Highwood, Illinois

Geography

Highwood is located at 42°12′19″N 87°48′44″W, one of the highest points between Chicago and Milwaukee.

According to the 2010 census, Highwood has a total area of 0.71 square miles (1.84 km²), all land.

History

Originally, the land was owned by the Potawatomi until the 1833 when it was ceded to the United Stated through the Treaty of Chicago. The first non-native American settled in the town in 1846. In 1851 Highwood became the headquarter location of the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad, which ran parallel to the Chicago and North Western Railway's and is now know today as Metra's Union Pacific/North line. Thomas Curley suggested the name High Woods because the land was the highest ground between Chicago and Milwaukee and was covered with trees.

In 1886 civil and labor unrest in Chicago eventually led to the Haymarket Riot. Chicago businessmen felt that having a military presence near the city would help alleviate tensions within the city and on November 8th, 1887 purchased Camp Highwood. This land would come to host members of the Sixth Infantry Regiment. On February 27th, 1888 Camp Highwood was officially named Fort Sheridan in honor of General Philip Sheridan for his ability to maintain order after the Chicago Fire of 1871.

Highwood provided several business and employment opportunities and following the fire, many of those who lost their home and a wave of immigrants settled into the town. Highwood can also give credit to much of their economic success to the Chicago and Milwaukee Electric Railway. However with increased transportation it also caused a sudden rise in gambling dens and illegal "blind-pig" taverns which catered to off duty soldiers. This eventually provoked federal authorities to enact the "Highwood Quadrangle" which prohibited the sale of liquor within 1 1/8th miles of the army base.

Fort Sheridan acted as an entertainment center for the town and on July 18th, 1888 the trustees voted to change the name from Highwood to the Village of Fort Sheridan to capitalize on it's military glamour. However, 8 years later in 1894 the name was changed back to Highwood due to resident frustration and confusion with postal misrouting.The city's business district became filled with bars and taverns which led Theodore Roosevelt to call the city "one of the toughest towns in America"

In the 1920s a large number of Northern Italian immigrants (originally from Modena) moved to Highwood, many from Dalzell, a coal mining town in Bureau Co to seek jobs. The National Prohibition of Liquor at the time also attracted boot-leggers who smuggled large scales of liquor into the city. The fight to prevent Highwood from being known as a whisky den largely brought the community together.

During the Great Depression many residents came together to support the town and each other, and while civil service progress declined a sense of community deepened.

Following the start of World War II Fort Sheridan was used as an active training ground. By the end of the war Highwood had experienced another wave of immigration, this time a majority of immigrants coming from Europe and Mexico. Since then Highwood's business have continued to flourish and the city has become the destination for North Shore diners. The city frequently hosts festivals for residents known as Celebrate Highwood which is hosted by the city chambers.

Government

Highwood operates an aldermanic-city form of government.

City Council meetings occur every first and third Tuesday of the month 6:00p (committee of the whole). Council meetings are also available for public view online via Youtube.

Transportation

The main highway to Highwood is US-41, which connects Chicago to Milwaukee. Commuter rail is available at two different Metra stations locations within the city (Fort Sheridan and Highwood) . Highwood is also located near the Highland Park and Lake Forest stations which all located on the Union Pacific- North line which begins in Kenosha and ends in the downtown area of Chicago at Ogilvie Transportation Center.

The city is also approximately 25 miles (40km) from O'Hare International Airport and 29 miles (46.7km) from Midway International Airport.

Schools

Highwood residents are served by the Township High School District 113 and the North Shore School District 112. Oak Terrace school, which is a part of the North Shore School District 112 school district services provides grades K - 5th. Highland Park High School serves as secondary education to the residents of Highwood however, it is a part of the Township High School District 113. Saint James School which serviced grades pre-K through 8 was a Catholic private institution. In 2015, St James School closed permanently due to a lack of funding and low enrollment.

Recreation

The Don Skrinar Recreation Center is a public facility located within the center of downtown Highwood. The city is also a host to the Midwest Young Artists (MYA) facilities and The Performer's School. The Fine Art Studio of ROTBLATT-AMRANY which is owned by Julie Rotblatt Amrany is located within the old village of Fort Sheridan.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,143 people, 1,555 households, and 933 families residing in the city. The population density was 6,552.1 people per square mile (2,539.1/km²). There were 1,604 housing units at an average density of 2,536.7 per square mile (983.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 43.14% White, 2.15% African American, 0.58% Native American, 2.12% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 17.19% from other races, and 4.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.23% of the population.

There were 1,555 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the city, the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,993, and the median income for a family was $53,000. Males had a median income of $30,560 versus $27,560 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,138. These income statistics are significantly lower than in surrounding towns. About 4.3% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, Highwood's resident population was 5,405. The median resident age was 32.8.

The racial makeup of the city was 69.64% White (38.5% Non-Hispanic White), 1.54% Black or African American, 2.24% Asian, 0.31% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 22.92% of some other race and 3.33% of two or more races. 56.87% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

Notable people