Most of Third Lake was built recently: 6% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1985. Below: maps from 1960 on and the census since 1960.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Third Lake is more historic than 10% of U.S. towns. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
D
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Third Lake’s overall grade.
Few Illinois towns list much on the Register (a typical Illinois town has 0.5 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Third Lake’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (28% of Illinois towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to C−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.7 points). Two sources give 1959.
Founding year: Wikipedia (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Third Lake’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The Alexander Druce Family were the earliest residents of the settlement in 1861. This family owned the land as well as both Druce Lake and Chittendon Lake. The second of which was named after a farming family from further north, the name would be changed to Third Lake in 1954. The Druce Family cemetery was in place by 1907.
In 1959 Third Lake was incorporated as a village in order to avoid pollution and halt development.
Despite the actions taken, major development of the area began in the mid-1980's in the hands of a development syndicate.
In 1959, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1960 counted 216 people here.
How does Third Lake rank for history?
Third Lake is more historic than 10% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Third Lake?
6% of Third Lake’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.7 points), against a typical 11% for an Illinois town; the median home was built in 1985.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
