Although the village of Palatine is just 28 miles from downtown Chicago, the community provides its 65,479 residents with a peaceful suburban atmosphere. Palatine is a mix of open space and parks, residential areas, and commercial business districts. Residents find recreational opportunities at more than 40 parks maintained by the Palatine Park District. Village shopkeepers provide customers with old-fashioned service, and many merchants have local roots that reach back five or more generations.
Students in Palatine attend award-winning schools within Community Consolidated District 15 and Township High School District 211. William Rainey Harper Community College provides post-secondary education, non-credit courses, and educational programs. Live theater, concerts, fairs, and festivals offer a variety of entertainment options, and the local historical society helps to preserve the community’s rich history and culture. Affordable homes can be found in a number of quaint neighborhoods, and homeowners’ associations help to promote the feeling of community pride that is prevalent in the village.
History
Palatine’s modern history began in the early 19th century. U.S. soldiers fought Pottawatomie Indians during the Black Hawk War, which ended in 1832. New England settlers who heard about the fertile land from returning soldiers traveled west to stake their claims to the land. In 1853, the Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad set up camp at the Deer Grove Trading Post. The railroad eventually failed, but it was followed by the prosperous Union Pacific. A settlement grew around the railroad station, and the village of Palatine was incorporated in March 1866.
In 1976, a century-old house on East Palatine Road was purchased and restored by the Palatine Historical Society with help from the Palatine Public Library and the Palatine Park District. The house, which was built in 1873, was named the George Clayson House after its original builder. Books, records, and photographs of Palatine’s past are displayed in the historic home.
Pricing
Real estate in Palatine comprises single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums. New condominium and townhouse communities include Bridge View West, Ethan’s Glen, Coventry Park, Willow Glen and Concord Mills. Properties range from just under $100,000 to around $600,000. Single-family homes can be found in a variety of architectural styles, including foursquare, ranch, bungalow, colonial, Victorian and contemporary. Prices range from the low $100,000s to more than $1 million for large estate properties.
Homes at Concord Mills start in the high $200,000s. Deloraine and Lakeside Estates homes are priced from $300,000. Newer single-family developments include Shenandoah North and Lakewood Glen with median prices in the mid-$300,000s; Oakwood Glen and Quentin Willow Estates, with median prices around $400,000; and Sanctuary Cove and Trails, with a median home price of approximately $450,000. A few homes feature water frontage, and many are located on wooded lots of at least one acre. Lots and land are also available for custom building.
Recreation
The Palatine Park District controls a variety of local parks and recreational areas. The scenic Palatine Trail connects neighborhood parks with the 18-hole Palatine Hills Golf Course, Deer Grove Forest Preserve and William Rainey Harper Community College. The Palatine Community Center has a gym, an indoor track, a weight room and locker rooms. Birchwood Park Recreation Center also has a gym along with a 50-meter pool and fitness classes. The Family Aquatic Center features a six-lane lap pool, water slides, a sand play area and a large lawn. The Palatine Horse Stables provides riding lessons; and boating, fishing and jogging are available at Twin Lakes Recreation Area. Twin Lakes also features a nine-hole golf course, a driving range, four sand volleyball courts, shuffleboard and horseshoes, and a playground with two picnic pavilions.