin Road, west of Lakewood and immediately east of Tom's Farm Market in Huntley. It was the village's first subdivision west of Lakewood Road. Homes in this neighborhood are valued generally in the $200K range.
- Bellchase is a neighborhood built by Sundance Homes on the village's only parcel south of Algonquin Road. This neighborhood features Bellchase Commons, LeRoy Guy Park, and a full range of homes, from 2- and 3-bedroom duplexes and smaller 2-story "freedom" homes to large 4- and 5-bedroom homes. Duplexes in this neighborhood are valued from the high $100s, single-family homes are priced from the mid $200s to the mid $300s.
- Sumner Glen and Provence are neighborhoods built by Town and Country Homes. They are located along the western side of Lakewood Road from Algonquin Road to Miller Road. Normandy Park and Exner Marsh Nature Preserve along Reed Road serve as this area's centerpiece. Provence features slightly smaller homes, including both ranches and two-stories, valued generally in the $200K range. Sumner Glen features more expensive homes, some with 5-6 bedrooms, valued generally in the $300K range.
- Heron Bay is a small neighborhood featuring slightly upscale homes starting in the low $300s. It backs up to the Exner Marsh and features a very large pond with multiple fountains.
- Meadowbrook is the village's most expansive neighborhood. Located in the northwest part of the village, along Miller, Lakewood, and Haligus Roads, it is anchored by Sunset Park and features several smaller neighborhoods within. Impressions is a duplex-style home community, Summit Ridge is a small neighborhood of exclusive homes, Sunrise and Drake Park are moderately priced neighborhoods featuring one and two story homes, and Regatta is a neighborhood featuring smaller one-story and two-story homes. Concord Hills, however, was the first community and is located just east of Lakewood Road, north of Miller Road.
- At the southeast corner of Lakewood and Ackman Roads is the Cheswick Place subdivision, which is currently under construction. The neighborhood will consist of over 100 single family homes, fronted by retail and small office buildings. An assisted-living facility may also front the development.
- Fox Ridge Farm, a planned subdivision of potentially 200-300 homes located on the village's western fringe along Illinois Route 47Illinois Route 47Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...
, is currently under development review. Once constructed, it will likely be the last major subdivision developed in the village, as Lake in the Hills has become landlocked by other municipalities. - The old neighborhoods are primarily in the original section of the town. This consists of all homes residing in the original development of the town. This is usually considered, by locals, to include all homes built within an area of close to the actual lake. It is widely recognized that if a home is within a short walking distance of the lake, the police station, or the fire department, that said home is one of the original homes in the town.
Education
The village is served by four school districts. Consolidated School District 158Consolidated School District 158
Community Consolidated School District 158 is a school district in Illinois. The district serves some nearly 8,200 students living in Huntley as well as western portions of Lake in the Hills and Algonquin and surrounding areas. The district employs over 1000 staff members...
serves a majority of the village, covering its densely populated western half. School District 300 serves the older sections of town on the eastern side, and Elementary School District 47
Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47
Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47 is a district containing elementary and middle schools and serving Crystal Lake, Illinois and some of Lake in the Hills. The current Superintendent is Dr. Donn MendozaSite address is www.D47.org...
and Community High School District 155
Community High School District 155
Community High School District 155 is a local school district serving areas of McHenry County, Illinois. The current Superintendent of this district is Dr. Jill Hawk. Community High School District 155 includes Cary, Crystal Lake, Fox River Grove, and Prairie Grove, and is approximately 45 miles...
serve the a small portion of the central sections of the village.
Elementary Schools
Elementary Schools serving Lake in the Hills include:- Lake in the Hills Elementary School serves students residing on the eastern side of town
- Lincoln Prairie Elementary School serves students residing in District 300 boundaries in the central sections of town near Randall RoadRandall RoadRandall Road is a major north-south county highway in McHenry and Kane County, Illinois. The road is named after Norman Randall, a prominent area landowner in the 1930s. It serves as the western extent of the Fox Valley suburbs in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its southern terminus is in Aurora,...
. - Glacier Ridge Elementary School and Indian Prairie Elementary School (in Crystal LakeCrystal Lake, IllinoisCrystal Lake is a city located in southeastern McHenry County in northeastern Illinois, in the Chicago suburbs. It is named after Crystal Lake, a lake located west-southwest of downtown. Crystal Lake is also a suburb of the city of Chicago. The population was 38,000 at the 2000 census, but as of...
, IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
) serves students residing in District 47 boundaries in the central sections of town along Miller Road. - May Chesak and Hannah Martin Elementary Schools serve students residing in District 158 boundaries on the western side of town, along the Lakewood Road corridor. They are located in the Reed Road Campus.
- Mackeben and Marion Conley Elementary Schools serve students residing in District 158 boundaries on the southwest side of town (generally the Bellchase neighborhood). They are located on the Square Barn Road Campus in Algonquin, IL
Achievements
Lincoln Prairie Elementary School was Illinois School District 300's highest-scoring elementary school in the 2006 Iowa Test of Basic SkillsIowa Test of Basic Skills
The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills , also known as the Iowa Tests, are standardized tests provided as a service to schools by the College of Education of the University of Iowa. The tests are administered to students in kindergarten through eighth grade as part of the Iowa Statewide Testing Programs,...
(school evaluation tests).
Middle Schools
Middle Schools serving Lake in the Hills include:- Westfield Community School in Algonquin, IL serves students residing in District 300 boundaries.
- Richard F. Bernotas Middle School and Leon J. Lundahl Middle School in Crystal Lake, ILCrystal Lake, IllinoisCrystal Lake is a city located in southeastern McHenry County in northeastern Illinois, in the Chicago suburbs. It is named after Crystal Lake, a lake located west-southwest of downtown. Crystal Lake is also a suburb of the city of Chicago. The population was 38,000 at the 2000 census, but as of...
serves students residing in District 47 boundaries. - Henry Marlowe Middle School in Lake in the Hills serves students residing in District 158 boundaries north of Algonquin Road and west of Lakewood Road.
- Bernice Heinemann Middle School in Algonquin, IL serves students residing in District 158 boundaries south of Algonquin Road and east of Lakewood Road.
High Schools
High Schools serving Lake in the Hills include:- Huntley High SchoolHuntley High SchoolHuntley High School is a rapidly growing, public high school in northern Illinois. The school serves the entire Consolidated School District 158 area, which includes all of Huntley, Illinois, and portions of Lake in the Hills, Algonquin, and other surrounding communities and rural...
in Huntley, IL serves students residing in District 158 boundaries - Harry D. Jacobs High SchoolHarry D. Jacobs High SchoolHarry D. Jacobs High School is a public high school for students in grades 9 through 12 located in Algonquin, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, serving students from the west half of the Village of Algonquin and its surrounding areas, including Lake in the Hills, Gilberts, some of Sleepy Hollow, and...
in Algonquin, IL serves students residing in District 300 boundaries - Crystal Lake South High SchoolCrystal Lake South High SchoolCrystal Lake South High School, often referred to as "South" or "CLS," is one of three high schools in Crystal Lake, Illinois, United States, and currently has a body of roughly 1916 students...
in Crystal Lake, ILCrystal Lake, IllinoisCrystal Lake is a city located in southeastern McHenry County in northeastern Illinois, in the Chicago suburbs. It is named after Crystal Lake, a lake located west-southwest of downtown. Crystal Lake is also a suburb of the city of Chicago. The population was 38,000 at the 2000 census, but as of...
serves students residing in District 155 boundaries
All three high schools are in the Fox Valley Conference
Fox Valley Conference
The Fox Valley Conference is an IHSA recognized high school extracurricular conference including the following schools, generally located in the northern part of the Fox River basin in Illinois.-Valley Division:-Fox Division:-Changes:...
and are major rivals of each other.
Community Colleges
McHenry County CollegeMcHenry County College
McHenry County College is a community college serving residents residing in Community College District 528, which covers most of McHenry County, Illinois, as well as portions of surrounding counties....
in Crystal Lake, IL
Crystal Lake, Illinois
Crystal Lake is a city located in southeastern McHenry County in northeastern Illinois, in the Chicago suburbs. It is named after Crystal Lake, a lake located west-southwest of downtown. Crystal Lake is also a suburb of the city of Chicago. The population was 38,000 at the 2000 census, but as of...
and Elgin Community College
Elgin Community College
Elgin Community College is a U.S. post-secondary educational institution which awards Associate of Arts degrees. It was founded in 1949 as part of Elgin Area School District U46. Community College District #509 was formed 17 years later in 1966, a year after Illinois legislators created the...
in Elgin, IL are the community colleges that serve the village.
Libraries
Huntley Area Public Library serves residents in the western sections of the village while Algonquin Area Public Library DistrictAlgonquin Area Public Library District
The Algonquin Area Public Library District has two library facilities located in Village of Algonquin, Illinois. Covering approximately 15 square miles, the Algonquin Area Public Library District encompasses roughly half of the Village of Algonquin, a large part of the Village of Lake in the Hills...
serves residents in the eastern sections of the village.
Recreation
Even though Huntley Park District serves the village's western parts, Lake in the Hills maintains its own park and recreation department within village limits and provides immense programs and diverse types of parks and recreational areas. Significant recreational areas include:- Sunset Park, one of the village's largest parks located on Miller Road on the western side of the village. The park features several baseball and softball fields, soccer fields, playground equipment, picnic shelters, tennis courts, a basketball court, a gazebo, a splash pad and a skate park. This is also the site of one of the village's famous summer activities, the Summer Sunset Fest held over Labor Day weekend.
- Bark Park, located just west of Sunset, is one of the area's only dog parks and serves registered users in the village as a place for their dogs to run and interact with each other.
- Leroy Guy Park, located in the Bellchase neighborhood on the village's southwest side on Lakewood Road, features several ballfields, playground equipment, tennis and basketball courts, and a picnic shelter.
- Exner Marsh is a recreational area operated by the McHenry County Conservation District on the village's western side which has a decent trail system, public washrooms, tallgrass prairies, lakes and swampland, and significant stands of trees. It features one of the state of IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
' few groups of Blanding's turtles. - Boulder Ridge Golf Course and Country Club is a private golf course located in the village's most expensive neighborhood in the central part of town.
- Big Sky Park is a park located between two neighborhoods, just west of Randall RoadRandall RoadRandall Road is a major north-south county highway in McHenry and Kane County, Illinois. The road is named after Norman Randall, a prominent area landowner in the 1930s. It serves as the western extent of the Fox Valley suburbs in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its southern terminus is in Aurora,...
. - The Lake in the Hills Fen is a 260 acres (1.1 km²) natural prairie and recreational area on the village's northeast side of town off Pyott Road. It features immense tallgrass prairie and hundreds of species of wildlife, many of them considered to be rare or endangered.
- Woods Creek Lake is the village's lake located in the eastern part of town. It includes several beaches, boat launches, and adjacent recreational areas. The village's oldest homes, several of them cottages, are grouped around this lake.
- The Woods Creek is the creek which flows into the Lake in the Hills. It flows through areas just west of Randall RoadRandall RoadRandall Road is a major north-south county highway in McHenry and Kane County, Illinois. The road is named after Norman Randall, a prominent area landowner in the 1930s. It serves as the western extent of the Fox Valley suburbs in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its southern terminus is in Aurora,...
and its valley and adjacent shrubbery provides scenic views of the village's neighborhoods, even from a distance. - Lynn Dillow Is part of the sub-division Spring Lake Farms and is the home to 2 jungle gyms, a gazebo, basketball court, and a bike obstacle course.
- Ken Carpenter Park
- Ryder Park
- Morningside Park
- Barbara Key Park
Shopping
The village is located along the northern fringe of the Randall RoadRandall Road
Randall Road is a major north-south county highway in McHenry and Kane County, Illinois. The road is named after Norman Randall, a prominent area landowner in the 1930s. It serves as the western extent of the Fox Valley suburbs in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its southern terminus is in Aurora,...
corridor, one of the most sought-after retail corridors in the Chicago metropolitan area. As a result, the village has a good portion of its retail in this section. The village's other major retail area is along Algonquin Road.
- The Centre is a shopping center located at the northeast corner of Randall and Algonquin. It features Dominick's Finer FoodsDominick'sDominick's Finer Foods, Inc. is a grocery store chain and subsidiary of Safeway Inc. with locations mainly in the Chicago area, Illinois, USA. Dominick's distribution center is located in Northlake, while its management offices are located in Oak Brook....
, Kerasotes Lake in the Hills 12 Movie Theater, Bank of AmericaBank of AmericaBank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
, Tommy's Red Hots, Steak and Shake, Taco BellTaco BellTaco Bell is an American chain of fast-food restaurants based in Irvine, California. A subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., which serves American-adapted Mexican food. Taco Bell serves tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, other specialty items, and a variety of "Value Menu" items...
, White CastleWhite Castle (restaurant)White Castle is an American regional fast food hamburger restaurant chain in the Midwestern United States and in the New York metropolitan area, and the first of its kind in the US. It is known for its small, square hamburgers. Sometimes referred to as "sliders", the burgers were priced at five...
, Applebee'sApplebee'sApplebee’s International, Inc., is an American company which develops, franchises, and operates the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar restaurant chain. As of September 2011, there were 2,010 restaurants operating system-wide in the United States, one U.S. territory and 14 other countries...
, GameCrazy, Noodles and Company, Funky Munky, WineStyles, StarbucksStarbucksStarbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
, Einstein Bros. BagelsEinstein Bros. BagelsEinstein Bros. Bagels is a bagel and coffee chain in the United States. As of 2010, there were 587 restaurants with the Einstein Bros. name.Einstein Bros. was created by a chain restaurant corporation, Boston Chicken in 1995, as a way to market breakfast foods...
, GNC, H & R Block, Coldstone Creamery, Chen King Wok, Reese's Restaurant, Home State Bank, a daycare center, and several smaller shops. - Acorn Plaza includes Ace HardwareAce HardwareAce Hardware Corporation is a hardware cooperative based in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States. ACE Hardware Corporation, with 4,444 stores, does over $3 billion in retail hardware sales annually down from its peak of $12.5 billion in 2007.-History:...
, The scooter store, Fast Frame, and Papa Saverio's Pizza. - Randall Plaza is a shopping center located at the northwest corner of Randall and Algonquin. It is anchored by WalgreensWalgreensWalgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
and Blockbuster Video. Sears HardwareSears, Roebuck and CompanySears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
recently vacated the site, but was recently converted into a multi-tenant building featuring Sherwin Williams, Loves Liquor, and Murray Auto Parts. Other stores include Nancy's Pizza, Let's Travel, Hair Cuttery, Cigarettes Cheaper, Currency Exchange, and RadioShack - An unnamed center located just north of Randall Plaza includes Moretti's Ristorante, CostcoCostcoCostco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
, Lowe'sLowe'sLowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
, Athletico, a coffee house, LaSalle BankLaSalle BankLaSalle Bank Corporation was the holding company for LaSalle Bank N.A. and LaSalle Bank Midwest N.A. . With $116 billion in assets, it was headquartered at 135 South LaSalle Street in Chicago, Illinois...
, Bakers SquareBakers SquareBakers Square Restaurant & Pies is a casual dining restaurant chain in the United States. Known for its pies, Bakers Square also offers full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus . It is owned by American Blue Ribbon Holdings...
, Chase Bank, and Arby'sArby'sArby's is a fast food restaurant chain in the United States and Canada. Roark Capital Group owns 81.5% of the company, with Wendy's Company owning the other 18.5%. It is primarily known for selling roast beef sandwiches and curly fries. The Arby's menu also includes chicken sandwiches, appetizers,...
. - An older shopping center located just north of Algonquin Road features the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce, Nationwide Insurance, a CitgoCitgoCITGO Petroleum Corporation is a United States-incorporated, Venezuela-owned refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de...
gas station, Lily Garden restaurant, Castle Bank, Pizza HutPizza HutPizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
express, Tacos El Norte, and smaller stores. - Bellchase Commons, located at the southeast corner of Algonquin Road and Lakewood Road is a neighborhood center serving the village's western residents. It includes a 7-Eleven7-Eleven7-Eleven is part of an international chain of convenience stores, operating under Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd, which in turn is owned by Seven & I Holdings Co...
/ CitgoCitgoCITGO Petroleum Corporation is a United States-incorporated, Venezuela-owned refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de...
, Castle Bank, La Petite Children's Academy, Alfredo's Pizza, H & R Block, Bistro Wasabi, Dairy QueenDairy QueenDairy Queen, often abbreviated DQ, is a chain of soft serve and fast food restaurants owned by International Dairy Queen, Inc, who also owns Orange Julius and Karmelkorn. The name "Dairy Queen" is taken from the name of their soft serve product, which the company refers to as "Dairy Queen" or...
, Butcher on the Block, a dental office, Hometown Eyecare, a State Farm InsuranceState Farm InsuranceState Farm Insurance is a group of insurance and financial services companies in the United States. The company also has operations in Canada....
agent, and other smaller stores.
Community Activities and Traditions
- The Lake in the Hills Air Expo is a festival held on a Saturday in the middle of June. It includes a variety of aircraft, utilizing Lake in the Hills AirportLake in the Hills AirportLake in the Hills Airport is a public airport located at 8407 Pyott Road in Lake in the Hills, a village in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. The airport is owned by the Village of Lake in the Hills and is located 38 miles northwest of the central business district of Chicago...
and flying over the village, giving spectators and residents alike a taste of aircraft over the past century, especially including World War II–era aircraft. - Rockin' Rotary Ribfest is a village event showcasing food, live music, and more, held at the village's Sunset Park in early July.
- Summer Sunset Festival is the village's main festival. Held at Sunset Park on the village's west side, it features live music, food, a carnival, and a fireworks display. It is usually held on Labor Day weekend.
- The village has always been a main participant in National Night OutNational Night OutNational Night Out is a community-police awareness-raising event in the US, held the first Tuesday of August....
and uses this as an opportunity for positive resident-police interaction, community block parties, and other activities to encourage community and prevent crime - Summer Sunset Idol, a spinoff of American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, which allows aspiring amateur performers to showcase their talents. There are three rounds, spread out over the summer at the village's main summer events. - Community Oriented Police Programs
- A number of concerts held throughout the year at a small amphitheater near Village Hall.
- Youth athletic programs such as the Lake In the Hills/Algonquin Falcons youth football and cheerleading program, Golden Eagles Wrestling club, Algonquin/Lake In The Hills youth soccer league, the Lake In The Hills Youth Baseball League, Lake In The Hills Eagles Traveling baseball team and Lake In the Hills Pirates travel baseball team.
Environmental
In January 2011, a Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
story reported that 89 percent of the driveways in Lake in the Hills were coated with coal tar sealants. Driveway dust study in the town was contaminated with very high levels of benzo(a)pyrene, a highly toxic chemical found in coal tar
Coal tar
Coal tar is a brown or black liquid of extremely high viscosity, which smells of naphthalene and aromatic hydrocarbons. Coal tar is among the by-products when coal iscarbonized to make coke or gasified to make coal gas...
, and the "amount was 5,300 times higher than the level that triggers an EPA Superfund
Superfund
Superfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 , a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances...
cleanup at polluted industrial sites." Coal tar sealants are permitted to be sold since the coal tar industry pressured the Environmental Protection Agency to remove coal tar-based pavement sealants from environmental laws.
Transportation
- The village of Lake in the Hills owns and operates Lake in the Hills AirportLake in the Hills AirportLake in the Hills Airport is a public airport located at 8407 Pyott Road in Lake in the Hills, a village in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. The airport is owned by the Village of Lake in the Hills and is located 38 miles northwest of the central business district of Chicago...
, a general aviation airport serving the greater McHenry County area. It is located on Pyott Road in the far northern reaches of the village. - Randall RoadRandall RoadRandall Road is a major north-south county highway in McHenry and Kane County, Illinois. The road is named after Norman Randall, a prominent area landowner in the 1930s. It serves as the western extent of the Fox Valley suburbs in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its southern terminus is in Aurora,...
, a major four-lane county highway, is the primary north-south highway in the Village. It is known as the major divider separating the old part (or "East Side" of Lake in the Hills) from the newer part (or "West Side") of the Village. Randall Road contains the bulk of the village's retail and restaurants and traffic on the corridor averages 50,000 vehicles per day. - Algonquin Road is the primary east-west artery in the Village. It is also the dividing line separating Lake in the Hills from nearby AlgonquinAlgonquin, IllinoisAlgonquin is a village in Illinois located in both McHenry and Kane counties. It is a northwest suburb of Chicago, located approximately 40 miles from the Loop...
. Like Randall Road, this county highway is also four lanes for the entire length of the village. Both residential areas and retail areas can be found along the road. - Lakewood Road is a north-south county-highway on the Village's western side. It is two lanes with left and right turn lanes. Several of the village's subdivisions can be found along the road, in addition to the Exner Marsh conservation area.
- Miller Road is an east-west village road. The entire stretch of road is lined with subdivisions. Sunset Park can also be found on the road, which winds through the Meadowbrook subdivision in the western part of the Village. The road is slated to be expanded westward to Illinois Route 47Illinois Route 47Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...
in the near future. - Pyott Road is a county highway which runs north-south through the eastern part of the Village. Lake in the Hills Airport, the Lake in the Hills Fen, residential areas, and industrial businesses can all be found along the road.
- Illinois Route 31Illinois Route 31Illinois Route 31 is a north–south state road in northeastern Illinois, United States. It runs from U.S. Highway 34 in Oswego north to U.S. Highway 12, near the Wisconsin border, just south of Richmond. Illinois 31 is long.- Route description :...
is a state highway which runs north-south along the village's eastern limits. Much of the village's parcels along this highway are industrial areas. - Other important roads in the village include Crystal Lake Road, Hilltop Road, Oak Street, Frank Road, Reed Road, Albrecht Road, Annandale Drive, Ackman Road, and Haligus Road.
Notable residents
Lake in the Hills was the hometown of:- Joe Becker, Musician/guitarist.
- Josh CatererJosh CatererJosh Caterer is a Chicago-area musician and songwriter. With his brothers, Eli Caterer and Matt Caterer , he was a founding member in 1991 of The Smoking Popes, in which Josh plays lead guitar and sings. After his conversion to Christianity the Smoking Popes split up, and Caterer later founded...
, a singer/songwriter, guitarist, and frontman for the influential indie-rock band the Smoking PopesSmoking PopesThe Smoking Popes are an American pop punk from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1991. They play punk-influenced pop music with crooning vocals...
.