| As president of the railroad company, Gurnee made
a practice of buying land near stations on the route as sure investments.
While he had planned to settle in Glencoe, financial insolvency
forced him to return to his hometown in New York.
Upon Gurnee's failure, Alexander Hammond bought 520 acres (2.1
km2) and formed the Glencoe Company with plans for an exclusive
residential community. The charter included the building of a school
and a church and the hiring of a teacher and a pastor. After some
early financial problems, the settlement had grown to 536 homes
by 1885. Glencoe has a Village Manager form of government. It had
one of the first Public Safety Departments (combined police/fire/paramedic).
It adopted the first zoning code in Illinois in 1921. Its land-use
plan adopted in 1940 has been adhered to with minor changes since
then. Most all nonconforming uses have been eliminated through attrition
and developed to allowed uses shown outlined on the 1940 zoning
land-use map.
It is predominately single family with no industrial uses. It has
a small cohesive central business district that provides most basic
services including post office, library, Village Hall, performing
arts theatre, train station (to Chicago), and other shopping needs.
In the last 20 years the village has experienced increasing tear-downs
of smaller homes that have been replaced with larger higher quality
homes. During this time major reconstruction has been completed
of its street and sidewalk network. The business district has had
brick sidewalks and period street lights installed.
Many public buildings have been or are being remodelled and/or
additions made to including the public schools, Village Hall, Library,
Park District Community Center, and refrigerated outdoor ice rink.
The private golf clubs (Lake Shore Country Club and Skokie Country
Club) have seen major club building remodeling, additions, and reconstruction.
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