Glencoe

Glencoe, 22 miles north of the Loop, began as an experiment in building the “perfect suburb”. Alexander Hammond, a retired physician and farmer from Rockford, led the quest to create a village with parks, homes and streets following the natural and beautiful topography of the land. Residents would agree that the experiment was an unmitigated success. The principals that shaped Glencoe are still evident today. Strict zoning helps to maintain the spaciousness of the community, which reminds one more of a forest preserve than a suburb of a major metropolitan area.

LIFESTYLE

The central business district of the village is dotted with small boutiques, cafes, Writers’ Theatre and a variety of professional services. It is shielded from the many trappings of urban life (expressways, for example) by forest preserves, the Chicago Botanical Gardens and dense growth of trees. Outdoor activities are popular in the community, which boasts a nicely maintained beach and two nature sanctuaries. The Glencoe Park district operates 18 parks and playgrounds (including the newly renovated, in-town “Friends Park”), two outdoor ice rinks, two community centers, tennis courts, three golf courses, a Frisbee golf course, and bicycle/jogging paths.

SCHOOLS

Students attend elementary school together throughout their K-8 years in District 35. South School covers K-2, West School is for grades 3-4 and Central School houses grades 5-8. The district is well known for its fine arts and language arts program and its special education program. Teenagers attend nationally-recognized New Trier High School, District 203, in neighboring communities, with freshmen attending the Northfield campus and Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors attending the Winnetka campus.

Population 8,854