Highwood, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Highwood is a city in the Moraine Township
of Lake County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 4,143 at the 2000 census. Highwood is a neighbor to Highland Park
and the two share a weekly newspaper and school district. An attempt was made in 2005 to convert Highwood to a home rule city, but this effort failed, limiting the town's abilities to raise funds and pass ordinances. Highwood achieved home rule status in 2007.
. Throughout much of its history, it grew up around the Fort. Because of this, many of the town's businesses were taverns and bars to serve the Fort and the North Shore. It set the Guinness World Record
for most bars per square mile and was called "the toughest town in America" by President Theodore Roosevelt
. Most of the 19th and early 20th century residents of Highwood were of Irish or Scandinavian descent. In 1905, the first of many Italian immigrants started arriving in the town, but since then the demographics have changed as more immigrants are of Latino descent. With the closing of the active duty portion of Fort Sheridan in 1993, the Town of Highwood doubled in size after annexing some of Fort Sheridan's old property. Currently a Navy housing development is underway in Fort Sheridan.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land. There may be plans of having beach access for Highwood residents on the Ft. Sheridan lake front.
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.
Moraine Township, Lake County, Illinois
Moraine Township is a township in Lake County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 34,538. Moraine Township was originally called Deerfield Township, but the name was changed on October 29, 1998.-Geography:...
of Lake County
Lake County, Illinois
Lake County is a county in the northeastern corner of the state of Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 703,462, which is an increase of 9.2% from 644,356 in 2000. Its county seat is Waukegan. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 4,143 at the 2000 census. Highwood is a neighbor to Highland Park
Highland Park, Illinois
Highland Park is a suburban municipality in Lake County, Illinois, United States, about north of downtown Chicago. As of 2009, the population is 33,492. Highland Park is one of several municipalities located on the North Shore of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.-Overview:Highland Park was founded...
and the two share a weekly newspaper and school district. An attempt was made in 2005 to convert Highwood to a home rule city, but this effort failed, limiting the town's abilities to raise funds and pass ordinances. Highwood achieved home rule status in 2007.
History
Highwood was founded in 1887 in conjunction with the establishment of Fort SheridanFort Sheridan, Illinois
Fort Sheridan is a residential neighborhood spread among Lake Forest, Highwood, and Highland Park in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It was originally established as a United States Army Post named after Civil War Cavalry General Philip Sheridan, to honor his services to Chicago...
. Throughout much of its history, it grew up around the Fort. Because of this, many of the town's businesses were taverns and bars to serve the Fort and the North Shore. It set the Guinness World Record
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
for most bars per square mile and was called "the toughest town in America" by President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
. Most of the 19th and early 20th century residents of Highwood were of Irish or Scandinavian descent. In 1905, the first of many Italian immigrants started arriving in the town, but since then the demographics have changed as more immigrants are of Latino descent. With the closing of the active duty portion of Fort Sheridan in 1993, the Town of Highwood doubled in size after annexing some of Fort Sheridan's old property. Currently a Navy housing development is underway in Fort Sheridan.
Geography
Highwood is located at 42.205357°N 87.812345°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land. There may be plans of having beach access for Highwood residents on the Ft. Sheridan lake front.
Schools
St. James School, a Catholic K-8 school. Public school students attend the North Shore School District 112. Oak Terrace School, grades K-5, are in Highwood. Northwood Junior High in Highland Park for 6th through 8th grade and Highland Park High School for 9th through 12th grade.Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,143 people, 1,555 households, and 933 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.