OVERVIEW

The Village of East Dundee is a charming town along the shores of the Fox River in Kane County. Located 40 miles from downtown Chicago, it offers every convenience for its residents, from shopping and activities to easy commuting to the surrounding areas on Interstate 90. Metra train service is located south of East Dundee in Elgin. O'Hare International Airport is a quick 28-mile drive, and Midway Airport is 43 miles from East Dundee. The historic district along the river and the stores on Main Street make up the commercial part of the village.

The Park District offers many activities including a recreational and fitness center housing racquetball courts, day care, indoor pool, basketball courts, and an indoor track. In addition, the village has two 18-hole golf courses, a Senior Center, two outdoor pools, the Dolphin Cove Family Aquatic Center, and a petting zoo. Parks, athletic fields, playgrounds, and natural woodlands complete the picture. A few of the annual popular activities in town are the Heritage Fest, the Farmers Market, and Dickens in Dundee.

The development of East Dundee has been slow due to lack of land. The river is a barrier on the west side of town, and Hoffman Estates sits directly east. Early referendums in 1956 and 1962 failed to unite East Dundee and West Dundee, preventing East Dundee from reaping the benefits of the Spring Hill Mall to the west. Although expansion has been limited, local industry and commerce have grown through the 1980's and 1990's. The Dundee area was a contender in 2005 for the CNNMoney.com Best Places to Life in Illinois and Best Places to Retire in Illinois. The Village is continuing to identify sustainable development opportunities for the benefit of its existing and future residents, businesses, and visitors.


HISTORY

The Potowattomie Indians sold this land to Illinois in 1835. The first settlers arrived in the area in 1834. Jesse Newman, his wife, and Joseph Russell built a cabin along the east bank of the Fox River to prospect. They stayed only a short time, staked their claim, and returned a year later. By 1840, almost all of the land was settled. Settlers on the west side of the river had the honor of naming the town. The areas on both the east and west sides were named Dundee, after the town in Scotland.

East Dundee was platted in 1837 for Thomas Deweese, who laid claim to a large part of the area. Unaware of these claims, other settlers were forced to pay him or move out. Mr. Deweese built a gristmill and installed the first bridge over the Fox River. In the 1850's, a group of Lutheran Germans moved into the area, built a church, and practiced their own traditions. Their activities set them apart from their neighbors to the west, who were largely Scottish.

A benefit of living along a riverbank was the abundance of clay which was used to start a brickyard business in 1852. D.H. Haeger became one of the owners of the business in 1871, the same year the village was incorporated. Shortly after he became the sole owner and extended the business to include tile. After the Chicago Fire in 1871, bricks were shipped into the city to help rebuild. In the 1920's, the brickyard started to produce pottery, including dishes, crystal and glassware. Haeger is still in business today, attracting many shoppers to its factory store.


GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Village of East Dundee
120 Barrington Avenue
East Dundee, IL 60118
847-426-2822

Police Department
120 Barrington Avenue
East Dundee, IL 60118
847-428-4034
847-428-8784 (after hours)
911 Emergency

Fire Department
115 E. 3rd Street
East Dundee, IL 60118
847-426-7521
911 Emergency

Park District
665 Barrington Avenue
East Dundee, IL 60118
847-428-7131

Dundee Township Library
555 Barrington Avenue
East Dundee, IL 60118
847-428-3661

Browning Ferris Industries
Disposal Services
847-429-7370


UTILITIES

Electric Company
ComEd
P.O. Box 767
Chicago, IL 60690
800-334-7661

Gas Company
NICOR
P.O. Box 2020
Aurora, IL 60507
888-642-6748

Telephone Company
AT&T
P.O. Box 2500
Bedford Park, IL 60499
800-244-4444

Cable Company
Comcast
Addison, IL 60101
866-594-1234


SCHOOLS

Consolidated Unit School District #300
300 Cleveland Avenue
Carpentersville, IL 60110
847-428-7131

Dundee Highlands Elementary School
407 S. 5th Street
West Dundee, IL 60118

Dundee Middle School
37W450 IL Rt. 72
Dundee, IL 60118
847-426-1485

Dundee-Crown High School
1 Charger Country Drive
Carpentersville, IL 60110
847-426-1415

Immanuel Lutheran School
310 Main Street
East Dundee, IL 60118
847-428-4477

St. Catherine of Siena School
845 W. Main Street
East Dundee, IL 60118
847-426-4808

St. Edward Catholic High School
335 Locust Street
Elgin, IL 60123
847-741-7535


TRIVIA

Median household income in East Dundee is above state average.
Median house value is above state average.
Unemployed percentage is below state average.

East Dundee was a filming location for the 2002 movie, Road to Perdition.

The Milk Pail Restaurant and Entertainment Complex on Route 25 was once the site of Max McGraws (McGraw Edison Electric Co.) private hunting and fishing club.