Highwood

History

Originally, the land was owned by the Potawatomi until it was ceded to the United States through the 1833 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, and is known 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 8, 1887, purchased Camp Highwood. This land would come to host members of the Sixth Infantry Regiment. On February 27, 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 18, 1888, the trustees voted to change the name from Highwood to the Village of Fort Sheridan to…

Geography

Highwood is located in southeastern Lake County on a ridge above the elevation of Lake Michigan. According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Highwood has a total area of , all land. The city is located next to Highland Park and Fort Sheridan, and south of the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  41,637
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  36,390
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  31,178
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  30,471
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  29,901
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  29,646
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  29,208
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  28,683

Largest nearby schools

• Adlai E Stevenson High School
  High · Lincolnshire · 4,489 students · 17.8:1 ratio
• Libertyville High School
  High · Libertyville · 1,811 students · 13.8:1 ratio
• Highland Park High School
  High · Highland Park · 1,739 students · 12.2:1 ratio
• Vernon Hills High School
  High · Vernon Hills · 1,505 students · 12.9:1 ratio
• Deerfield High School
  High · Deerfield · 1,483 students · 12.4:1 ratio
• Lake Forest High School
  High · Lake Forest · 1,438 students · 11.1:1 ratio
• Oak Grove Elem School
  Elementary · Libertyville · 931 students · 12.1:1 ratio
• Aptakisic Junior High School
  Middle · Buffalo Grove · 883 students · 13.8:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.9 — 2026-07-08
  21 km ENE of Kenilworth, Illinois
• M 3.1 — 2024-07-15
  2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois
• M 2.9 — 2015-03-25
  3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois
• M 3.2 — 2013-11-04
  1 km SSW of Lyons, Illinois
• M 2.6 — 2013-06-10
  4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois
• M 3.8 — 2010-02-10
  2 km NW of Lily Lake, Illinois