Kildeer, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kildeer, Illinois
Village
Motto(s):  A unique village in a natural setting
Location of Kildeer in Lake County, Illinois
Location of Illinois in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Lake
Area
• Total	4.43 sq mi (11.47 km2)
• Land	4.23 sq mi (10.96 km2)
• Water	0.20 sq mi (0.51 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,091
• Density	967.14/sq mi (373.38/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	60047
Area code(s)	847
FIPS code	17-39883

Kildeer is a village located in the southwestern part of Lake County, Illinois, in the United States. It's a suburb of the big city of Chicago. According to the 2020 census, about 4,091 people live there. Kildeer has grown by focusing on building custom homes on large pieces of land. The village has also worked hard to keep its natural beauty and open spaces.

History of Kildeer

Before the 1950s, the Kildeer area was mostly farms and undeveloped land. After World War II, many people wanted to move to the suburbs. New highways made it easier to travel to work from outside the city. Lake County started paving roads, and the Kildeer area became popular for people who wanted a more rural lifestyle.

In 1951, Quentin Road was straightened out, making it easier to drive. By 1952, the entire road was paved. This made the area more accessible for new residents.

In the mid-1950s, a man named Henry Bosch Jr. planned a new neighborhood. It had homes on large 2-acre (0.81 ha) lots. This neighborhood, called Boschome Farms, was approved in 1955. Bosch wanted to control how homes were built there. Buyers had to get his approval for their house plans before building. Soon after, more land south of Boschome Farms was developed.

The Brickman Builders Plan

In 1958, a company called Brickman Builders announced a huge plan. They wanted to build a "city of the future" in Ela Township. This planned community would cover 9 square miles (23 km²) and include 20,000 homes. It would have schools, a country club, and shopping centers. The company said it would take 15 years to build and have 60,000 people.

The developer, Joseph M. Brickman, said this would be the largest planned community in the country. He wanted to bring organized growth to the area. However, many people already living there had moved for the quiet countryside. They were worried that Brickman would create his own village government. This would allow him to make rules that helped his building plans.

Brickman started building homes on Sturm's farm. He rented these homes cheaply to his employees. Neighbors became suspicious when they heard rumors that Brickman was trying to move more workers into the area. They feared he would quickly take over nearby lands. He was also trying to change zoning rules to allow smaller lots, which meant more homes in a smaller space.

Local residents, led by Dorothea Huszagh, decided to act. They wanted to create their own village to protect their way of life. There was a conflict when Brickman tried to move a barn across a bridge. Neighbors stopped the workers, saying the tree branches they wanted to cut were on private land. This showed how determined the residents were to protect their community.

In 1996, a plaque was placed on the bridge. It honors Dorothea Huszagh and others who fought against the large development plans in the 1950s.

Becoming a Village

On March 22, 1958, residents voted to create the Village of Kildeer. The vote passed, and Kildeer became the 32nd village in Lake County with 153 residents. The voting took place at Dorothea Huszagh's home.

Brickman tried to stop the village from forming by going to court. He asked nearby villages like Deer Park and Long Grove to help him. But they refused. These villages had also formed to protect themselves from being included in Brickman's big plan.

In April 1958, Kildeer residents chose their first officials:

• President - J. Larry Powell
• Village Clerk - Hertha G. Severance
• Trustees - Edwin G. Bradshaw, Harold S. Faber, Richard W. Huszagh, Harry P. Keeley Jr., C. J. Lauer, P. H. Severance
• Police Magistrate - Samuel S. LaBue

In 1959, the Lake County Board said no to Brickman's request for smaller lots. He sued again, but the court supported the Board's decision. Brickman then lost his challenge against Kildeer's village vote. Finally, on June 9, 1960, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in favor of Kildeer. The long battle was over. Brickman eventually sold his land and left the area.

The new Kildeer village board had a lot to do. They had to pay legal bills from fighting Brickman. Since they had no money, the 45 families in the village donated funds. This showed a strong community spirit. The first official village election was held in April 1959. New leaders were chosen, and they started creating rules and finding ways to get money for the village. They held meetings in their homes because Kildeer didn't have a public building yet.

Some residents wanted Kildeer to join the village of Long Grove. This caused disagreements within the community. President Keeley wrote a letter asking everyone to work together. He believed that the village should not merge with Long Grove. Records show that President Keeley finished his term, and Kildeer remained an independent village.

Village Services

For many years, homes in Kildeer used septic fields to handle sewage. But the soil wasn't ideal for this, and it caused pollution in local streams. The Lake County Health Department started making stricter rules.

In 1975, a Kildeer trustee named Frank Angelotti proposed a new sewer system. He found out that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) offered money to help villages build sewers. This system would connect to a larger county sewer line. It would also help Kildeer control how much development happened along Rand Road. The plan was designed to limit how many homes could be built per acre.

The IEPA would pay 75% of the project cost. Kildeer's share would be about $834 per home. The plan was approved by the Lake County Regional Planning Commission in 1975. A grant application for over $1.3 million was sent to the IEPA and approved in 1976.

However, a small group of people opposed the project. They worried that sewers would lead to too much development. They tried to stop the project and even sued village officials. False rumors were spread, causing confusion among residents. Many people signed a petition without realizing it was meant to stop the sewer project. When they found out, they asked for their names to be removed.

Because of these delays, the project costs went up. In 1979, Kildeer was told that their project was no longer a top priority for funding. Kildeer lost the 75% federal funding. The village board decided to abandon the sewer project. This meant Kildeer lost a big chance to control development around its borders.

Police Department and Growth

In 1975, Kildeer started a part-time police department. Many officers were also Lake Zurich paramedics. As the village grew, the police department became full-time in 1988.

For a long time, the village offices were in the Village Clerk's home. In 1989, a full-time Village Administrator position was created. The former clerk, who had management training, took this role. The village and police offices were located in the lower level of her home since 1979.

As other areas around Kildeer grew, developers built homes and joined neighboring towns. This meant Kildeer became surrounded by other communities. Kildeer couldn't offer utilities like sewers to attract new developments. So, the village worked out other deals to expand its borders. For example, they approved a neighborhood called Beacon Hill. It had smaller lots but lots of open space. These homes now have sewers connected to the county system.

In 1990, Kildeer arranged to use Lake Zurich's sewer line. This allowed the central part of Kildeer to build its own sewer systems. Kildeer has since approved new neighborhoods with sewer pipes ready for future connections.

Over the years, Kildeer has remained a rural area, even as higher-density developments have grown around it. The village faces challenges as some residents want to keep the rural feel, while others want more services. Kildeer offers open space and a private lifestyle, different from the more urban services found in nearby towns.

Population Data

Kildeer's Population in 2020

The table below shows the different racial and ethnic groups living in Kildeer. The US Census counts Hispanic/Latino people as an ethnic group, separate from racial categories.

Education in Kildeer

Kildeer is served by three highly-rated public school districts. These are the Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95, Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 96, and Consolidated High School District 125. There are also several private religious schools nearby.

Schools Serving Kildeer

Kildeer used to be served by Charles Quentin Elementary School. Now, students attend Isaac Fox Elementary School in nearby Lake Zurich.

Students in Kildeer go to one of two high schools: Lake Zurich High School or Adlai E. Stevenson High School.

• Schools in District 95:
  • Isaac Fox Elementary School (Kindergarten-5th grade)
  • Lake Zurich Middle School South (6th-8th grade)
  • Lake Zurich High School (9th-12th grade)

• Schools in District 96/125:
  • Kildeer Elementary School (Kindergarten-5th grade)
  • Country Meadows Elementary School (Kindergarten-5th grade)
  • Woodlawn Middle School (6th-8th grade)
  • Adlai E. Stevenson High School (9th-12th grade)

Geography of Kildeer

Kildeer covers a total area of about 4.593 square miles (11.90 km²). Most of this area, about 4.38 square miles (11.34 km²), is land. The remaining 0.213 square miles (0.55 km²) is water. The village is located at 42°10′46″N 88°3′1″W / 42.17944°N 88.05028°W / 42.17944; -88.05028.

Transportation Options

People who travel daily to Chicago or other workplaces can use the Metra train station in Palatine, Illinois. Others use Illinois Route 53 to connect to Interstate 90.

See also

In Spanish: Kildeer para niños