A traveler in the area in 1833 described visiting a village of bark-covered structures where he ate roasted corn with a chief named Nic-sa-mah at a site likely located south of present-day Clavey Road and east of the Edens Expressway.[6] In 1847, two German immigrants, John Hettinger and John Peterman founded a town alongLake Michigan, which they called St. John's. Soon, the town was abandoned, due to questions regarding ownership of the land. Three years later, another German Immigrant, Jacob Clinton Bloom, founded Port Clinton, which happened to be just south of St. John's. Port Clinton was described by Elijah Middlebrook Haines as "one of the most promising villages in the city". In 1854, a lighthouse was built in Port Clinton, thanks to funding by the US Congress and sponsorships from Illinois representatives. Despite having a functioning lighthouse with a keeper, a pier, sawmill, and a plank road, Port Clinton did not have a train station in 1855. In 1860, Port Clinton stopped growing as a town, and the lighthouse was shut down.[7]
In 1867, ten men purchased Highland Park for $39,198.70. They were the original stockholders of the Highland Park Building Company. Following construction of the Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad, a depot was established at Highland Park and a plat, extending south to Central Avenue, was laid out in 1856.[8] At that point, Highland Park was settled on mostly scattered farms and undeveloped forested land.[7] Highland Park was established as a city on March 11, 1869, with a population of 500, and evolved from the two settlements of St. John and Port Clinton; St. John's Avenue and Port Clinton Square are named after the settlements.[7][8] Highland Park was named from its parklike setting at a lofty elevation relative to the lake, and was given its name fromWalter S. Gurnee.[9] The town annexed the village of Ravinia in 1899.
From its establishment in 1869 until November 1, 1900, Highland Park was a "dry" community, in which the sale ofalcoholic drinks was prohibited.[10]
During the era of private segregation covenants (~1900–1948) Highland Park was one of the few North Shore localities to permit residence by Jews, who were mostly barred from other North Shore towns such as Winnetka and Wilmette. As a result it developed a significant Jewish community that has endured to the present.[11]
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Highland Park has a total area of 12.28 square miles (31.81 km2), of which 12.24 square miles (31.70 km2) (or 99.73%) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) (or 0.27%) is water.[17] Its geographic features include a 100-foot-high (30 m) bluff running along 6 miles (10 km) ofLake Michigan shoreline and deep, woodedravines extending up to 1 mile (1.6 km) inland. Elevations range from 580 to 725 feet (177 to 221 m) above sea level.
As of the2020 census[20] there were 30,176 people, 11,700 households, and 8,637 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,458.33 inhabitants per square mile (949.17/km2). There were 12,405 housing units at an average density of 1,010.59 per square mile (390.19/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.68%White, 1.61%African American, 0.59%Native American, 3.66%Asian, 0.00%Pacific Islander, 3.18% fromother races, and 7.28% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 8.91% of the population.
There were 11,700 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.15% were married couples living together, 3.88% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.18% were non-families. 23.59% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.24% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 2.50.
The city's age distribution consisted of 24.8% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 17.7% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $147,067, and the median income for a family was $185,101. Males had a median income of $108,785 versus $52,803 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $90,133. About 3.2% of families and 4.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
Highland Park city, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Highland Park has several attractions including a downtown shopping district and theRavinia Festival. Ravinia Festival is an open-air pavilion seating 3,200, which hosts classical, pop, jazz and Latin concerts in the summers. It has been the summer home of theChicago Symphony Orchestra since 1936. Concert-goers can purchase seats in the covered pavilion or tickets to sit on the lawn. Many visitors arrive early and picnic on the lawn before and during concerts.[24] The festival is located in Ravinia District, originally an artists' colony, which still retains much of its early character and architecture.
There are three public beaches in Highland Park: Rosewood Beach, Moraine Beach (part of which is available for off-leash dogs), and Park Avenue Beach (which also has a boating facility). Highland Park is also home to the North Shore Yacht Club.
The City of Highland Park is acouncil–manager government. The City Council consists of seven members, an elected mayor and six council members, all elected at-large and serving staggered four-year terms.
At the state level, Highland Park is part of the 58th House District, represented byBob Morgan, and the 29th Senate District, represented byJulie Morrison. At the county level, the city is split between Districts 11 and 12, represented by former Highland Park City Councilman Paul Frank and former Lake Forest Mayor Mike Rummel, respectively.
Award-winning novelist and short story writerPeter Orner and his brother,Eric Orner, a well-known cartoonist and graphic novelist, are both Highland Park natives.
"Highland Park has the feel of a gated community without the actual gates", writesVanity Fair, and has a tradition of "very clever minds who left to strike gold in Hollywood." The creators of theRevenge of the Nerds,Beethoven, and other films grew up in Highland Park.[44]
.jpg)
