SEARCH ALL

FACTS & STATISTICS    Advanced view

Encyclopedia > Chicago

Updated 62 days 11 hours 23 minutes ago.

For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). City of Chicago Flag Seal Nickname: "The Windy City", "The Second City", "ChiTown", "Hog Butcher for the World", "City of the Big Shoulders", "The City That Works" Motto: "Urbs in Horto" (Latin: "City in a Garden"), "I Will" Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: 41°52′55″N 87°37′40″W / 41.88194, -87.62778 Country United States State Illinois Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City 237.0 sq mi (606.2 km²)  - Land 227.2 sq mi (588.3 km²)  - Water 6.9 sq mi (17.9 km²)  3.0%  - Urban 2,122.8 sq mi (5,498.1 km²)  - Metro 10,874 sq mi (28,163 km²) Elevation 586 ft (179 m) Population (2006)  - City 2,833,321 (US: 3rd)  - Density 12,470/sq mi (4,816/km²)  - Urban 8,711,000  - Metro 9,505,747  - Demonym Chicagoan Time zone CST (UTC-6)  - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5) Website: egov.cityofchicago.org Chicago (IPA: /ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ/), is a city in the state of Illinois and the largest in the Midwest. With its population of over 2.8 million people located almost entirely in Cook County (a portion of the city's O'Hare International Airport overlaps into DuPage County), Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. The population of Chicago's metropolitan area, which covers several counties, contains over 9.7 million people in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, making it the third largest metropolitan area in the U.S.[1] Chicago has been classified as an alpha world city for its worldwide economic influence.[2] Chicago may mean: Chicago, Illinois, a city in USA Chicago (band), a rock band The University of Chicago Three stations on the Chicago Transit Authoritys L system: Chicago (CTA Brown Line station) Chicago (CTA Red Line station) Chicago (CTA Blue Line station) Chicago house, a genre of electronic dance... Image File history File links Municipal_Flag_of_Chicago. ... Municipal Flag of the City of Chicago The municipal flag of Chicago consists of two blue horizontal stripes on a field of white, each stripe one-sixth the height of the full flag, and placed slightly less than one-sixth of the way from the top or bottom, respectively. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... EXAMPLE:Laughbox,Blondie,BamBam,Pinkie,etc. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Chicago is a poem by Carl Sandburg, about the U.S. city of Chicago. ... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ... Municipal Flag of Chicago for Chicago, Illinois page. ... Chicagoland redirects here. ... This list of countries, arranged alphabetically, gives an overview of countries of the world. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (140,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... Listed are the 102 counties of the state of Illinois. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... DuPage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... A Municipal Corporation is a legal defintion for a local governing body, including (but not necessarily limited to) cities, counties, and towns. ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1837 - 1901) 1837 (MDCCCXXXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Richard M. Daley is the current mayor of Chicago. ... Richard Michael Daley (born April 24, 1942) is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party and current mayor of Chicago, Illinois. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... This article is about the physical quantity. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude and geographical regions, we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... Ten most populous cities in the United States Los Angeles San Jose San Diego Phoenix Chicago New York City Houston San Antonio Dallas Philadelphia The following is a list of the most populous incorporated places in the United States. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Cities with at least a million inhabitants in 2006 An urban area is an area with an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (140,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... This article is about the Midwestern region in the United States. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... OHare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD, FAA LID: ORD) is an airport located in Chicago, Illinois, United States, 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Chicago Loop. ... DuPage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Ten most populous cities in the United States Los Angeles San Jose San Diego Phoenix Chicago New York City Houston San Antonio Dallas Philadelphia The following is a list of the most populous incorporated places in the United States. ... Chicagoland redirects here. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... For other uses, see Indiana (disambiguation). ... Map of the Core Based Statistical Areas of the United States and Puerto Rico (MSAs in red and μSAs in blue) Main articles: Metropolitan Statistical Area and Core Based Statistical Area The following sortable table lists the 361 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) of the United States. ... “World city” redirects here. ... Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837. Its location at the site of a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed, aided the city's rapid growth. Today, Chicago is a major transportation hub, as well as the business, financial, and cultural capital of the Midwest. The Chicago Portage connects the watersheds (BrE: drainage basin) and the navigable waterways of the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes. ... The Great Lakes from space The Laurentian Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes in North America on or near the Canada-United States border. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... This article is about the Midwestern region in the United States. ... Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Topography 2.2 Lake Michigan 2.3 Climate 3 Cityscape 3.1 Architecture 3.2 Neighborhoods 3.2.1 Downtown and The Loop 3.2.2 North Side 3.2.3 South Side 3.2.4 West Side 3.3 Parks 4 Culture and contemporary life 4.1 Entertainment and performing arts 4.2 Tourism 4.3 Cuisine 4.4 Sports 4.5 Media 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 Law and government 7.1 Crime 8 Education 8.1 Public schools 8.2 Private schools 8.3 Colleges and universities 9 Infrastructure 9.1 Health systems 9.2 Transportation 9.3 Utilities 10 Sister cities 11 References 12 Further reading 13 External links [edit] History Main articles: History of Chicago, Political history of Chicago, Windy City, Origin of Name (Chicago), and List of mayors of Chicago The name "Chicago" is the French rendering of the Miami-Illinois name shikaakwa, meaning “wild leek”.[3][4][5] Etymologically, the sound /shikaakwa/ in Miami-Illinois literally means 'striped skunk', and was a reference to wild leek, or the smell of onions.[4] The name was initially applied to the river, but later came to denote what is presently the site of city. The sound Chicago is said[attribution needed] to be the result of a French mis-transcription of the original sound by Louis Hennepin, a Catholic priest, missionary and explorer, who in 1683 first placed the place name 'Chicago' on a map.[citation needed] Chicago, looking North from State and Washington Streets This article is about the history of Chicago, Illinois. ... It has been suggested that the section Politics from the article Law and government of Chicago be merged into this article or section. ... This newspaper article was published by the Cleveland Gazette in 1885 The City of Chicago has been known by many nicknames, but it is most widely recognized as The Windy City. ... Mayors of Chicago, Illinois, Current or Previous The mayoral term in Chicago was two years from 1837 through 1907, at which time it was lengthened to four years. ... The Miami-Illinois language is a Native American language formerly spoken in the United States, primarily in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and adjacent areas along the Mississippi River by the tribes of the Inoca or Illinois Confederacy, including the Kaskaskia, Peoria, Tamaroa, Cahokia, and Mitchigamea. ... Binomial name Allium tricoccum Wild leeks (Allium tricoccum), also known as ramps are a member of the onion family (Alliaceae). ... A painting of Father Louis Hennepin discovering Saint Anthony Falls. ... During the mid-18th century the area was inhabited primarily by Potawatomis, who had taken the place of the Miami and Sauk and Fox peoples. The first settler in Chicago, Haitian Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, arrived in the 1770s, married a Potawatomi woman, and founded the area’s first trading post. In 1803 the United States Army built Fort Dearborn, which was destroyed in the 1812 Fort Dearborn massacre. The Ottawa, Ojibwa, and Potawatomi later ceded the land to the United States in the 1816 Treaty of St. Louis. On August 12, 1833, the Town of Chicago was organized with a population of 350. Within seven years it grew to a population of over 4,000. The City of Chicago was incorporated on March 4, 1837. Rain dance, Kansas, c. ... The Miami are a Native American tribe originally found in Indiana and Ohio, and now living also in Oklahoma. ... The Sac and Fox Nation is the modern political entity encompassing the historical Sac and Fox nations of Native Americans. ... Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable (1745(?) - August 28, 1818), popularly known as The Father of Chicago,[1] was the first known settler in the area which is now Chicago, Illinois. ... A trading post is a place where trading of goods takes place. ... Fort Dearborn, named in honor of Henry Dearborn, was a United States fort built on the Chicago River in 1803 by troops under Captain John Whistler. ... Combatants Potawatomi United Kingdom United States Commanders Chief Blackbird Nathan Heald Strength 500+ 69 military + civilians Casualties 15 39 military + 27 civilians The Fort Dearborn massacre occurred on August 15, 1812 near Fort Dearborn in the United States during the War of 1812. ... The Ottawa (also Odawa, Odaawa, Outaouais, or Trader) are a Native American and First Nations people. ... This article is about the native North American people. ... Year 1816 (MDCCCXVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Treaty of St. ... is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1833 (MDCCCXXXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1837 - 1901) 1837 (MDCCCXXXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The city began its step toward regional primacy as an important transportation hub between the eastern and western United States. Begun in 1836, Chicago’s first railway, Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, opened in 1848, a year which also marked the opening of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. The canal allowed steamboats and sailing ships on the Great Lakes to connect to the Mississippi River. A flourishing economy brought many new residents from rural communities as well as immigrants from abroad. The city’s manufacturing and retail sectors became dominant among Midwestern cities and subsequently influenced the American economy, particularly in meatpacking, with the advent of the refrigerated rail car and the regional centrality of the city's Union Stock Yards.[6] The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad (G&CU) was a railroad running west from Chicago to Clinton, Iowa and Freeport, Illinois, never reaching Galena, Illinois. ... The location and course of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. ... The Great Lakes from space The Laurentian Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes in North America on or near the Canada-United States border. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... 2000 Census Population Ancestry Map Immigration to the United States of America is the movement of non-residents to the United States. ... A string of refrigerator cars owned by Pacific Fruit Express is mechanically-supplied with fresh ice at an Oxnard, California produce packing plant in the Spring of 1964. ... ÊÊÊÊThe Union Stock Yard & Transit Co. ... During it's first century as a city, Chicago grew at a rate that ranked among the fastest growing in the world. Within the span of forty years, the city's population grew from slightly under 30,000 to over 1 million by 1890. By the close of the 19th century, Chicago was the fifth largest city in the world,[7] and the largest of the cities that didn't exist at the dawn of the century. Within fifty years of the Chicago Fire, the population had tripled to over 3 million.[8] Artist's rendering of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. In February of 1856, the Chesbrough plan for the building of Chicago’s (and indeed the United States’) first comprehensive sewerage system was approved by the Common Council;[9] a project that necessitated the physical raising of much of central Chicago to a new grade. However, the untreated sewage and industrial waste flowed from the Chicago River into Lake Michigan, polluting the primary source of fresh water for the city. The city responded by tunneling two miles (3 km) out into Lake Michigan to newly built water cribs. Nonetheless, spring rains continued to carry polluted water as far out as the water intakes. In 1900, the problem of sewage was largely resolved when Chicago undertook an innovative engineering feat. The city actually reversed the flow of the river with the construction of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal leading to the Illinois River which joins the Mississippi River. The Great Chicago Fire, an artists rendering, Chicago in Flames -- The Rush for Lives Over Randolph Street Bridge From [1]. Originally from Harpers Weekly. ... The Great Chicago Fire, an artists rendering, Chicago in Flames -- The Rush for Lives Over Randolph Street Bridge From [1]. Originally from Harpers Weekly. ... Artists rendering of the fire, by John R Chapin, originally printed in Harpers Weekly; the view faces northeast across the Randolph Street Bridge. ... The word sewerage means the provision of pipes etc to collect and dispose of sewage. ... The Chicago River is 156 miles (251 km) long[1], and flows through downtown Chicago. ... Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. ... Air pollution Pollution is the introduction of pollutants (whether chemical substances, or energy such as noise, heat, or light) into the environment to such a point that its effects become harmful to human health, other living organisms, or the environment. ... Wilson Avenue crib, Chicago, Illinois. ... The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal is the only shipping link between the Great Lakes (specifically Lake Michigan by the Chicago River) with the Mississippi River system, by way of the Illinois and Des Plaines rivers. ... This article is about the river in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... The Chicago Water Tower, one of the few surviving buildings after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed a third of the city, including the entire central business district, Chicago experienced rapid rebuilding and growth.[10] During Chicago's rebuilding period, the world's first skyscraper was constructed in 1885 using steel-skeleton construction. The Chicago Water Tower is a contributing property in the Old Chicago Water Tower District landmark district. ... Artists rendering of the fire, by John R Chapin, originally printed in Harpers Weekly; the view faces northeast across the Randolph Street Bridge. ... Artists rendering of the fire, by John R Chapin, originally printed in Harpers Weekly; the view faces northeast across the Randolph Street Bridge. ... The Central Business District of Sydney, Australia. ... The Home Insurance Building was built in 1885 in Chicago, Illinois and demolished in 1931 to make way for the Field Building (now the LaSalle National Bank). ... Steel frame usual refers to a building technique in which a skeleton frame of steel is constructed to support the building which is attached to the frame. ... In 1893, Chicago hosted the World's Columbian Exposition on former marshland at the present location of Jackson Park. The Exposition drew 27.5 million visitors, and is considered among the most influential world's fairs in history.[11] The University of Chicago had been founded one year earlier in 1892 on the same South Side location. The term "midway" for a fair or carnival referred originally to the Midway Plaisance, a strip of park land that still runs through the University of Chicago campus and connects Washington and Jackson Parks. One-third scale replica of Daniel Chester Frenchs Republic, which stood in the great basin at the exposition, Chicago, 2004 The Worlds Columbian Exposition (also called The Chicago Worlds Fair), a Worlds Fair, was held in Chicago in 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher... Jackson Park or Jackson Park Highlands is a 500 acre (2 km²) park on Chicagos South Side located in the South Shore community area, bordering Lake Michigan and the neighborhoods of Hyde Park and Woodlawn. ... For other uses, see University of Chicago (disambiguation). ... Midway Plaisance is a linear park located near Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois approximately 5 miles from the downtown Loop area. ... Washington Park is a 380 acre (1. ... The city was the site of labor conflicts and unrest during this period, which included the Haymarket affair on May 4, 1886. Concern for social problems among Chicago’s lower classes led Jane Addams to be a co-founder of Hull House in 1889, the first of what were called settlement houses. Programs developed there became a model for the new field of social work. The city also invested in many large, well-landscaped municipal parks, which also included public sanitation facilities. // The labor history of the United States involves the history of organized labor, as well as the more general history of working people. ... The Haymarket Riot on May 4, 1886 in Chicago is generally considered to have been an important influence on the origin of international May Day observances for workers. ... is the 124th day of the year (125th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Laura Jane Addams (September 6, 1860 – May 21, 1935) was a founder of the U.S. Settlement House movement, and the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. ... Hull House was co-founded in 1889, in Chicago, Illinois, by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr. ... The Chicago Park District is the oldest and financially largest Park District in the nation, with over a $400 million budget. ... The 1920s brought notoriety to Chicago as gangsters, including the notorious Al Capone, battled each other and law enforcement on the city streets during the Prohibition era. The 1920s also saw a major expansion in industry. The availability of jobs attracted African Americans from the South. Arriving in the tens of thousands during the Great Migration, the cultural impact of the newcomers was immense. It was during this wave that Chicago became a center for jazz, with King Oliver leading the way.[12] “Capone” redirects here. ... Detroit police inspecting equipment found in a clandestine underground brewery during the prohibition era. ... The states in blue had the ten largest net gains of African-Americans during the Great Migration, while the states in red had the ten largest net losses[1]. The Great Migration was the movement of over 1 million[1] African Americans out of the rural Southern United States from... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... Joe King Oliver, (December 19, 1885 – April 10, 1938) was a bandleader and jazz cornet player. ... In 1933, Mayor Anton Cermak was assassinated while in Miami with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Anton Cermak Anton Cermak, in Czech Antonín ÄŒermák, (May 9, 1873 – March 6, 1933) was the mayor of Chicago, Illinois, from 1931 until his death in 1933. ... Assassin and Assassins redirect here. ... FDR redirects here. ... On December 2, 1942, physicist Enrico Fermi conducted the world’s first controlled nuclear reaction at the University of Chicago as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project. is the 336th day of the year (337th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Enrico Fermi (September 29, 1901 – November 28, 1954) was an Italian physicist most noted for his work on the development of the first nuclear reactor, and for his contributions to the development of quantum theory, particle physics and statistical mechanics. ... In nuclear physics, a nuclear reaction is a process in which two nuclei or nuclear particles collide to produce products different from the initial particles. ... For other uses, see University of Chicago (disambiguation). ... This article is about the World War II nuclear project. ... The Sears Tower, at 110 Stories, stands as Chicago's tallest building since its completion in 1973 and is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Mayor Richard J. Daley was elected in 1955, in the era of machine politics. Starting in the 1960s, many upper- and middle-class citizens started leaving the city for the suburbs, as was the case in many cities across the country. It took the heart out of many residential neighborhoods, leaving impoverished and disadvantaged citizens behind. Structural changes in industry caused heavy losses of jobs for lower skilled workers. The Sears Tower is a skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois. ... The geographical western hemisphere of Earth, highlighted in yellow. ... Richard Joseph Daley (May 15, 1902 – December 20, 1976) was the longest-serving mayor of Chicago. ... In this 1899 cartoon from Puck, all of New York City politics revolves around boss Richard Croker A political machine is an unofficial system of a political organization based on patronage, the spoils system, behind-the-scenes control, and longstanding political ties within the structure of a representative democracy. ... “Suburbia” redirects here. ... The city hosted the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention, which featured physical confrontations both inside and outside the convention hall, including full-scale police riots in city streets. Major construction projects, including the Sears Tower (which in 1974 became the world’s tallest building), McCormick Place, and O'Hare Airport, were undertaken during Richard J. Daley's tenure. When he died, Michael Anthony Bilandic was mayor for three years. His loss in a primary election has been attributed to the city’s inability to properly plow city streets during a heavy snowstorm. In 1979, Jane Byrne, the city’s first female mayor, was elected. She popularized the city as a movie location and tourist destination. The 1968 National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1968, for the purposes of choosing the Democratic nominee for the 1968 U.S. presidential election. ... Police riot is a pejorative term that became increasingly more common through the late 20th century, implying the wrongful, disproportionate, unlawful and illegitimate use of force by a group of police against a group of civilians. ... The Sears Tower is a skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois. ... The under construction Burj Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is the worlds current tallest freestanding structure on land, rising 585. ... McCormick Place is an enormous exposition complex located in Chicago, Illinois. ... OHare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD, FAA LID: ORD) is an airport located in Chicago, Illinois, United States, 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Chicago Loop. ... Michael Anthony Bilandic (born: February 13, 1923; died: January 16, 2002; buried in St. ... Jane Margaret Byrne (born May 24, 1934) was the first female Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. ... A filming location is a place where some or all of a film or television series is produced, in addition to or instead of using sets constructed on a studio backlot or soundstage. ... The United States of America has a large and lucrative tourism industry serving millions of international and domestic tourists. ... In 1983 Harold Washington became the first African American to be elected to the office of mayor, in one of the closest mayoral elections in Chicago. After Washington won the Democratic primary, racial motivations caused Democratic alderman and ward committeemen to back the Republican candidate Bernard Epton, who ran on the slogan Before it’s too late, a thinly veiled appeal to fear.[13] Washington’s term in office saw new attention given to poor and minority neighborhoods. His administration reduced the longtime dominance of city contracts and employment by ethnic whites. Harold Washington (April 15, 1922 – November 25, 1987) was an American lawyer and politician who became the first African American Mayor of Chicago, serving from 1983 until his death. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... Bernard Epton (1921-1987) was a wealthy insurance attorney and Republican Illinois state legislator most notable for opposing Harold Washington for the mayoralty of Chicago in 1983. ... An appeal to fear (also called argumentum ad metum or argumentum in terrorem) is a logical fallacy in which a person attempts to create support for his or her idea by playing on existing fears and prejudices. ... Current mayor Richard M. Daley, son of the late Richard J. Daley, was first elected in 1989. He has led many progressive changes to the city, including improving parks; creating incentives for sustainable development, including green roofs; and major new developments. Since the 1990s, the city has undergone a revitalization in which some lower class neighborhoods have been transformed into pricey neighborhoods as new middle class residents have settled in the city. Richard Michael Daley (born April 24, 1942) is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party and current mayor of Chicago, Illinois. ... [edit] Geography Main article: Geography of Chicago Geography of Chicago and surrounding counties The city of Chicago is located in northern Illinois at the south western tip of Lake Michigan. ... [edit] Topography Aerial view of downtown Chicago looking north during winter. Chicago is located in northeastern Illinois at the southwestern tip of Lake Michigan. Chicago's official geographic coordinates are 41°53′0″N, 87°39′0″W. It sits on the continental divide at the site of the Chicago Portage, connecting the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes watersheds. The city lies beside Lake Michigan, and two rivers — the Chicago River in downtown and the Calumet River in the industrial far South Side — flow entirely or partially through Chicago. The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal connects the Chicago River with the Des Plaines River, which runs to the west of the city. Download high resolution version (1024x768, 361 KB)Chicago Aerial View I, the creator of this image, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Download high resolution version (1024x768, 361 KB)Chicago Aerial View I, the creator of this image, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. ... A continental divide is a line of elevated terrain which forms a border between two watersheds such that water falling on one side of the line eventually travels to one ocean or body of water, and water on the other side travels to another, generally on the opposite side of... The Chicago Portage connects the watersheds (BrE: drainage basin) and the navigable waterways of the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... The Great Lakes from space The Laurentian Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes in North America on or near the Canada-United States border. ... A drainage basin is the area within the drainage basin divide (blue outline), and drains the surface runoff and river discharge (green lines) of a contiguous area. ... The Chicago River is 156 miles (251 km) long[1], and flows through downtown Chicago. ... The Calumet River refers to a system of heavily industrialized rivers in the region around South Chicago and Gary, Indiana. ... The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal is the only shipping link between the Great Lakes (specifically Lake Michigan by the Chicago River) with the Mississippi River system, by way of the Illinois and Des Plaines rivers. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... When Chicago was founded in the 1830s, most of the early building began around the mouth of the Chicago River, as can be seen on a map of the city's original 58 blocks.[14] According to the U.S. Census Bureau Chicago has a total area of 234.0 square miles (606.1 km²), of which 227.1 square miles (588.3 km²) is land and 6.9 square miles (17.8 km²) (2.94%) is water. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... The overall grade of the city's central, built-up areas, is relatively consistent with the natural flatness of its overall natural geography, generally exhibiting only slight differentiation otherwise. The average land elevation land is 579 feet (176 m) above sea level. The lowest points are along the lake shore at 577 feet (176 m), while the highest point at 735 feet (224 m) is a landfill located in the Hegewisch community area on the city's far south side ( 41°39′18″N, 87°34′44″W). Grading (construction) means the preliminary construction of a road or a railway Grade (slope) Slope Categories: | ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ... Look up landfill in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Hegewisch (pronounced heg-wish), one of the 77 community areas of Chicago, Illinois, is located on the citys far south side. ... [edit] Lake Michigan Main Article: Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. ... Chicago Harbor Lighthouse Chicago's history and economy are closely tied to its proximity to Lake Michigan. While the Chicago River historically handled much of the region's maritime cargo, today's huge lake freighters use the city's far south Lake Calumet Harbor. The Lake also moderates Chicago's climate, making it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1536x1024, 425 KB) Chicago Harbor Lighthouse. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1536x1024, 425 KB) Chicago Harbor Lighthouse. ... The Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, which is still active, but automated, sits at the end of the northern breakwater protecting the Chicago Harbor, to the east of Navy Pier and the mouth of the Chicago River. ... The ill-fated SS Edmund Fitzgerald, built in the classic dual superstructure style with her wheelhouse up near the bow. ... Lake Shore Drive runs adjacent to a large portion of Chicago's lakefront. Parks along the lakeshore include Lincoln Park, Grant Park, Burnham Park and Jackson Park; 29 public beaches are found all along the shore. Near downtown, landfills extend into the Lake, providing space for the Jardine Water Purification Plant, Navy Pier, the Museum Campus, Soldier Field, and large portions of the McCormick Place Convention Center. Most of the city's high-rise commercial and residential buildings can be found within a few blocks of the Lake. The double-decker Lake Shore Drive Bridge across the Chicago River; Wacker Drive is visible in the background Lake Shore Drive at the Chicago River in 1941 Looking northeast across Lakeshore East at the triple-decker Wacker Drive. ... Lincoln Park Lincoln Park is a 1,200 acre (4. ... The Taste of Chicago is held in Grant Park annually around Independence Day. ... Burnham Park is a park in Chicago, Illinois. ... Jackson Park or Jackson Park Highlands is a 500 acre (2 km²) park on Chicagos South Side located in the South Shore community area, bordering Lake Michigan and the neighborhoods of Hyde Park and Woodlawn. ... Chicago has 31 lakefront beaches along Lake Michigan. ... The Jardine Water Purification Plant, formerly the Central District Filtration Plant, is the largest capacity water filtration plant in the world, located at 1000 East Ohio Street north of Navy Pier in Chicago. ... The Navy Pier seen from the John Hancock Center Navy Pier is a 3,000 foot long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. ... Museum Campus Chicago is a 10 acre (40,000 m²) lakefront park in Chicago that surrounds the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum of Natural History. ... Soldier Field (formerly Municipal Grant Park Stadium) is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, and is currently home to the NFLs Chicago Bears. ... McCormick Place is an enormous exposition complex located in Chicago, Illinois. ... [edit] Climate Main article: Climate of Chicago The city lies within the humid continental climate zone (Koppen Dfa), and experiences four distinct seasons. In July, typically the warmest month, high temperatures average 84.9 °F (29.4 °C) and low temperatures 65.8 °F (18.8 °C). In January, typically the coldest month, high temperatures average 31.5 °F (−0.3 °C) with low temperatures averaging 17.1 °F (−8.3 °C). According to the National Weather Service, Chicago’s highest official temperature reading of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded on July 17, 1995. The lowest temperature of −27 °F (−33 °C) was recorded on January 20, 1985. A small part of downtown Chicago in the winter Chicago has a climate typical of the U.S. Midwest. ... The humid continental climate is a climate found over large areas of land masses in the temperate regions of the mid-latitudes where there is a zone of conflict between polar and tropical air masses. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... For other uses, see Fahrenheit (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Celsius (disambiguation). ... The National Weather Service (NWS) is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States government. ... is the 198th day of the year (199th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Chicago’s yearly precipitation averages about 34 inches. Summer is typically the rainiest season, with short-lived rainfall and thunderstorms more common than prolonged rainy periods.[15] Winter precipitation tends to be more snow than rain. Chicago's snowiest winter on record was that of 1929–30, with 114.2 inches (290 cm) of snow in total. Chicago’s highest one-day rainfall total was 6.49 inches (164 mm), on August 14, 1987. An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... A shelf cloud associated with a heavy or severe thunderstorm over Enschede, The Netherlands. ... For other uses, see Snow (disambiguation). ... is the 226th day of the year (227th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Weather averages for Chicago, IL Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average high °F (°C) 32 (0) 35 (2) 46 (8) 59 (15) 70 (21) 81 (27) 85 (29) 83 (28) 76 (24) 64 (18) 48 (9) 36 (2) 60 (15) Average low °F (°C) 17 (-8) 21 (-6) 29 (-1) 40 (5) 50 (10) 60 (16) 66 (19) 65 (18) 56 (14) 45 (7) 33 (1) 22 (-5) 42 (6) Precipitation inch (cm) 1.8 (4.9) 1.6 (4.0) 2.6 (7.0) 3.4 (8.9) 3.6 (9.2) 3.8 (10.2) 3.6 (9.5) 3.3 (8.8) 3.1 (8.0) 2.7 (7.0) 2.6 (6.9) 2.2 (5.7) 34.3 (90.2) Source: Illinois State Climatologist Data[16] Jul 2007 [edit] Cityscape A panoramic view of the Chicago Skyline stretching from Shedd Aquarium to Navy Pier taken from Adler Planetarium. . Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (8459x1024, 1387 KB)[edit] Summary Chicago Skyline from Adler Planetarium Buphoff 18:46, 9 October 2006 (UTC) [edit] Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... John G. Shedd Aquarium is an indoor aquarium in Chicago, Illinois in the United States. ... The Navy Pier seen from the John Hancock Center Navy Pier is a 3,000 foot long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. ... Adler Planetarium The Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum in downtown Chicago, Illinois was the first planetarium in the United States and is the oldest in existence today. ... [edit] Architecture Main articles: Architecture of Chicago and List of Chicago Landmarks See also: List of tallest buildings in Chicago, Parks of Chicago, and Neighborhoods of Chicago Buildings lining the Chicago River. The outcome of the Great Chicago Fire led to the largest building boom in the history of the nation. Perhaps the most outstanding of these events was the relocation of many of the nation's most prominent architects to the city from New England for construction of the 1893 World Columbian Exposition. Many architects including Burnham, Root, Adler and Sullivan went on to design other well known Chicago landmarks because of the Exposition. Night view of the top of The Chicago Board of Trade Building at 141 West Jackson, an address that has twice housed Chicagos tallest building Chicago Landmark is a designation of the Mayor of Chicago and the Chicago City Council for historic buildings and other sites in Chicago, Illinois. ... Downtown Chicago from the northwest Chicago has the tallest building in the United States, the Sears Tower, and many slightly shorter buildings, almost all in the Loop or along the Magnificent Mile. ... Buckingham Fountain, donated to Chicago in 1927 by Kate Buckingham Anish Kapoors Cloud Gate (commonly known as The Bean) at Chicagos Millennium Park. ... The neighborhoods of Chicago are less well-defined than Chicagos seventy-seven Community Areas. ... This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... Looking north from the North Michigan Avenue Bridge on Chicago's 'Magnificent Mile'. The Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower are in the foreground with the John Hancock Center in the distance. In 1885, the first steel-framed high-rise building rose in Chicago ushering in the skyscraper era.[17] Today, Chicago's skyline is among the world's tallest.[18] Downtown's historic buildings include the Chicago Board of Trade Building in the Loop, with others along the lakefront and the Chicago River. Once first on the list of largest buildings in the world and still listed sixth, the Merchandise Mart stands near the junction of the north and south river branches. The three tallest in the city are the Sears Tower, the Aon Center (previously the Standard Oil Building), and the John Hancock Center. The city's architecture includes lakefront high-rise residential towers, low-rise structures, and single-family homes. Industrialized areas such as the Indiana border, south of Midway Airport, and the banks of the