Highwood, Illinois

Highwood, Illinois
City
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Lake
Coordinates	42°12′19″N 87°48′44″W / 42.20528°N 87.81222°W / 42.20528; -87.81222Coordinates: 42°12′19″N 87°48′44″W / 42.20528°N 87.81222°W / 42.20528; -87.81222
Area	1.8 km2 (1 sq mi)
- land	1.8 km2 (1 sq mi)
- water	0 km2 (0 sq mi)
Population	5,405 (2010)
Density	3,003/km2 (7,778/sq mi)
Mayor	Charles Pecaro
Timezone	CST (UTC-6)
- summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Postal code	60040
Area code	847
Location of Highwood within Illinois
Website: www.cityofhighwood.com

Highwood is a city in Moraine Township, Lake County, Illinois, United States located between Chicago and Kenosha. The city is also located just south of the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve.

Highwood is located at 42°12′19″N 87°48′44″W / 42.205357°N 87.812345°W / 42.205357; -87.812345, one of the highest points between Chicago and Milwaukee.

According to the 2010 census, Highwood has a total area of 0.71 square miles (1.84 km²), all land.

Originally, the land was owned by the Potawatomi until the 1833 when it was ceded to the United States through the 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's and is now know 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.