Highland, Indiana
Living only 21 miles from Chicago and a few scenic minutes’ drive from the beaches of Lake Michigan, residents of Highland, Indiana take pride in the cultural offerings of their small city. A southeast suburb of Chicago located about 150 miles from the state capital of Indianapolis,
Highland boasts close proximity to the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, as well as to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, a venerable Indiana park that offers beautiful lakeside views day and night. With 20 parks spanning a total of 198 acres, Highland is also a great place for nature lovers to visit.
Video of a parade through Highland, Indiana
The city of Highland received its name in 1848, when it officially became a settlement. Up until that point, the area was almost completely under water, except for a high sand ridge that towered above the water referred to as the highlands; thus, the moniker of Highland was born.
The town’s settlers, two pioneers named Michael and Judith Johnston, founded the town as nearly all vast, open farm land, which it remained as up until 1880, when the first railroad to reach the area changed the demographics entirely. In the 1890′s, the economy and population began to expand rapidly all through the area with the arrival of a number of Dutch farmers. The town, once the largest in Indiana, now has an estimated population of 23, 546. When it was officially incorporated as a city in 1910, there were 304 people living in Highland.
Highland, Indiana has been an important stop for several political figures: in 1927, President Calvin Coolidge visited the town to give a dedication address for the new Wicker Memorial Park, situated on the north side of the city. 81 years later, on October 31st, 2008, President Barack Obama conducted a fiery rally that brought 40,000 people to that same park, drawing the biggest crowd to Wicker Park since President Coolidge’s historic address.
Video of a Barack Obama rally in Highland, Indiana
Highland, Indiana, as well as many other towns surrounding the Little Calumet River, has had more than its fair share of flooding over the years, being hit particularly hard every spring. The residents have become accustomed to all the clean-up and anxiety that comes with the territory. Most recently, the town has seen the highest amounts of flooding in September of 2006, 2007, and 2008, suggesting a growing accumulation of water with each year’s new spring and fall seasons.
Video of flooding along the Little Calumet River in Highland, Indiana
