Cary, Illinois
Cary is a village of 17,923 people in McHenry County, Illinois, founded in 1833.
Why visit Cary
Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 39 parks and trails, 34 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include From Spore to More, Regal Crystal Lake Showplace, Christian Geister House and Col. Gustavus A. Palmer House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 13°F, and about 34 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Cary
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Cary
Cary is a village located in Algonquin Township, McHenry County, Illinois, and Cuba Township, Lake County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 17,826.
From the Wikipedia article Cary, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
From Spore to More
Farm and orchard · 1.9 mi
Gourmet Mushrooms
406 South Northwest Highway, Fox River Grove
Mo-Sa 11:00-18:00
Regal Crystal Lake Showplace
Cinema and theater · 2.5 mi
5000 Northwest Highway, Crystal Lake
Museums and landmarks9
Christian Geister House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
.jpg){kind=link}
Col. Gustavus A. Palmer House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Place de la Musique
Museum · 3.0 mi
Private museum in Barrington Hills, Illinois, United States, known for its collection of antique music machines, including phonographs,...
1995 Fox River Grove Bus–Train Collision Memorial
Monument and historic site · 2.0 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds39
Rotary Park
Park · 1.9 mi
A former quarry mine to Nature Preserve and Park. Amenities: Walking/Biking Trail Picnic Tables Kayak Launch Grills Fishing Pier...
1300 Klasen Road, Cary
Apr-Oct dawn-dusk
27 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes34
Kojack's
Restaurant · American, Burger, Sandwich · 0.5 mi
700 Northwest Highway, Cary
Mo-Su 11:00-20:00
FOI Flavors Of India
Restaurant · Indian
524 Northwest Highway, Cary
We-Mo 11:00-22:00
Texas Roadhouse
Restaurant · Steak House · 2.2 mi
Mo-Th 16:00-22:00, Fr 16:00-23:00, Sa 11:00-23:00, Su 11:00-22:00
Lucky Lucie's 7
Bar and pub · 2.0 mi
412 South Northwest Highway, Fox River Grove
10:00-02:00
22 more on the map.
History
In 1841, William Dennison Cary purchased 82 acres (33 ha) for $1.25 an acre at the location of the current town and built a farm. In 1856, Cary included a train station for the Illinois & Wisconsin Railway which connected Cary to Chicago and Janesville. The site was approved and a post office was added with the designation "Cary Station." The community around Cary Station was incorporated in 1893 as Cary, Illinois.
Early farmers saw this new railway as an opportunity. The economy relied heavily on selling produce, mainly pickles, and the farmers utilized the railway to conduct business with more industrialized cities such as St. Louis and Chicago. The success of this transportation enterprise helped transform Cary into the suburban community it is today. People traveled by rail and most commerce became dependent on the railroad.
In the 1950s, highway transportation overtook rail as the primary means of moving people and goods. Northwest Highway (U.S. 14) parallels the railroad right-of-way, which has been the Union Pacific Northwest Metra line since the Union Pacific merged with the Chicago & North Western in 1995.
From the History section of Cary, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship10
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries51
Healthcare3
Illnois Bone and Joint Institute IBJI
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.3 mi
815 Cog Circle, Crystal Lake
Map of Cary
161 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 13°F | 1.6 in | 11.0 in |
| Feb | 35°F | 16°F | 1.6 in | 8.9 in |
| Mar | 46°F | 26°F | 2.2 in | 3.9 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 37°F | 3.6 in | 1.0 in |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 57°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 60°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 51°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 40°F | 3.2 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 29°F | 2.4 in | 1.4 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 19°F | 1.9 in | 8.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Mc Henry -Wg Stratton L&D (7 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
McHenry County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for snowstorms.
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-05-10: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-03-17: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2008-03-13: Record Snow And Near Record Snow (Snowstorm)
- 2006-12-29: Snow (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 19 miles away.
- Algonquin 5 mi southwest, about 8 min by car
- Carpentersville 7 mi south, about 11 min by car
- Barrington 8 mi southeast, about 12 min by car
- Elgin 13 mi south, about 20 min by car
- Buffalo Grove 15 mi east, about 24 min by car
- Arlington Heights 16 mi southeast, about 26 min by car
- Bartlett 18 mi south, about 29 min by car
- Bloomingdale 20 mi southeast, about 32 min by car
- Campton Hills 20 mi southwest, about 32 min by car
- Antioch 21 mi northeast, about 33 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Palmer House 1858, Smallbones, Public domain
- Christian Geister House, Smallbones, Public domain
- Dunkin' Donuts (50158905152), Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Doe and baby, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fox carving in Lions Park, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mallards in the Fox River - Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- White-tailed deer fawn in Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Owl carving in Lions Park, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fox 14 Panorama, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fox River Grove, Fox 14 dry dock, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fox River Grove, Fox 14 docks, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers (8705161689), CheepShot, CC BY 2.0
- Solitary Sandpiper (8706283406), CheepShot, CC BY 2.0
- 002 Fox River (8674580327), LakeCountyIL, CC BY 2.0
- Northern Indiana Railway Uniform Buttons, ChicagoAreaTom, CC BY-SA 4.0
- King Pin Lanes in Fox River Grove, Illinois, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fox River Grove Memorial Library, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fox River Grove Municipal Building, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Picnic Grove Park, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hooting and Honking Geese at Picnic Grove Park, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fox River Grove Police Department, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- New China Restaurant 1, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- U.S.S. Polliwog at Picnic Grove Park, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fox River Grove Metra Station, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- FRG Water Tower, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Opatrny and Lincoln Crossing, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sled Hill at Picnic Grove Park, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Concrete Slab at Picnic Grove Park, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oak Savanna at Picnic Grove Park, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- New China Restaurant 2, Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Drainage Ditch in Fox River Grove, Illinois, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Single-family homes near the Chalets of Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Windridge memorial park waterfall long exposure zoom (50158665131), Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Three Frogs 728x90 ratio leaderboard banner (50817364181), Joseph Gage, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Fox River Grove, IL Bus-Train Accident Memorial, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Victims Memorial in Fox River Grove, IL, OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.