HISTORY
For many years the bench between American Fork, Lehi, and Alpine sat windswept and barren as pioneers passed through it and settled in more sheltered spots where they could find water. Each spring the bench became green and lush with grass. Farmers from the surrounding communities would bring their cattle to the bench to graze. One of these farmers, Alexander Adamson, had come from Scotland to American Fork. When he brought his cattle to the bench it reminded him of the Highlands of his beloved Scotland so he called the place "Highland", and soon others too were bringing their cattle to Highland to graze in the spring.
In 1853, men from Lehi turned the first shovels in Highland's rocky soil as they hand dug a ditch from the canyon to Lehi--a distance of seven miles. The first home in Highland was built in 1875 by John Poole. Other homesteaders soon followed the Poole family. Fifteen families made up the first settlement. The story of Highland is written almost entirely in water. The first settlers built near the Lehi ditch so they could have water, but of course, the Lehi farmers downstream were not always eager to share their water. The Highlanders finally won the rights to some of water in the courts and then bought other water from the Provo Reservoir Company--known as Murdock water. Then in 1930 they also bought Deer Creek water when it became available.
Like all pioneers the early Highland residents made many sacrifices. In an eight month period in 1880 John Poole buried five of his children in the family grave yard. In May of 1894, George Y. Myer's wife and three of their children died of diphtheria, leaving him with seven children. Other families also lost many family members to this dreaded disease. Stephen Black recalls as a small boy seeing the children put into homemade coffins and being loaded into buggies and taken They could not even hold funerals for fear of spreading the disease. In 1888, a little one room brick school was built where the Highland Church now stands. For many years this building was the center of the community--it was school, church, and social hall. As the community grew it was enlarged several times. One of the early teachers was James C. Orr. He walked several miles to school each day, taught all eight grades, did the janitor work, and made fires in the big old stove. In addition to this, he was presiding Elder of the Highland Branch of the L.D.S. Church.
In 1957, sixty families in the community organized a culinary water system. With the assistance from the State Board of Water Resources they drilled a deep well which assured a steady water supply and made possible the dramatic growth Highland has seen over the past several years.
The Town of Highland officially came into being July 13, 1977, with the swearing in of the first town council. An election was held the following fall, and in January of 1978 the first elected officials took office. Highland became a third class city by a proclamation signed by Governor Scott Matheson, January 31, 1979. The following individuals have served as Mayor of Highland: Donald R. LeBaron, Eric B. Adamson, Larry G. Miller, James A. Hewlett, Ed Scott, and Jess Adamson.
Highland has continued to grow in population from its inception as a city, having been noted in previous years as the fastest growing community in the state, as well as having families with the largest number of children per capita. The 1980 census indicated a population of 2,435 and the 1990 census showed a population of 5,002. The present estimate is approximately 11,141. Highland is comprised of approximately 4,500 acres, or 7.03 sq. miles. Highland's zoning allows R-1-20 and R-1-40 single family residential zoning, with limited commercial development, and is a community of diverse interests where residents live a more rural lifestyle with animal rights, or live adjacent to the Alpine Country Club on smaller lots. Highland's current facilities include the Highland City building, six L.D.S. chapels, one elementary school, one Jr. High School, the Alpine Country Club and Golf Course, three city parks, and a commercial district located near the intersections of U-92 and SR-74. The year 1997-98 entailed the construction of sewer and pressurized irrigation infrastructures within the city.
Highland is a community that is accessible to Salt Lake City and Provo, and is a hub and home for many who commute to work. It has attracted many outstanding citizens, is surrounded by beautiful mountains, and has immediate access to the American Fork Canyon. Highland is a wonderful family oriented community.