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 .^[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²) of it (7.90%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 2,955 people, 1,228 households, and 878 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,103.1 people per square mile (425.7/km²). There were 1,258 housing units at an average density of 469.6 per square mile (181.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 94.15% White, 0.98% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 1.73% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.93% of the population.

There were 1,228 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the village the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $61,219, and the median income for a family was $70,625. Males had a median income of $50,500 versus $37,627 for females. The per capita income for the village was $31,695. About 4.7% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

History

Near the end of the Black Hawk War the Potawatomi, a branch of the Algonquian peoples, sold what is now Dundee to Illinois in 1835, and by 1840 almost all of this land had been settled. The first settlers actually arrived in the area in the fall of 1834, seeing the wigwams and campfires along the river. Jesse Newman, his wife and Joseph Russell who were prospectors, built a cabin along the east bank of the river a little more than a mile south of what later became the town of Dundee. The Newmans and Russell stayed only a short time, but staked their claim and returned a year later.

In 1835 the Oatmans arrived and settled on the west side of the river, being one of the first settlers to arrive after the treaty. Reportedly, a drawing was held at the raising of the Oatman house to determine who would have the honor of naming the town. A young Scotsman name Alexander Gardiner won the honor and the town was named Dundee after his hometown in Scotland.

In 1837, Thomas Deweese, the son-in-law to Elder John Oatman, platted most of East Dundee. In 1837 Deweese built a gristmill, and soon after was responsible for the installation of the first bridge. In the 1850s, a large group of Lutheran Germans moved into the area. They erected a church and practiced their own traditions, which separated them from their largely Scottish western neighbors.^[4] With the Chicago-Northwestern train line running through the center of town, East Dundee produced dairy and cheese. Prior to the train line all products were moved by horse and wagon to connect with the train, which was about 7 miles north and a little west of town.

Using clay from the riverbank, a brickyard started business in 1852. D.H. Haeger became part owner of Haeger Brick Company, now Haeger Potteries, in 1871; within a year he was sole owner and had extended the business to include tile. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, bricks were shipped into the city to help rebuild. By the 1920s the brickyard's production included teaware, luncheonware, and Royal Hickman crystal and glassware. At the Century of Progress Exposition in 1934 in Chicago, Haeger Potteries' exhibit included a complete working plant where souvenir pottery was made on the spot.

Development of East Dundee has been slowed by a lack of land. The Fox River is a barrier to the west; Carpentersville to the north; the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation Research Game Farm to the south; and Hoffman Estates to the east. In 1959 Santa's Village amusement park was built. Referenda in 1956 and 1962 failed to unite East Dundee and West Dundee, which has prevented East Dundee from gaining any revenues follow the opening of West Dundee's Spring Hill Mall in 1980. 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.^[5] Although East Dundee has had limited land expansion, its industry and commerce have grown, including the annexation of Rock Road Industrial Park in 1984–1985 and the addition of the Spring Hill Ford auto dealership and a shopping center around 1990.

The Village of East Dundee was incorporated in 1871, four years after West Dundee. A historic district along the Fox River and stores on Main Street constitute the commercial part of East Dundee. The historic feed and coal store became Dundee Lumber, which burned down in March 2007. A former railroad bed is now the Fox River Trail, which follows the east side of the Fox River through town. The train depot was rebuilt in 1984 as a tourist center.^[6] From 1959 to 2006, Santa's Village amusement park provided rides and games for children.^[7]

See also

• Dundee Township Historic District
• Santa's Village - An East Dundee theme park from 1959 to 2006 (Moving to North Utica, Illinois and re-opening in 2008).
• Haeger Potteries

References