Highland, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Highland, Illinois
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Location in Madison County, Illinois
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 Highland, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Illinois | |
| County | Madison | |
| Townships | Helvetia, Saline, Marine | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 7.84 sq mi (20.31 km2) | |
| • Land | 6.81 sq mi (17.65 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2) | |
| Elevation | 551 ft (168 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,991 | |
| • Density | 1,466.25/sq mi (566.12/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
62249
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| Area code(s) | 618 | |
| FIPS code | 17-34670 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394375 | |
| Wikimedia Commons | Highland, Illinois | |
Highland is a city located in Madison County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 9,991 people lived there. Highland was first settled by people from Switzerland and later by people from Germany. Its name comes from these early settlers.
Highland is a sister city to Sursee in Switzerland. This means they have a special friendship and connection. The city is also part of the Metro-East area, which is near the larger St. Louis metropolitan area.
Contents
Highland's History and Beginnings
Highland was founded in the early 1800s by settlers from Switzerland and Germany. The town officially began in 1837. In 2012, Highland celebrated its 175th birthday!
The town was first called Helvetia, which is a Latin name for Switzerland. This name honored the Swiss people who first settled there. However, in the early 1900s, the town decided to change its name to "Highland". They also stopped printing their German newspaper. This happened around the time of World War I, when people wanted to show their loyalty to the United States.
Around the same time, another small town in northern Illinois also started using the name Highland. That town eventually became known as Highland Park.
Highland has a rich history. Famous people like Abraham Lincoln even visited the town. On November 21, 1915, the Liberty Bell traveled through Highland. It was on its way back to Pennsylvania after being displayed at an exhibition in San Francisco.
Where is Highland Located?
Highland is in the southeastern part of Madison County, Illinois. It's about 30 miles (48 km) east of St. Louis.
Several important roads pass through Highland:
- U.S. Route 40 goes north of downtown. It leads west to Troy and St. Louis, and northeast to Greenville.
- Illinois Route 160 goes through the center of Highland. It heads north to Grantfork and south to Trenton.
- Illinois Route 143 goes northwest to Marine and northeast to Pierron.
- Interstate 70 runs through the northern part of the city. You can get on or off at Exits 24 (IL 143) and 30 (US 40).
The city covers a total area of about 7.84 square miles (20.31 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 1.03 square miles (2.67 square kilometers) is water. Water from Highland flows into Sugar Creek and the East Fork of Silver Creek, which both lead to the Kaskaskia River.
Highland Silver Lake is a reservoir built on the East Fork of Silver Creek. The city's boundaries extend north to include the entire lake.
Highland's Economy and Businesses
Highland has been home to many interesting businesses over the years. Some well-known companies include:
- Pet Milk: A company that made dairy products.
- Wicks Organ Company: A company known for building organs.
For the past 60 years, Highland Supply Corporation has been making and selling "floral grass." This is a decorative product often used to line Easter baskets.
Highland is also home to The Korte Company. This company has built many large and famous buildings, including parts of Universal Studios in Florida.
Learning and Schools in Highland
The Highland Community Unit School District serves students in Highland and nearby towns like Alhambra, Illinois, Grantfork, Illinois, and New Douglas, Illinois.
- Younger students (Kindergarten through fifth grade) go to schools in their own towns.
- Middle school and high school students attend schools located in Highland.
- Since August 2014, 6th graders have been attending Highland Middle School.
In September 2014, the teachers in the district stopped working for a short time. This was the first time this had happened in the district's history.
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Highland also has a private school called St. Paul Catholic School. It offers education for students from Kindergarten through eighth grade.
The Louis Latzer Memorial Public Library is a great place for learning. It has over 48,000 books, a large collection of movies and music, and public computers. You can also use special online databases and find information about your family history there. The library is part of the Illinois Heartland Library System.
People of Highland
Highland has grown quite a bit over the years. In 1850, there were 704 people living there. By 2020, the population had grown to 9,991.
Most people in Highland are White (97%). There are also smaller numbers of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 1.4% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
The city has many families. About half of the families have children under 18 years old. The average household has about 2.42 people, and the average family has about 2.99 people.
The median age in Highland is about 36.8 years old. This means half the people are younger than 36.8, and half are older.
Sports and Fun in Highland
Highland is home to the Highland Speedway. This is a 1/4-mile dirt oval racetrack. It hosts exciting races like the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and DIRTcar Summer Nationals, along with weekly local races.
Highland in Pop Culture
Highland has even been mentioned in popular culture!
- The musician Sufjan Stevens has a song called 'Concerning the UFO sighting near Highland, Illinois'. It's on his album Illinois. The song talks about a UFO sighting by the owner of the local mini-golf course.
- Highland was also mentioned on The Daily Show on February 9, 2006.
Famous People from Highland
Many talented people have connections to Highland:
- Geoff Hartlieb: A pitcher for the Miami Marlins. He went to Highland High School.
- James Head: A mixed martial artist who competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- Arlo U. Landolt: A well-known astronomer.
- Sam LaPorta: A football player for the Detroit Lions.
- Ken Oberkfell: A third baseman who played for six Major League Baseball teams. He won the World Series in 1982 and was born in Highland.
- Jake Odorizzi: A Major League Baseball pitcher for several teams, including the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros. He also played for Highland High School.
- Harry Parker: A pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets. He was born in Highland.
- Aaron Rakers: A relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres. He was born in Highland.
See also
In Spanish: Highland (Illinois) para niños
