Kenilworth
Kenilworth, just one square mile in size, is one of the country's first examples of a planned community! Back in 1889, a local 
settler named Joseph Sears decided to create a new town patterned after a bucolic English village. He purchased 223 acres of undeveloped woodland and laid out the town he named Kenilworth. The first area to be built was between the lake and Green Bay Road and restrictions were imposed on lots sizes that were to be no less than 100 x 175, giving the town a wide open grassy feel.
In 1920 a golf course located on the west side of the railroad and Green Bay Road went out of business so the village acquired this land of 40 acres and expanded Kenilworth to its present size. The lots and houses on the west side are smaller and more affordable.
Many homes in Kenilworth were designed and built by prominent architects, one of whom, George Maher, who lived and built over 40 homes in the village, and Franklin Burnham who designed the Kenilworth Club and the Kenilworth Train station. Many different building styles are seen here including Prairie, Arts and Crafts, and English Tudor. As with many neighboring villages, much disagreement has occured over the demolition of some of these historic homes to make way for new construction.
Kenilworth has about 2500 residents and is the most expensive of our North Shore suburbs, with the average home price approximately $1,400,000 in 2009. However, homes on the west side sell for between $600,000 and $2,000,000, while homes on the east side are generally over $2,000,000 and up to $8,000,000. American Demographics Magazine identified Kenilworth as the 11th most affluent zip code in 2005 with the average salary being $350,000.
The streets in Kenilworth sport names like Abbotsford, Warwick, Leicester and Essex after villages from Sir Walter Scott's Novel Kenilworth. All the streets were laid out and the lots were planted with trees before any houses were built - all to recreate a pastoral village feel just 16 miles from downtown Chicago.
Kenilworth's crown jewel is its school, Joseph Sears School which educates children from kindergarten through eighth grade, a rarity in modern times. Most homes located in Kenilworth are close enough for children to walk to school, and for those residing west, there is a tunnel under Green Bay Road which opens right into the school's playground. Total enrollment is approximately 600 students - Joseph Sears provides a top-quality public education in private-school setting. Total spending per student is 5th highest in the state.
Kenilworth has a beautiful public swimming beach and a separate sailing beach where boats can be stored. Both are located at the east end of Kenilworth Avenue. The beach is open to all, but residents pay slighly less for individual and summer passes. Other park district activities are purchased through the neighboring villages of Wilmette and Winnetka Park Districts. Library services are also available through Wilmette and Winnetka.
Kenilworth has one train station for the commuter North line with trains running to Chicago in about 30 minutes. Kenilworth also has its own police force, but fire support comes from neighboring villages. The Kenilworth Historical Society is located on Kenilworth Avenue across the street from the Kenilworth Club.
There are two churches in Kenilworth - directly across from one another on Kenilworth Avenue - the Kenilworth Union Church and the Church of the Holy Comforter.
The Kenilworth commercial district is pretty much contained along Green Bay Road and a tiny portion of Park just west of Green Bay. There are a few retail stores (Mona Lisa Tile, RRB Cycles), no restaurants, and not much parking.
Kenilworth Information:
Police Department: 847-251-2141 (911 for emergency!)
Fire Department - contracted out to Wilmette and Winnetka (Call 911 for emergency)
Resident Information: Resident's Corner
Kenilworth Village Office: 847-251-1666
Kenilworth Club - Website
Joseph Sears School - 847-256-5006
New Trier High School - 847-446-7000
