Northbrook

The Village of Northbrook is a vibrant community located on the northern edge of Cook County. The community is an ideal location for couples, singles, and families alike to live, work, shop, and play.

Northbrook is also home to plenty of nature— trees, grassy areas, parks, and green outdoor space are abundant. The Northbrook business community is diverse and home to major companies. Businesses find Northbrook’s location convenient and comfortable due to the major roadways and expressways that are easily accessible. Northbrook’s quaint downtown area has many restaurants and stores to offer. Click here for more

Location

The Village of Northbrook is part of Cook County and is located 25 miles and 40 minutes northwest of Chicago, and 15 minutes from O’Hare International Airport.  Some towns nearby the village are Lincolnshire, Deerfield, Northfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, and Wheeling.

Information

62.2% of Northbrook’s population has a Bachelor’s degree or higher (National average 24.4%)

#10 on the list of “Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in occupations: Healthcare support occupations: (population 5,000+)”

Notable residents
John Park, 2010 American Idol Top 20
Jon Scheyer, All-American basketball player for national champion 2009–10 Duke Basketball team
Anne Henning, Olympic speed skater
Dianne Holum, Olympic speed skater
Jim McMahon, Former quarterback of the Chicago Bears
Steve Bartman, gained notoriety for role in the 2003 National League championship game

Films shot in Northbrook:

•    Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
•    Uncle Buck
•    She’s Having a Baby
•    Ordinary People
•    Weird Science
•    Risky Business
•    The Ice Harvest

History

The Potawatomi Indians were the earliest recorded residents of the Northbrook area. The tribe ceded their land and relocated in Iowa in 1833.  The territory was then sold to Joel Sterling Sherman who bought 159 acres for $1.25 per acre.  The area was named Shermerville in honor of Frederick Schermer, who donated the land for the village’s first train station.  By the 1870s, Shermerville developed into a farm town with well-established brick yards that prospered during the reconstruction of Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871.

The Village of Shermerville was incorporated in 1901 and by 1923 it had changed its name to Northbrook as an effort to improve its public image. The community had held a contest to find its new name and Northbrook was chosen because the west fork of the north branch of the Chicago River runs through the village.

Real Estate

Real estate in Northbrook is primarily a community of single-family homes for sale and estate properties with more than 90% of them being owner occupied. Home buyers can also find condos, town homes, townhouses, luxury homes, lots, vacant land, villas, garden homes, land, multi- unit, duplexes, and new construction. The average listing price for homes for sale in Northbrook is $600,623. This compares to the Cook county average of $379,150. The Village has a broad base of revenue sources which offer Northbrook residents with relatively low municipal tax rates but is able to provide a high level of government services. Search Northbrook real estate here.

Transportation

Driving in or out of Northbrook is a breeze! The Edens Expressway (I-94), the Edens Spur, and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) are close by making it a convenient way to travel by car. For those who rely on public transportation to get around the village or to take a trip to the loop, here’s some excellent way to get you there:

Metra Train
The Milwaukee District North Line serves Northbrook with travel to and from Chicago. There are over 25 daily trips from Northbrook to Chicago The average travel time is 45 minutes.

Pace Bus Routes
Route 473 – Highland Park – Northbrook Court
Route 213 – Green Bay Road
Route 422 – Linden CTA/Glenview/Northbrook Court
Route 627 – Discover – Takeda Shuttle Bug
Route 626 – Skokie Valley Limited
Route 635 – Lake Cook Shuttle Bug 5

Amtrak station near Northbrook
5 miles: GLENVIEW (1116 DEPOT ST.). Services: ticket office, fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for car rental service, taxi stand, public transit connection.

Driving Distance To:
Downtown Chicago          25 miles
O’Hare Airport                 17 miles
Midway Airport                33 miles

Average Driving time to Downtown Chicago
Downtown Chicago          40 minutes
O’Hare Airport                 25 minutes
Midway Airport                55 minutes

Highway Access
Edens Expressway (I-94)
Tri-State Tollway (I-294)
Federal Highway 41
State Highway 43 & 68

Airports
O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Midway Airport (MDW)
Palwaukee Municipal Airport
Waukegan Regional Airport

Schools

There are numerous public and private schools, as well as pre-schools, located in the Village of Northbrook. The community is divided into four Elementary School Districts and one High School District.

The school districts located in Northbrook are:
Northbrook School District 28
Northbrook School District 27
Northbrook/Glenview School District 30
West Northfield School District 31
Glenbrook High Schools District 225 
Glenbrook North High School

Nightlife

Hanson Brothers Tavern 1945 Willow Rd Northbrook, IL 60062 847-498-1955.  The tavern offers live rock and blues music during the week. And feature open mic jams on Wednesdays and karaoke on Thursdays. A friendly cozy place to meet your friends for a few beers and enjoy some good bar food!

Landmark 1352 Shermer Rd Northbrook, IL 60062 847-559-1919. A great neighborhood bar to hang out with your friends to enjoy some good beer and good food. They have a beer selection that includes Guinness, Harp, and Fat Tire on tap. Try their delicious hamburgers and friend chicken…you won’t be disappointed!

Bridie McKenna’s 254 Green Bay Rd Highwood, IL 60040 847-432-3311. Birdie’s will offer you a truly Irish pub experience in the heart of Chicago’s North Shore. The pub’s exterior is designed in the style of a street in an Irish village. Go with some friends and enjoy a good pint. And don’t forget to try some of their famous Shepherd’s Pie, Irish Stew, or Fish and Chips.

Entertainment

Northbrook Symphony Orchestra 899 Skokie Blvd Suite LL12 847-272-0755. Founded in 1980, the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra offers high quality performances and programs of symphonic music.
The orchestra theater seats 1,500 with avid core audience from the community and attracting new listeners from the Chicagoland area. It was selected as the 2006 Community Orchestra of the Year by the Illinois Council of Orchestras. Lawrence Rapchak has been music director and conductor since 2001.

Northbrook Park District Leisure Center 3323 Walters Ave 847-291-2995. Come and enjoy, and even participate, in a quality, local theatrical production. The Northbrook Theatre is a member of the League of Chicago Theatres, with a 320-seat venue specializes in children’s and family theatre and is affiliated with the Northbrook Park District. Classes and workshops available for all ages include drama, dance and private piano and private voice instruction.

Ravinia Festival Lake Cook & Green Bay Roads, Highland Park 847-266-5100.  Since 1904, Ravinia is one of Chicago’s best outdoor music venues. It’s a great place to meet your friends and listen to some great music under the stars. From rock, to reggae, to classical Ravinia features the greatest music during the summer. Go early and stake out a good spot on the lawn.

Restaurants

Meatheads Burgers and Fries 1036 Willow Road, Ste H Northbrook, IL 60062 847-291-6608
Are you hungry for a premium hamburger? Then you have to try a Meatheads’ delicious steakhouse burger, 100% Angus beef, topped with fresh ingredients on a freshly-baked bun. And don’t forget the fries! Hand-cut French fries made from Real Idaho® russet potatoes cooked in 100% good-for-you canola oil. Meatheads is an upscale burger restaurant with a causal and comfortable atmosphere. The Triblocal food critic gives it five stars!

Stir Crazy Café 1186 Northbrook Ct Northbrook, IL 60062 847-562-4800.  Stir Crazy Café features freshly prepared Asian dishes with the bold and delicious flavors of Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese food. Their highly-acclaimed menu, made from scratch daily with only the finest ingredients, offers more than 50 dishes ranging from traditional Chinese favorites to innovative specialties from across Asia. Plus the offer 35 great wines by the glass or bottle.

J. Alexander’s Restaurant 4077 Lake Cook Rd Northbrook, IL 60062 847-564-3093.  Alexander’s is a contemporary American restaurant with a full-service bar that includes an outstanding selection of wines both by the glass and bottle. Their well-known wood-fire cuisine features a great selection of American classics such as prime rib of beef, steaks, fresh seafood, sandwiches and entree salads. Also on the menu include varied selections like Seafood Czarina, Tuscan Steak, Grilled Fish with Mango Papaya Salsa and Chicken Milanese.

Festivals/Parks

From April through October the Village of Northbrook host 9 annual community events filled with music, art, shopping, good old-fashion fun for the entire family.

•    Earth Arbor Day
•    Memorial Day
•    Block Party at St. Norbert
•    Fourth of July
•    Art in the Park
•    Downtown Hometown Event and Sidewalk Sale
•    Northbrook Days
•    ShermerFest
•    Northbrook Farmers’ Market

Check out Nine Big Events in Northbrook for more information.