Highland Park, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Highland Park
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Highland Park City Hall
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Location of Highland Park in Lake County, Illinois
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Illinois |
| County |  Lake |
| Township | Moraine, West Deerfield |
| Founded | 1869 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12.28 sq mi (31.79 km2) |
| • Land | 12.24 sq mi (31.71 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 30,176 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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30,177 |
| • Density | 2,464.96/sq mi (951.72/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
60035, 60037
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| Area codes | 847/224 |
| FIPS code | 17-34722 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Highland Park, Illinois |
Highland Park is a city in the state of Illinois, United States. It's a suburb located in the southeastern part of Lake County, Illinois. This city is about 25 miles (40 km) north of downtown Chicago. In 2020, about 30,176 people lived there. Highland Park is known as one of the cities on the North Shore of the Chicago metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Highland Park
Highland Park has an interesting past, starting long before it became a city.
Early Settlements
In 1833, a traveler described visiting a village of bark-covered homes. This village was likely south of what is now Clavey Road. Later, in 1847, two German immigrants, John Hettinger and John Peterman, started a town called St. John's near Lake Michigan. However, they soon left the area.
Three years later, another German immigrant, Jacob Clinton Bloom, founded Port Clinton. This new town was just south of St. John's. Port Clinton grew quickly. In 1854, a lighthouse was built there with money from the U.S. Congress. Port Clinton had a lighthouse, a pier, and a sawmill. But it didn't have a train station in 1855, and by 1860, it stopped growing. The lighthouse was then closed.
Founding the City
In 1867, ten men bought the land that would become Highland Park. They formed the Highland Park Building Company. A train station was built after the Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad was completed.
Highland Park officially became a city on March 11, 1869. It had about 500 people. The city grew from the two earlier settlements, St. John's and Port Clinton. You can still see their names in places like St. John's Avenue and Port Clinton Square. The city was named "Highland Park" because of its park-like setting and its high location near the lake. Walter S. Gurnee gave it this name. In 1899, the nearby village of Ravinia joined Highland Park.
For many years, until 1900, Highland Park was a "dry" community. This meant that selling alcoholic drinks was not allowed.
Recent Events
In 2013, Highland Park passed a rule to ban certain types of weapons in the city. This rule was supported by the U.S. Court of Appeals in 2015.
On July 4, 2022, a tragic event happened during a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park. Several people lost their lives, and many others were hurt. The community came together to support each other after this difficult time.
What to See and Do
Highland Park offers many fun places to visit and things to do.
Ravinia Festival
One of the most famous attractions is the Ravinia Festival. This is a large outdoor music venue that can hold 3,200 people. During the summer, it hosts concerts with classical, pop, jazz, and Latin music. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has performed here every summer since 1936. You can buy tickets to sit in the covered area or on the lawn. Many people bring picnics and enjoy their food on the lawn before and during the concerts. The festival is in the Ravinia District, which used to be a place for artists. It still has its unique old buildings and charm.
Famous Architecture
Highland Park has many important buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One of the most famous is the Willits House, designed by the well-known architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Other famous architects like John S. Van Bergen, Howard Van Doren Shaw, Robert E. Seyfarth, and David Adler also designed homes here. A famous landscape architect named Jens Jensen lived in Highland Park and designed many beautiful outdoor spaces in the community.
Beaches and Boating
The city has three public beaches where you can enjoy Lake Michigan: Rosewood Beach, Moraine Beach, and Park Avenue Beach. Moraine Beach even has a special area for dogs to play off-leash. Park Avenue Beach also has a place for boating. Highland Park is also home to the North Shore Yacht Club.
Geography of Highland Park
Highland Park covers about 12.28 square miles (31.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Natural Features
The city has a tall bluff, about 100 feet (30 meters) high, that runs along 6 miles (9.7 km) of the Lake Michigan shoreline. There are also deep, wooded ravines that stretch up to 1 mile (1.6 km) inland. The land in Highland Park ranges from about 580 feet (177 meters) to 725 feet (221 meters) above sea level.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| 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% | |
| 2020 | 30,176 | 1.4% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 30,177 | 1.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2020, the population of Highland Park was 30,176 people. The city has a mix of different cultures and backgrounds. Most residents are White, with smaller groups of Asian, Black, and other races. About 9% of the population is of Hispanic or Latino background.
In 2000, there were about 11,521 households in the city. Many families lived there, with about 36.9% of households having children under 18. The average household had about 2.71 people. The median age in the city was 41 years old.
Getting Around
Highland Park is easy to reach by car and train.
Roads
The main highway is US-41. This road connects Chicago to Milwaukee.
Public Transportation
You can travel by train using the Metra system. There are four Metra stations within Highland Park: Braeside, Ravinia Park, Ravinia, and Highland Park. These stations are on the Union Pacific North Line, which goes from Chicago to Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Pace bus service also has several routes in the area.
Other Transportation
If you enjoy boating, there are places to launch boats along Lake Michigan. The Skokie Valley Trail is a path that runs through the town, great for walking or biking. For air travel, O'Hare International Airport is about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of the city.
Famous People from Highland Park
Highland Park has been home to many well-known people, especially in sports and entertainment.
Sports Stars
The city is popular with professional athletes. This is partly because the Chicago Bears (an American football team) practice nearby. Many players from the championship Chicago Bulls basketball teams of the 1990s lived in Highland Park. These include famous names like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Toni Kukoc, and B. J. Armstrong. The late general manager of the Bulls, Jerry Krause, also lived here. Josh Bartelstein, who is now the CEO of the Phoenix Suns basketball team, grew up in Highland Park.
Artists and Entertainers
Many talented people in music, acting, and writing have ties to Highland Park:
- Musician Richard Marx grew up here.
- Smashing Pumpkins band leader Billy Corgan lives in the city.
- Olympic figure skater Jason Brown went to high school in Highland Park.
- Actress Rachel Brosnahan, known for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, grew up and attended high school here.
- Actor Gary Sinise also went to Highland Park High School. He helped start the Steppenwolf Theatre.
- Academy Award-winning screenwriter William Goldman was raised in Highland Park.
- Game of Thrones showrunner D. B. Weiss grew up here. He was inspired by another Highland Parker, David Seltzer, who wrote and directed films like The Omen and Lucas (1986 film).
- Screenwriter Allan Loeb is also from Highland Park.
- Award-winning novelist Peter Orner and his brother, cartoonist Eric Orner, are both natives of Highland Park.
- Grace Slick, the lead singer of the band Jefferson Airplane, was born in Highland Park.
- Journalist Jacob Scher lived in the city.
Schools in Highland Park
Highland Park has a good education system for its young residents.
Elementary and Middle Schools
North Shore School District 112 manages schools for younger students. This includes an early childhood center, seven elementary schools, and two middle schools.
High Schools
Township High School District 113 operates Highland Park High School. This district also runs Deerfield High School in nearby Deerfield.
Sister Cities
Highland Park has special connections with two cities in other countries:
See also
In Spanish: Highland Park (Illinois) para niños
