Harvard, Illinois
Harvard is a city of 9,598 people in McHenry County, Illinois, founded in 1867.
Why visit Harvard
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 10 parks and trails, 20 places to eat and 2 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Beck's Woods and Rush Creek Conservation Area.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 13°F, and about 31 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Harvard
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Harvard
Harvard is a city located in McHenry County, Illinois. The population was 9,469 at the 2020 census. The city is 63 miles from the Chicago Loop and it is the last stop on the Union Pacific Northwest Line.
From the Wikipedia article Harvard, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks2
Parks, trails and playgrounds10
Restaurants and cafes20
The Mug Coffeehouse
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.7 mi
107 West Front Street, Harvard
Mo-Fr 06:00-14:00,Sa 07:00-14:00, Su 08:00-13:00
By The Dozen Baakery
Bakery · 0.7 mi
104 East Brainard Street, Harvard
Kelley's Family Restaurant
Restaurant · 1.7 mi
5420 South US Highway 14, Harvard
The Heritage House
Restaurant · 2.3 mi
21225 South US Highway 14, Harvard
8 more on the map.
Where to stay2
The Heritage Inn & Suites
Motel and hotel · 2.3 mi
1701 South Division Street, Harvard
History
The original owners of the land that came to be Harvard, Illinois, were Abram Carmack and Jacob Davis, who obtained it from the government in 1845 and sold it to Gilbert Brainard shortly afterward. Upon Gilbert Brainard's death, the land was purchased by Amos Page, Otis Eastman, and Elbridge Gerry Ayer. These three men planned the layout of the town and named it "Harvard" in honor of Harvard, Massachusetts. The plat was signed by Judge J. M. Strode in Woodstock, Illinois, on November 25, 1856. Shortly afterward, Amos Page and Otis Eastman sold their shares of the property to Elbridge Gerry Ayer. Mr.Ayer's involvement came out of his business interest in the extension of the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company railroad west from Cary, toward Janesville, Wisconsin. The newly platted town of Harvard was located directly on the route of the extension, and in April 1856, the railroad accepted Ayer's offer of land to build a station in the town.
From the History section of Harvard, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship7
First United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 0.4 mi
1100 North Division Street, Harvard
Saint Joseph Catholic Church
Church · Catholic · 0.8 mi
206 East Front Street, Harvard
St Paul's Lutheran Church
Church · Lutheran · 0.7 mi
1601 Garfield Street, Harvard
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries11
Harvard High School
School · 0.6 mi
1103 North Jefferson Street, Harvard
Jefferson Elementary School
School · Nondenominational · 0.5 mi
1200 North Jefferson Street, Harvard
Washington Elementary School
School · 0.7 mi
305 South Hutchinson Street, Harvard
Healthcare3
Mercy Harvard Hospital Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.7 mi
1001 Grant Street, Harvard
Map of Harvard
63 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 13°F | 1.7 in | 8.0 in |
| Feb | 33°F | 16°F | 1.6 in | 9.1 in |
| Mar | 45°F | 26°F | 2.1 in | 2.4 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 36°F | 3.8 in | 0.4 in |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 57°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 60°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 52°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 40°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 47°F | 29°F | 2.4 in | 1.6 in |
| Dec | 34°F | 18°F | 1.9 in | 9.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Marengo Hcn (11 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
Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (JVL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 25 miles away.
- Woodstock 13 mi southeast, about 20 min by car
- Marengo 13 mi south, about 20 min by car
- Poplar Grove 13 mi southwest, about 20 min by car
- Wonder Lake 14 mi east, about 23 min by car
- Timberlane 14 mi southwest, about 23 min by car
- Bull Valley 15 mi southeast, about 24 min by car
- Richmond 16 mi east, about 26 min by car
- Elkhorn 17 mi north, about 28 min by car
- Belvidere 18 mi southwest, about 29 min by car
- McHenry 18 mi east, about 29 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
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- HarvardIlCow, Carldaniel, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.