Highland, Illinois

Geobox|Settlement
name = Highland
native_name =
other_name =
category = City
etymology =
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country = United States
state = Illinois
region = Madison
region_type = County
district =
district_type = Township
municipality =
location =
elevation_imperial =
prominence_imperial =
lat_d = 38
lat_m = 44
lat_s = 38
lat_NS = N
long_d = 89
long_m = 40
long_s = 38
long_EW = W
coordinates_no_title = 1
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length_imperial =
length_orientation =
area_imperial = 6.4
area_land_imperial = 6.4
area_water_imperial =
area_urban_imperial =
area_metro_imperial =
population = 8438
population_date = 2000
population_urban =
population_metro =
population_density =
population_density_imperial = 1561.1
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mayor =
leader =
leader_type = Mayor
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code = 62249
area_code = 618
code =
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map_caption = Location of Highland within Illinois
map_background = Illinois - background map.png map_locator = Illinois2
commons = Highland, Illinois
statistics =
website =
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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.

History

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 it's 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, Korte Construction Company (builder of many large and well-known buildings including Universal Studios in Florida). Highland has a rich history including extended visits by such notaries as Abraham Lincoln. Allan H. Keith, [http://books.google.com/books?id=1gJ_RVeb5JYC&pg=PA2&dq=richard+bock+sculptor&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=ngQRYGbj78gEH8yXNlEZrDnRlMU#PPA1,M1 "Historical Stories: About Greenville and Bond County, IL"] . Consulted on August 15, 2007. ]

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.cite news |title= Liberty Bell Attracts Crowd in Greenville During 1915 Stop |url= |publisher="Greenville Advocate" |date=July 3, 2007 |accessdate=2007-07-22 ]

Geography

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.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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.

Mentions in Popular Media

Highland was the basis for the first song on the "Illinois" album by Sufjan Stevens, 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 Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich requiring a pharmacist to fill emergency contraception prescriptions.

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.highland.il.us/ City of Highland Official Website]