When it comes to talking about the Prairie State, the first thing that everybody wants to talk about is Chicago. Sure the Windy City is one of the country's most important cities and has such revered treasures as the Sears Tower, but there are other great places to live in Illinois. Places like the village of Lincolnwood.

Situated in scenic Cook County, Lincolnwood is often described as a satellite community of Chicago. While it resides in the Chicago metropolitan area known as Chicagoland and is just 12 miles away from the Windy City, Lincolnwood is more than just a village close to Chicago. Rather this community of over 12,000 has a rich and colorful local history that will show that Lincolnwood is not just the Jan Brady to Chicago's Martia Brady.

Originally known as Tessville, Lincolnwood gained an early reputation as the place to be if you liked to party. Due to an early oridinance by the city fathers of Chicago, Tessville became the place to open up shop if you were a bar or tavern. Eventually, these tavern owners would do the city its greatest favor - it will spearhead the initiative to incorporation, something that they achieved in 1911.

Since this early part of Tessville history, Lincolnwood experienced a name change in 1936 and one of the longest serving political reigns in the country's history. Renowned for its beautiful brick houses and elm trees that line its streets, Lincolnwood is now one of Illinois' best villages.