Born out of an Illinois prairie frontier, this community first took shape as hunting and fishing grounds of the Potawatomie Indians. Both the county and the city were named after Major William McHenry who served in the War of 1812 and the Blackhawk War. During the first half of the 20th century, McHenry flourished as a resort area because of the Fox River, surrounding lakes and easy accessibility from Chicago. Many farmers also worked the fertile land, and new industries arrived on the scene as well. Today, with a population above 21,500, McHenry's future is still one of growth.

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