Buffalo Grove Illinois Real Estate

“Our congregation was founded to serve the needs of traditional Jews in Chicago's north-west suburbs. As a traditional congregation, we strive to both fulfill the spiritual needs of our members and to inspire a growing knowledge, understanding and practice of living Judaism.” That’s actually an advertisement for Congregation B'nai Shalom in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. If we were to look back at history of this thriving family and economic community, we’d realize how innovative Buffalo Grove has become.

Buffalo Grove, 26 miles northwest of the Loop, is located in Cook and Lake Counties.

New Englanders planted the first farms in the area, followed in the 1840s by Melchior Raupp and other Germans. Farmers carried their harvest in wagons along 34 miles of dirt roads to Chicago. Mainly Roman Catholics, these German settlers raised $300 and donated seven acres of land to build St. Mary's Church in 1852. Although a few years later arsonists destroyed the church, it was rebuilt in 1899 at Buffalo Grove Road and Lake-Cook County Road. Additions enlarged the structure in the 1980s.

Around the turn of the century dairy farming was extensive, prompting the building of a cheese factory. Little Mike's Place located across from St. Mary's Church and had a bar, dining room, dance hall, sleeping rooms, and a place for horses. A century later the establishment remained in operation with its original bar intact as Lou Malnati's Pizzeria.

In the 1930s Dundee Road became the first state concrete road in northern Illinois, improving automobile access. Development began in earnest in 1957 when builder Al Frank purchased one hundred acres of farmland and began building ranch-style houses, generally without basements. Following incorporation in 1958 the village grew from 164 to 1,492 residents within two years. Other developers, including William Levitt, who built Long Island's Levittown, entered the market. Population escalated with large subdivisions such as Strathmore and the Woodlands at Fiore.

In the 1970s Jewish families flocked to the area, and by the early 1990s there were six synagogues in Buffalo Grove. At the end of the twentieth century Jews constituted approximately 30 percent of the village's population. Growth has not been limited to residential subdivisions. Buffalo Grove Commerce Center was developed in 1981 with 50 acres of light industrial parks. Expansion continued into the 1990s to the north with Arbor Creek Business Centre at Aptakisic Road and Barclay Boulevard, and Covington Corporate Center on Busch Road.

By the end of the twentieth century the village had grown from 67 acres at incorporation to nearly 5,000. Population in 2000 stood at 42,909. Buffalo Grove, one of the greatest communities in Illinois, is renowned for its outstanding schools, parks and recreational facilities, programs and activities, businesses and local events. Whether at work or play, the pride of Buffalo Grove is evident in all its residents accomplish, which distinguishes the village.

Throughout the village are over 20 shopping centers, six business parks including the tallest building in Lake County, numerous corporate offices, two golf courses, and a Metra Rail Station, all of which offer our residents the convenience and diversity of myriad retail establishments, professional services and restaurants to serve their every need.

From a population of 670 in 1960, Buffalo Grove has since grown to a current population of nearly 44,000. Today, Buffalo Grove is one of the finest communities in Illinois with a perfect blend of residential, retail and business.

The Village of Buffalo Grove is located 29 miles northwest of the City of Chicago in the northern part of suburban Cook County and southwestern part of Lake County. Primarily a residential suburb, the housing market tends to price rather high in this extremely desirable section. Most homes start in the mid $200,000's. For something a little larger, say 2,500 square feet and up, expect to spend upwards of $300,000. For an executive level home the going rate is around $400,000.

The Buffalo Grove Park District sponsors a wide variety of programs and maintains nearly 50 parks and play lots covering over 400 acres within the village boundaries. These parks provide recreational and leisure activities for people of all ages including baseball, soccer and football fields, tennis, basketball and sand volleyball courts, fishing, biking, in-line skate rink, an aggressive skate park, disc golf and play areas.

The Buffalo Grove School Districts are some of the best in the state with four districts to serve elementary students. The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the Blue Ribbon Award to the high schools for Excellence.

Even though most of the pioneer families in Buffalo Grove are no longer there, their names are still remembered because many streets and parks are named after the families who originally settled in that area. To be a part of the history that has made this town great, is the chief reason why many of the newer inhabitants can now refer to Buffalo Grove as home.