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Community
Libertyville is predominantly a family residential community. Residents’ business commute to downtown Chicago by train, to the local industrial companies including the major pharmaceutical companies throughout Lake County and the major international companies located between Libertyville and O’Hare Airport.
The town has an old fashioned downtown area with restaurants, boutiques, furniture and antiques shopping; coffee houses and park settings. The town library is down town as are the banks and major churches. Very much a family orientated community, soccer leagues, baseball, football are organized. There is a community sports complex to accommodate a variety of activities; that is a state of the art facility.
In summer we have a Thursday morning Farmer’s Market in downtown from 7 – 1pm each week. On Fridays the town hosts “Out To Lunch” Local vendors sell outdoor lunch and residents eat out doors in the park areas. We also have in town concerts throughout the summer months. We have two outdoor swimming pools, a par-3 golf course, and canoe access to the Des Plaines River. Close by are two great forest preserves. Independence Grove offers walking/biking trails, swimming, boating, fishing, barbecue facilities, a café and meeting events hall facilities. On the south east side of town we have Old School Forest Preserve. A great place to walk amongst nature, walk the dog, cycle or in winter use the downhill snow slope. Libertyville has close access to major highways and shopping yet retains its old world charm.
Culture
The Adler Center; David Adler the architect of Frank Lloyd Wright fame, an original Adler home, is owned by the town and is used as a cultural center. Art, music and local events are hosted and available to the community. Rooms can be rented for private events; it is extensively used for music and art lessons and events.
Ansell Cook Mansion is the heart of down town. This is a public turn of the century structure fronted by manicured park gardens, local horticultural clubs provide specimen plantings. Local competition and pride insure year round quality presentation.
All the major churches are represented in Libertyville, with many shared community and regional support activities undertaken.
Annually we have our Libertyville Days Festival in early/mid summer. A three day carnival in town. At Christmas time, local churches host Nativity walk scenes, the in town area is like a festival of lights.
Condell Hospital is located just south of down town Libertyville. This is a major medical facility used by the primary medical providers.
History
Libertyville has been in existence for well over one hundred years and up until about twenty-five years ago was a smaller community of local family residents. Located close to I94 and with a train to down town Chicago, its location is prime territory for business commuters.
In the last twenty years the community population has more than doubled and today exceeds 22,000 people. Major corporations have expanded and moved into the I94 business corridor creating a demand for more housing. The town and its expansion have been carefully managed. Densities have been controlled and the old town integrity retained.
Housing
The initial, older area of in town homes has been retained. Updates and expansions have occurred and this area is in high demand. Immediately surrounding this area is the initial flush of expansion. Homes built in the ‘50s era. Again these are in demand, they tend to be more modest in size, but often updated. Their attraction is proximity to schools and the in town area. In the late ‘70’s major expansions occurred in the south part of town. Some middle market homes, 2,000 square feet plus basements, but also some custom high end homes were built and the market supported this thrust. In the mid to late ‘80/90’s significant expansion in the North West and North East parts of Libertyville occurred. These were custom and semi custom high end homes in the 2,500 – 4000+ square feet size range.
Today new homes are being constructed, however, due to lack of land availability; they are often on the site of older homes, or expansions of largely gutted existing homes.
The ever growing regional industrial base, a lack of land availability, the town, its location and facilities along with a strong school system have made Libertyville’s housing market, if one can have such a thing, a strong real estate investment area.
More modest homes price in the low $300,000 and reach in the mid $1,500,000 and more for high-end homes. Today a 3,000 square foot home will price in the $600-700,000 price range. Most homes price in the $450-$650,000 price range.
Lifestyle
Libertyville is 15 minutes away, going north from Gurnee Mills, the nation’s #2 shopping mall in size. 5 minutes south is Hawthorne shopping complex, with all the major shops, restaurants available to residents. 6 Flags Great America is also 15 minutes away in Gurnee and is a major summer attraction. Libertyville residents with young families often buy a season pass. I94 runs along the east side of Libertyville and is perfect for north travel to Wisconsin and its attractions and also south for the city and O’Hare international airport.
Learn more about this city
City of LIBERTYVILLE, IL official site
City of LIBERTYVILLE, IL general information
City of LIBERTYVILLE, IL yellow pages
City of LIBERTYVILLE, IL newspaper
County of LAKE, IL official site