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A−History
History · Kenilworth

Kenilworth dates to 1889, and 61% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 85% of U.S. towns. What drives it

7 places in town are on the National Register. Below: 15 old photos and papers, maps from 1899 on, and the census since 1900.

1889founded
7on the National Register
61%homes built before 1940
15old photos & papers
3famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Kenilworth’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Kenilworth began

When was Kenilworth founded?

1889

Kenilworth dates its founding to 1889 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1900.

First census: 336 in 19002020 census: 2,514137 years

How historic is Kenilworth?

A−

More historic than 85% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1891.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Kenilworth’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Kenilworth is more historic than 85% of U.S. towns. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.

A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Kenilworth’s overall grade.
Founding era1889, from Wikidata: founded 1850–1899, an older era than 37% of U.S. townsC+Homes built before 194061.2% of homes (±7.1) · typical IL town 10.6% · U.S. 8.4%A+National Register7 listings, 28.0 per 10,000 residents · typical IL town 0.5 · U.S. 2.4A−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 85%
NewerOlder

Few Illinois towns list much on the Register (a typical Illinois town has 0.5 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Kenilworth’s 28.0 sits above most of its state (88% of Illinois towns have fewer) while its 7 listings outnumber those of 73% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B to A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±7.1 points). Two sources give 1889.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Kenilworth’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

On the map since 18996 editions of the USGS map, 1899 to 1993. Watch Kenilworth change.Old housesHalf of Kenilworth’s homes were built before 1938.A town in old photos15 old photos, postcards and papers, 1900–1933.Landmarks on the Register7 places on the National Register.
★ What stands out · On the map

Kenilworth on the map, 1899 to 1993

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Kenilworth. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Kenilworth on the 1899 USGS mapKenilworth on the 1928 USGS mapKenilworth on the 1953 USGS mapKenilworth on the 1963 USGS mapKenilworth on the 1972 USGS mapKenilworth on the 1993 USGS map1899Evanston sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Kenilworth.

The story

How Kenilworth came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Kenilworth.

Read it all →

Kenilworth was founded in 1889 when Joseph Sears purchased 223.6 acres of land consisting of several farms between the Chicago and North Western Railroad and Lake Michigan for $150,300. Sears and several of his associates formed The Kenilworth Company to execute his suburban dream.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Kenilworth, decade by decade

3 decades in the archive, from the 1900s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1900s–1910s5 items
Union Church, Kenilworth, Illinois, early 20th century (NBY 580)1900Union Church, Kenilworth, Illinois, early 20th centur…C. & N.W. Ry. [i.e. Chicago & North Western Railway] station1900C. & N.W. Ry. [i.e. Chicago & North Western Railway] …Francis Lackner House1905Francis Lackner HouseKenilworth club entrance1907Kenilworth club entranceWohnhaus für Herrn McAfee bei Chicago--Perspecktive (Seeseite)1910Wohnhaus für Herrn McAfee bei Chicago--Perspecktive (…
1930s10 items
HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 1 of 6) - Kenilworth Club, 10 Kenilworth Avenue1933HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 1 of 6) - Kenilworth Clu…HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 1 of 6) - Kenilworth Club, 10 Kenilworth Avenue1933HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 1 of 6) - Kenilworth Clu…HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 2 of 6) - Kenilworth Club, 10 Kenilworth Avenue1933HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 2 of 6) - Kenilworth Clu…HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 2 of 6) - Kenilworth Club, 10 Kenilworth Avenue1933HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 2 of 6) - Kenilworth Clu…HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 3 of 6) - Kenilworth Club, 10 Kenilworth Avenue1933HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 3 of 6) - Kenilworth Clu…HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 3 of 6) - Kenilworth Club, 10 Kenilworth Avenue1933HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 3 of 6) - Kenilworth Clu…HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 4 of 6) - Kenilworth Club, 10 Kenilworth Avenue1933HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 4 of 6) - Kenilworth Clu…HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 4 of 6) - Kenilworth Club, 10 Kenilworth Avenue1933HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 4 of 6) - Kenilworth Clu…HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 5 of 6) - Kenilworth Club, 10 Kenilworth Avenue1933HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 5 of 6) - Kenilworth Clu…HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 6 of 6) - Kenilworth Club, 10 Kenilworth Avenue1933HABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 6 of 6) - Kenilworth Clu…
1940s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Timeline

Kenilworth, 1889 to 1978

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1889
    FoundingKenilworth is established
  3. 1891Post officeThe Kenilworth post office opens
  4. 1893BuiltGeorge W. Maher House is built
  5. 1899On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  6. 20th century
  7. 1900In the archiveUnion Church, Kenilworth, Illinois, early 20th century (NBY 580)
  8. 1910In the archiveWohnhaus für Herrn McAfee bei Chicago--Perspecktive (Seeseite)
  9. 1913Born hereWayne Andrews is born here
  10. 1933In the archiveHABS ILL,16-KENILL,1- (sheet 1 of 6) - Kenilworth Club, 10 Kenilworth Avenue
  11. 1946Born hereChristopher DeMuth is born here
  12. 1978Born hereAnita Decker Breckenridge is born here
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Union Church, Kenilworth, Illinois, early 20th century (NBY 580)
Retake this viewUnion Church, Kenilworth, Illinois, early 20th century (NBY 580), 1900

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Kenilworth’s page.

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

7 historic places in Kenilworth

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
7
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
7
each building in a district counts
first listed
1979
George W. Maher House
George W. Maher House, built 1893Kenilworth ClubHiram Baldwin HouseWild Flower and Bird Sanctuary in Mahoney ParkDr. Robert Hohf HouseMr. J. William de Coursey O'Grady HouseRamsey, Charles N., and Herry E. Weese House
BuildingsSites

Architectural styles listings

Arts and Crafts2
Prairie School2
Modern Movement1
International Style1
Classical Revival1
Georgian Revival1
George W. Maher HouseArts and Crafts · Built 1893
Kenilworth ClubPrairie School
Hiram Baldwin HousePrairie School
Wild Flower and Bird Sanctuary in Mahoney ParkSite
Dr. Robert Hohf HouseModern Movement
Mr. J. William de Coursey O'Grady HouseClassical Revival
Ramsey, Charles N., and Herry E. Weese HouseFoursquare

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

People over time

Kenilworth, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0001900192019401960198020002020Peak: 2,980

Between 336 and 2,980 people in every census since 1900.

13 censuses, 1900–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Kenilworth’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

3 famous people were born in Kenilworth

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Anita Decker BreckenridgeAmerican government official · b. 1978
Christopher DeMuthAmerican lawyer · b. 1946
W
Wayne AndrewsAmerican historian and architectural photograph… · b. 1913
Help out

Finish Kenilworth’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
3 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewUnion Church, Kenilworth, Illinois, ear…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Wilmette14 historic placesANew Trier Township36 historic placesAWinnetka10 historic placesA−

Questions about Kenilworth’s history

What year was Kenilworth founded?

In 1889, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Kenilworth’s post office opened in 1891, and the census of 1900 counted 336 people here.

How does Kenilworth rank for history?

Kenilworth is more historic than 85% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Kenilworth?

7 listings: 6 buildings, among them the George W. Maher House (listed 1979, the first), and 1 site.

How old are the homes in Kenilworth?

61% of Kenilworth’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.1 points), against a typical 11% for an Illinois town; the median home was built in 1938.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (13), the Library of Congress (2), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (7), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.