West Dundee, Illinois
Encyclopedia
West Dundee is a village in Kane County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 7,975 as of July 2008.
West Dundee lies across the Fox River
from East Dundee
and Carpentersville
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.92%) is water.
in honor of his Scottish hometown. In 1843 Scotsman Allan Pinkerton
, later the renowned detective, set up business as a cooper. The town was incorporated in 1867, four years before East Dundee.
Mark W. Fletcher laid out the original town of Dundee on the west bank of the Fox River in 1836 with a grid of streets, but was hemmed in from development for years. The river formed a natural eastern barrier. Expansion to the north and west was blocked by the D. Hill Nursery. In the 1950s a segment of the Hill property East of Illinois Route 31
was sold and turned into the Highlands subdivision, which was annexed into West Dundee in 1956. The community also annexed property west of Illinois Route 31 in 1957, Royal Lane in 1960, and the Old World subdivision in 1966. The nursery eventually sold all of its land and moved to McHenry
. Plans for the Spring Hill Mall
on Hill's land began in 1973 and the project was completed in 1980. The 1100000 square feet (102,193.3 m²) mall's retail sales boosted West Dundee's economy and created an estimated 1,600 jobs by 1982, but subsequently was eclipsed by larger and newer malls. The mall's owner, General Growth Properties
, filed for bankruptcy in 2009. West Dundee then annexed new subdivisions to the west of Spring Hill, but was again hemmed in by Elgin
which incorporated land west of Sleepy Hollow Road. The remaining land south of Illinois Route 72
had been separately incorporated as Sleepy Hollow
in 1958.
Over the years there have been efforts to merge West with East Dundee
, the village just across the Fox River. A 1956 referendum was approved by East Dundee but rejected by West Dundee. West Dundee approved a 1962 referendum, but East Dundee rejected it. Each town's retention of individuality dates back to their early days, when West Dundee's Scottish and English heritage kept it apart from its German neighbors in East Dundee.
of 2000, there were 5,428 people, 2,059 households, and 1,453 families residing in the village. The population density
was 2,040.5 people per square mile (787.9/km²). There were 2,103 housing units at an average density of 790.6 per square mile (305.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 93.92% White, 0.61% African American, 0.39% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 1.40% from other races
, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.26% of the population.
There were 2,059 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples
living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the village the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $62,540, and the median income for a family was $78,007. Males had a median income of $54,338 versus $36,111 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $30,674. About 2.9% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
Kane County, Illinois
Kane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 515,269, which is an increase of 27.5% from 404,119 in 2000. Its county seat is Geneva, and its largest city is Aurora.- Geography :...
, 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 7,975 as of July 2008.
West Dundee lies across 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...
from East Dundee
East Dundee, Illinois
East Dundee is a village in Kane County with a small section in Cook County. The population was 2,955 at the 2000 census.-Geography:East Dundee is located at ....
and Carpentersville
Carpentersville, Illinois
Carpentersville is a village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. The population was 30,586 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Carpentersville is located at ....
.
Geography
West Dundee is located at 42°5′43"N 88°17′9"W (42.095327, -88.285809).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 2.7 square miles (7 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.92%) is water.
History
The settlement started in 1835 when Elder John and Nancy Oatman established a tavern and a store. In 1837, a lottery was held among the settlers to determine who would name the town. Alexander Gardiner won and named the town DundeeDundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
in honor of his Scottish hometown. In 1843 Scotsman Allan Pinkerton
Allan Pinkerton
Allan Pinkerton was a Scottish American detective and spy, best known for creating the Pinkerton National Detective Agency.-Early life, career and immigration:...
, later the renowned detective, set up business as a cooper. The town was incorporated in 1867, four years before East Dundee.
Mark W. Fletcher laid out the original town of Dundee on the west bank of the Fox River in 1836 with a grid of streets, but was hemmed in from development for years. The river formed a natural eastern barrier. Expansion to the north and west was blocked by the D. Hill Nursery. In the 1950s a segment of the Hill property East of Illinois Route 31
Illinois Route 31
Illinois 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 :...
was sold and turned into the Highlands subdivision, which was annexed into West Dundee in 1956. The community also annexed property west of Illinois Route 31 in 1957, Royal Lane in 1960, and the Old World subdivision in 1966. The nursery eventually sold all of its land and moved to McHenry
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...
. Plans for the Spring Hill Mall
Spring Hill Mall
Spring Hill Mall, opened in October 1980 is a regional shopping mall in West Dundee, Illinois and Carpentersville, Illinois. Spring Hill was developed by Homart Development Company, then owned by Sears, Roebuck & Company. The mall opened with two anchors, Marshall Field & Company and Sears, Roebuck...
on Hill's land began in 1973 and the project was completed in 1980. The 1100000 square feet (102,193.3 m²) mall's retail sales boosted West Dundee's economy and created an estimated 1,600 jobs by 1982, but subsequently was eclipsed by larger and newer malls. The mall's owner, General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties, Inc. is a publicly traded real estate investment trust in the United States. It is based in Chicago, Illinois at 110 North Wacker Drive, a historic building designed by architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White...
, filed for bankruptcy in 2009. West Dundee then annexed new subdivisions to the west of Spring Hill, but was again hemmed in by Elgin
Elgin, Illinois
Elgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois...
which incorporated land west of Sleepy Hollow Road. The remaining land south of Illinois Route 72
Illinois Route 72
Illinois Route 72 is an east–west state road in northeastern Illinois. It runs from the intersection with Illinois Route 73 north of Lanark east to Illinois Route 43 in Chicago...
had been separately incorporated as Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow, Illinois
Sleepy Hollow is a village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,553 at the 2000 census.Various streets in the village are named after characters in Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy HollowOther streets are named after trees. Still other streets, particularly in the...
in 1958.
Over the years there have been efforts to merge West with East Dundee
East Dundee, Illinois
East Dundee is a village in Kane County with a small section in Cook County. The population was 2,955 at the 2000 census.-Geography:East Dundee is located at ....
, the village just across the Fox River. A 1956 referendum was approved by East Dundee but rejected by West Dundee. West Dundee approved a 1962 referendum, but East Dundee rejected it. Each town's retention of individuality dates back to their early days, when West Dundee's Scottish and English heritage kept it apart from its German neighbors in East Dundee.
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 5,428 people, 2,059 households, and 1,453 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 2,040.5 people per square mile (787.9/km²). There were 2,103 housing units at an average density of 790.6 per square mile (305.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 93.92% White, 0.61% African American, 0.39% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 1.40% 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 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.26% of the population.
There were 2,059 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% 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, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the village the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $62,540, and the median income for a family was $78,007. Males had a median income of $54,338 versus $36,111 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 $30,674. About 2.9% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.