Highland, IL Area Guide

Long before it carried its current name, Highland was known as Helvetia. A small town in northern Illinois had also begun calling itself Highland around the same time, but that community eventually became Highland Park.

The city's past carries a few notable footnotes. Abraham Lincoln made extended visits here, and on November 21, 1915, the Liberty Bell passed through Highland on its historic tour. Today, the Swiss-German roots are most visible not in a museum but in living tradition: St. Paul's Kirchenfest has drawn the community together every August since 1970, keeping that founding heritage tangible for anyone who calls Highland home.

Dining in Highland centers on locally-owned spots housed in the city's historic red-brick downtown storefronts. Urban Farmhouse Eatery and Pie Company, located just off Highway 143, has built a following around its specialty pies, including Snickers Pie and Triple Berry Pie. Beyond pie, the downtown square comes alive on Thursday evenings with free live music that draws food vendors and a crowd, making it a regular gathering point for residents throughout the warmer months.

Getting around Highland means getting behind the wheel for most trips. Interstate 70 connects residents heading west toward St. Louis in about 30 minutes, and State Route 143 serves local travel and access to nearby shopping corridors. Several Metro Bus stops are available throughout the city for those who prefer not to drive the full commute, though most residents opt for the car.

St. Louis Lambert International Airport is approximately 45 miles away, a roughly 45-minute drive. The nearest MetroLink light rail station, Shiloh-Scott, is about 25 miles from Highland, making the train a viable option for commuters willing to drive to the station first. Scott Air Force Base sits about 28 miles away, and both McKendree University and SIU Edwardsville are within a 35-minute drive.

Silver Lake Park is the city's most expansive outdoor destination: a 550-acre reservoir with fishing, kayaking, a swim area, shoreline sunbathing, and a 90-acre park that includes an arboretum and an 18-hole disc golf course. It draws visitors from across the region during summer.

Denis H. Rinderer Park recently opened a fully accessible playground, one of only a few of its kind anywhere in the country. For indoor recreation, the Korte Recreation Center at Glik Park features a water park that keeps aquatic options open through every season. Fans of motorsports can catch live racing at Highland Speedway, a quarter-mile dirt track that hosts roughly 20 races per year.

Rents in Highland run well below the Illinois statewide average, making it one of the more affordable rental markets in the region. One-bedroom apartments average $490 per month, two-bedrooms average $892, and three-bedrooms average $1,157. By comparison, the Illinois statewide one-bedroom average is $1,737.

The downtown square hosts a modest but lively collection of locally-owned specialty shops inside historic brick storefronts, giving everyday errands a distinctly small-town feel. For broader grocery and general merchandise needs, the Walmart Supercenter on Cally Lane covers most household basics under one roof.

Shopping centers along Highway 143 and Mercantile Drive add convenient retail options close to residential neighborhoods. Specialty stops include the Greenhouse Florist and Gift Shop for home decor and garden finds, and North American Outfitters for archery and bowhunting gear.

From Silver Lake's kayaking and disc golf to the Swiss-German founding heritage kept alive at the annual Kirchenfest, Highland packs a lot of community character into eight square miles. Affordable rents, a walkable downtown square, and quick interstate access to St. Louis round out the draw for anyone weighing a move here.