About Vernon Hills, Illinois Area 

Overview
Illinois is one of the prettiest states in the Midwest, and Vernon Hills, is one of the loveliest towns. Located in Lake County, about 30 miles northwest of Chicago’s Loop, Vernon Hills greets you with friendly neighbors and classic vistas of lakes, ponds, mature trees, and rolling hills.

Growth has been well planned in Vernon Hills, with the city council ensuring that the natural beauty of the area remains intact as more people migrate to the area. In a town of only 24,000 residents, Vernon Hills boasts over 400 acres of parklands. Our park district was recognized for excellence in 2006. Residents enjoy an Aquatic Center, “doggie dip” swimming pools, Fitness Centers, fishing, and plenty of planned events every month of the year. Golf is spectacular at our two highly ranked courses, the Vernon Hills Golf Club and White Deer Run (rated 5 stars by Chicagoland Golf magazine).

And it doesn’t stop there. Plans are under way for more commercial projects to boost the local economy. The area’s largest employers currently include ZF Industries, Motorola, J&L Oil, and Zebra Technologies. Vernon Hills already serves as a retail and recreational hub for the surrounding area, offering shopping, dining, and golf. Median household income is $75,000, and median house price is $250,000. Property lots tend to be spacious and include single family homes, luxury townhouses, condos, and multi-residential units.

Being so close to Chicago, we have plenty of cultural, educational, sports and recreational opportunities to choose from. But if you want to stick closer to home, check out the Cuneo Museum built by Samuel Insull, founder of the Commonwealth Edison Company, and designed by Benjamin Marshall, builder of the Drake Hotel in Chicago. John Cuneo, Sr., the Chicago businessman who founded the Cuneo Press, purchased the mansion in 1937. Everything about the home is maintained in the grand style of America’s Gilded Age, when it seemed that the flow of money would never end.

Transportation
Travel from Gurnee, Grayslake or Vernon Hills is a snap by either car or public transportation. To get to the Loop, commuters take either the I-90 or the I-94 for a 50-minute trip. O’Hare International Airport is a 40-minute trip along I-294. If you prefer to leave the car at home, Metra’s  trains and buses are a comfortable way to get around. Once you’re in the city, the CTA take you anywhere you need to go.



History
Vernon Hills started out as a simple 200-acre farm, and remained agricultural until the 1950s, when a residential community and golf course were added. By 1958 the village had 123 residents. Carefully planned annexing of surrounding lands increased the square mileage and prosperity of the village, as did the introduction of retail centers. By 1980 the population had grown to almost 10,000, and by 2000 it had past 20,000. The Cuneo Estates were also annexed, and the land was developed into 2,100 residences, an 18-hole golf course (Deer Park Run), and several retail businesses.