For the similarly named bird, see Killdeer

Killdeer

The Killdeer is a medium-sized plover.Adults have a brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with two black bands. The rump is tawny orange. The face and cap are brown with a white forehead. They have an orange-red eyering...

. For the similarly named city, see Killdeer, North Dakota

Killdeer, North Dakota

As of the census of 2000, there were 713 people, 297 households, and 182 families residing in the city. The population density was 752.7 people per square mile . There were 351 housing units at an average density of 370.6 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 93.97% White, 4.91%...

.

Kildeer is a village in Lake County

Lake County, Illinois

Lake County is a county in the northeastern corner of the state of Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 703,462, which is an increase of 9.2% from 644,356 in 2000. Its county seat is Waukegan. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area...

, Illinois

Illinois

Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The population was 3,460 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau

United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

, the village has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), of which, 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.42%) is water. It is located at 42°10′46"N 88°3′1"W (42.179529, -88.050546).

Demographics

As of the census

Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 3,460 people, 1,077 households, and 1,001 families residing in the village. The population density

Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 996.6 people per square mile (385.0/km²). There were 1,095 housing units at an average density of 315.4 per square mile (121.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 93.82% White, 0.92% African American, 4.28% Asian, 0.38% from other races

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.31% of the population.

There were 1,077 households out of which 51.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 88.0% were married couples

Marriage

Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 living together, 3.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 7.0% were non-families. 5.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.21 and the average family size was 3.34.

In the village the population was spread out with 32.5% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $137,498, and the median income for a family was $140,270. Males had a median income of $100,000+ versus $41,607 for females. The per capita income

Per capita income

Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 for the village was $51,973. About 0.4% of families and 0.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.

Brickman Builders

On October 16, 1958, Brickman Builders of Chicago announced their intent to build a planned community "of the future" in Ela Township of 20,000 residential units. This planned community would cover nine square miles south and southeast of Lake Zurich. It would contain 16,000 single family homes, 6000 apartments or duplex units, one high school, four junior high schools, 29 grade schools, a country club, ten church sites, ten percent of the area would be reserved for industrial use, have an ultimate population of 60,000 people and take 15 years to build. There would be a central shopping mall at West Cuba and Quentin Road containing a major department store, a variety store, ten small shops, one or more supermarkets, a bank, two drugstores, two restaurants, a professional and medical center, with provisions for parking 2,500 cars. Six smaller shopping centers were also to be located in neighborhoods.

When Joseph M. Brickman announced his "billion dollar city" he claimed to have bought or had options on 2,000 of the required 6222 acres (25.2 km²). He was proud to say it would be the largest planned community in the country, his "Blueprint of the Future", and its purpose was to bring organized development to the projected rapid growth of the area. Naturally, all of this came as a shock to the existing residents who moved here to enjoy the natural tranquil countryside. It was discovered that Brickman intended to incorporate as a village. If there were 100 residents and 35 voters living within the prescribed boundaries, they could hold a referendum to establish a village form of government, he could effectively select individuals to have voted into office, and form his own government complete with codes and ordinances to serve his own interests.

To accomplish his plan, Brickman began building a subdivision on Sturm's farm, located on the south side of Rand Road just west of Quentin Road, in the summer of 1957. The completed homes were "rented" to Brickman's real estate agents and their employees. Surrounding residents became suspicious when it surfaced that "renters" were paying $50 per month for a three bedroom house. Rumor had it that he was also moving itinerant farm workers into structures on other properties. People became convinced that Brickman would shortly incorporate the Sturm Subdivision and systematically annex his other adjacent parcels. Simultaneously, Brickman was seeking rezoning

Zoning

Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...

 of these properties from Lake County to permit small lots.

Inspired by long time resident Dorothea Huszagh, local residents organized and petitioned to hold a referendum

Referendum

A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...

 to incorporate their own municipality. Brickman continued with his grand plan. One of his maneuvers was to provide farm buildings as rent free housing to migrant workers in exchange for their votes to incorporate his own village. One Saturday he attempted to move a small red barn west on East Cuba Road to one of his properties for this purpose. Mounted on a truck, it could not make it across the small, one lane bridge over Buffalo Creek because of large overhanging oak tree branches. The foreman ordered the branches be cut down but neighbors told him the tree was on private property and to stop. Workers didn't heed the warnings and a call went out for others to join in the opposition. A small crowd gathered blocking the west side of the bridge, facing Brickman employees on the east side. Ralph Huszagh ran home and got his rifle, bringing it back for his older brother Rudy. One shot into the ground brought things to a halt and further hostilities ended when the Sheriff's police arrived ordering the barn off the road and back to the farm. Cheering residents were then dispersed. On September 8, 1996 a plaque was mounted on the bridge dedicating it as a memorial to Dorothea Huszagh, who passed away in 1995, and others who stood up against the desecration of our countryside.

Incorporation

A referendum for establishing the Village of Kildeer was held on March 22, 1958 and area residents voted to incorporate the new village with a population of 153, making it the 32nd municipality in Lake County. The polling place for this election was the home of Dorothea Huszagh. Brickman's immediate response was to file suit to have the referendum overturned. He also asked the support of Deer Park and Long Grove to assist in the dissolution of the village of Kildeer. Both village boards declined to help because they had incorporated their villages in 1957 and 1959 to protect themselves from Brickman's grand plan. At this time a strange vote was taken by the Lake Zurich village board. They were divided four to three in opposing Brickman's county rezoning attempt. Just prior to taking this position, the same board voted to rescind their required $275 contribution per home and 10 percent land dedication by builders. Some saw this as a method for Brickman to get his rezoning by annexing to Lake Zurich and later disconnecting to form a separate village.

In April 1958 a meeting of village residents was held and the following people were selected and sworn in to serve as Kildeer's first officials.
President - J. Larry Powell,
Village Clerk - Hertha G. Severance,
Trustees - Edwin G. Bradshaw, Harold S. Faber, Richard W. Huszagh, Harry P. Keeley Jr., C. J. Lauer, P. H. Severance. Police Magistrate - Samuel S. LaBue.

About March 12, 1959 the Lake County Board unanimously rejected Brickman's small lot zoning request. He sued to reverse the Board's decision but in September the Circuit Court

Circuit court

Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...

 of Waukegan upheld the decision. In November he lost his challenge of the Kildeer referendum and stated his intent to appeal it to the Illinois Supreme Court. On June 9, 1960 the Supreme Court found in favor of Kildeer. The battle was over and Brickman left the area after selling a parcel of 475 acres (1.9 km²) he owned to Arthur T. Mcintosh Co. who developed the property as a subdivision called "Farmington".

The Kildeer area began to draw the attention of those who wanted to live a rural life. Lake County had prepared for growth and development by paving the roads. In 1951 Quentin Road was realigned, removing the four right angle turns, and substituting a smooth curve north from Rand Road. In 1952 its entire length was paved.

Prior to the 1958 incorporation of Kildeer, the son of Henry Bosch, Henry Bosch Jr., submitted a residential subdivision to the county containing mostly two acre homesites. On April 15, 1955 it was approved and called Boschome Farms. Mr. Bosch wanted to retain strict control of his subdivision and therefore would not sell lots to builders. As a condition of sale, each purchaser had to submit plans for their residence to Mr. Bosch and receive his approval prior to building. Not long after, the land south of Boschome Farms was subdivided as Long Grove Valley. Unit I was approved September 16, 1955, Unit 2 on February 1, 1957 and Unit 3 on June 20, 1957.

The new village board had many tasks to accomplish in establishing a functional municipality. First, it had to dispose of legal bills accumulated from opposing Brickman. Not having any revenue sources, the board appealed for contributions from the 45 families that made up the village. The funds received fell short by only $362.00, indicating a strong community spirit. The village President and three Trustees (because of staggered terms) were appointed to one year terms only. The first official village election was held in April 1959 at which time a new President, Harry P. Keeley, Jr., and three new Trustees were elected. These officials, along with the three remaining Trustees went to work establishing commissions, ordinances, codes and sources of revenue. This was no small task. Without a public facility, all meetings were held in their homes and long hours spent on village business.

You would think with the dramatic events and efforts expended in the defeat of Joseph M. Brickman Co., the community would settle down to the business of becoming an established village. But this was not the case. A small contingent of residents began agitating for the abolishment of Kildeer and merging into the village of Long Grove. The issue became heated to the point where some members of village commissions submitted resignations. President Keeley wrote a letter to all village officials and staff stating, "The resignations that have been handed to the village board within the past month are very alarming to me as the President of the Board, and I am deeply concerned over the internal strife which has been going on. It seems to me that as adults, with reasoning power that has been given to us, we should be able to resolve our differences in an adult manner. We are doing to ourselves what Mr. Brickman with all of his law suits could not do. We are being destroyed from within by smear campaigns, rumors, half truths, etc. I am in hopes that the gentlemen who submitted their resignations will reconsider and will realize that our differences can never be resolved by any means other than hard work, gathering of facts, and reasoning." "The Board and I have seen fit at this time to not accept the resignations, a matter on which we shall have to take action at the special meeting that I am calling for next Monday night to finish much business that we were not able to get to at our regular meeting."

President Keeley appointed a special representative to gather information relating to a merger with Long Grove. He went to great lengths accumulating the facts and summarizing his own views on the negative aspects of such a merger in a letter to the Board of Trustees containing the following closing statement. "In light of the facts mentioned above, I feel that though we have won the battle of Brickman, we have lost the war for self preservation and home rule. I feel that your part in this administration is a failure if you condone the merger with Long Grove. I cannot and will not be part of such a movement. Therefore, with sincere regret and much sorrow, I herewith submit my resignation as President of the Village of Kildeer." Records show President Keeley served out his four year term and the merger with Long Grove obviously did not occur. It must be assumed the majority of the village board supported their President's position and convinced him to withdraw his resignation, but the issue would be sensitive to some for many years to come.

President Keeley was confronted with many challenges during his administration. In 1961 the Lake County Forest Preserve District announced its plan for a new forest preserve on Kildeer property bounded by West Cuba Road, Quentin Road and Rand Road or what is now known as Pine Valley subdivision. In 1959 the Ela Area Planning Board (EAPB) was formed to control development and moderate boarder disputes between the growing local villages. It was composed of one representative from each village within the township. When the forest preserve plan was presented to the EAPB they voted in favor of it 6 to 2, with one of the 2 being Kildeer's representative. Kildeer circulated a petition in opposition and obtained 200 signatures. Further details are not available but obviously Kildeer prevailed.

An interesting event took place during Keeley's administration that seemed to set a precedent for the entire village. Keep in mind, there were only two residential subdivisions in the entire village at the time, Boschome Farms and Long Grove Valley. The Board passed an ordinance to construct a barricade closing Grove Drive just north of Linden Lane so the two subdivisions were disconnected and it was not possible for Boschome Farms residents to exit to Long Grove Road on Valley Road. The ordinance was based on an Illinois Statute giving municipalities the authority to establish "Pleasure Driveways", eliminating their status as public roads. Valley Road became a Pleasure Driveway and a dirt berm was constructed across the road at the designated location. At some unknown time, the dirt berm was removed and Boschome Farm residents could again drive through Long Grove Valley.

Arthur T. Mcintosh proposed the first subdivision in the village of Kildeer calling it "Farmington." Unit 1. It consisted of 50.2 acres (203,152.4 m²) with 11.1 acres (44,920.1 m²) of commercial zoning fronting on Rand Road for the development of a shopping center. The village board eagerly looked forward to tax revenues from the commercial businesses to help make the village solvent. This plan was approved by the village board on July 2, 1962. Units 2, 3 and 4 following shortly thereafter in 1964, 1966 and 1968. One acre home-sites sold for $10,000. On the west side of Quentin Road, the grazing land where Jersey cows would spend hot summer days sleeping under oak trees, also succumbed to development. Subdivision of Pine Valley Unit I was approved in 1964, Unit 2 in 1967, Unit 3 in 1969, Unit 4 in 1972 and Unit 5 in 1976. Kildeer had hoped the area would remain unspoiled but progress was quickly approaching and the village had to prepare itself with controlling subdivision, building and zoning ordinances as well as a master plan for development.

Facilities

To dispose of sewage, all Kildeer residences had septic fields. Soils in the area were of the type considered "extreme" for this purpose and septic fields in general in Lake County were experiencing difficulties, adding to the pollution of local streams, rivers and lakes. The Lake County Health Department progressively increased their standards to eliminate a growing problem. A long time resident and Kildeer Trustee, Frank Angelotti, had his own civil engineering company doing consulting work for other villages. He was aware of Federal funds available through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency of the state of Illinois is the primary body concerned with the protection of the environment for the state...

(IEPA) to assist municipalities in the construction of local sewers. Early in 1975, Trustee Angelotti, at his own expense, prepared schematic drawings of a sewer system for the entire village of Kildeer. The system would tie into a new Lake County interceptor sewer to be installed on Quentin Road for relieving Lake Zurich's sewage treatment plant. Lake County, by agreement and service charges, would provide all sewage treatment. He presented his plan to the Kildeer Village Board.

In addition to servicing Kildeer, it was proposed to extend sewers to Rand Road. Having the only sewer system in the area would give Kildeer complete control of any and all development along Rand Road and its surrounding borders. The residential system was designed for 4½ people per acre which would limit and control the density of residential development. If approved, the IEPA would provide 75% funding for the project. Seeing the merits of this project and the fact Federal funding would be a one time opportunity, the village board moved to submit an application to the IEPA. The construction estimate was $1,811,000 of which Kildeer's 25% share would be $452,750, or $834 per residential lot. The first step was accomplished on December 16, 1975 when the Lake County Regional Planning Commission endorsed the plan. On May 26, 1976 a grant application for $1,358,250 was sent to the IEPA and approval was received on June 25.

To confirm all costs, construction and engineering bids were solicited on March 15, 1977. Quotations were within the budget and a village referendum was held on May 14 with citizens approving the financing of 25% of project costs. A review of proposals resulted in the village board selecting the Crystal Lake firm of Baxter-Woodman to provide engineering services. About this time a small group of protesters began to oppose the project on the premise sewers in Kildeer would promote and accelerate development in and around the village. The opposition communicated with all governmental agencies in an unsuccessful attempt to gain their support. The lack of an immediate response by the village to their request for copies of 221 documents resulted in law suits brought against the village President, Clerk and Trustee Angelotti.

Letters to newspaper editors and circulated flyers containing inaccurate information disturbed and confused residents. A false rumor was circulated stating "strings" were attached to the Federal funds that would require "low cost" housing in Kildeer. A petition was circulated to stop the project but signers were told it was only for the purpose of gaining more detailed information from the village. Without reading the petition, many people signed. These signatures were presented to the village board as evidence Kildeer residents did not want the project to proceed. When this ruse surfaced, many people wrote to the village office correcting their position and asking their names be removed. Supporters for sewers threatened the village with legal action if they did not proceed with construction based on the will of the people determined by referendum.

Delays caused by this controversy precluded the start of engineering. The village engineer prepared a new estimate based on current escalated costs that indicated a considerable increase above the amount approved in the IEPA application. In spite of harassment by the opposition, both the Lake County Health Department and IEPA continued to supported the project. The only solution for bringing costs back within the budget was to revise plans eliminating long runs of sewers to areas with minimum users. These would be installed and paid for by future developers.

On October 22, 1979 the IEPA notified Kildeer that the reduction in scope of their sewer project resulted in a lower funding priority rating and a determination could not be made when financing would be available. Kildeer had lost the 75% Federal funding. On December 6, 1979 the village board voted to accept the lower priority status and the sewer project was abandoned. This event was the single largest loss to Kildeer for any attempt to try and control development adjacent to its borders.

Police department

In 1975 circumstances lead Kildeer to establish a part-time police department. Many of the officers were Lake Zurich paramedics. The existence of this force proved to have been a wise move. With the increase in village and area population it became a full time department in 1988. Its professionalism has grown every year thereafter. Being a small village, Kildeer's municipal offices were always housed in the village Clerk's home. In 1989 the position of full time Village Administrator was established and the most qualified municipal employee, the former clerk, was selected to fill the position. During her tenure she had earned a certificate in management from the International City Management Association. The village and police offices have been housed in the lower level of her residence since 1979.

Growth in the area began to accelerate and developers annexed their properties to neighboring communities, enlarging their borders and virtually landlocking Kildeer. Lacking the ability to offer utilities as an inducement for developers to annex to Kildeer, other concessions were negotiated so as to expand the village limits. A unique example was the village approving a subdivision called Beacon Hill, consisting of houses on smaller lots but with considerable open space in and around the development. This allowed Kildeer to annex land on the north side of Route 22, effectively being able to influence other nearby development. These homes are serviced by sewers connected to the Lake County sewage treatment facility.

In 1990 the village negotiated capacity in Lake Zurich's trunkline to the Lake County sewage treatment facility. This will allow the central portion of Kildeer to have the ability to create sewer districts. Since establishing the first sewer facility plan in 1988, Kildeer has approved subdivisions designed with sewer infrastructure to accommodate future connections of upstream developments.

In spite of village board efforts, "progress" has resulted in higher density developments surrounding Kildeer while it remains an island of rural countryside. The village faces many decisions with some residents wanting to preserve the rural atmosphere while others more accustomed to suburban life want increased services and programs that require the need for new sources of revenue. There are those who prefer self-reliance and others want to rely on the village which introduces individual choice versus laws and rules. Other nearby communities may offer urban services and municipal recreation, but Kildeer offers open space and a self-sufficient private life style, much like that sought by the original settlers of our area.

Additional historical notes are available at and