In 1835, Elder John and Nancy Oatman established a tavern and a store that became the core of the community.

Expanding to 900 acres, the nursery survived the Great Depression by running a cattle feed operation that continued through World War II.

Some of the thousands of seasonal workers traveled to work from Chicago by electric rail, while the majority lived on the nursery grounds.

In the 1950s, a segment of the Hill property was sold and turned into the Highlands subdivision, which was annexed into West Dundee in 1956.

The community also annexed property west of Illinois 31 in 1957, Royal Lane in 1960, and the Old World subdivision in 1966.

The 1.1 million-square-foot mall's retail sales boosted West Dundee's economy and created an estimated 1,600 jobs by 1982.

With a population of 7,331 (2010 Census data), West Dundee has managed to keep its quaintness and small-town feeling intact.

Restored buildings include structures reported to have provided refuge for slaves on the Underground Railroad.

The Village President and six-member Board of Trustees are elected at-large on a nonpartisan basis for staggered four-year terms.

[citation needed] Pace provides bus service on Route 550, 552, and 803 connecting West Dundee to Crystal Lake, Elgin, and other destinations.