About Chicago
Chicago, located in the Northeast corner of Illinois on Lake Michigan is the largest city in the state and also serves as the county seat of Cook County. With almost 2.7 million residents, nearly half of the Illinois total population lives in Cook County. The urban area sometimes referred to as Chicagoland is home to around 8,711,000 people. The metro area, which includes the bordering parts of Indiana and Wisconsin along with Illinois is by far the largest in the Midwest and ranks as the 3rd largest market in the United States and 27th in the world is home to 9.8 million people. The city has a population density much like Philadelphia, PA with over 11,500 people per square mile according to the 2010 US Census, making it also rank third in density.
The city was founded in the 1770′s and then was officially incorporated in 1837. On August 12, 1833, the Town of Chicago was organized with a population of around 200 at that time. Within seven years it would grow to a population of over 4,000 and has remained one of the fastest growing cities in the world until the 1950′s.
Due to Chicago’s location on Lake Michigan, the city emerged as an important transportation hub between Eastern and Western states. In 1848,Chicago’s first railway, the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad opened along with the Illinois and Michigan Canal. The canal allowed steamboats and ships on the Great Lakes access to the Mississippi River. The booming economy attracted residents from rural areas as well as foreign immigrants.
The significant growth in population brought about issues of illness and disease. The Council came up with a way to alleviate some of the problems that if left unresolved would prove extremely destructive to the city and its residents. Since the city was at or below the level of Lake Michigan in many areas, rain water and sewage often collected which caused illness and unsanitary conditions. The low lying area did not drain properly and in the 1850′s and 1860′s thousands of workers raised many of the city’s buildings and streets. Brick buildings that were 4 and 5 stories were raised using jackscrews while new foundations were put in place. Raising these buildings became commonplace as workers often hoisted them while the businesses were open and serving customers. The organizers became so confident in their work that they began to raise large iron buildings and whole city blocks. Many of the wood buildings that were quickly built were either moved to a different area of town or re-built of brick at the new level, also while open for business. In addition to raising the city to help with draining, in 1900 engineers also managed to change the direction of the Chicago River so that the river now flows into the city rather than out to the lake.
The convenience of the canal and the Great Lakes lead to a huge increase in manufacturing, meatpacking, retail trade and livestock transport activity. The Midwest was dominating the US economy and Chicago was dominating the Midwest. The same remains true today for the most part even though the economic focus of the region has changed. Chicago remains one of the richest cities in the United States and world with the 4th largest GDP in the world and 3rd in the US.
Manufacturing remains a large part of the workforce in the area, but most jobs are now created in the high-tech, service, information, financial and medical fields. Chicago and the surrounding areas are home to some of the largest companies in the world as well as many tech companies and advertising agencies. The white-collar vibe of the city attracts many entrepreneurs and creative professionals and as a result neighborhoods have been rebuilding for the last couple decades.
The diverse and innovative nature of the Windy City’s residents has also made Chicago one of the most visited cities in the United States. Local food traditions such as Chicago-style hotdogs, Italian beef, Greek and Polish originals and deep dish pizza to name a few give the area a unique identity.
Pro Sports Teams
Chicago Bears (NFL), Chicago Cubs (MLB), Chicago White Sox (MLB), Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Chicago Bulls (NBA), Chicago Fire (MLS)
Nearby Cities & Towns
Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetku, Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview, Prospect Heights, Arlington Heights, Mt. Prospect, Des Plaines, Inverness, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Itasca, Bensenville, Addison, Elmhurst, Lombard, Melrose Park, Hoffman Estates, Forest Park, Maywood, Westchester, Western Springs, Hinsdale, Downers Grove, Westmont, Woodridge, Darien, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Lemont, Willowbrook, Burr Ridge, Palos Hills, Berwyn, Brookfield, Lyons, La Grange, Burbank, Lisle, Naperville, Warrensville, Winfield, West Chicago, Chicago, Carol Stream, Bloomingdale, Carpentersville, Elgin, South Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Aurora, Batavia, Buffalo Grove, West Dundee, East Dundee, Crystal Lake, McHenry, Deerfield, Waukegan, Woodstock
