Wilmette, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Wilmette is a village in New Trier Township, Cook County
, Illinois
, United States
. It is located 14 miles (22.5 km) north of Chicago
's downtown district (or 4 mi (6 km) from Chicago's northern border) and has a population of 27,651. Wilmette is considered a bedroom community in the North Shore
district. In 2007, Wilmette was ranked as the seventh best place to raise children in the U.S., according to Business Week.
and is a near northern suburb of Chicago, immediately north of Evanston
at 42°4′38"N 87°43′25"W (42.077178, -87.723736). The North Shore Channel
drainage canal empties into Lake Michigan at Wilmette Harbor.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14 km²) of it is land and 0.19% is water.
Wilmette has a well-developed urban forest
and since 1983 has enjoyed "Tree City
" status. As of 2006, Village parkways hosted more than 18,600 trees comprising 150 species and sub-species; over 2,800 of these trees were ash trees threatened by the emerald ash borer
infestation.
of 2010, there were 27,087 people, 10,290 households, and 7,730 families residing in the village. The population density
was 5,013.3 people per square mile (1,984.4/km²). There were 10,319 housing units at an average density of 1,916.6 per square mile (740.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 83.0% White, 0.56% Black, 0.04% Native American, 10.8% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races
, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.
There were 10,039 households out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.9% were married couples
living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the village the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the village was $120,469, and the median income for a family was $149,104. Males had a median income of $97,143 versus $50,007 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $55,611. About 1.3% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
The village ranks 46th on the list of highest-income places in the United States
with a population of over 10,000.
village was located on "Indian Hill", currently the site of a golf course in nearby Winnetka
.
The village is named in honor of Antoine Ouilmette
, a French-Canadian fur trader married to Archange, the daughter of Potawatomi chief Sauganash
.
For his part in persuading local Native Americans to sign the second Treaty of Prairie du Chien
in 1829, the U.S. government awarded Ouilmette 1280 acres (5.2 km²) of land in present-day Wilmette and Evanston.
German Catholic farmers from the area of Trier
began settling the area in the 1840s. They named their village, which was centered west of Ridge Road, Gross Point. In 1848, Ouilmette sold his land to farmers and developers.
The Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad tracks were built in 1854, facilitating the settlement of what would become the North Shore. In 1857, John G. Westerfield built pickle and vinegar factories in the area. Other early commercial development included a cooperage, a brick kiln, and an icehouse.
In 1869, the Chicago & Milwaukee constructed the first station in the area. Within a few years, the Village of Wilmette was incorporated, on September 19, 1872; the Village of Gross Point was incorporated on September 19, 1874.
September 19 is celebrated locally as Charter Day.
Wilmette was nearly annexed by its neighbor to the south, Evanston
, in 1894 and 1897. Proponents wanted to take advantage of Evanston's then-superior fire, police, and water works. One annexation referendum lost by a vote of 168 to 165; three others also failed.
The Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee (North Shore Line) arrived in 1899 and connected with a Milwaukee Road line into Chicago.
Gross Point's municipal revenues were dependent on the 15 taverns in town. With Prohibition
, these revenues disappeared and the village went bankrupt. It was annexed in two parts by the Village of Wilmette in 1924 and 1926.
In 1942, the village annexed No Man's Land
, an unincorporated triangular shoreline area bordering Kenilworth, in the vicinity of the present-day Plaza del Lago
, that had been the subject of numerous municipal disputes and the site of a failed club-hotel complex.
The oldest surviving Bahá'í House of Worship
was constructed in Wilmette between 1920 and 1953.
In 2004, Wilmette was one of the first localities in Illinois
to enact a ban on smoking
in all public spaces, including bars and restaurants. Also that year, the village government prosecuted local resident Hale DeMar, age 59, for violating the town's handgun
ban when he shot a burglar inside his house.
The handgun ban was enacted in direct response to an incident in 1988 when Laurie Dann
opened fire on a classroom full of children in neighboring Winnetka. The handgun ban has since been repealed in 2008 after the U.S Supreme Court struck down a similar ban in Washington DC
(grades 5 & 6), and Wilmette Junior High School
(grades 7 & 8).
Marie Murphy School, also located in Wilmette, is part of Avoca School District 37. It has the longest school day in the state of Illinois. There are also several parochial elementary schools in the area, including St. Francis Xavier and St. Joseph.
Other private schools in Wilmette include the Ronald Knox Montessori School
For public secondary or high school education, serving grades 9 to 12, Wilmette students attend New Trier High School
. High school freshmen attend classes at the Northfield
campus while other grades attend the Winnetka
campus. Wilmette is also home to Catholic high schools Loyola Academy
and Regina Dominican High School
.
Arlyn School in Wilmette is an alternative school
supported by member school districts in the area. It serves junior high and high school students who have been referred by school districts, community agencies, private practitioners, and parents.
The Wilmette Public Library
provides educational support to students at all grade levels, including those residing in neighboring Kenilworth, Illinois
.
Wilmette is home to the Bahá'í
House of Worship and the administrative offices for the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly. In 2007 the house of worship was named as one of the Seven Wonders of Illinois by the Illinois Bureau of Tourism.
Wilmette has a small two theater multiplex named the Wilmette Theater located on Central Street in one of its downtowns. This theater shows classic films, contemporary movies, as well as hosting live performances.
Wilmette has three shopping centers. One of them is Plaza del Lago
, one of the nations oldest shopping centers. It is located along Sheridan Road. The other two, Edens Plaza and West Lake Plaza, are on Lake Street along the Edens Expressway
.
Other attractions include the Gillson Park with beach access, marina, and an off-leash area for dogs; Langdon Beach; and Centennial Park, with a public swimming pool, tennis and ice-skating facilities. The Wilmette Golf Club, hosting a 6,378-yard course, is located on the far west side of town.
.
The oldest existing church building in Wilmette is the First Congregational Church (1909) designed in the Tudor Revival style. Trinity United Methodist Church (1928) is a Neo-Gothic structure and was designed and constructed by Granger & Bollenbacher of Wisconsin Lannonstone. The church features stained glass windows by Willet Studios of Philadelphia, among the top American studios during the 1920s. The church was also used as a filming location for Home Alone
.
Both St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier Church were designed by the firm of McCarthy, Smith and Eppig. St. Joseph's is Wilmette's oldest religious congregation, established in 1843. The present building (1939) is among the finest examples of Art Deco
architecture on the North Shore
. The interior is particularly well preserved and features Art Deco
light fixtures, and stained glass windows designed and fabricated by Giannini & Hilgart of Chicago
. The altar floor and sanctuary wall contain Italian and French marble
inlaid with Portuguese onyx
. The Stations of the Cross are pastel-hued mosaics crafted in the Vatican
Studio of Mosaics in Rome
. The design and materials of the Y-shaped school designed by Herman J. Gaul of Chicago
and constructed in 1934, and the adjacent rectory
harmonize with the church. St. Francis Xavier Church (1939) was designed in the Late Gothic Revival mode while McCarthy, Smith & Eppig were simultaneously working on St. Joseph's. The stained glass windows were made with English and German imported glass by the famed F. X. Zettler Studios of Munich, Germany and New York
. St Francis Xavier School (1924), just east of the church, is a unique modern blend of Gothic architecture by Chicago architect Barry Byrne.
Wilmette has two houses built by Frank Lloyd Wright
: the Frank J. Baker House
(and carriage house) and the Lewis Burleigh House (also known as the JJ O'Connor House).
:
The North Shore Line
through Wilmette was abandoned in 1955. Wilmette is currently served by the Chicago Transit Authority
's 'L'
Purple Line
, the Metra
commuter trains operated by Union Pacific Railroad
on the old Chicago & Northwestern Railway line, and by the Pace
suburban bus system. The northernmost station of the Purple Line is located at Linden Avenue
in Wilmette. Wilmette's commuter railroad station
is at Green Bay Road and Washington Avenue.
to present Going Green Matters: Wilmette's Green Fair, 2010, a sustainable living and recycling event that drew over 500 residents, exhibitors, vendors, and activists.
is Mona Vale
in Pittwater Council
, New South Wales
and they participate in an annual student exchange program between their high schools. Mona Vale and Wilmette are connected spiritually as well, each is home to a Bahá'í House of Worship, of which there are only seven in the world.
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
, 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...
. It is located 14 miles (22.5 km) north of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's downtown district (or 4 mi (6 km) from Chicago's northern border) and has a population of 27,651. Wilmette is considered a bedroom community in the North Shore
North Shore (Chicago)
The North Shore is a term that refers to the generally affluent suburbs north of Chicago, Illinois bordering the shore of Lake Michigan.- History :Europeans settled the area sparsely after an 1833 treaty with local Native Americans...
district. In 2007, Wilmette was ranked as the seventh best place to raise children in the U.S., according to Business Week.
Geography
Wilmette is located on the western shore of Lake MichiganLake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
and is a near northern suburb of Chicago, immediately north of Evanston
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
at 42°4′38"N 87°43′25"W (42.077178, -87.723736). The North Shore Channel
North Shore Channel
The North Shore Channel is a drainage canal built between 1907 and 1910 to flush the sewage-filled North Branch of the Chicago River down the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal...
drainage canal empties into Lake Michigan at Wilmette Harbor.
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 5.4 square miles (14 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14 km²) of it is land and 0.19% is water.
Wilmette has a well-developed urban forest
Urban forest
An urban forest is a forest or a collection of trees that grow within a city, town or a suburb. In a wider sense it may include any kind of woody plant vegetation growing in and around human settlements. In a narrower sense it describes areas whose ecosystems are inherited from wilderness...
and since 1983 has enjoyed "Tree City
Tree City USA
Tree City USA is a tree planting and tree care program sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation for cities and towns in the United States.- Requirements :...
" status. As of 2006, Village parkways hosted more than 18,600 trees comprising 150 species and sub-species; over 2,800 of these trees were ash trees threatened by the emerald ash borer
Emerald ash borer
The emerald ash borer is a green beetle native to Asia.In North America the borer is an invasive species, highly destructive to ash trees in its introduced range. The potential damage of this insect rivals that of Chestnut blight and Dutch Elm Disease...
infestation.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 2010, there were 27,087 people, 10,290 households, and 7,730 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 5,013.3 people per square mile (1,984.4/km²). There were 10,319 housing units at an average density of 1,916.6 per square mile (740.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 83.0% White, 0.56% Black, 0.04% Native American, 10.8% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.42% 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 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.
There were 10,039 households out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.9% 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, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the village the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the village was $120,469, and the median income for a family was $149,104. Males had a median income of $97,143 versus $50,007 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 $55,611. About 1.3% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
The village ranks 46th on the list of highest-income places in the United States
Highest-income places in the United States
-100 highest-income places with at least 1,000 households:This is a list of the 100 richest places in the United States with at least 1,000 households. This is the most common list used for referring to the richest communities in the country, as it eliminates any places with insignificant populations...
with a population of over 10,000.
History
Before European settlement, a PotawatomiPotawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
village was located on "Indian Hill", currently the site of a golf course in nearby Winnetka
Winnetka, Illinois
Winnetka is an affluent North Shore village located approximately north of downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. Winnetka was featured on the list of America's 25 top-earning towns and "one of the best places to live" by CNN Money in 2011...
.
The village is named in honor of Antoine Ouilmette
Antoine Ouilmette
Antoine Ouilmette was a fur trader and early resident of what is now Chicago, Illinois. He was of French Canadian and possibly Native American ancestry. The village of Wilmette, Illinois is named in his honor....
, a French-Canadian fur trader married to Archange, the daughter of Potawatomi chief Sauganash
Sauganash
Billy Caldwell, baptized Thomas Caldwell , known also as Sauganash, was a British-Mohawk fur trader who was commissioned captain in the Indian Department of Canada...
.
For his part in persuading local Native Americans to sign the second Treaty of Prairie du Chien
Treaty of Prairie du Chien
The Treaty of Prairie du Chien may refer to any of several treaties made and signed in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin between the United States, representatives from the Sioux, Sac and Fox, Menominee, Ioway, Winnebago and the Anishinaabeg Native American peoples.-1825:The first treaty of Prairie du...
in 1829, the U.S. government awarded Ouilmette 1280 acres (5.2 km²) of land in present-day Wilmette and Evanston.
German Catholic farmers from the area of Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
began settling the area in the 1840s. They named their village, which was centered west of Ridge Road, Gross Point. In 1848, Ouilmette sold his land to farmers and developers.
The Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad tracks were built in 1854, facilitating the settlement of what would become the North Shore. In 1857, John G. Westerfield built pickle and vinegar factories in the area. Other early commercial development included a cooperage, a brick kiln, and an icehouse.
In 1869, the Chicago & Milwaukee constructed the first station in the area. Within a few years, the Village of Wilmette was incorporated, on September 19, 1872; the Village of Gross Point was incorporated on September 19, 1874.
September 19 is celebrated locally as Charter Day.
Wilmette was nearly annexed by its neighbor to the south, Evanston
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
, in 1894 and 1897. Proponents wanted to take advantage of Evanston's then-superior fire, police, and water works. One annexation referendum lost by a vote of 168 to 165; three others also failed.
The Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee (North Shore Line) arrived in 1899 and connected with a Milwaukee Road line into Chicago.
Gross Point's municipal revenues were dependent on the 15 taverns in town. With Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, these revenues disappeared and the village went bankrupt. It was annexed in two parts by the Village of Wilmette in 1924 and 1926.
In 1942, the village annexed No Man's Land
No Man's Land, Illinois
No Man's Land, Illinois was never an official place name, but has been used to refer to at least two areas that fit the broader meaning of No man's land.-Wilmette:...
, an unincorporated triangular shoreline area bordering Kenilworth, in the vicinity of the present-day Plaza del Lago
Plaza del Lago
Plaza del Lago is a shopping center at 1515 Sheridan Road in Wilmette, Illinois, United States which opened in 1928 as Spanish Court; it has been reported as the second-oldest shopping center in the United States designed for automobile use, and the first such center in the state of Illinois.-The...
, that had been the subject of numerous municipal disputes and the site of a failed club-hotel complex.
The oldest surviving Bahá'í House of Worship
Bahá'í House of Worship
A Bahá'í House of Worship, sometimes referred to by its Arabic name of Mashriqu'l-Adhkár ,is the designation of a place of worship, or temple, of the Bahá'í Faith...
was constructed in Wilmette between 1920 and 1953.
Village government
Wilmette is governed by a village board composed of six trustees and a president. Trustees serve staggered, four-year terms and are elected at-large. The current village trustees are Mike Basil, Cameron Krueger, Ted McKenna, Karen Spillers, Alan Swanson, and Mari Terman. The current village president is Chris Canning. Trustee-elects for a four-year term starting in April 2011 are Mike Basil, Bob Bielinski, and Julie Wolf.In 2004, Wilmette was one of the first localities in 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,...
to enact a ban on smoking
Smoking ban
Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, which prohibit tobacco smoking in workplaces and/or other public spaces...
in all public spaces, including bars and restaurants. Also that year, the village government prosecuted local resident Hale DeMar, age 59, for violating the town's handgun
Handgun
A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....
ban when he shot a burglar inside his house.
The handgun ban was enacted in direct response to an incident in 1988 when Laurie Dann
Laurie Dann
Laurie Dann was an American murderer who shot and killed a boy, and wounded two girls and three boys, in a Winnetka, Illinois, elementary school, then took a family hostage and shot a man before killing herself.-Early life:Dann was born into a Jewish family in Chicago and grew up in Glencoe, an...
opened fire on a classroom full of children in neighboring Winnetka. The handgun ban has since been repealed in 2008 after the U.S Supreme Court struck down a similar ban in Washington DC
Education
For grade school education, Wilmette is served by Wilmette Public Schools District 39 which includes elementary schools (grades K–4) Central, Harper, McKenzie, and Romona, Highcrest Middle SchoolHighcrest Middle School
Highcrest Middle School is a middle school in Wilmette, Illinois. It teaches grades 5-6 from 4 main grade schools, Romona, Harper, Central, and Mckenzie,-Academics:There are sixteen teachers for fifth grade and sixteen for sixth grade...
(grades 5 & 6), and Wilmette Junior High School
Wilmette Junior High School
Wilmette Junior High School, abbreviated WJHS, is a school serving seventh and eighth grade students in the Wilmette, Illinois public school District 39. When the school opened in 1962 it was called Locust Junior High School, but its name was changed in 1979 upon the closing of its counterpart,...
(grades 7 & 8).
Marie Murphy School, also located in Wilmette, is part of Avoca School District 37. It has the longest school day in the state of Illinois. There are also several parochial elementary schools in the area, including St. Francis Xavier and St. Joseph.
Other private schools in Wilmette include the Ronald Knox Montessori School
For public secondary or high school education, serving grades 9 to 12, Wilmette students attend New Trier High School
New Trier High School
New Trier High School is a public four-year high school , with its major campus located in Winnetka, Illinois, USA, and a second campus in Northfield, Illinois, with freshman classes and district administration...
. High school freshmen attend classes at the Northfield
Northfield, Illinois
Northfield is an affluent village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located approximately north of Chicago. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 5,389...
campus while other grades attend the Winnetka
Winnetka, Illinois
Winnetka is an affluent North Shore village located approximately north of downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. Winnetka was featured on the list of America's 25 top-earning towns and "one of the best places to live" by CNN Money in 2011...
campus. Wilmette is also home to Catholic high schools Loyola Academy
Loyola Academy
Loyola Academy is a private, co-educational college preparatory high school, located in Wilmette, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, it is one of 47 Jesuit high schools in the United States and is a member of the Jesuit Secondary Education...
and Regina Dominican High School
Regina Dominican High School
Regina Dominican High School is a small all-girls Catholic high school in Wilmette, Illinois, USA. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, it was founded in 1958 and is sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters...
.
Arlyn School in Wilmette is an alternative school
Alternative school
Alternative school is the name used in some parts of the world to describe an institution which provides part of alternative education. It is an educational establishment with a curriculum and methods that are nontraditional...
supported by member school districts in the area. It serves junior high and high school students who have been referred by school districts, community agencies, private practitioners, and parents.
The Wilmette Public Library
Wilmette Public Library
The Wilmette Public Library serves the citizens of Kenilworth and Wilmette, Illinois on Chicago's North Shore.-History:The library was founded in 1901, but traces its origins to private nonprofit lending libraries created as early as 1880. It has occupied several different buildings, including one...
provides educational support to students at all grade levels, including those residing in neighboring Kenilworth, Illinois
Kenilworth, Illinois
Kenilworth is a village in Cook County, Illinois, north of downtown Chicago. It is the newest of the nine suburban North Shore communities bordering Lake Michigan, and is the only one developed as a planned community...
.
Attractions
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
House of Worship and the administrative offices for the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly. In 2007 the house of worship was named as one of the Seven Wonders of Illinois by the Illinois Bureau of Tourism.
Wilmette has a small two theater multiplex named the Wilmette Theater located on Central Street in one of its downtowns. This theater shows classic films, contemporary movies, as well as hosting live performances.
Wilmette has three shopping centers. One of them is Plaza del Lago
Plaza del Lago
Plaza del Lago is a shopping center at 1515 Sheridan Road in Wilmette, Illinois, United States which opened in 1928 as Spanish Court; it has been reported as the second-oldest shopping center in the United States designed for automobile use, and the first such center in the state of Illinois.-The...
, one of the nations oldest shopping centers. It is located along Sheridan Road. The other two, Edens Plaza and West Lake Plaza, are on Lake Street along the Edens Expressway
Edens Expressway
The Edens Expressway is the main major expressway north from the city of Chicago. For most of its length, the Edens carries Interstate 94; it also carries U.S. Route 41 from Wilmette to its northern terminus. Only the short portion from the Spur Ramp to the expressway's end in Highland Park does...
.
Other attractions include the Gillson Park with beach access, marina, and an off-leash area for dogs; Langdon Beach; and Centennial Park, with a public swimming pool, tennis and ice-skating facilities. The Wilmette Golf Club, hosting a 6,378-yard course, is located on the far west side of town.
Architecture
In addition to the Bahá'í House of Worship, Wilmette is famous for several other examples of religious architectureReligious architecture
Sacred architecture is a religious architectural practice concerned with the design and construction of places of worship and/or sacred or intentional space, such as churches, mosques, stupas, synagogues, and temples...
.
The oldest existing church building in Wilmette is the First Congregational Church (1909) designed in the Tudor Revival style. Trinity United Methodist Church (1928) is a Neo-Gothic structure and was designed and constructed by Granger & Bollenbacher of Wisconsin Lannonstone. The church features stained glass windows by Willet Studios of Philadelphia, among the top American studios during the 1920s. The church was also used as a filming location for Home Alone
Home Alone
Home Alone is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus. The film stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy, who is mistakenly left behind when his family flies to Paris for their Christmas vacation...
.
Both St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier Church were designed by the firm of McCarthy, Smith and Eppig. St. Joseph's is Wilmette's oldest religious congregation, established in 1843. The present building (1939) is among the finest examples of Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
architecture on the North Shore
North Shore (Chicago)
The North Shore is a term that refers to the generally affluent suburbs north of Chicago, Illinois bordering the shore of Lake Michigan.- History :Europeans settled the area sparsely after an 1833 treaty with local Native Americans...
. The interior is particularly well preserved and features Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
light fixtures, and stained glass windows designed and fabricated by Giannini & Hilgart of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The altar floor and sanctuary wall contain Italian and French marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
inlaid with Portuguese onyx
Onyx
Onyx is a banded variety of chalcedony. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color . Commonly, specimens of onyx contain bands of black and/or white.-Etymology:...
. The Stations of the Cross are pastel-hued mosaics crafted in the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
Studio of Mosaics in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. The design and materials of the Y-shaped school designed by Herman J. Gaul of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and constructed in 1934, and the adjacent rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
harmonize with the church. St. Francis Xavier Church (1939) was designed in the Late Gothic Revival mode while McCarthy, Smith & Eppig were simultaneously working on St. Joseph's. The stained glass windows were made with English and German imported glass by the famed F. X. Zettler Studios of Munich, Germany and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. St Francis Xavier School (1924), just east of the church, is a unique modern blend of Gothic architecture by Chicago architect Barry Byrne.
Wilmette has two houses built by Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
: the Frank J. Baker House
Frank J. Baker House
The Frank J. Baker House is a Prairie School style house located in Wilmette, Illinois designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Built in 1909, the house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.- External links :* at Citywide Services...
(and carriage house) and the Lewis Burleigh House (also known as the JJ O'Connor House).
Historic preservation
These places in Wilmette are on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
:
| Site | Address | Listed |
|---|---|---|
| Baha'i Temple Bahá'í House of Worship (Wilmette, Illinois) The Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, is the oldest surviving Baha'i House of Worship in the world, and the only one in the United States.-Early plans:... |
100 Linden Ave. | 1978 |
| Bailey-Michelet House | 1028 Sheridan Rd. | 1982 |
| Frank J. Baker House Frank J. Baker House The Frank J. Baker House is a Prairie School style house located in Wilmette, Illinois designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Built in 1909, the house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.- External links :* at Citywide Services... |
507 Lake Ave. | 1974 |
| Alfred Bersbach House | 1120 Michigan Ave. | 2003 |
| Chicago and Northwestern Depot Chicago and Northwestern Depot (Wilmette, Illinois) The Chicago and Northwestern Depot is a former railway station in Wilmette, Illinois, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975. The station served the Chicago and North Western Railway along what is now Metra's Union Pacific/North Line. It was built in 1873 as a... |
1135-1141 Wilmette Ave. | 1975 |
| Gross Point Village Hall | 609 Ridge Rd. | 1991 |
| Linden Avenue Terminal | 330 Linden Ave. | 1984 |
| Oak Circle Historic District Oak Circle Historic District The Oak Circle Historic District is a historic district in Wilmette, Illinois, United States. The district covers and includes twenty-two contributing properties and four non-contributing properties, all located along Oak Circle. It primarily consists of fifteen single-family homes representative... |
318-351 Oak Circle | 2001 |
| Ouilmette North Historic District | 46 blocks: Chesnut Ave, Sheridan Rd., Lake Ave. and 13th St. | 2005 |
Transportation
Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad
The Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad, often called the North Shore Line, was an interurban railroad line that operated between Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, until its abandonment in 1963.- Early history :...
through Wilmette was abandoned in 1955. Wilmette is currently served by the Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs....
's 'L'
Chicago 'L'
The L is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs. It is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority...
Purple Line
Purple Line (Chicago Transit Authority)
The Purple Line of the Chicago Transit Authority is a branch line on the northernmost section of the Chicago 'L' rapid transit network. Normally, it extends south from the Wilmette terminal at Linden Avenue, passing through Evanston to Howard Street, on Chicago's northern city limits...
, the Metra
Metra
Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by...
commuter trains operated by Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
on the old Chicago & Northwestern Railway line, and by the Pace
Pace (transit)
Pace is the suburban bus division of the Regional Transportation Authority in the Chicago metropolitan area. It was created in 1983 by the RTA Act, which established the formula that provides funding to CTA, Metra and Pace. In 2010, Pace had 35.077 million riders. Pace's headquarters are in...
suburban bus system. The northernmost station of the Purple Line is located at Linden Avenue
Linden (CTA)
Linden is an 'L' station and the northern terminus of CTA's Purple Line. It is the only 'L' stop in Wilmette, Illinois, and is located at 349 Linden Avenue...
in Wilmette. Wilmette's commuter railroad station
Wilmette (Metra)
Wilmette is the name of a commuter railroad station in Wilmette, Illinois, U.S. that is served by Metra's Union Pacific/North Line. Trains go south to Ogilvie Transportation Center and as far north as Kenosha, Wisconsin. Travel time to Ogilvie is 31 minutes on local trains, and as little as 27...
is at Green Bay Road and Washington Avenue.
Sustainability
The Village of Wilmette has a stated commitment to "promoting and creating a more sustainable environment through energy efficiency, improved stormwater management, water conservation, pollution reduction, and recycling." Wilmette and 11 other communities are competing in the ComEd Community Energy Challenge for a $100,000 prize for energy consumption reduction. The Village has implemented some lighting and heating efficiency programs in some municipal buildings. In March, 2010, the Village partnered with Go Green WilmetteGo Green Wilmette
Go Green Wilmette is a grassroots environmental organization in Wilmette, Illinois. It was founded in 2006 with the goal of establishing an Environmental Commission as part of the village's government. Its president, as of March, 2010 was Beth Drucker...
to present Going Green Matters: Wilmette's Green Fair, 2010, a sustainable living and recycling event that drew over 500 residents, exhibitors, vendors, and activists.
Notable natives and residents
Notable people who are natives of or have lived in Wilmette include:
|
Barry Horowitz Barry Horowitz is an American professional wrestler, best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation.-Career:Horowitz, who is Jewish, attended Florida State University, where he studied sports nutrition and wrestled... (born March 24, 1960), professional wrestler. Playboy Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with... Playmate of the Month. Joel Murray Joel Murray is an American actor who has starred in film and on television.-Early life:Murray, one of nine children, was born and raised in Wilmette, Illinois , the son of Lucille , a mail room clerk, and Edward J. Murray II, a lumber salesman. Murray, along with his siblings, grew up in an Irish... (born April 17, 1963), actor. Roger Myerson Roger Bruce Myerson is an American economist and Nobel laureate recognized with Leonid Hurwicz and Eric Maskin for "having laid the foundations of mechanism design theory." A professor at the University of Chicago, he has made contributions as an economist, as an applied mathematician, and as a... (born March 29, 1951), 2007 Nobel Prize in Economics co-winner. Jonathan Nolan Jonathan "Jonah" Nolan is a British-American author and screenwriter. His short story "Memento Mori" was used by his brother, director Christopher Nolan, as the basis for the screenplay for the critically acclaimed film Memento. He has also co-written the screenplays for The Prestige and The Dark... (born March 29, 1951), British-American author and screenwriter. Dana Olsen Dana Olsen is an American actor, film producer and screenwriter. His written works include George of the Jungle, The 'Burbs and Inspector Gadget... , screenwriter. Ann-Margret Ann-Margret Olsson is a Swedish-American actress, singer and dancer whose professional name is Ann-Margret. She became famous for her starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, The Cincinnati Kid, Carnal Knowledge, and Tommy... (born April 28, 1941), Swedish-American actress. Ian Punnett Case Ian Punnett is an American radio broadcaster.Punnett hosts a morning show, Ian and Margery, with his wife on KTMY in Minneapolis-St... (born March 3, 1960), radio broadcaster. Tony Rezko Antoin "Tony" Rezko is a Assyrian -American businessman, political fundraiser, restaurateur, and real estate developer in Chicago, Illinois, convicted on several counts of fraud and bribery in 2008. Rezko has been involved in fundraising for local Illinois Democratic and Republican politicians... (born July 1955), restaurateur and political fundraiser. Thomas S. Ricketts Thomas S. "Tom" Ricketts is chairman of the Chicago Cubs, and the chief executive officer of Incapital LLC, a Chicago investment bank that packages corporate bonds for retail investors. He is also a director of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation as well as the son of Ameritrade founder J. Joseph... (born May 23, 1963), owner of the Chicago Cubs Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National... , son of TD Ameritrade TD Ameritrade TD Ameritrade is an American online broker with over 6 million U.S. customers, and many more internationally, that has grown rapidly through acquisition to become the 746th-largest US firm in 2008. TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation is the owner of TD Ameritrade Inc... founder Joe Ricketts. Daniel Rose (Chef) -Career:Originally from Wilmette, Illinois, Rose moved to France for undergraduate studies at the American University of Paris. He spent a year at the Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon. He apprenticed at the Bruneau Restaurant, a three-star in Brussels, and worked at the luxurious Hotel Meurice with... (born May 23, 1963), American-born Paris-based chef. Jack Ryan (Senate candidate) Jack Ryan is a Republican from the state of Illinois who was forced to withdraw from the 2004 United States Senate race due to an alleged sex scandal involving his relationship with his ex-wife, actress Jeri Ryan... (born October 6, 1959), former Republican candidate for the United States Senate United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each... . Jamie Schroeder James Lee Schroeder Jr is an American rower, and a victorious Oxford Blue. He is married to fellow Stanford alum, Kelsey Twist... (born September 9, 1981), Olympic rower. Eunice Kennedy Shriver Eunice Kennedy Shriver, DSG a member of the Kennedy family, sister to President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward Kennedy, was the founder in 1962 of Camp Shriver, and in 1968, the Special Olympics... (July 10, 1921 - August 11, 2009), founded the Special Olympics Special Olympics Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries.... . Sargent Shriver Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr., known as Sargent Shriver, R. Sargent Shriver, or, from childhood, Sarge, was an American statesman and activist. As the husband of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, he was part of the Kennedy family, serving in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations... (November 9, 1915 - January 18, 2011), general manager of the Merchandise Mart Merchandise Mart When opened in 1930, the Merchandise Mart or the Merch Mart, located in the Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois, was the largest building in the world with of floor space. Previously owned by the Marshall Field family, the Mart centralized Chicago's wholesale goods business by consolidating vendors... and first head of the Peace Corps Peace Corps The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping... . Nico Tortorella Nico Tortorella is an American actor and model. He is best known for his role of Trevor Sheldon in the 2011 horror film Scream 4, and as Razor in the ABC TV series Make It or Break It.-Life and career:... (born July 30, 1988), model & actor. Matt Walker (drummer) Matt Walker is a musician and former drummer for Filter, The Smashing Pumpkins and current drummer for Morrissey.Matt Walker began his career in Chicago in the mid 80s, when Matt began playing drums for the already well known Scott Bennett of Scott Bennett & The Obvious and did double duty playing... , former drummer Drummer A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a... for Filter Filter (band) Filter is a rock group formed in 1993 in Cleveland by singer Richard Patrick and guitarist/programmer Brian Liesegang. Filter has released five studio albums, the most recent being The Trouble with Angels, which was released on August 17, 2010.... , The Smashing Pumpkins The Smashing Pumpkins The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing... and current drummer for Morrissey. |
Sister cities
Wilmette's sister city in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
is Mona Vale
Mona Vale, New South Wales
Mona Vale is a suburb in northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 28 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Pittwater Council. Mona Vale is also part of the Northern Beaches region.-...
in Pittwater Council
Pittwater Council
Pittwater Council is a Local Government Area on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The suburbs which comprise the Pittwater LGA were detached from the Warringah local government area in 1993...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and they participate in an annual student exchange program between their high schools. Mona Vale and Wilmette are connected spiritually as well, each is home to a Bahá'í House of Worship, of which there are only seven in the world.
See also
- U.S.S. Wilmette
- Wilmette (Metra)Wilmette (Metra)Wilmette is the name of a commuter railroad station in Wilmette, Illinois, U.S. that is served by Metra's Union Pacific/North Line. Trains go south to Ogilvie Transportation Center and as far north as Kenosha, Wisconsin. Travel time to Ogilvie is 31 minutes on local trains, and as little as 27...
- WillametteWillametteWillamette , from the Clackamas language of the Columbia River, Oregon, can refer to:A toponym of the U.S. state of Oregon:* Willamette River, a tributary of the Columbia River in northwestern Oregon...
Further reading
- Ebner, Michael. Creating Chicago's North Shore: A Suburban History. 1988.
- Holley, Horace. Wilmette Story. 1951.