The concentration of settlers living on the 40 acre Swedenborg tract of land was new to the farming community of Oak Glen. It soon became apparent there was need for more services than could be provided by the existing county government or the rather informal township organizations that existed. It became apparent to the residents of the area that a local government was needed to respond more quickly to the needs of the community.

Under the leadership of the Swedenborg businessmen, a referendum to incorporate at as a village was held in 1898. The first effort was defeated. However, on June 17, 1899, a second try was made; and, by a vote of 59 to 51, the decision was made to form a village from Section 34 and most of Section 35 of Northfield Township. The estimated population was 351.

At that time, only males could vote, so only 20 ballots were cast for the first Village Board of Trustee. Hugh Burham was elected the first village president. Trustees were: August Clayey, Frank Hoffman, Henry Maynard, Charles Rugen, John Hutchings, and A. C. Butzow. These men represented a good cross-section of the leaders of the various parts of the Village.

Originally our village was called South Northfield, then for a time North Branch. In 1878, Fred Hutchings named it Oak Glen. But the railroad already had a stop by that name, so another designation had to be found. After an attempt to call it Hutchings after the donor of the land (Sara Hutchings didn't want the Hutchings' name on the railroad station which was an unsightly old rail car), and Barr, after a railroad superintendent, it became Glen View. However, Glenview, as it is know today, is the name under which it has continued to grow and prosper.

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County of Glenview, IL official site

State of Illinois official site