Kenilworth is a village in Cook County, Illinois, approximately 17 mi (28 km) north of downtown Chicago. It is the newest of the nine suburban North Shore communities bordering Lake Michigan, and is the only one developed as a planned community.
The village is known for its affluence and has a reputation as the richest suburb in Chicago and third wealthiest in the nation.[2][3]
Demographics
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 2,494 people, 792 households, and 697 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,190.8 people per square mile (1,604.9/km²). There were 815 housing units at an average density of 1,369.5/sq mi (524.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.27% White, 0.16% African American, 0.04% Native American, 2.25% Asian, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.
There were 792 households out of which 49.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 81.7% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.9% were non-families. 10.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.15 and the average family size was 3.39.
In the village the population was spread out with 34.8% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 19.7% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
As of the census of 2000, the median income for a household in the village was greater than $200,000, as is the median income for a family. The per capita income for the village was $100,718. None of the families and 1.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.
In 2009 the Chicago Tribune reported that the average family income in Kenilworth is approximately $350,000, which is over four times the average income of all Illinois families.[5]
Reputation
Kenilworth has a reputation as the wealthiest and most exclusive community in the Midwest. In April 2009, American Demographics magazine named Kenilworth's ZIP code (60043) the 11th most affluent in the US. In September 2007 Forbes magazine ranked Kenilworth as the 19th most expensive ZIP code in America[6] and in a three-way tie, the richest zip code in America [7] It made the Forbes list as one of the richest in America again in 2008.[3]
Education
Kenilworth has its own public school district, with its only school being Joseph Sears School, named after the founder of the village. The district is School District 38 in Cook County, and is the fifth most expensive K-8 district in the state of Illinois in per-student spending. The school, commonly known as Sears, runs from junior kindergarten through eighth grade, with about sixty students per grade. Sears has its own gymnasium, auditorium, library, and one high-tech computer lab , in addition to a blacktop and large fields behind the school. Annual events that go on at Sears include The Eighth Grade Play, the Spelling Bee, the Geography Bee, Scamper Night (concert put-on by the Girl Scouts), and Field Day (Tigers vs. Wildcats). Most students participate in one of the school's athletic teams, including boys and girls basketball, boys and girls volleyball, coed soccer, field hockey and coed track and field. Football and Lacrosse are also popular sports students will participate in that are run through the Kenilworth Park District.
There are no private schools in the small village of Kenilworth itself, but some K-8 students do attend nearby schools such as Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity, St. Joseph, St. Francis Xavier, Roycemore School, Baker Demonstration, and North Shore Country Day.
The vast majority of high schoolers in Kenilworth attend New Trier High School, the district high school just down the road, but others attend a variety of private schools including local and boarding schools. The most popular choices for students looking for alternatives include local private schools such as Loyola Academy, North Shore Country Day, Regina Domincan, Roycemore School, and Lake Forest Academy, as well as schools on the East Coast such as The Hotchkiss School and Westminster School.
Public Entities and Points of Interest
Places in Kenilworth include
- Kenilworth Fountain - In the middle of Kenilworth Avenue just east of the railroad tracks
- The Kenilworth Beach - The public beach on Lake Michigan, which is divided into a sailing beach and a bathing beach
- Pee Wee Field - Also known as "Sears Stadium" - Baseball field located on the west side of town where many little leaguers play
- Townley Field - District-owned sports field behind the school where many sports are played including field hockey, soccer, lacrosse, and the school Field Day
- The Ware Garden - Public courtyard on the east side where many residents walk their dogs
- McKinley Park - A small park on the south side of town
- Kenilworth Train Station - Train station on the Metra Line in between Indian Hill and Wilmette stations
- Joseph Sears School - Public elementary and junior high school on Abbotsford Road (JK-8)
- The Kenilworth Club - A frequented community house that hosts all sorts of events throughout the year
- Kenilworth Historical Society - Preserve and present the history of the town
- Kenilworth Union Church - A non-denominational Protestant church on Kenilworth Avenue
- Church of the Holy Comforter - Episcopal Church across the street from Kenilworth Union
Kenilworth does not have its own fire department or library; for these services, the town contracts with the neighboring Winnetka fire department and with the Wilmette library. Kenilworth has its own police department and 9-1-1 call center.
Kenilworth Assembly Hall
Known as the Kenilworth Club, the Assembly Hall is a community building in the center of the village used for civic events for the town's gatherings, school-related events, and private organizations' meetings. This building is used for the annual Joseph Sears School benefits as well. The building was constructed by George Maher in 1907, and will reach its centennial commemoration next summer. The community house is used by the Historical Society, Joseph Sears School, and the Boy and Girl Scouts programs among others. In addition, a handful of yearly events go on at the Kenilworth Club, including Bingo Night, The Memorial Day Parade, and the Halloween Party. According to the official website, the Club's mission is, "To educate members of the community about the village, its history and architecture, as represented by the Assembly Hall itself; to promote friendly relations among its members; to serve their social needs; and to promote cultural activities, provide literary entertainment and encourage mental culture."
In recent years, the Kenilworth Assembly Hall has become a home for concerts and benefits hosted by local bands from New Trier High School and other surrounding areas. The title "North Shore Scene" has been appropriately coined by many students and teenagers to describe their association with the concerts and the bands that participate. The North Shore Scene has helped launch the careers of well-known artists such as Fall Out Boy and Blacktop Mourning.
Geography
Kenilworth is located at 42°5′17″N 87°42′57″W / 42.08806°N 87.71583°W / 42.08806; -87.71583 (42.088128, -87.716009)[8].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
The highest point in the village is in the northwest corner, along Ridge Rd. This point is about 643 feet (196 m) above sea level, or 68 feet (21 m) above the surface of Lake Michigan.
History
Joseph Sears purchased 223.6 acres (0.905 km2) in one of the last undeveloped areas near Chicago's lakeshore for $150,300 in 1889. Joseph Sears' specifications for the community included large lots, high standards of construction, and no alleys. Seven years later, the population had reached 300 residents, fulfilling the legal requirement for incorporation. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 2,494.
Notable people
References
External links
