Highland, Lake County, Indiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Town of Highland, Indiana
Town
Location of Highland in Lake County, Indiana.
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Lake
Township	North
Settled	1848
Incorporated	April 4, 1910
Government
• Type	Town
• Body	Town Council
Area
• Total	6.97 sq mi (18.06 km2)
• Land	6.94 sq mi (17.97 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)
Elevation	623 ft (190 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	23,984
• Density	3,456.90/sq mi (1,334.78/km2)
Standard of living (2008-12)
• Per capita income	$30,036
• Median home value	$155,200
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (Central)
ZIP code	46322
Area code	219
FIPS code	18-33466
GNIS feature ID	0436149
Website	www.highland.in.gov

Highland is a town in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is home to about 24,000 people, based on the 2020 census. The town officially became a town on April 4, 1910. Highland is part of the larger Chicago metropolitan area. It is surrounded by other towns like Hammond, Munster, Schererville, and Griffith.

History of Highland

An 1836 map showing the area where Highland is now, with its modern borders outlined in red.

Highland's story began in 1847 when Michael and Judith Johnston, pioneers from Ohio, became its first settlers. The town grew slowly at first. In the early 1880s, the Chicago & Atlantic railroad tracks were built through Highland. This brought new farming and factory businesses to the area.

Soon after, Dutch settlers started moving to Highland from nearby Munster. By 1910, when Highland officially became a town, 304 people lived there. In 1992, a special historical marker was placed in Highland to remember the Dutch people who settled in the Calumet Region.

In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge visited Highland. He gave a speech to open Wicker Memorial Park, a large park on the west side of town. Highland, like other towns near the Little Calumet River, has sometimes had floods, especially in spring. Major floods happened in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

A big event happened on October 31, 2008. Barack Obama, who would become president a few days later, held a rally in Wicker Park. About 40,000 people came, making it the largest crowd there since President Coolidge's visit in 1927.

Shops along 2nd Street and Highway Avenue in Highland, Indiana.

Geography of Highland

Highland covers about 6.96 square miles (18.06 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a small part being water.

Highland's Neighborhoods

Highland has many different neighborhoods and areas. Some of these include Arbor Hill, Brantwood, Ellendale, Golfmoor, and Sandalwood. Other areas are called Homestead, Lakeside, and Southridge.

Highland's small downtown area is located around Highway Avenue, near Kennedy Avenue. This area grew because the Erie Lackawanna Railway used to run through it. Now, the old railway tracks are gone, and the Erie Lackawanna Trail runs through downtown Highland instead.

Highland's Architecture

Many buildings in Highland's downtown area show a style called Mid-Century Modern architecture. This style was popular in the middle of the 20th century.

People of Highland

2010 Census Information

In 2010, there were 23,727 people living in Highland. There were 9,924 households, which are groups of people living together. About 28.5% of these households had children under 18. Many households (49.9%) were married couples.

The average age of people in Highland was 41.5 years old. About 20.9% of residents were under 18, and 17.3% were 65 or older. The town had slightly more females (52.0%) than males (48.0%).

Getting Around Highland

The closest airport for commercial flights is the Gary/Chicago International Airport. However, most people traveling to or from Highland use Chicago's larger airports, O'Hare International Airport or Chicago Midway International Airport.

Highland is located just south of the Borman Expressway. US 41, also known as Indianapolis Boulevard, is a main road that runs north and south through the town. Because Highland is close to Chicago, many other major highways are nearby.

For walking and biking, Highland has the Erie Lackawanna Trail. This paved trail goes through Highland and connects it to Griffith and Crown Point. The part of the trail in Highland is also called the Crosstown Trail. This trail follows the path of old railroad lines. In the future, it will connect to Chicago and other areas.

Education in Highland

The School Town of Highland is the public school system for the town. It includes Highland High School, which opened in 1957. The system also has one middle school and four elementary schools.

The area where the old Main School used to be is now Main Square Park. A gazebo stands there, which was rebuilt in 2007. Another old school, Lincoln Elementary, became a community center in the early 1980s. Orchard Park Elementary closed in 1981 and later reopened as Calumet Baptist School.

Schools in Highland

Highland also has three private schools. Highland Christian School started in 1909. Our Lady of Grace School opened in 1954 and is run by the Diocese of Gary. Bible Baptist School is located where the former Orchard Elementary School once stood.

Public Libraries

The Lake County Public Library has a branch in Highland at 2841 Jewett Street.

Fun and Recreation

Wicker Memorial Park is a large park in Highland. It has an 18-hole golf course, three miles of trails, and courts for volleyball and tennis. There's also a dog park, a playground, a splash pad, and picnic areas. The park also has buildings for events.

The Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve is a special natural area. It was created in 1976 and protects 1,547 acres of wetland prairie. Part of this preserve is in Highland, and it's managed to protect nature.

Highland Parks and Recreation manages several parks and facilities. These include the Lincoln Community Center and the Sharp Athletic Complex. The four-mile Erie Lackawanna Trail is also part of their system. The gazebo in Main Square Park is a popular spot for weddings and community events. Besides Homestead, Markley, Meadows, and Sheppard parks, there are 16 other parks in town with different features.

Parks and Recreation Facilities

Famous People from Highland

See also

In Spanish: Highland (condado de Lake, Indiana) para niños