| Highland | |
| City | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Illinois |
| County | Madison |
| Coordinates | 38°44′38″N 89°40′38″W / 38.74389°N 89.67722°W |
| Area | 6.4 sq mi (17 km2) |
| - land | 6.4 sq mi (17 km2) |
| Population | 10,000 (2009) |
| Density | 1,561.1 /sq mi (603 /km2) |
| Mayor | Joseph R. Michaelis |
| Timezone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Postal code | 62249 |
| Area code | 618 |
   Location of
Highland within Illinois
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| Wikimedia Commons: Highland, Illinois | |
Highland is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 8,438 at the 2000 census. Highland began as a Swiss settlement and derived its name from later German Immigrants.
Highland is a sister city of Sursee in Switzerland.
Highland, because it is located in Madison County, Illinois, is a part of the Metro-East region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area.
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Highland, Illinois was settled in the early 1800s by Swiss-German immigrants. It was first named Helvetia (pronounced hellveesha) in accordance with the Heritage of the town's Swiss-German founding members. The town voted to change its name to the English version - Highland, in the very early 20th century, as well as stopping production of its German language newspaper, in part to avoid negativity towards those of Germanic heritage at the advent of the First World War. Around the same time, a small town in northern Illinois also started calling itself Highland. Eventually, the town in northern Illinois became Highland Park. Highland also has been home to many well-known businesses including the inventor of Pet Milk and the Wicks Organ Company. For the past 60 years, Highland Supply Corporation has been producing and selling Easter Grass. Highland is also home to The Korte Company (builder of many large and well-known buildings including Universal Studios in Florida). Highland has a rich history including extended visits by such notables as Abraham Lincoln. [1]
On November 21, 1915, the Liberty Bell passed through Highland on its nationwide tour returning to Pennsylvania from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. After that trip, the Liberty Bell returned to Pennsylvania and will not be moved again.[2]
The current mayor is Joseph R. Michaelis.[3]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14.0 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (15.89%) is water.
The following highways run through or around Highland: IL-160, IL-143, US-40, I-70 (slightly north.)
Public: Highland has the Highland Public School District including Primary, Elementary, Middle, and High Schools.
Private: Highland has a local parochial school named St. Paul Catholic School (grades K-8)
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 8,438 people, 3,442 households, and 2,230 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,561.1 people per square mile (602.2/km²). There were 3,610 housing units at an average density of 667.9/sq mi (257.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.60% White, 0.08% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 0.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.
There were 3,442 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,524, and the median income for a family was $52,240. Males had a median income of $36,536 versus $25,620 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,101. About 3.6% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Highland was the basis for the first song on the Illinois album by Sufjan Stevens, titled 'Concerning the UFO sighting near Highland, Illinois', in which Stevens mentioned a 21st century UFO sighting by the owner of the local mini-golf course.
Highland was also mentioned on The Daily Show on 9 Feb 2006. A report mentioned local pharmacist and state legislator Ron Stephens, who protested an executive order by then Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich requiring a pharmacist to fill emergency contraception prescriptions.
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   | City of Highland Official Website - The Official Site of City of Highland, IL |
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