Why visit Knollwood
Townapedia lists 26 museums and landmarks, 16 parks and trails, 9 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Clifford Milton Leonard Farm, Deerpath Hill Estates and Knollwood Club Golf Course.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 16°F.
Weather in Knollwood
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Knollwood
Knollwood is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Lake County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 2,221. It is located within Shields Township and Libertyville Township. Knollwood shares a ZIP Code with the neighboring village of Lake Bluff, and children attend Lake Bluff schools.
From the Wikipedia article Knollwood, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
School · 1.5 mi
United States university
Museums and landmarks26
Clifford Milton Leonard Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Historic farm at 550-579 Hathaway Circle in Lake Forest, Illinois
Deerpath Hill Estates
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Deerpath Inn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Hotel in Lake Forest, United States of America
Dewey House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
House in North Chicago
Edward H. Bennett House and Studio
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Lake Forest, Illinois, NRHP-listed in Lake County
Frank Hibbard Estate House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Green Bay Road Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Historic district in Illinois, United States
Helen Shedd Reed House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
House at 380 Chiltern Drive
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
House at 965 Castlegate Court
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Howard and Lucy Linn House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Historic house at 555 Shoreacres Drive in Lake Bluff, Illinois
John Griffith Store Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Historic commercial building at 103-113 E. Scranton Avenue in Lake Bluff, Illinois
14 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds16
Lake Bluff Golf Course
Golf course · 0.8 mi
355 West Washington Avenue, Lake Bluff
4 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes9
Subway
Fast food · Sandwich · 1.4 mi
3020 North Skokie Highway, Lake Bluff
Mo-Sa 09:30-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00
Scooter's
Fast food · Burger, Hot Dog, Sandwich
12610 Rockland Road, Lake Bluff
Mo-Su 06:00-21:00
History
The name "Knollwood" first became associated with the area in the early 20th century. The Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad stop, located at the intersection of Rockland Road and Telegraph Road (now Waukegan Road), was named "Creamer Corners". To the southwest of the station was a 248-acre (100 ha) property, consisting of two farms, owned by Mrs. Granger Farwell and Mr. A.C. Accord. This property was known as "Knollwood Farm". In 1923, Knollwood Farm was purchased by a group of wealthy Chicago businessmen (including Samuel Insull, Robert P. Lamont, Nathan William MacChesney and Thomas E. Wilson), who wished to turn the land into a country club. The following year, the Knollwood Country Club was founded, and the purchase was finalized in 1925. The community that sprang up around the club came to be known as Knollwood.
Knollwood's volunteer fire department was founded as the Rockland Fire Department and recognized by the state government in January 1947. Two years later, the department purchased their first fire engine, and a fire department building was constructed in 1951. In 1952, the Rockland Fire Department joined the Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts and changed its name to the Knollwood Fire Department. The original firehouse was replaced with a modern facility in the same location in 2002, with the new building opening the following year.
From the History section of Knollwood, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Days Inn by Wyndham Great Lakes Naval Base
Motel and hotel · 1.4 mi
3000 North Skokie Highway, Lake Bluff
Churches and places of worship2
Holy Family Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries44
District 128 Transition Pthwys Ct
School · 3.7 mi
904 S Milwaukee Ave Ste B, Libertyville
Healthcare2
Map of Knollwood
108 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 16°F | 2.0 in |
| Feb | 34°F | 18°F | 2.0 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 27°F | 2.4 in |
| Apr | 55°F | 35°F | 4.0 in |
| May | 67°F | 47°F | 4.2 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 57°F | 4.6 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 63°F | 3.9 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 62°F | 3.9 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 54°F | 3.7 in |
| Oct | 61°F | 43°F | 3.4 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 2.4 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 2.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Waukegan (4 mi away), rain and snow from Lake Bluff 1.3 W, NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Lake County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for snowstorms.
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-05-10: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-03-17: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2008-06-24: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2008-03-13: Record Snow And Near Record Snow (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Waukegan National Airport (UGN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.
- Green Oaks 2 mi northwest, about 3 min by car
- North Chicago 2 mi northeast, about 4 min by car
- Lake Forest 4 mi south, about 6 min by car
- Libertyville 4 mi west, about 7 min by car
- Vernon Hills 5 mi southwest, about 9 min by car
- Waukegan 6 mi north, about 9 min by car
- Highwood 6 mi southeast, about 10 min by car
- Gurnee 7 mi northwest, about 11 min by car
- Mundelein 7 mi west, about 11 min by car
- Gages Lake 7 mi northwest, about 11 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- IL 176 west approaching IL 43 - Knollwood-Lake Bluff, IL - July 2026, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- Lake Bluff Uptown, Teemu08 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mrs. C. Morse Ely House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Clifford Milton Leonard Farm, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Holy Family Church North Chicago, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Barrell Memorial Gate, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 265 King Muir, Teemu08 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Noble Judah Estate, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Edward H Bennett House, Teemu08 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- William McCormick Blair Estate house, Nyttend, Public domain
- Great Lakes Bldg 1, Goldnpuppy, CC BY-SA 3.0
- John Griffith Store Building, Teemu08 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Frank Hibbard Estate House-Deerpath Hill Estates, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dewey House North Chicago, Teemu08 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Image Hosmer Morse House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Oakwood Ave Houses, Teemu08 ( talk ) (Transferred by Bill william compton /Originally uploaded by Teemu08 ), CC BY 3.0
- West Park Pavilion, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mrs. Kersey Coates Reed House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Innisfail Lake Forest, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Deerpath Inn, Teemu08 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- FLW-lloydlewishouse, Shmcnulty, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ragdale, Howard Van Doren Shaw architect, Henry Fuerman photographer, Public domain
- Lester Armour House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- House at 380 Chiltern Drive-Deerpath Hill Estates, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- House at 965 Castlegate Court-Deerpath Hill Estates, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- RosalindFranklinUMS 1, Ancheta Wis, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Great Lakes Naval Museum 2013 or earlier, (U.S. Navy photo/Released), Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.