Mendota is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States, in the state's north-central region. The population was 7,061 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Ottawa, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area. Mendota is located approximately 85 miles (137 km) west of Chicago, 70 miles (110 km) east of Moline and 55 miles (89 km) south of Rockford. The current mayor is David W. Boelk, an independent elected to a four-year term.