# Marengo, Illinois

Marengo is a city in McHenry County, Illinois, United States on the Kishwaukee River. It lies approximately 60 miles west northwest of Chicago and approximately 30 miles east of Rockford. Per the 2020 census, the population was 7,568.

## Geography

Marengo is located at 42°15′3″N 88°36′18″W﻿ / ﻿42.25083°N 88.60500°W﻿ / 42.25083; -88.60500.
The north edge of Marengo is bordered by the Kishwaukee River
According to the 2010 census, Marengo has a total area of 5.01 square miles (12.98 km$^2$), all land.

### Major streets

* Grant Highway
* State Street
* Telegraph Street

### Climate

Climate data for Marengo, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–2018) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 62 (17) | 73 (23) | 84 (29) | 94 (34) | 107 (42) | 107 (42) | 109 (43) | 107 (42) | 103 (39) | 90 (32) | 80 (27) | 67 (19) | 109 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 47.6 (8.7) | 52.6 (11.4) | 68.9 (20.5) | 81.5 (27.5) | 87.2 (30.7) | 94.0 (34.4) | 95.3 (35.2) | 93.4 (34.1) | 89.3 (31.8) | 81.9 (27.7) | 67.1 (19.5) | 50.4 (10.2) | 97.1 (36.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 29.2 (−1.6) | 33.2 (0.7) | 44.9 (7.2) | 58.6 (14.8) | 70.2 (21.2) | 79.9 (26.6) | 83.5 (28.6) | 81.8 (27.7) | 75.4 (24.1) | 62.4 (16.9) | 46.9 (8.3) | 34.5 (1.4) | 58.4 (14.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 20.9 (−6.2) | 24.5 (−4.2) | 35.4 (1.9) | 47.4 (8.6) | 58.7 (14.8) | 68.6 (20.3) | 72.6 (22.6) | 70.7 (21.5) | 63.6 (17.6) | 51.2 (10.7) | 38.0 (3.3) | 26.5 (−3.1) | 48.2 (9.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 12.7 (−10.7) | 15.8 (−9.0) | 25.9 (−3.4) | 36.2 (2.3) | 47.2 (8.4) | 57.2 (14.0) | 61.7 (16.5) | 59.6 (15.3) | 51.8 (11.0) | 39.9 (4.4) | 29.1 (−1.6) | 18.5 (−7.5) | 38.0 (3.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −11.3 (−24.1) | −6.1 (−21.2) | 7.5 (−13.6) | 20.6 (−6.3) | 32.1 (0.1) | 42.9 (6.1) | 49.4 (9.7) | 47.7 (8.7) | 35.4 (1.9) | 24.6 (−4.1) | 12.6 (−10.8) | −3.8 (−19.9) | −14.7 (−25.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −29 (−34) | −27 (−33) | −16 (−27) | 6 (−14) | 21 (−6) | 29 (−2) | 39 (4) | 37 (3) | 24 (−4) | 8 (−13) | −17 (−27) | −26 (−32) | −29 (−34) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.67 (42) | 1.64 (42) | 2.08 (53) | 3.81 (97) | 4.57 (116) | 4.62 (117) | 4.05 (103) | 4.22 (107) | 3.68 (93) | 2.98 (76) | 2.35 (60) | 1.94 (49) | 37.61 (955) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.0 (20) | 9.1 (23) | 2.4 (6.1) | 0.4 (1.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.6 (4.1) | 9.3 (24) | 30.8 (78) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.2 | 5.8 | 7.9 | 10.5 | 11.7 | 9.8 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 7.2 | 8.0 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 100.9 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 4.4) | 3.5 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 13.3 |
| Source: NOAA (mean maxima/minima 1981–2010) ||||||||||||||

## History

Marengo was first named Pleasant Grove after a grove of trees near the town site. The present name commemorates the Battle of Marengo. A post office named Marengo was established in 1844.
In the early morning of June 11, 2017, at around 4:50 A.M., a house in the northwest suburbs exploded. The gas explosion set four houses on fire and damaged 50 more, nearly 20 of which were deemed "unlivable." Despite the extensive damage, no fatalities or serious injuries occurred; only two people were reported to have suffered minor injuries.

## Government

Marengo is governed by the mayor, John Koziol, and a city council of eight aldermen.

## Demographics

Marengo city, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. :
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 5,441 | 6,305 | 5,758 | 85.62% | 82.44% | 76.08% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 16 | 41 | 94 | 0.25% | 0.54% | 1.24% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 12 | 16 | 20 | 0.19% | 0.21% | 0.26% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 18 | 37 | 51 | 0.28% | 0.48% | 0.67% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 0 | 7 | 16 | 0.00% | 0.09% | 0.21% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 42 | 69 | 248 | 0.66% | 0.90% | 3.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 826 | 1,172 | 1,381 | 13.00% | 15.32% | 18.25% |
| Total | 6,355 | 7,648 | 7,568 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |

### 2000 Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,355 people, 2,387 households, and 1,694 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,598.5 inhabitants per square mile (617.2/km$^2$). There were 2,475 housing units at an average density of 622.6 per square mile (240.4/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 92.07% White, 0.30% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 5.54% of other races, and 1.53% of two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.00% of the population.
There were 2,387 households, out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.17.
The population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,214, and the median income for a family was $57,209. Males had a median income of $41,298 versus $26,317 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,225. About 3.9% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

## Notable people

* David Boies, lawyer and Chairman of Boies, Schiller & Flexner, and lawyer for Al Gore in Bush v. Gore
* Jack D. Franks, former Illinois State Representative and McHenry County Board Chairman
* Carl Lundgren, pitcher for the Chicago Cubs (1902–1909); born in Marengo
* Edward D. Shurtleff, Illinois state legislator, jurist; served as mayor of Marengo
* Shane Singh, journalist and former Executive Editor of Playboy magazine
* Sherman E. Smalley, Wisconsin state assemblyman and jurist; born in Marengo
* Carrie Adell Strahorn, American pioneer, explorer, and author
* Egbert Van Alstyne, songwriter
* Elizabeth Horton, Creative Director at Chervon North America

## Media

The Marengo-Union Times is the newspaper of record in Marengo, IL. It has a circulation of 6,300 and is mailed to every home and business in the greater Marengo and Union, Illinois area.