Libertyville

About Libertyville

Libertyville is a friendly village in the Chicago metropolitan area, part of Illinois' Lake County. It's conveniently located seven miles southwest of Waukegan and 33 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. Libertyville provides plenty of recreation for outdoors enthusiasts, ranging from local parks and golf courses to large, regional lakes.

The History of Libertyville

The Potawatomi Indians were Libertyville's first residents. They lived in the area until 1829, but moved on when white settlers began to arrive. George Vardin, who built a cabin where Cook Memorial Public Library District now sits, was one of the first white residents. He was joined in the area they called Vardin's Grove by a physician, Dr. Jesse Foster, and a lawyer, Horace Butler.

In 1836 Vardin's Grove was renamed Independence Grove, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. However, when locals realized there was another Independence Grove in Illinois, they opted to change the name of their home to Libertyville. In 1882, Libertyville was officially incorporated, and John Locke was named the village's first president.

Living and Working in Libertyville

Many locals in Libertyville spend their leisure time enjoying all of the town's excellent outdoor facilities. Libertyville's green spaces, including Charles Brown Park, Adler Memorial Park and Blueberry Hill Park, give local families places to play and picnic. Boating and fishing are popular at Lake Minear, St. Marys Lake and Liberty Lake. During the warm summer months, you can also swim in the lake water and soak up the rays on the sandy beaches. Libertyville also has a golf course, and the community gardens provide the opportunity to nurture a family plot of fruits and vegetables.

Libertyville's growing economy is built on a mix of large and small businesses. Advocate Condell, Volkswagen Credit and Hollister are among the village's largest employers. The community is also a major retail center. Local malls, including Liberty Mill Plaza Shopping Center, New Towne Square Shopping Center and Village Shopping Center provide numerous jobs for locals.

Libertyville Schools

Schools in Libertyville belong to one of four school districts: Libertyville School District 70, Oak Grove District 68, Hawthorne District 73 or Community High School District 128. There are also a few private parochial schools in Libertyville.

Resources for Moving to Libertyville

Here's some handy information for planning your move to Libertyville:

• Utilities: Commonwealth Edison and North Shore Gas are the primary energy providers in the area, though you do have the option to work with other companies if you'd prefer. The Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency provides water to the village, though your account activation will be through the Libertyville Water & Sewer Billing Department.
• Garbage and Recycling: Groot Industries facilitates trash and recyclables collection in the village.
• Transportation: Libertyville has stops for both the Pace Bus system and Metra rail within its village boundaries.

Libertyville Housing

The majority of local homes were built in the 1970s, but there are also some historic properties and contemporary dwellings built after 2000. Homes in Libertyville are considerably more expensive than those of its neighboring communities, and prices are slowly rising. Rent prices are fairly stable, so you can consider an apartment or town-home if you're working with a smaller budget.