Carpentersville

Carpentersville is one of the Chicagoland area’s most affordable communities while offering its residents all the perks of a Chicago suburb.

There are plenty of community-oriented activities to be found in Carpentersville, such as the Dolphin Cove Family Aquatic Center and Randall Oaks Park & Barnyard Zoo. And Carpentersville businesses pride themselves on catering towards its pleasant residents.

With places like the Raceway Woods County Forest Preserve, the Fox River Preserve & Marina and the Jelke Creek Bird Sanctuary, those that live in the Village of Carpentersville are never short of outdoor recreation or the natural beauty of northern Illinois. It’s all just steps outside their door, awaiting exploration. Click here for more

Location

Carpentersville is located in Kane County and is 5 miles north of Elgin, IL, and about 37 miles northwest of the Chicago Loop.

Carpentersville lies near the Fox River and is about 28 miles from Lake Michigan.

Neighboring towns are Barrington to the north, Elgin to the south, Inverness to the east and Hampshire to the west.

Information

Population (2000) – Total 30,586
Density 4,105.4/sq mi
White 51.2%
African American 5.5%
Native American 0.64%
Asian 1.8%
Hispanic/ Latino 39.8%
Multiracial 1.3%
Other .10%
Median income $54,526

History

The first settlers of the Village of Carpentersville were Charles Valentine Carpenter and his brother, Daniel. The brothers were headed west when the Fox River flooded and derailed those plans in 1837. Choosing to remain from there on out, they created the settlement of Carpenter’s Grove.

Charles’s son, Angelo Carpenter, renamed the town to Carpentersville in 1851. The community was later incorporated in 1887. Angelos’s acquisition of a dam and a flannel factory sparked the region’s industrial growth.

Carpenter opened the Iron and Bolt Company, and later acquired the Star Manufacturing Company, which produced agricultural machinery.

The 1870s and 1880s saw immigrants from Germany, Poland and Sweden flock to the region to find work in Carpentersville’s factories.

In order to convince the Chicago and North Western Railroads to bring service to the area, Carpenter built an iron bridge with his own funds.

By 1912, Carpenter’s two companies employed 2,000 people. The Star Manufacturing Company remained in Carpentersville until 1977.

The region saw slow expansion after that, only beginning to grow again in 1956 when 700 houses were built and sold in nearby Meadowdale. After attempts to develop Meadowdale as an independent township, it was annexed by Carpentersville.

By 1928 the Meadowdale area consisted of nearly 6,000 Carpentersville homes and almost 1,000 rental apartments. The Village remained at a population of 23,000 between 1970 and 1990, but grew to 30,586 by 2000.

Real Estate

Carpentersville offers its residents all the convenience of a Chicago suburb. With ideal location, some of the most affordable homes in the Chicagoland area, and a city council committed to bringing its citizens the best possible health, safety and public services, Carpentersville is one of the region’s more attractive living options.

Real estate in the Village includes single-family Carpentersville homes, condos and townhouses.

Some Carpentersville property managers include: AMLI at Canterfield, KMW Property Management, Rage Property Management, Prominent Property Manager Inc., JMM Management Group, and Hamilton Partners.

Single-family Carpentersville houses range in price between $32,000 and up to $700,000. Carpentersville condos and townhouses can cost anywhere between $20,000 to over $200,000. Search for Carpentersville Real Estate.

Transportation

Carpentersville is accessible off the I-90. The Village is a driving town as 94% of workers drive or carpool, 3% bike or walk, and only 1% use public transport.

Taxicab companies in the area include Taxi Leon (847-426-0766) and Taxicab Section Five Executive (847-836-0260).

Schools

Serving the residents of Carpentersville homes is the Barrington Community School District #220. Many of the schools are in neighboring Barrington.

High Schools:
Barrington High School 616 West Main Street (847) 381-1400

Middle Schools:
Station Campus 215 Eastern Ave. (847) 756-6400
Prairie Campus  40 E. Dundee Rd. (847) 304-3990

Elementary Schools:
Barbara Rose 61 West Penny Rd. (847) 844-1200
Countryside 205 W County Line Rd. (847) 381-1162
Grove Avenue 900 South Grove Avenue (847) 381-1888
Hough Street 310 South Hough Street (847) 381-1108
Arnett C. Lines 217 John Snow Ave. (847) 381-7850
North Barrington 310 North Northwest Highway (847) 381-4340
Roslyn Road 224 Roslyn Road (847) 381-4148
Sunny Hill 2500 Helm Road (847) 426-4232

Nightlife

Residents enjoy the seclusion and calm of Carpentersville, so when they are looking for an evening out on the town they often visit neighboring communities.

The Randall Road House Tavern (2267 Randall Road, 847-836-3300) is a favorite of the locals. Whether spending an evening with friends or with the family, the Randall Road House offers plenty of options for a great night out in Carpentersville. The Tavern has a Golden Tee Live Golf game, an internet juke box, a casual atmosphere with suede bar stools and plenty of daily specials. On Sundays you can get a Bloody Mary or Blue Moon for just $3.25. On Tuesdays and Thursdays you can treat yourself to $.50 wings.

For an exceptional microbrew, residents of Carpentersville homes visit Emmett’s Ale House (128 W Main St, West Dundee, IL, 847-428-4500) in nearby West Dundee. Emmett’s Ale House prides itself on traditional brewing, offering its patrons no-nonsense beers. They take special care to serve their beers as it should be served—that means they pay attention to the glassware, temperature and even how it’s poured. Emmett’s has won awards from the World Beer Cup, The Great American Beer Festival, The North American Brewing Awards and The Festival of Barrel Aged Beers.

A fun-filled summer evening can be found at Bandito Barney’s Beach Club & Bordello (10 N River, East Dundee, IL, 847-426-730). Bandito Barney’s is one of northern Illinois’s favorite beach clubs and sports bar. They have over 35 beers, including Hacker Pschorr and Guinness. Enjoy their huge outdoor beer garden and catch some live music under the stars.

Entertainment

For a fun and sun-filled day, families of Carpentersville houses go to Dolphin Cove Family Aquatic Center (300 N Kennedy Dr, 847-836-7946). Kids have fun playing in the Sandcastle Beach while the adults can relax poolside or on the sun hill. Dolphin Cove has two exciting waterslides, the Rip Tide and the Typhoon. You can find a tasty treat, too, at the Sand Bar Café or the Hide Away gift shop.

Families of Carpentersville also find fun catching the latest flick at the local cinema, Cinema 12. Cinema 12 prides itself on catering to families and providing the best movie-watching experience for its patrons. The Wednesday Morning Movie Series is a favorite of families. It costs only a dollar and kids can join in games and activities and also meet some of their favorite characters.

Offering family-oriented bowling, youth leagues, and a clean, safe environment, Liberty Lanes (115 Meadowdale Ct, 847-428-6446) is a popular site in Carpentersville.

Families of Carpentersville also have plenty of quality shopping options with the historic Meadowdale Shopping Center (100 W Mall Dr, 847-551-4000), the Spring Hill Mall (1072 Spring Hill Mall, West Dundee, 847-428-2200) and Century Plaza (711 S 8th St, West Dundee, 847-426-7700).

Restaurants

In nearby East Dundee is the quaint and cozy Benedict’s Eggs & More (8 South River St, East Dundee, 847-836-2222). Benedict’s Eggs is in a charming little house with a tree growing right through the roof. A unique breakfast spot, patrons love their pecan waffles, stratas and stuffed French toast, and, of course, their eggs. Benedict’s Eggs & More is also a great place for lunch.

Kiku Sushi & Hibachi (7020 Huntley Rd, 847-426-8882) has a wide variety and selection of Japanese fare. Be sure to try their King Lobster Roll, the Rock and Roll or Crazy Tuna Roll. Half of the restaurant is for hibachi teppanaki dining, while the other half has a bar, booth seating and the sushi bar. Kiku Sushi & Hibachi are also known for their Hibachi Combo Dinners, lunch specials and drink specials.

Find fine Mexican and American food at El Sombrerito (140 N Western Ave, 847-551-1810). El Sombrerito offers a whopping 100 choices, including 30 reduced-fat options for the calorie-conscious. They’ve also won awards, including “Best of the Burbs”. Residents frequent the restaurant for their sizzling fajitas and famous margaritas.

Festivals/Parks

Near the Raceway Woods County Forest Preserve residents of Carpentersville houses are treated to beautiful open spaces and wooded trails. What used to be an actual raceway from 1958 to 1969 is now a place where people come from all over to hike, bike, go horseback riding, picnicking and to enjoy other forms of outdoor recreational activities.

A terrific family event, Summer Daze of Warrenville is a festival worth the trip from Carpentersville. It features live bands, tasty foods, and children’s activities and rides. It also features a teen Battle of the Bands contest, as well as rides and games for teens. There’s also a car show, a raffle and local art on display to add to a fun-filled day with the family.

Randall Oaks Park & Barnyard Zoo in West Dundee is one of the largest parks in the area. With 141 acres of space, Randall Oaks Park is perfect for family outings or company picnics. At the park you’ll find the beautiful northern Illinois setting a great place for a picnic or a stroll. You’ll also find plenty of grills, a playground, horseshoe pits and volleyball nets. There’s even a disc golf course at the back of the park. You can also treat you and the kids to hayrides and then head on over to the Randall Oaks Barnyard Zoo where the kids can pet and feed a variety of barnyard animals.