Alden was laid out in 1844, and named after Alden, New York, the native home of a large share of the first settlers.[5] A post office called Alden has been in operation since 1844.[6]
Geography
The community is situated in the heart of Alden Township at the junction of Alden Road (County Highway V-12) and Illinois Route 173. The headwaters of Nippersink Creek originate at the High Point Unit of the McHenry County Conservation District, flowing to the southeast and east. In terms of geographic coordinates, the community is located at 42°27′32″N88°31′04″W / 42.45889°N 88.51778°W / 42.45889; -88.51778 (42.4589075, -88.5178757)[7] In terms of the Public Land Survey System, Alden is located within the Southeast Quarter of Section 15 and the Northeast Quarter of Section 23, Township 46 North, Range 6 East of the Third Principal Meridian.[8] Alden is served by the Harvard, Illinois 60033 post office.
Alden CDP, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.