McHenry, Illinois

McHenry, Illinois
City of McHenry
The McHenry Riverwalk
Nickname: 
"Heart of the Fox River"
Location of McHenry in McHenry County, Illinois
McHenry, Illinois
Location of McHenry within 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
StateIllinois
CountyMcHenry
TownshipsMcHenry Township, Nunda Township, Grant Township, Wauconda Township.
FoundedMay 10, 1836
Incorporated (village)1872
Named afterWilliam McHenry
Government
  TypeMayor–council government
  MayorWayne Jett
Area
  Total
14.96 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)
  Total
27,135
  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

McHenry is a city in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. It is located about 46 miles northwest of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 27,135. 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.

It rests at an elevation of 797 feet and the Fox River flows through the eastern portion of the city. 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.