Lake Barrington, Illinois
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Notable For
Lake Barrington was originally known as Indian Lake until the family that owned the surrounding property sold it to a developer after World War II. Nearby estate owners fought the developer who wanted to build homes on half-acre lots in order to achieve an acceptable return on investment. Residents wanted to maintain a five-acre lot size per home and eventually incorporated themselves as North Barrington to prevent developers from buying up large estates and subdividing them. Some high-density developments have been built, but the community has joined forces with like-minded neighboring communities to maintain a minimum of one-acre lot sizes.
Cost of Living
Cost of living in Lake Barrington is quite a bit higher than both the state and national averages. However, homes in the village range greatly in price. It's possible to buy an affordable townhome on a golf course or a large single-family home on a large parcel of land at the upper end of the price range. Property taxes are in line with assessed values which means high on the high-end homes and low on affordable properties.
Transportation
Lake Barrington has a semi-rural aspect to it in that it's not very well served by transit outside of roadways. In order to travel by train, residents have to drive to the Metra station on Northwest Highway in Fox River Grove or to the station on Pine Street in Barrington. Both stations serve the Union Pacific/Northwest Line that travels to Chicago in the southeast and Harvard in the northwest. Northwest Highway is a major northeast and southwest roadway that travels through neighboring communities closer to Chicago. Route 22 travels east from Northwest Highway to Highwood and offers access to the commercial districts in nearby Lake Zurich. Route 59 travels north to Wauconda and south to Shorewood.
Schools
Students of all ages who live in Lake Barrington attend Barrington Community Unit School District 220, a prestigious public school district that offers students a quality education in a variety of disciplines. Administration officials in the district have created curriculums to start teaching STEM subjects at the elementary level, offer a robust arts and music program. The district offers language programs with the option for children to start early and in immersive programs or to start learning during middle school. It also has a robust athletic program with sports teams that consistently perform well in state competitions. High average test scores speak to the quality of education that's offered in Barrington schools.
Attractions
Lake Barrington prides itself on maintaining a rural character and holds an annual barn stomp every fall at the Freier Farm. There are hayrides, live music, food, fun for kids, and a bonfire to end the festivities. Multiple nature preserves around the area have a marshy character that draws in herons, egrets, and the previously endangered sandhill crane. Birdwatchers can delight in seeing a variety of migratory birds that call the area home during the summer. Lake Barrington Shores combines a popular golf course and residences together into a gated community. Grassy Lake Forest Preserve offers views of its namesake lake and the Fox river along with hiking trails and picnic groves. Lake Barrington may be small and semi-rural, but it offers a high quality of life for people of all ages. There are plenty of activities to do year-round that take advantage of the beauty of the village.