Nestled in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Barrington boasts a picturesque country-suburban atmosphere, complete with wetlands, forest preserves, parks, and horse trails. Straddling Cook and Lake counties in Illinois, this charming village offers a unique blend of natural beauty and tranquility, making it an appealing destination for those seeking a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Barrington falls within the larger Chicago metropolitan region.
The earliest known inhabitants of the Barrington region were the Native American tribes of the Prairie Potawatomi or Mascoutin, who eventually branched out into the Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Ottawa tribes.
Chicago is located to the southeast of Barrington at a distance of 30 miles.
Barrington experiences a continental climate classified as Köppen Dfa, characterized by summers that are typically more humid compared to the winters.
In the village, there were 10,722 individuals, 3,988 households, and 2,902 families living there according to the 2020 census.
The village boasts a variety of shopping destinations beyond its central business district, including the Ice House Mall and The Foundry, situated northwest of the town center.
The leading employers in the city include Barrington Community Unit School District #220 with 1,200 employees, Barrington Park District with 379 employees, Motor Werks of Barrington with 355 employees, The Garlands of Barrington with 295 employees, PepsiCo (Quaker Oats) with 287 employees, Barrington Transportation with 230 employees, Pepper Construction with 226 employees, Jewel Food Store with 190 employees, Wickstrom Ford with 176 employees, and Heinen’s with 142 employees.
In Barrington, there are several yearly festivities, such as the Memorial Day parade, a Fourth of July parade with evening fireworks and a Homecoming parade linked to Barrington High School.
The library, situated in the northeastern part of the village, boasts an impressive collection of over 226,000 books and 27,000 audiovisual materials, making it a valuable resource for the community.
The creation of the Barrington Historic District in 2001 was aimed at safeguarding and maintaining the historical parts of the Village, as well as specific buildings and locations with historical, architectural, or cultural importance.
There are many parks and nature reserves in the Barrington region.
The Village of Barrington operates under the council-manager form of government, with a village President and six board members, all of whom are elected for four-year terms. The board members are elected at large, and their terms are staggered.
In the spring of 2009, the residents of a village in Illinois voted in a non-binding referendum to allow local officials to explore the possibility of breaking away from Cook County and forming their own independent township.
Barrington is the central location for the Barrington Community Unit School District 220, which covers an area of 72 square miles (190 km2). Within Barrington, you can find schools such as Barrington High School, Barrington Middle School – Prairie Campus, Barrington Middle School – Station Campus, Arnett C. Lines Elementary School, Countryside Elementary School, Grove Avenue Elementary School, Hough Street Elementary School (recognized as a Blue Ribbon school in 2015), Roslyn Road Elementary School, and St. Anne Catholic Community, a K-8 Catholic school.
The community of Barrington is served by the Barrington Courier-Review, a regional newspaper that provides coverage of local news and events.
Barrington is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and receives its media coverage from Chicago-based networks. The village is also served by local newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. In addition, the village’s Community Relations board operates a government-access television station, which broadcasts Village Board meetings and community announcements to residents through cable TV.
Metra’s Union Pacific Northwest Line offers a convenient commute option for those traveling between Barrington station and Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago, as well as those heading northwest to Harvard or McHenry.
Major Roadways:
* US Route 14 (Northwest Highway)
* Illinois Route 59 (Hough Street)
* Illinois Route 68 (Dundee Road)
In 1979, Good Shepherd Hospital began serving the community located north of Barrington.
Influential Individuals
Primary Article: Barrington, Illinois’s Distinguished Residents