Wonder Lake (village), Illinois
Encyclopedia
Wonder Lake is a village in McHenry County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 1,345 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²).The center of the village is the largest private man-made lake in the state of Illinois. Blocks of homes surround the lake on both sides; at the northern most end of Wonder Lake, a waterfall type dam empties into Nippersink Creek which continues on in McHenry County and flows into the Fox River
in Lake County. Nicknamed by local residents in the mid 1960's as "Wonder Creek".
of 2000, there were 1,345 people, 445 households, and 367 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,657.4 people per square mile (641.1/km²). There were 488 housing units at an average density of 601.4 per square mile (232.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.17% White, 0.37% Black or African American
, 0.07% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 1.12% from other races
, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.46% of the population.
There were 445 households out of which 45.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.4% were married couples
living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.5% were non-families. 12.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the village the population was spread out with 31.9% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 105.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $59,712, and the median income for a family was $62,404. Males had a median income of $49,792 versus $27,500 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $21,428. About 2.6% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
In an effort to reverse the filling of the lake with sediment, the village annexed the lake bottom (not without a court challenge) in the early 2000s so as to gain control of the lake bottom and allow proceeding with cleanup. As can be expected, this raised considerable concern and debate due to the large cost of such an undertaking. The planning and debate continue to the present (mid 2009).
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 1,345 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Wonder Lake is located at 42°23′3"N 88°22′4"W (42.38427, -88.367814).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²).The center of the village is the largest private man-made lake in the state of Illinois. Blocks of homes surround the lake on both sides; at the northern most end of Wonder Lake, a waterfall type dam empties into Nippersink Creek which continues on in McHenry County and flows into the Fox River
Fox River (Illinois River tributary)
The Fox River is a tributary of the Illinois River in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois in the United States. There are two other "Fox Rivers" in southern Illinois: the Fox River and a smaller "Fox River" that joins the Wabash River near New Harmony, Indiana.-Wisconsin:The Fox River rises near...
in Lake County. Nicknamed by local residents in the mid 1960's as "Wonder Creek".
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 1,345 people, 445 households, and 367 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 1,657.4 people per square mile (641.1/km²). There were 488 housing units at an average density of 601.4 per square mile (232.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.17% White, 0.37% Black or African American
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...
, 0.07% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 1.12% 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 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.46% of the population.
There were 445 households out of which 45.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.4% 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, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.5% were non-families. 12.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the village the population was spread out with 31.9% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 105.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $59,712, and the median income for a family was $62,404. Males had a median income of $49,792 versus $27,500 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 $21,428. About 2.6% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
Lake vs. Village
The name Wonder Lake now refers to both the lake itself and a village incorporated in 1974 from one of the east side unincorporated blocks of homes, Sunrise Ridge, called ‘subdivisions’ that fully surround the lake. Initially named the Village of Sunrise Ridge, the name was changed to The Village of Wonder Lake a few years later. The population of the combined village and all surrounding subdivisions has published population estimates currently over 10,000.In an effort to reverse the filling of the lake with sediment, the village annexed the lake bottom (not without a court challenge) in the early 2000s so as to gain control of the lake bottom and allow proceeding with cleanup. As can be expected, this raised considerable concern and debate due to the large cost of such an undertaking. The planning and debate continue to the present (mid 2009).