As the Fox River flowed south from Wisconsin, it made a chain of placid and beautiful lakes. The larger lakes became known as Fox Lake, Channel Lake, Long Lake, Grass Lake, Round Lake, and in McHenry County, Pistaqua (now Pistakee) Bay. Then the river continued southwest. It was generally at this point that German immigrants chose to settle in what is now known as Johnsburg. The first recorded settlers arrived here on August 2, 1841 from the Eifel Region in Germany.
The community first families formed what was called Miller’s Settlement, possibly named after Johann Baptist Mueller, an early settler. After settling down with their families and starting their new lives in a new land, the Nick Adams, Jacob Schmitt and Nick Fret families started a parish, St. John the Baptist. The church was organized in 1843 by Father Portman.
In 1922 the Johnsburg Community Club was formed with the intent to see that the town of Johnsburg was recognized, and when the citizens of the community were in need of improvements or aid, that the community would be backed by a progressive civic minded organization. In 1931, the Community Club pushed to get a voting precinct for Johnsburg. The voting precinct would not be realized until 1937, due to insufficient population.
The next few years brought an increase in population as many farms became subdivisions and the bay area developed. The Pistakee Bay area lies in the southeastern portion of the Johnsburg area. Since the days when pioneer John Pitzen built a log cabin on its western shore, Pistakee Bay has developed into a beautiful estate region. Later came the Pistakee cottage grounds and still later, the first hotel on the Bay in 1934. The area developed from a deserted lake with muddy shores, a favorite habitat for ducks and other wild game, into summer resorts, landscaped lawns and palatial homes.
In the northeastern portion of the Johnsburg area grew the village of Sunnyside. In 1940 Alfred J. May planned and started development of the subdivision of the May property which was known as Sunnyside Farm. Sunnyside was organized and incorporated on April 9, 1956.
In 1989, a committee of the Johnsburg Community Club was formed to study the future of yet unincorporated Johnsburg. At least two attempts at incorporation failed or were dropped. The committee felt that with the constant growth in the area, they had to gain some form of the control of that growth to preserve the quality of life that was present in the community.
After months of study, the committee chose annexation to the Village of Sunnyside as the most efficient way to gain this control. The annexation was accomplished during the fall of 1991, with the name change from Village of Sunnyside to Village of Johnsburg the following year.
Today, Johnsburg consists of approximately 6000 residents. Johnsburg School District #12 consisting of Ringwood School (Pre-K through 2nd grade), James C. Bush Elementary School (3rd and 4th grade), Johnsburg Jr. High School (5th through 8th grade) and Johnsburg High School has an enrollment of 892 students. Additions were done to all of the schools in 2000 to accommodate the growing needs of the community.
Johnsburg has made significant improvements to two major park facilities which provide ball fields, soccer fields, walking paths, picnic areas and playground equipment to the community. The community has many sports activities that kids can enjoy such as: Johnsburg Boys Baseball League, Johnsburg Pigtail league, White Lightning Soccer, and J-Hawks football league. Johnsburg maintains a boat launch facility at which Village residents can launch their boats and other water crafts at no cost.
The Village’s first wastewater treatment facility has been recently completed and work will begin shortly on the first Village owned water tower. The wastewater treatment facility will serve nearly 1000 existing residences and businesses and will also provide for service for future commercial growth in the Route 31 corridor area. The water tower will provide fire rated water service to the Route 31 corridor area.
Learn more about JOHNSBURG
, Illinois
City of JOHNSBURG , IL official website
County of Mc Henry, IL official website
City of JOHNSBURG , IL general information
City of JOHNSBURG , IL chamber of commerce
City of JOHNSBURG , IL yellow pages