Lake of the Woods, IL

Lake of the Woods is a Champaign County census-designated place in Mahomet Township, mostly surrounded by the northeast side of Mahomet. The 2020 census counted 2,403 residents. Its name comes from the larger recreational landscape next door: Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve sits off Illinois Route 47 on a wooded site near Mahomet, with the lake, bike trail, and Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden giving the area its most recognizable landmarks. The nearby village keeps its parks and transportation departments on Lake of the Woods Road, so local services run through Mahomet rather than a separate town government.

ATTRDual Freq / CC BY 2.5

The preserve's mix of water, woods, gardens, trails, and a pavilion gives Lake of the Woods a clear local texture. Residents are in the Mahomet-Seymour Community Unit School District, and the CDP's streets meet Mahomet's shops, schools, and municipal facilities at the edges. Lake of the Woods is a place where a named lake and forest preserve do most of the orienting, with Mahomet providing the surrounding services.