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The year was 1869. Ulysses S. Grant was sworn in as the 18th President of the United States. Mark Twain had just published "Innocents Abroad" and the tiny town of Highland Park, located in the southeast corner of Lake County, Illinois, was incorporated. Its population was listed at 500.
In 2000, the United States census calculated Highland Park's population to be 31,365 residents. Highland Park has grown to be a thriving community, diverse in its population and abundant in its educational, recreational and business opportunities.
Twenty-three miles north of the Chicago's Loop, the City of Highland Park is nestled along beautiful Lake Michigan for nearly five miles. Highland Park is bordered to the west by the City of Deerfield, with Glencoe to the south and Lake Bluff, Bannockburn, Highwood and Lake Forest to the north.
Abundant with ravines and wild flowers, the City has enhanced the community's backdrop with a carefully planned approach for reforestation, public flower gardens, and preservation of open space. Annually, since 1980, the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters have awarded Highland Park their highest national honor, Tree City USA. Highland Park's neighborhoods are filled with the perfect mix of housing, ranging from historic colonials, dating back to the mid-1800s, to award-winning contemporary homes and comfortable downtown condominiums. The City is accessible to one of Chicago's major expressways, I-94, with the Illinois Tollway just minutes away and O'Hare International Airport only 18 miles away.
At the southern end of the City on more than 36 acres of beautifully landscaped and wooded land lies Ravinia Festival, Highland Park's world-class summer venue of the performing arts. The festival has been attracting lovers of music and dance from throughout Chicagoland and the world since 1899. More than 500,000 attendees enjoy the festivals 87-night season, which runs from early May until late September (the only consecutive night summer offering in the country). Ravinia Festival features a 3,300 seat state-of-the-art pavilion, the 850 seat Martin Theatre, the Bennett-Gordon Recital Hall, five gourmet restaurants and a food court. Ravinia Festival offers something for everyone.
The City is governed by the council/manager form of government. The City Council consists of seven members with an elected mayor and six council members. Elections are held every four years for mayor and three of the six council terms expiring at the same time. A professional City Manager and his/her staff who are experienced in city management handle the day-to-day operations of the City.
The City has a number of commissions comprised of citizen volunteers who take an active role in City policy making.
Highland Park is a city located in Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 31,365. Highland Park is one of several towns on the North Shore of Chicago characterized by its affluence and its large Jewish population.
Highland Park has several attractions including a downtown shopping district and Ravinia Festival Park. The summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Ravinia Festival operates most summer evenings, featuring concerts of many different genres on its 5 acre (20,000 m2) lawn and 3,500 seat pavilion, or in a smaller enclosed auditorium for more intimate performances.
Highland Park has several houses and buildings on the state and national register of historic places, including the Willits House by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Highland Park is also the international headquarters of the Solo Cup Company.
Highland Park has been filmed in, or been a setting of, several movies including Ordinary People, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Risky Business, Weird Science, Lucas, Kicking and Screaming, Sixteen Candles, Home Alone, and Shattered Glass. It also was the setting for the 2000/2001 Fox and PBS documentary show American High.
Highland Park Geography:
Highland Park is located at 42°10'57" North, 87°48'25" West (42.182525, -87.807052).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.0 km2 (12.4 mi2). 32.0 km2 (12.4 mi2) of it is land and 0.08% is water.
Mayor: Michael D. Belsky
Highland Park Demographics:
As of the census of 2000, there are 31,365 people, 11,521 households, and 8,917 families residing in the city. The population density is 979.8/km2 (2,537.5/mi2). There are 11,934 housing units at an average density of 372.8/km2 (965.5/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 8.90% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 11,521 households out of which 36.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.9% are married couples living together, 5.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% are non-families. 19.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.71 and the average family size is 3.09.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $100,967, and the median income for a family is $117,235. Males have a median income of $83,121 versus $41,175 for females. The per capita income for the city is $55,331. 3.8% of the population and 2.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.9% of those under the age of 18 and 3.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Learn more about this city
City of HIGHLAND PARK, IL official site
City of HIGHLAND PARK, IL chamber of commerce
City of HIGHLAND PARK, IL general information
City of HIGHLAND PARK, IL yellow pages
City of HIGHLAND PARK, IL newspaper
County of LAKE, IL official site