Highwood, Illinois
Highwood is a city of 5,301 people in Lake County, Illinois, founded in 1887.
Why visit Highwood
Townapedia lists 35 museums and landmarks, 24 parks and trails, 31 places to eat and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Landmark Renaissance Cinema, Fort Sheridan Water Tower, Highland Park Water Tower and Leonardi Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 16°F, and about 34 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Highwood
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Highwood
Highwood is a North Shore suburb of Chicago in Moraine Township, Lake County, Illinois, United States, 28 miles (45 km) north of downtown Chicago. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,074.
From the Wikipedia article Highwood, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Landmark Renaissance Cinema
Cinema and theater · 1.5 mi
1850 2nd Street, Highland Park
Museums and landmarks35
Fort Sheridan Water Tower
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic United States Army base water tower
Highland Park Water Tower
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Water tower in Highland Park, United States of America
Linden Park Place-Belle Avenue Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Historic district in Illinois, United States
C. S. Soule House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Deerfield
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Railway station in Illinois
Deerpath Inn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Hotel in Lake Forest, United States of America
Ernest Loeb House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Historic house at 1425 Waverly Road in Highland Park, Illinois
Evert House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
House in Highland Park, Illinois
George Madison Millard House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
George Pick House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Historic house in Highland Park, Illinois
Granville-Mott House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Historic house at 80 Laurel Avenue in Highland Park, Illinois
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Haerman Lanzl House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic house at 1635 Linden Avenue in Highland Park, Illinois
23 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds24
12 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes31
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.3 mi
2060 Skokie Valley Road, Highland Park
Mo-Fr 05:00-22:00; Sa 05:00-21:00; Su 05:30-21:00
19 more on the map.
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.
From the History section of Highwood, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship1
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries47
Highland Park High School
School · 1.0 mi
433 Vine Avenue, Highland Park
Healthcare4
Map of Highwood
154 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 16°F | 2.1 in | 11.3 in |
| Feb | 36°F | 19°F | 2.0 in | 7.7 in |
| Mar | 46°F | 28°F | 2.3 in | 5.6 in |
| Apr | 57°F | 38°F | 4.0 in | 1.1 in |
| May | 68°F | 48°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 57°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 55°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.6 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 49°F | 32°F | 2.6 in | 1.9 in |
| Dec | 38°F | 22°F | 2.3 in | 5.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Chicago Botanic Garden (5 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Lake County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for snowstorms.
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-05-10: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-03-17: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2008-06-24: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2008-03-13: Record Snow And Near Record Snow (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.
- Highland Park 2 mi south, about 3 min by car
- Lake Forest 3 mi northwest, about 5 min by car
- Deerfield 3 mi southwest, about 6 min by car
- Bannockburn 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
- Riverwoods 5 mi southwest, about 8 min by car
- Northbrook 5 mi south, about 9 min by car
- Lincolnshire 5 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Glencoe 6 mi southeast, about 9 min by car
- Lake Bluff 6 mi north, about 9 min by car
- Wheeling 8 mi southwest, about 12 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Highwoodilchurch, Spiro Bolos, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sheridan Rd at Washington Ave - Highwood, IL - July 2025, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- 19680721 11 CNS&M Headquarters Highwood, IL (5819857540), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 19680721 12 CNS&M Headquarters Highwood, IL (5819295569), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Sheridan Rd and Robert McClory Bike Path - Highwood, IL - July 2025, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- Linden Park Place-Belle Avenue Historic District, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sheridan Water Tower, US gov, Public domain
- Highland Park Water Tower3, Ronincmc, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Haerman Lanzl House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Louis F. Swift House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Willits House, User:JeremyA, CC BY-SA 2.5
- Ross Beatty House 1499SheridanRd, Ronincmc, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake Forest City Hall, Teemu08 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- George Pick House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Samuel Holmes House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Richard Churchill House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ross J Beatty House 344RavineDr2, Ronincmc, CC BY-SA 3.0
- North Shore Sanitary District Tower 2, Thshriver, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ernest Loeb House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Humer Building 1894SheridanRd, Ronincmc, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hazel Avenue Prospect Avenue Historic District, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Oakwood Ave Houses, Teemu08 ( talk ) (Transferred by Bill william compton /Originally uploaded by Teemu08 ), CC BY 3.0
- Henry Dubin House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Passenger Depot, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jean Butz James Museum of the Highland Park Historical Society, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sylvester Millard House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Evert House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Maple Avenue Maple Lane Historic District, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Deerpath Inn, Teemu08 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Granville-Mott house 80Laurelave, Ronincmc, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mr. Fred L. Mandel Jr. House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- C.S.Soule House 304LaurelAve, Ronincmc, CC BY-SA 3.0
- George madison millard house 1689Lakeave, Ronincmc, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mary w adams house 1923LakeAve side, Ronincmc, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Robert P. Lamont House, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 116 North Branch (8674612827), LakeCountyIL, CC BY 2.0
- Stables, Building 65 (8704144185), Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois, CC BY-SA 2.0
- McClory Bike Path at Bloom St - Highland Park, IL - July 2025, AlphaBeta135, CC BY 4.0
- Stables, Building 42 (8705266426), Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Saddlers and Stable Sergeants Building, Building 78 (8705266882), Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois, CC BY-SA 2.0
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