Chicago Community & Neighborhood Information

Hawthorn Woods, located 40 miles northwest of the Loop, attracts the discriminating buyer searching for rural solitude and an impressive, upscale home.

Nearby lakes and woods provide outdoor recreational opportunities, including horseback riding, hiking, fishing and golf. Kemper Lakes, one of the nation's premier public golf courses, and Lakewood Forest Preserve are close to both communities. In addition, there are ice skating and tobogganing facilities, tennis courts and several horseback riding stables convenient for residents.

Parks and recreation programs include such classes as dog obedience, adult aerobics, dance and volleyball. Also offered is a nice variety of programs and summer camps for children. Hawthorn Woods offers many programs right in the village.

Local taxes are kept to a minimum. For instance, "no tax dollars are used to operate, maintain or construct parks or playgrounds." Funding is obtained solely through developer donations and program fees. Public improvements in both villages are included in annual budgets and affect such concerns as road maintenance, water and irrigation. Though small, Hawthorn Woods succeeds in taking advantage of all that suburban life has to offer.

Schools
As the majority of residents tend to be professionals, education is a strong priority, and this is reflected in the excellent reputations of the area schools. Hawthorn Woods children attend public elementary school in Lake Zurich district 95. Parochial grade schools include St. Francis de Sales Catholic School in Lake Zurich and St. Matthew Lutheran School in Hawthorn Woods. High school students attend Lake Zurich High School in district 95, or Adlai Stevenson High School in district 125. Stevenson has been a recipient of the state's "Excellence in Education" award.

Transportation
Drivers rely on U.S. 12, I-53, the Edens Expressway (I-94), Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and the Northwest Tollway (I-90). Commuters can drive to the Loop in 40 minutes. It is a 25-minute drive to O'Hare Airport and a 55-minute drive to Midway. Rail commuters board Metra trains in Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Palatine or Barrington. Express trains arrive in the Loop in approximately 55 minutes. The Metra / Wisconsin Central has stations in nearby Buffalo Grove and Prairie View. Bus service is available in Lake Zurich.