McHenry County, Illinois

McHenry County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°19′N 88°27′W / 42.32°N 88.45°W / 42.32; -88.45
Country United States
State Illinois
FoundedJanuary 16, 1836
Named afterWilliam McHenry
SeatWoodstock
Largest cityCrystal Lake
Area
  Total
611 sq mi (1,580 km2)
  Land603 sq mi (1,560 km2)
  Water7.6 sq mi (20 km2)  1.3%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
310,229
  Estimate 
(2023)
312,800
  Density510/sq mi (200/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts9th, 10th, 11th, 16th
Websitewww.mchenrycountyil.gov

McHenry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 Census, it had a population of 310,229, making it the sixth-most populous county in Illinois. Its county seat is Woodstock. McHenry County is one of the five Illinois collar counties in the Chicago metropolitan area. Long known as a center of recreation along with agriculture in the western portion, it has recently experienced rapid rates of suburbanization, exurbanization and urbanization, but the western segment of the county remains primarily agricultural and rural.