The county is named after Amos Kendall,[4] who was the editor of the Frankfort, Kentucky, newspaper, and went on to be an important advisor to President Andrew Jackson.

Before European settlers arrived, the land that would become Kendall County was inhabited by several Native American tribes, including the Potawatomi, Fox, and Kickapoo.

These tribes lived in semi-permanent villages along the Fox River and relied on hunting, fishing, and agriculture for their sustenance.

These pioneers faced numerous challenges, including harsh winters, prairie fires, and conflicts with Native American tribes.

Towns like Newark, Lisbon, and Plattville began to take shape, serving as centers of commerce and social activity for the burgeoning population.

Kendall County played a significant role in the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans to escape to free states and Canada.

Notable figures like the Lewis and Sackett families in Oswego provided shelter and support to freedom seekers, risking their own safety in the process.

Additionally, Kendall County residents organized relief efforts, raised funds, and supported families of soldiers serving on the front lines.

Industrial centers emerged in towns like Yorkville, Plano, and Sandwich, where factories, mills, and foundries produced agricultural implements, machinery, and other goods.

The county's rich soil and favorable climate made it ideal for farming, especially for corn, soybeans, and dairy products.

Family-owned farms and agricultural cooperatives played a crucial role in sustaining rural communities and providing food and commodities to urban markets.

Following World War II, Kendall County experienced a population boom as suburbanization swept across the United States.

Subdivisions and housing developments sprang up throughout the county, catering to the needs of a growing population seeking the tranquility of suburban life.

Between the 1856 and 2004 elections, the only time Kendall County did not give a plurality to the GOP presidential nominee was in 1912, when the Republican Party was mortally divided and Progressive Party candidate Theodore Roosevelt won 57.56% of the county's vote against conservative incumbent president William Howard Taft.

Filming has also taken place south of Plano at the Farnsworth House, a modern architectural landmark for documentaries and commercials.