McHenry in McHenry County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

McHenry County’s First Courthouse

1840-1844

McHenry County’s First Couthouse Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, August 24, 2014

1. McHenry County’s First Couthouse Marker

Inscription. McHenry County's first commissioners met in this building on August 5th, 1840. The original structure was built on the Court Street side of the public square, now Veterans Memorial Park, as McHenry County's first courthouse.

McHenry County split from Cook County in 1836, comprising Lake and McHenry counties. The village of McHenry was the centrally-located county seat. Lake and McHenry counties divided in 1839. In 1843, the county seat was relocated to Centerville, now Woodstock.

In 1844, the government auctioned the courthouse to Horace Long, who moved it to this location on Riverside Drive, originally Water Street, for use as a tavern and hotel.

Erected 2006 by City of McHenry Landmark Commission, the McHenry County Historical Society, and The Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.

Location. 42° 20.76′ N, 88° 15.725′ W. Marker is in McHenry, Illinois, in McHenry County. It is at the

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intersection of North Riverside Drive and Pearl Street, on the right when traveling south on North Riverside Drive. The marker is located one block north of IL-120. The marker is on the northwest corner of the intersection. It's one block west of the Fox River. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1401 North Riverside Drive, McHenry IL 60050, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: River of History (approx. 2.6 miles away); Connected by Water (approx. 2.8 miles away); The Prairie State (approx. 2.8 miles away); A Unique Park with a Unique History (approx. 7.2 miles away); A Showcase of Diversity (approx. 7.2 miles away); Downtown Crystal Lake (approx. 7.6 miles

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, August 24, 2014

2. McHenry County’s First Couthouse Marker

away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 7.6 miles away); El Tovar Theatre (approx. 7.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in McHenry.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, August 24, 2014

3. McHenry County’s First Couthouse Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2014, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 766 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 25, 2014, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.