Highland Park, Illinois

Highland Park, Illinois
City
City of Highland Park, Illinois
Location of Highland Park in Lake County, Illinois
Location of Illinois in the United States
Coordinates: 42°10′57″N 87°48′25″W / 42.18250°N 87.80694°W / 42.18250; -87.80694
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Lake
Township	Moraine, West Deerfield
Founded	1869
Government
• Mayor	Nancy Rotering
Area[1]
• Total	12.24 sq mi (31.70 km2)
• Land	12.21 sq mi (31.62 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Population (2010)
• Total	29,763
• Estimate (2016)[2]	29,641
• Density	2,428.20/sq mi (937.50/km2)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP Code(s)	60035, 60037
Area code(s)	847, 224
FIPS code	17-34722
Wikimedia Commons	Highland Park, Illinois
Website	www.cityhpil.com

Highland Park is a suburban city in Lake County, Illinois, United States, about 25 miles (40 km) north of downtown Chicago. As of the 2016 population estimate, the population was 29,641.^[3] Highland Park is one of several municipalities located on the North Shore of the Chicago metropolitan area.

History[edit]

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.^[4] Highland Park was established as a city on March 11, 1869, with a population of 500, and evolved from two settlements—St. John and Port Clinton.^[5] Highland Park was named from its parklike setting at a lofty elevation relative to the lake, and was given its name from Walter S. Gurnee.^[4][6] The town annexed the village of Ravinia in 1899.

Overview[edit]

Highland Park has several attractions including a vibrant downtown shopping district and the Ravinia Festival. Ravinia Festival is an open-air pavilion seating 3,200, which hosts classical, pop and jazz concerts in the summers. It has been the summer home of the Chicago 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.^[7] The festival is located in Ravinia District, originally an artists' colony, which still retains much of its early character and architecture.

Highland Park has several landmark structures listed in the National Register of Historic Places, notably the Willits House by Frank Lloyd Wright. In addition to several houses designed by Wright, the National Register lists homes designed by prominent architects including John S. Van Bergen, Howard Van Doren Shaw, Robert E. Seyfarth, and David Adler. Landscape architect Jens Jensen lived in Highland Park and designed a number of projects in the community that are listed on the register.

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.

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.2 square miles (31.7 km²), of which 12.2 square miles (31.6 km²) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km²), or 0.27%, is water.^[8] Its geographic features include a 100-foot-high (30 m) bluff running along 6 miles (10 km) of Lake Michigan shoreline and deep, wooded ravines extending up to 1 mile (1.6 km) inland. Elevations range from 580 to 725 feet (177 to 221 m) above sea level.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	1,154		—
1890	2,163		87.4%
1900	2,806		29.7%
1910	4,209		50.0%
1920	6,167		46.5%
1930	12,203		97.9%
1940	14,476		18.6%
1950	16,808		16.1%
1960	25,532		51.9%
1970	32,263		26.4%
1980	30,599		−5.2%
1990	30,575		−0.1%
2000	31,365		2.6%
2010	29,763		−5.1%
Est. 2016	29,641	[2]	−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

As of the 2010 United States Census,^[10] there were 29,763 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 91.05% White, 1.84% Black or African American, 2.9% Asian, 0.18% Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.51% of some other race and 1.48% of two or more races. 7.28% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census^[11] of 2000, there were 31,365 people, 11,521 households, and 8,917 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,537.5 people per square mile (979.8/km²). There were 11,934 housing units at an average density of 965.5/sq mi (372.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.20% White, 1.78% African American, 0.08% Native American, 2.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.46% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.90% of the population.

There were 11,521 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.9% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $100,967, and the median income for a family was $117,235. Males had a median income of $83,121 versus $41,175 for females. The per capita income for the city was $55,331. About 2.3% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government[edit]

Highland Park is governed by the council-manager form of government. The non-partisan City Council consists of seven members, including an elected mayor and six councilmembers, all elected at-large and serving staggered four-year terms. The current city council consists of:

Position	Name	First elected	Term expires
Mayor	Nancy Rotering	2011*	2019
Councilman	Anthony Blumberg	2011	2019
Councilman	Daniel Kaufman	2013	2021
Councilwoman	Alyssa Knobel	2013	2021
Councilman	Adam Stolberg	2017	2019
Councilwoman	Kim Stone	2013	2021
Councilwoman	Michelle Holleman	2015	2019

Politics[edit]

Highland Park is considered a Democratic stronghold. Highland Park voters overwhelmingly broke for Illinois Senator Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, choosing him over Arizona Senator John McCain, 76.3%–23.1%.^{[needs update]} Highland Park voters also tend to prefer Democrats in local races.

At the state level, Highland Park is a part of the 58th House District, represented by Scott Drury (D-Highwood), and the 29th Senate District, represented by Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield). At the county level, the city is split between Districts 11 and 12, represented by former Highland Park City Councilman Paul Frank (D-Highland Park) and former Lake Forest Mayor Mike Rummel (R-Lake Forest), respectively.

Economy[edit]

The international headquarters of Solo Cup Company used to be located in Highland Park, before relocating to neighboring Lake Forest in 2009.

Transportation[edit]

The main highway in Highland Park is US-41, which connects Chicago to Milwaukee. Commuter rail is available at four Metra stations within city borders (Braeside, Ravinia Park, Ravinia, and Highland Park), as well as two in nearby Highwood (Highwood and Fort Sheridan) on the Union Pacific/North Line, which begins in Chicago and terminates in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Pace also offers several bus routes. Boat launch facilities are available along Lake Michigan. O'Hare International Airport is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) south and slightly west.

Notable people[edit]

Highland Park is popular with professional athletes, as the Chicago Bears practice facility is in nearby Lake Forest. Several members of the championship Chicago Bulls of 1990s also live or lived in Highland Park including Michael Jordan^[12], Scottie Pippen^[13], Toni Kukoc^[14], BJ Armstrong^[15], and GM Jerry Krause, thanks to its proximity to team's practice facility in neighboring Deerfield^[16].

Among famous Highland Parkers are singer, songwriter, and producer Richard Marx grew up in Highland Park. Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan currently resides in Highland Park and until March 2018 owned a tea shop in the Ravinia District named Madame Zuzu's^[17]. National champion and Olympic medalist figure skater Jason Brown attended high school in Highland Park. Golden Globe-winning actress Rachel Brosnahan from Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel grew up in Highland Park^[18] and attended Highland Park High School.

In popular culture[edit]

Highland Park is the location of the main characters' former home in CBS drama The Good Wife.^[19]

Highland Park was used for location shots for several movies written and directed by John Hughes in the 1980s including Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Weird Science, Sixteen Candles, Uncle Buck and Home Alone. Other popular films from the 1980s shot or partially set in Highland Park include Ordinary People, Risky Business^[20], and Lucas. Since 2000, Highland Park movies have included Kicking & Screaming and Shattered Memories of Love. In the film Shattered Glass, Stephen Glass, portrayed by actor Hayden Christensen, makes repeated reference to his family's residence in Highland Park as an indication of the high expectations they have on his career.

"Highland Park has the feel of a gated community without the actual gates", writes Vanity Fair, and has a tradition of "very clever minds who left to strike gold in Hollywood." The creators of the Revenge of the Nerds, Beethoven, and other films grew up in Highland Park.^[21]

It also was the setting for the 2000/2001 Fox and PBS documentary show American High.

Education[edit]

North Shore School District 112 operates an early childhood center, eight elementary schools, and three middle schools.

Township High School District 113 operates Highland Park High School, as well as "rival" Deerfield High School.

Sister cities[edit]

• Yeruham, Israel^[22]
• Modena, Italy^[22]
• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico^[22]

See also[edit]

• Danny Cunniff Park
• Highland Park High School
• Highland Park Public Library
• Highland Park Hospital
• Highland Park Presbyterian Church

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Highland Park, Illinois.

• City of Highland Park