| Wauconda is a
village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The
population was 9,448 at the 2000 census, estimated to
be 12,614 in 2006, and is projected to reach 13,811
by 2011.
Traditions say that Wauconda
was named for an Indian Chief by that name, who is buried
somewhere on the southern bank of Bangs Lake, where
the town hall was later built. The word translated from
its Indian language means Spirit Water.
When the first settlers arrived there
were no Indians, as they had moved westward. In 1840,
a remnant of the Winnebago tribe lived on the shores
of the Fox River and came to Wauconda to trade. Several
Indian mounds were found near here, and it is probable
there was an encampment at Slocum Lake. In 1836, Elihu
Hubbard built a log cabin on the bank of the lake. In
1848, Justus Bangs, the first settler, built a home
where the town hall now stands, and it was for him the
lake was named. Wauconda was organized in 1849, and
the first town meeting was held the first Tuesday in
April, 1850. Most of the early settlers came from New
England and New York.
They came by covered wagon and some
came through the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes. The
first main street ran along the bank of the lake and
the streets leading into it were lanes. They used to
ford the inlet and outlet of the lake.
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