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East Dundee  East Dundee is a village in the Chicago Metro Area. Since it lies less than an hour northwest of the city, this quaint little village offers a perfect combination of the peace of small town living and the cultural excitement of a major metropolitan area. Most residents are college-educated professionals. Approximately 3,000 people live in East Dundee. Many residents are in their late thirties to sixties. While there are quite a few families with children here, there are also a lot of successful single people living here. Distance (& Links) To Chicago & Four Closest Main Villages 
 Location & Commuting East Dundee is in Kane County, Illinois in the Central Time zone. It is west of Chicago and lies primarily on IL-72 between IL-31 & IL-68 approximately 4 miles north of I-90. The latitude of East Dundee is 42.098N. The longitude is -88.271W. According to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau 92% of the residents drive or carpool to work and the average commute time for East Dundee workers is 29 minutes, compared with 26 minutes nationwide. However, three Metra Rail stations are located in Elgin (five miles south of East Dundee) for 1% of people who commute to downtown Chicago via train. Traveling via rail takes just a little over an hour. (2 % walk to work and 5% work at home.) To Chicago (39 miles/50 minutes): Chicago is southeast of East Dundee. Go southeast on IL-72 approximately 4 miles. Then go east on I-90W for 35 miles. Population is just slightly under 3 million. To West Dundee (2 minutes/1 mile): West Dundee is one mile west of East Dundee. The two villages are separated by the Fox River. Go west on IL-72 (aka E. Main St.) for 1 mile. Population was 5,500 in 2000 and was estimated to be 7,875 in 2005. To Carpentersville (2 miles/4 minutes): Carpentersville is northeast of East Dundee. Go east on IL-68 for approximately a mile. Then go north on IL-25 for approximately a mile. To Elgin (5 miles/11 minutes): Elgin is southwest of East Dundee. Go east on IL-72 for almost a mile. Then go south on IL-25 approximately four miles. (You will cross I-90 on your way south.) Population is approximately 95,000. To Algonquin (6 miles/12 minutes): Algonquin is almost due north (and very slightly west) of East Dundee. Go west on IL-72 a little less than a mile. Then go north on IL-31 for 5 miles.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) 26 miles/30 min.
East Dundee sits at an elevation of 768 feet and occupies 2.68 square miles. The village is in the Fox River Valley, which was created by glaciers 22,000 years ago. The valley is rich with rolling hills, streams, rivers, bluffs and lakes. East Dundee is bordered on the west by the Fox River. The beauty of the river plus the tapestry of woodlands in the nearby McGraw Wildlife Foundation make this area a natural wonderland.
Early Native Americans called the region in which East Dundee is located “The Valley of the Foxes”, hence its current name “Fox River Valley” or simply “Fox Valley”. Illinois was admitted to the Union in 1818 as the 21st state. At that time Native Americans were the only residents of Fox Valley. European settlers soon began to push regional tribes west. The Sauk and Fox tribes tried unsuccessfully to regain their land in 1832. No battles were fought in Kane county where East Dundee eventually arose, but the army pushed through the area and made it easier for even more settlers to move into the region. The pioneers used the trails created by army wagons coming out of Chicago. The first white settlers arrived in the fall of 1834. At that time three prospectors, a couple by the name of “Newman” and their friend, Joseph Russell, staked a claim and built a cabin a mile south of what would eventually become the town of Dundee. They initially stayed only long enough to minimally establish themselves on the east bank of the Fox River. They were not gone for long, however. They returned only a year later. In 1835 a branch of the Algonquin tribe (the Potowattomie) permanently ceded the Fox Valley to the state of Illinois. Settlers occupied the area quickly, and it was mostly filled within five years. Pioneers arrived very shortly after the treaty was signed. Elder John and Nancy Oatman and their family were among the first. They settled on the west side of the river. A drawing was held either during their house-raising in 1835 or in 1837 when more people had moved to the area. (Historical accounts differ on the date and circumstance of the lottery.) This contest granted the winner the right to name the town the Oatmans and other settlers were beginning to found. Alexander Gardiner, a young Scotsman, won and named the town “Dundee” after his hometown in Scotland. As Dundee grew on the western bank of the Fox River, some residents decided to relocate to the east side of the river. That is why there are now two separate towns within a mile of each other—West Dundee and East Dundee. The Oatmans built both a tavern and store after their house was erected. These became the foundation of the new community. In 1837 John Oatman’s son-in-law Thomas Deweese platted most of the land that became Dundee. He thus laid claim to a large part of the area. Many newcomers who subsequently settled there did not know Deweese owned the land. They were nastily surprised when Deweese hired men to collect payment from them or force them to move on. Deweese was more than just a large landowner though. He “worked” his land and helped begin both the local economy and infrastructure of the region. In 1837 he built a grist mill and was responsible for the area’s first bridge a short time later. In the 1850s, a large group of German Lutherans moved into the area. Neighbors to the west were largely Scottish, so the arrival of the Germans brought a different cultural aspect to the region. Irish immigrants also eventually settled in the area. A third of the residents in East Dundee report being of German descent with 11% reporting being of Irish ancestry. For more information on ancestry statistics from the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau.
Many immigrants began dairies, so the production of milk, cheese and butter became important to local economy as the region was settled. The hotels in Chicago were big customers for the dairy industry. When railroads came through the region in the mid-1850s, connecting lead mines on the Mississippi River to industrial Chicago, the dairy industry really took off. The railroads provided the speed necessary for the dairy products to reach the city while still reasonably fresh. The Village of East Dundee was incorporated in 1871. Its population doubled in the 20th century. The railroad is gone now. The Interstate highway has replaced it as a main commercial artery leading to Chicago. Today a beautiful bike path runs along the Fox River where the railroad used to be. It is a major recreational asset for modern day East Dundee.
In 2000 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the average family income in East Dundee was $61,220-$71,625 (approximately $20,000 higher than the national average). It is presumed to have risen by $4,000 since then, so $65-75K is a good current ballpark estimate. Therefore, most residents are middle class or above. Many are college-educated. One of the oldest businesses in East Dundee is Haeger Pottery. It began in 1852 as the Haeger Brick Company when clay from the Fox River was molded and fired to create bricks. When the “Great Chicago Fire” burned most of that city to the ground 19 years later Haeger produced many of the bricks used to rebuild. Ownership has remained in the family from generation to generation. By the 1990s 200 people worked there creating ceramics and pottery for customers nationwide. Tourists and local residents alike enjoy buying directly from the factory. Summer tent sales are particularly popular. Sears Holdings Corporation (formerly Sears Roebuck and Company) headquarters is located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois just 11 miles away. It takes only 17 minutes to commute to executive and administrative careers there. It is one of Metropolitan Chicago’s 20 largest employers. Sears has stores in Canada and Mexico as well as the United States. Prairie Stone Parkway in Hoffman Estates is an area with a high concentration of technology companies, electronics distributors, and businesses that produce gear cutting tools and machinery. Sears Centre Arena is also on Prairie Stone Parkway. It is a major sports and entertainment venue that employs many people. Motorola, another multinational corporation, is also headquartered within an easy drive from East Dundee. It is located in Schaumburg, which is just 12 miles (19 minutes) southeast of town. It is another of the 20 largest employers in the Chicago area. Residents who prefer to work in the retail sector can find employment at Sears’ largest U.S. store located in Schaumburg as well. This Woodfield Mall store is 416,000 square feet. Retail and food service employees who prefer no commute at all are happy that East Dundee has many small quaint shops and restaurants on Main Street and in the historic district along the Fox River. West Dundee, only a mile away, also has its own shopping center, Spring Hill Mall. Spring Hill Ford auto dealership, which opened in 1990, offers opportunities to car salespeople. Jobs are also available in Rockroad Industrial Park, which was annexed into the village in 1984-85.
The Republican party raised more funds than any other political party in East Dundee during the 2004 election. George W. Bush’s presidential campaign raised $5,000 in this village. It is thus in synch with the general political inclinations exhibited statewide.
85% of the housing in East Dundee is owner-occupied. Property taxes tend to be a little higher than surrounding communities, but the average purchase price is relatively reasonable (especially when compared to prices in nearby Cook county). According to the Chicago Tribune the average price of a home here was $209,000 in 2005. City-data.com offers a slightly higher estimated value for the same year. That site gives $232,400 as its figure. According to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau the average value was $162,700 in 2000. Therefore, average prices appreciated $46,000-$70,000 in five years depending on which source is cited.. Median property taxes were $3,069 in 2000. The average rent was $766 in 2000. People who live here like this area. 56% of East Dundee residents lived in the same home five years ago. Of people who moved to a different house during that time, 44% remained in Kane county. Of people who moved to a different county, 88% remained in Illinois. Life is good here. And now for today’s random interesting fact: Natural gas is by far the most common heating fuel in East Dundee (96%). Electricity accounts for 3% and who knows what makes up that final 1%! Why is this interesting? Well, natural gas is a clean, relatively inexpensive fuel that is not universally available around the country. It is also great to cook with, because it gives the family chef such precise control over the stove’s heat. While natural gas is often taken for granted by people who live in a place where it is available, folks who live in parts of the country where it is not available are jealous.
Both East and West Dundee are located within the Dundee Township Park District, whose administrative offices and large Recreation & Fitness Center are actually all located in Carpentersville. That is only a technicality though, because Carpentersville is only two miles away. The Fitness Center has programs for literally every age group (from baby to senior). It contains a large indoor pool that is open year round. Many parks are contained within the district. Two have outdoor pools that are open in the summer only. They are Dolphin Cove Aquatic Center in Carpentersville and Sleepy Hollow Pool in the town with the same name. The Aquatic Center is more than just a swimming pool. A Splash-down Family Slide just opened there in addition to Sandcastle Beach and Discovery Fountain. The park district offers a day camp for grades 1-6 in the summer. It also has organized sports programs of all kinds for all ages of children and adults. Some of the sports included are: baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, judo, karate, soccer, softball, tee-ball, tennis and volleyball. Here is a sampling of dance classes offered by the park district: ballet, creative dance, jazz, jazz funk, mixed dance and tap. Classes are offered for everyone from parents with tots to kids, teens and adults. In addition to programs in fitness, sports and dance, Dundee Township Park District also offers a variety of nature programs at Raceway Woods. The Insect Inspectors program is available to children grades 2-6. The Goldrush! program is for kids grades 3-6. SURVIVAL! is offered to slightly older children (8-12 years). The following four events are offered to entire families: * Ice Cream Social Adults can enjoy a Plant Lore & ID program. Raceway Woods also has a Scouts & Schools program which either sends a naturalist to your child’s troop meeting or classroom or leads kids on guided hikes. No discussion about recreation would be complete without talking about golf. In 1966 the park district opened an 18-hole public course called Randall Oaks Golf Club. It is located in West Dundee. It is challenging and includes a pro shop and banquet facilities. In 1991 the park district purchased a second course, Bonnie Dundee Golf Club in Carpentersville. This classic course was built in the 1920s and the park district is constantly updating it. Elgin 11 minutes south has two golf courses-- Highlands Of Elgin Golf Club and Wing Park Gold Club. A new clubhouse is scheduled to open at the end of Summer 2007 at the Highlands. Wing Park is the oldest 9-hole municipal golf course. It was established in 1908! For more details about everything mentioned above visit my Things To Do page. I have links to every park program on that page. In addition to golf and park activities the Fox River that divides East and West Dundee offers an opportunity for all kinds of river fun—canoeing, kayaking, floating down the river in a raft, fishing and skating. The Fox River Bike Path winds along the riverbank and takes cyclists and walkers through the historic and charming downtown area in East Dundee (which is full of cute shops, boutiques and eateries. Also nearby is McGraw Wildlife Foundation. It is a wildlife refuge with hundreds of acres. People who join the foundation to support their environmental and conservation efforts can enjoy the recreational opportunities afforded to members.
There are a lot of ways to have fun in the Dundee area in addition to sports and recreation. I feature a few below, but be sure to visit my Things To Do page to learn about many more. Farmer’s Market Shop for fresh produce, plants, arts and antiques in the quaint charming setting of East Dundee. Come rain or shine! Call June Boeckh at 847-742-3432 to sign up as a vendor or for more details in general.
This 1,200-seat cultural center located in Elgin just 5 minutes south provides a variety of entertainment throughout the year. Local talent offerings include dance recitals, choral union concerts and performances by the Elgin Symphony. This intimate theater also presents nationally known stars—both musicians like B.B. King and Willie Nelson and comedians like Bob Newhart.
This is an exciting new festival for East and West Dundee. Visitors can shop for exquisite and unique arts and crafts created by the artists themselves. This is a juried show that does not allow mass manufactured products. Set in the quaint historic district of East Dundee this festival is a step back in time. It includes wine tasting, fun food, a kid’s tent, acoustic music and artist demonstrations. An added benefit of this fair is that one piece of each artists’ work is exhibited on the Artistic Bits website from April until the festival date. Check out the website link in the title of this segment for more details.
Sears Center is in Hoffman Estates village just 11 miles east of West Dundee. It is a large sports and entertainment complex that seats up to 11,800 people depending on the activity. Seating capacity for theater productions is the most intimate at 3,000-6,000. Sporting events seat 9,700-10,000 depending on the sport; 9,700 for hockey, soccer and lacrosse games. The Centre is the home the new Chicago Hounds hockey team. Basketball games hold 10,000 fans. The largest venue is reserved for music concerts. Up to 11,800 people can enjoy music here. All in all more than 142 events are held here annually with a total of more than 750,000 visitors. If it is happening, it is happening at Sears Center Arena! It's my job to know EVERYTHING about East Dundee and West Dundee! Ask me any question. Or request a FREE information package. There's no obligation, and I promise to get back to you quickly...
 NUMBER1EXPERT™ © Best Image Marketing and/or its clients. All rights reserved. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. |
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