Living in Highland Park, Illinois
A Lake County city on the North Shore, about 25 miles north of downtown Chicago, with a bluff along Lake Michigan.
01 — The 60-Second Overview
Highland Park 60035, in sixty seconds.
Four chapters, about fifteen seconds each, on how Highland Park began, what the city is today, where the ZIPs sit, and what to confirm on a specific home.
0:15
Origin
Highland Park was established as a city on March 11, 1869, and the name comes from Walter S. Gurnee. Ravinia was annexed in 1899.
0:30
Today
The city is in Lake County on the North Shore, about 25 miles north of downtown Chicago. A bluff follows about 6 miles of Lake Michigan, with wooded ravines and beaches at Rosewood, Moraine, and Park Avenue. Ravinia Festival has been the CSO’s summer home since 1936.
0:45
Market
ZIPs 60035, 60036, and 60037 cover the city in Lake County, about 25 miles north of downtown Chicago. Metra stops at Braeside, Ravinia Park, Ravinia, and Highland Park. U.S. 41 runs through the city, and O’Hare is about 20 miles southwest.
1:00
What to Check
District 112 and Township High School District 113 serve the city. District 113 includes Highland Park High School and Deerfield High School. A Blue Fence Highland Park Private Client agent confirms the items for a specific home.
Highland Park at a Glance
A North Shore city above Lake Michigan.
Highland Park is a city in Lake County, Illinois, on the North Shore, about 25 miles north of downtown Chicago. The 2020 census counted 30,176 residents. The city was established on March 11, 1869. Gazetteer files put the land area at 12.24 square miles. ZIP codes are 60035, 60036, and 60037. The name, given by Walter S. Gurnee, refers to the park-like setting above the lake.
The lake and the ravines
A bluff about 100 feet high runs along 6 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, and wooded ravines extend inland. Public beaches are Rosewood Beach, Moraine Beach, and Park Avenue Beach, which also has a boating facility. The North Shore Yacht Club is here.
Ravinia and downtown
The city annexed the village of Ravinia in 1899. Ravinia Festival is an open-air pavilion and the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1936. The Ravinia district keeps much of its early character. Downtown is a shopping district. The city has houses by Frank Lloyd Wright, including the Willits House, and other works listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Getting around
U.S. 41 connects Chicago and Milwaukee through the city. Metra’s Union Pacific North Line stops at Braeside, Ravinia Park, Ravinia, and Highland Park, on the line between Chicago and Kenosha. Pace runs bus routes. O'Hare International Airport is about 20 miles southwest. The Skokie Valley Trail runs through town.
Schools
North Shore School District 112 operates an early childhood center, seven elementary schools, and two middle schools. Township High School District 113 operates Highland Park High School and Deerfield High School in Deerfield. Buyers verify current attendance boundaries with the district.