Chicago, Illinois

City flag	City seal
City nickname: "The Windy City"
City motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: "City in a Garden")
Location in the state of Illinois	Location in Chicagoland
Counties	Cook County, Illinois DuPage County, Illinois
Area  - Total  - Water	606.1 km² (234.0 mi²) 17.8 km² (6.9 mi²) 2.94%
Population  - Total (2000)  - Metropolitan  - Density	2,896,016 9,286,207 4,923.0/km²
Time zone	Central: UTC–6
Location	41°54′00″ N 87°39′00″ W
Mayor	Richard M. Daley
City website

Chicago, colloquially known as the Second City and the Windy City, is the third-largest city in population in the United States and the largest inland city in the country. Chicago is located in the Midwestern state of Illinois along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. Photo released by the state of Illinois File links The following pages link to this file: Chicago, Illinois United States Global city ... The Municipal Flag of Chicago External links [Municipal Code of Chicago (sections pertaining to Municipal Flag)] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The three white stripes of the flag represent, from top to bottom, the North, West and South sides of the city. ... Seal on envelope A seal is an impression printed on, embossed upon, or affixed to a document (or any other object) in order to authenticate it, in lieu of or in addition to a signature. ... A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or things real name (for example, Nick is short for Nicholas). ... Chicago Nicknames Hog butcher for the world, Tool maker, stacker of wheat, Player with railroads and the nations freight handler; Stormy, husky, brawling, City of the big shoulders. ... A motto is a phrase or collection of words intended to describe the motivation or intention of a sociological grouping or organization. ... Latin is the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Image File history File links This image is a modified version of a PD image. ... State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) Official languages American English (as oppossed to Englands English) Area 149,998 km² (25th)  - Land 143,968 km²  - Water 6,030 km² (4. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (500x674, 10 KB)Location of Chicago in Chicagoland Created with Macromedia Fireworks 4 PNG-8 Websnap adaptive color palette 256 colors File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Chicagoland region is colored red. ... United States of America, showing states, divided into counties. ... Cook County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... DuPage County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... This article explains the meaning of area as a physical quantity. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... Density (symbol: ρ - Greek: rho) is a measure of mass per unit of volume. ... Time zones are areas of the Earth that have adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... The Central Standard Time Zone (CST) is a geographic region that keeps time by subtracting six hours from Coordinated Universal Time UTC. In the United States, the time zone includes the entire area of the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas except for El... Coordinated Universal Time or UTC, also sometimes referred to as Zulu time, is an atomic realization of Universal Time(UT) or Greenwich Mean Time, the astronomical basis for civil time. ... 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. ... Richard Michael Daley (born April 24, 1942) has been Mayor of Chicago since 1989. ... The Midwestern United States (or Midwest) is an inland region of the United States of America. ... A U.S. state is any one of the fifty states (four of which officially favor the term commonwealth) which, together with the District of Columbia and Palmyra Atoll (an uninhabited incorporated unorganized territory), form the United States of America. ... State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) Official languages American English (as oppossed to Englands English) Area 149,998 km² (25th)  - Land 143,968 km²  - Water 6,030 km² (4. ... Sunset on Lake Michigan A different sunset on the lake. ...

Chicago's population of 2,896,016 (2000 census) makes it the third most populous city in the United States, the tenth-most-populous in the Western Hemisphere and the 62nd largest in the world. When combined with its suburbs and eight surrounding counties, the greater metropolitan area known as Chicagoland encompasses more than 9 million people. The United States 2000 census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... The term Western Hemisphere can mean either the half of the Earth that lies west of the prime meridian or the major landmass on that half, namely the continent North America (aka the Americas). ... A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of influence, or of several neighboring cities or towns and adjoining areas, with one or more large cities serving as its hub or hubs. ... The Chicagoland region is colored red. ...

Growing from a frontier town in 1833 to one of the world's premier cities, Chicago is ranked as one of 10 "Alpha" (most influential) world cities by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group & Network. The city has long been known as a financial, industrial, and transportation center and for its ethnic diversity. Chicago's skyscrapers, local cuisine, political traditions, and sports teams are some of the most recognized symbols of the city. A variety of colloquial nicknames reflect Chicago's unique character. Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Chicago Nicknames Hog butcher for the world, Tool maker, stacker of wheat, Player with railroads and the nations freight handler; Stormy, husky, brawling, City of the big shoulders. ...

A resident of Chicago is referred to as a Chicagoan. About one-third each of Chicagoans are White or African-American, with a sizeable Hispanic minority and small amounts of other races. Chicago also has many dozen distinct neighborhoods to match the ethnic diversity; the city is divided into 77 official community areas. The city Chicago, Illinois, is divided into seventy-seven community areas. ...

History

For more details on this topic, see History of Chicago.

This article is about the history of Chicago. ...

Early days

During the mid 1700s, the Chicago area was inhabited primarily by Potawatomis, who took the place of the Miami and Sauk and Fox who had controlled the area previously. The name Chicago originates from "Checagou" (Chick-Ah-Goo-Ah) or "Checaguar," which in the Potawatomi language means "wild onions" or "skunk." The area was so named because of the smell of rotting marshland wild leeks (ramps) that once covered it. Events and trends The Bonneville Slide blocks the Columbia River near the site of present-day Cascade Locks, Oregon with a land bridge 200 feet (60 m) high. ... The Potawatomi (also spelled Pottawatomie or Pottawatomi) are an indigenous people of the Americas of the upper Mississippi River region. ... The Miami are a Native American tribe originally found in Indiana and Ohio. ... The Sac and Fox Nation is the modern political entity encompassing the historical Sac and Fox nations of Native Americans. ... Binomial name Allium cepa L. Onion in the general sense can be used for any plant in the Genus Allium but used without qualifiers usually means Allium cepa L., also called the garden onion. ... Genera Mephitis Spilogale Conepatus The skunks or Mephitidae are a family of medium-sized mammals, typically black-and-white-furred, belonging to the order Carnivora. ... Binomial name Allium tricoccum Wild leeks (Allium tricoccum), also known as ramps are a member of the onion family (Alliaceae). ...

The first non-native settler in Chicago was Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a Haitian of African descent, who settled on the Chicago River in the 1770s and married a local Potawatomi woman. In 1795, following the War of the Wabash Confederacy, the area of Chicago was ceded by the Native Americans in the Treaty of Greenville to the United States for a military post. In 1803, Fort Dearborn was built and remained in use until 1837, except between 1812 and 1816 when it was destroyed in the Fort Dearborn Massacre during the War of 1812. Jean-Baptiste Point du Sable (c. ... World map showing location of Africa A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second_largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ... Downtown buildings line the Chicago River The Chicago River is 156 miles (251 km) long, and flows through downtown Chicago, Illinois. ... Insert non- ttt67y ... 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Northwest Indian War (1785-1795), often known as Little Turtles War in older reference works, was a war fought between the United States and a large confederation of Native Americans (Indians) for control of the Old Northwest, which ended with a decisive U.S. victory at the Battle... Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, Amerindians, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ... The Treaty of Greenville was signed on August 3, 1795 between a coalition of Native Americans (Indians) and the United States following the Native American loss at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. ... 1803 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Fort Dearborn was a United States fort built on the Chicago River in 1803 under John Whistler on the site of present-day Chicago. ... 1837 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1812 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1816 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Fort Dearborn Massacre occurred on August 15, 1812 near Fort Dearborn in the United States during the War of 1812. ... The War of 1812 was a conflict fought on land in North America and at sea around the world between the United States and United Kingdom from 1812 to 1815. ...

Incorporation and growth

Chicago, looking North from State and Washington Streets

On August 12, 1833, the Town of Chicago was incorporated with a population of 350. The first boundaries of the new town were Kinzie, Desplaines, Madison, and State streets, which included an area of about three-eighths of a square mile (1 km²). Download high resolution version (1497x1025, 439 KB)Chicago, Looking North from State and Washington Streets. ... Download high resolution version (1497x1025, 439 KB)Chicago, Looking North from State and Washington Streets. ... August 12 is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Within seven years the primarily French and Native American town had a population of over 4,000. Chicago was granted a city charter by Illinois on March 4, 1837. The opening of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1848 allowed shipping from the Great Lakes through Chicago to the Mississippi River and so to the Gulf of Mexico. The first rail line to Chicago, the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, was completed the same year. These projects foreshadowed Chicago's eventual development into the transportation hub of the United States. Chicago also became home to national retailers, including Montgomery Ward and Sears, Roebuck and Company, offering catalog shopping using these connections. Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, Amerindians, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 1837 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The location and course of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. ... 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Great Lakes from space The Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes on or near the United States-Canadian border. ... Length 6,270 km Elevation of the source 450 m Average discharge Saint Louis¹: 5,500 m³/s Vicksburg²: 16,800 m³/s Baton Rouge³: 12,800 m³/s Area watershed 2,980,000 km² Origin  Lake Itasca Mouth  Gulf of Mexico Basin countries United States (98. ... Gulf of Mexico. ... Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Categories: Stub | Defunct railroad companies of the United States | Defunct companies | Illinois railroads ... Montgomery Ward (also popularly known as Wards) was an American department store chain, founded as the worlds first mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward. ... Sears, Roebuck and Company (NYSE: S) was founded in Chicago, Illinois as a catalog merchandiser in 1886 by Richard Sears and Alvah Roebuck. ...

The Home Insurance Building in Chicago, the world's first skyscraper.

The geography of Chicago presented early citizens with many problems. The prairie bog nature of the area provided a fertile ground for disease-carrying insects. Early on, Chicago's population and commerce growth was stymied by lack of good transportation infrastructure. During spring, Chicago was so muddy from the high water that horses would be stuck past their legs in the street. One dirt road was so hazardous that it became known as the "Slough of Despond". Comical signs proclaiming "Fastest route to China" or "No Bottom Here" were placed to warn people of the mud. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Spring is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. ... The Pilgrims Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come by John Bunyan (published 1678) is an allegorical novel. ...

To address these transportation problems, the Board of Cook County Commissioners decided to improve two country roads toward the west and southwest. The first road crossed the "dismal Nine-mile swamp" and Des Plaines River to the west, then continued southwest to Walker's Grove, now known as Plainfield. The second road headed south, but its exact route is disputed. Cook County is the name of several counties in the United States: Cook County, Georgia Cook County, Illinois Cook County, Minnesota Cooke County, Texas This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Village of Plainfield is a municipality located in Will County, Illinois. ...

Early Chicago was also plagued by sewer and water problems. Many people described it as the filthiest city in America. To solve the problems, the city initiated the creation of a massive sewer system. In the first phase sewage pipes were laid across the city above-ground, with gravity moving the waste. The second phase, executed in 1855, involved raising the level of the city by four to seven feet (one to two meters); this was done by jacking up buildings and placing fill in order to raise streets above the swamp and the newly-laid sewer pipes. 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

By 1857 Chicago was the largest city in what was then known as the Northwest. In a period of 20 years, Chicago's population grew from 4,000 to over 90,000 people. 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

The 1860 Republican National Convention in Chicago nominated home-state candidate Abraham Lincoln for U.S. president. The 1860 Republican National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, nominated former U.S. Representative Abraham Lincoln for President and Maine Senator Hannibal Hamlin for Vice-President. ... Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, was the 16th President of the United States (1861 to 1865), and the first president from the Republican Party. ...

At the election of April 23, 1875 the voters of Chicago chose to operate under the Illinois Cities and Villages Act of 1872. Chicago still operates under this act in lieu of a charter. The Cities and Villages Act has been revised several times since, and may be found in Chapter 65 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes.

Great Chicago Fire

For more details on this topic, see Great Chicago Fire.

In 1871, most of the city burned in the Great Chicago Fire. The damage was immense: 300 people died, 18,000 buildings were destroyed and nearly 100,000 of the city's 300,000 residents were left homeless. One of the factors contributing to the fire's spread was the abundance of wood: the streets, sidewalks and many buildings were built of wood. Because of the extensive damage, city planners had a clean slate and the chance to fix problems of the past. In the following years, Chicago architecture would become influential throughout the world. The world's first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, was constructed in 1885 using novel steel-skeleton construction. Artists rendering of the fire, by John R Chapin. ... 1871 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Artists rendering of the fire, by John R Chapin. ... Chicago architecture has influenced and reflected the history of American architecture. ... Taipei 101, the worlds tallest skyscraper by roof height on high rise. ... The Home Insurance Building was built in 1885 and demolished in 1931. ... 1885 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... // Steel is a metal alloy whose major component is iron, with carbon being the primary alloying material. ...

20th century

State Street circa 1907

Lake Michigan, the primary source of fresh water for the city, became highly polluted from the rapidly growing industries in and around Chicago. Needing a new source of clean water, the city built tunnels below Lake Michigan to new water inlet stations ("cribs") two miles (three km) offshore. However, spring rains and the Chicago River still carried pollution to the inlet stations. In 1900 the water-supply problem was solved by an engineering project that switched the flow of the Chicago river away from the lake and into the new Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Sunset on Lake Michigan A different sunset on the lake. ... Downtown buildings line the Chicago River The Chicago River is 156 miles (251 km) long, and flows through downtown Chicago, Illinois. ... 1900 is a common year starting on Monday. ... 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. ...

During Prohibition, Chicago was arguably the organized-crime capital of the nation. Infamous crime lords, including Frank Nitti, George "Bugs" Moran, and Al Capone, thrived in Chicago, virtually unchallenged by the city's police force. The most famous incident attributed to Chicago's crime syndicates is the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, in which Capone's men gunned down seven unarmed rivals in a warehouse on the North Side. The only group that was ever able to threaten Capone and his fellow gangsters was The Untouchables, a special taskforce led by U.S. Treasury Officer Elliot Ness. Although organized crime in Chicago is no longer as active as it was during Prohibition, the Chicago chapter of the Italian-American Mafia, known as "The Outfit," is still considered to be very powerful. Prohibition agents destroying barrels of alcohol. ... Frank Nitti Frank The Enforcer Nitti (January 27, 1888- March 19, 1943) was a Sicilian immigrant barber who came to New York City as a young man who later left for Chicago in the early 1920s and soon became a member of Johnny Torrios and later, Torrios successor... George Bugs Moran (1893-February 25, 1957) was a Chicago Prohibition-era gangster. ... FBI mugshot of Capone, 1931 Alphonse Gabriel Capone (January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947), more popularly known as Al Scarface Capone, was a famous American Gangster in the 1920s and 1930s, although his business card is reported to have said he was a dealer in used furniture. ... The St. ... The Untouchables is the name of a 1957 book by Eliot Ness and Oscar Fraley, and also of two television series and a motion picture that it inspired. ... Autographed drawing of Eliot Ness Eliot Ness (April 19, 1903 - May 16, 1957) was an American treasury agent, famous for his efforts to enforce Prohibition in Chicago as the leader of a legendary team nicknamed The Untouchables. ...

In 1955, the head of the city's Democratic political machine, Richard J. Daley, was elected mayor. His twenty-one year tenure until his death is arguably one of the most powerful and impacting mayoralties in the city's history. Under Daley's rule, Chicago's Loop had a a building boom that continues to this day while many residential neighborhoods became impoverished, some extremely so. O'Hare International Airport, many skyscrapers including the Sears Tower, and most of Chicago's expressway system were built or expanded during his tenure. 1955 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Richard Joseph Daley (May 15, 1902 - December 20, 1976) was an Irish-American politician who served as Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Central Committee from 1953 and Mayor of Chicago from 1955, retaining both positions until his death in 1976. ... The Loop is what locals call the downtown neighborhood of Chicago. ... OHare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD) is an airport located in Chicago, Illinois, 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Chicago Loop. ... A view of the Sears Tower from the Chicago River. ...

The late 20th Century was also witness to a massive construction of new skyscrapers, especially in the downtown area. The newest of these buildings is the Trump Tower Chicago, which is being built by billionaire Donald Trump on the site of the Chicago Sun-Times building on the Chicago River. A recent plan by developer Fordham Co. to build a 2,000 foot tall tower (with spire) along Lake Shore Drive has been proposed but will have to clear major political and financial hurdles before it is approved. Trump Tower Chicago construction as of April 21, 2005 Trump Tower Chicago, also known as Trump International Hotel and Tower, is a planned skyscraper in downtown Chicago, Illinois named for famed real estate developer Donald Trump. ... Donald Trump on NBCs The Apprentice Donald John Trump (born 14 June 1946, nickname The Donald, given to him by ex-wife Ivana Trump) is an American business executive and founder and CEO of Trump Organization. ... New Chicago Sun-Times building located at 350 N. Orleans St. ...

Related topics

• Organized crime in Chicago

// Events - Timeline Pre-1910s 1882 - Chicago Police Chief William McGarigle, in the pay of Chicago crime lord Michael Cassius McDonald, is indicted for graft later fleeing to Canada. ...

Geography

For more details on this topic, see Geography of Chicago.

USGS Landsat Image

Chicago is located in northeastern Illinois at the southwestern tip of Lake Michigan. When Chicago was founded in the 1830s most of the early building began around the mouth of the Chicago River. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Chicago has a total area of 606.1 km² (234.0 mi²), of which 588.3 km² (227.1 mi²) is land and 17.8 km² (6.9 mi²) is water. The total area is 2.94% water. The city has been built on relatively flat land; the average height of land is 579 feet (176 meters) above sea level. The city lies beside Lake Michigan and two rivers, the Chicago in downtown and the Calumet in the industrial far South Side, entirely or partially flow 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. Chicago is located in northern Illinois at the south western tip of Lake Michigan. ... Download high resolution version (750x750, 111 KB)Despite being named after the Algonquian word for skunk, Chicago is one of America’s most thriving and spectacular cities. ... Download high resolution version (750x750, 111 KB)Despite being named after the Algonquian word for skunk, Chicago is one of America’s most thriving and spectacular cities. ... The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. ... State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) Official languages American English (as oppossed to Englands English) Area 149,998 km² (25th)  - Land 143,968 km²  - Water 6,030 km² (4. ... Sunset on Lake Michigan A different sunset on the lake. ... Downtown buildings line the Chicago River The Chicago River is 156 miles (251 km) long, and flows through downtown Chicago, Illinois. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... A square mile (symbol sq. ... Downtown buildings line the Chicago River The Chicago River is 156 miles (251 km) long, and flows through downtown 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 needs to be wikified. ...

Climate

For more details on this topic, see Climate of Chicago.

Chicago has a temperate climate, typical of the U.S. Midwest, with hot summers and frigid winters, subject to extremes in both seasons (though Lake Michigan has a moderating effect close to shore). Weather typical of each season can arrive unusually early or late. For example, it has snowed in September (1942) and reached 90 °F (33 °C) in March (1982). The greatest recorded single-day temperature difference was more than 65 °F (31 °C) on (February 8, 1900). A small part of downtown Chicago in the winter Chicago has a climate typical of the U.S. Midwest. ... September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days. ... This article is about the year. ... March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1982 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1900 is a common year starting on Monday. ...

Chicago in winter

In a typical Chicago summer, average high temperatures are 72 °F to 84 °F (23 °C to 28 °C), with overnight lows averaging 62 °F (17 °C). Yearly precipitation averages about 33 inches (838 mm). Summer is the rainiest season, with short-lived rainfall and thunderstorms more common than prolonged rainy periods. On average, temperatures exceed 90 °F (33 °C) on 14 days each summer. The highest temperature reached in Chicago is an unofficial 109 °F (44 °C) on July 24, 1935. Image File history File links Chicago, IL during the winter. ... Image File history File links Chicago, IL during the winter. ... Summer is a season, defined by convention in meteorology as the whole months of June, July and August in the Northern hemisphere and the whole months of December, January and February in the Southern hemisphere. ... A season is one of the major divisions of the year, generally based on cyclic changes of climate. ... Rain falling For other uses see Rain (disambiguation). ... A rolling thundercloud over Enschede, The Netherlands. ... July 24 is the 205th day (206th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 160 days remaining. ... 1935 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Winter in Chicago is a variable and fickle season. On average Chicago receives a total of 37.0 inches (95 cm) of snow, though total snowfall has ranged from 9.8 to 87.0 inches (25 and 223 cm). Typical snowfall accumulation is around 2 inches (5 cm), but about once a year Chicago experiences 10 to 14 inches (26 to 36 cm) of snow in one day. Temperatures can vary widely in the span of one week, and extended periods of temperatures below 32 °F (0 °C) are not uncommon in January and February. The temperature in January averages about 25 °F (-4 °C) in the afternoon and 10 °F (-12 °C) at night. Temperatures drop below 0 °F (-18 °C) an average of 15 days each winter. Although rare, the temperature can climb to 50 °F (10 °C) or higher in winter. In many parts of the world, winter is associated with snow. ... A fresh snowfall in Colorados (USA) high forests. ... January is the first month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

Related topics

• Chicagoland
• Maps of Chicago
• Chicago neighborhoods
• Community areas of Chicago

The Chicagoland region is colored red. ... These thematic maps of Chicago, Illinois illustrate the different neighborhoods and the contrasting demographics of the diverse city. ... The city Chicago, Illinois, is divided into seventy-seven community areas. ...

Law and government

For more details on this topic, see Law and Government of Chicago.

Chicago City Hall

The government of the City of Chicago is divided into executive and legislative branches. The mayor is the chief executive, elected by general election for a term of four years. The mayor appoints commissioners and other officials who oversee the various departments. The current mayor is Richard M. Daley, a Democrat. In addition to the mayor, Chicago's two other citywide elected officials are the clerk and the treasurer. The City Council is the legislative branch and is made up of 50 aldermen, one elected from each ward in the city. The council enacts local ordinance and approves the city budget. Government priorities and activities are established in a budget ordinance usually adopted each November. The council takes official action through the passage of ordinances and resolutions. Chicago City Hall The government of the City of Chicago is divided into executive and legislative branches. ... This work is copyrighted. ... This work is copyrighted. ... Chicago City Hall, adjacent to the Richard J. Daley Center, is the official seat of government of the City of Chicago. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... Within a corporation, the chief executive officer is the highest-ranking corporate officer or executive. ... Richard Michael Daley (born April 24, 1942) has been Mayor of Chicago since 1989. ... Chicago City Hall, adjacent to the Richard J. Daley Center, houses the chambers of the Chicago City Council. ... The list below includes the aldermen of Chicago in order by ward. ... An alderman is a member of a municipal legislative body in a town or city with many jurisdictions. ... A ward is an electoral district used in local politics, most notably in England, Scotland, and Wales, as well as Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and many cities in the United States and the federal district of Washington, DC. A ward in England is an electoral district represented by... Ordinance can mean: A law made by a non-sovereign body such as a city council or a colony. ... Budget generally refers to a list of all planned expenses and revenues. ...

Politics

Former Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley once led a political machine called the Chicago Democratic Machine. Another point of interest is the party leanings of the city. For much of the last century, Chicago has been considered one of the largest Democratic strongholds in the United States. For example, the citizens of Chicago have not elected a Republican mayor since 1927, when William Thompson was voted into office. Today only one Alderman member is Republican. Richard Joseph Daley (May 15, 1902 - December 20, 1976) was an Irish-American politician who served as Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Central Committee from 1953 and Mayor of Chicago from 1955, retaining both positions until his death in 1976. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Chicago Democratic Machine is a well known example of machine politics. ... The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party) [1], is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... William Hale Thompson campaigns for Mayor in 1917. ...

Law enforcement

A Chicago police car

The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, under the jurisdiction of the mayor of Chicago. It is the largest police department in the U.S. Midwest and the second largest in the nation (with 13,619 sworn officers and 2,625 other employees as of 2003), and one of the oldest organized police forces in the world. Currently, the Chicago Police Department is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. There are twenty-five police districts, each led by a commander. Each commander oversees a network of administrative and operational departments that include patrol officers, detective forces, and other investigative units. Commanders report to the superintendent of police who in turn is subject to the authority of the mayor of Chicago. Image File history File links Chicago police squad car. ... Image File history File links Chicago police squad car. ... 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 Midwest is a common name for a region of the United States of America. ...

Related topics

• Chicago City Hall
• List of Chicago city departments
• List of mayors of Chicago
• Municipal Flag of Chicago
• Chicago City Council
• Chicago Police Department
• Chicago Fire Department
• Sister Cities of Chicago
• Municipal Code of Chicago

Chicago City Hall, adjacent to the Richard J. Daley Center, is the official seat of government of the City of Chicago. ... This is a List of Chicago city departments Office of the Mayor Chicago Office of Tourism Administrative Hearings Aging Animal Care and Control Aviation Budget & Management Buildings Business & Information Services Cable Communications Chicago Film Office Consumer Services Department Cultural Affairs Department Department of Construction and Permits Environment Ethics (Board of... 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 three white stripes of the flag represent, from top to bottom, the North, West and South sides of the city. ... Chicago City Hall, adjacent to the Richard J. Daley Center, houses the chambers of the Chicago City Council. ... The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, Illinois, under the jurisdiction of the mayor of Chicago. ... Engine 117 fights a fire on Chicagos West Side at the Garfield Park Conservatory. ... Chicago has twenty four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. ...

People and culture

Demographics

People living in Chicago are called "Chicagoans." The term is also sometimes applied to those living in one of the neighboring communities.

As of the census² of 2000, there are 2,896,016 people, 1,061,928 households, and 632,909 families residing in the city of Chicago proper. This encompasses about one-fifth of the entire population of the state of Illinois and 1% of the population of the United States. The population density is 4,923.0/km² (12,750.3/mi²). There are 1,152,868 housing units at an average density of 1,959.8/km² (5,075.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 41.97% White, 36.77% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 4.35% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 13.58% from other races, and 2.92% from two or more races. Of the population, 26.02% are Hispanic or Latino of any race. A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... The following is a list of sources used in the creation of Wikipedia articles on various geographic topics and locations, such as cities, counties, states, and countries. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... An Asian American is a person of Asian ancestry or origin who was born in or is an immigrant to the United States. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... Hispanic, as used in the United States, is one of several terms used to categorize US citizens, permanent residents and temporary immigrants, whose background hail either from the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America or relating to a Spanish-speaking culture. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ...

Children playing in Chicago's Millennium Park

The city itself makes up 23.3% percent of the total population of Illinois, down from a top 44.3% in 1930. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (532x800, 219 KB)Millenium Park kids in fountain I, Brett Gustafson, took this photo myself. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (532x800, 219 KB)Millenium Park kids in fountain I, Brett Gustafson, took this photo myself. ... State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) Official languages American English (as oppossed to Englands English) Area 149,998 km² (25th)  - Land 143,968 km²  - Water 6,030 km² (4. ... 1930 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

Chicago's unique culture arises from it being a melting pot, with nearly even percentages of Caucasians and African-Americans and a sizeable Hispanic minority. The main European ethnic groups in Chicago are the Irish, Germans, Italians and Polish. Chicago has a large Irish-American population on its South Side. Many of Chicago's politicians have come from this population, including the current mayor, Richard M. Daley. Chicago has the largest ethnically Polish population outside of Poland, making it one of the most important Polonia centers. It is also considered to be the second-largest Serbian city in the world after Belgrade (which has a population of two million). The city also has the country's largest Assyrian population, numbering as many as 80,000. Alternate meaning: crucible (science) The melting pot is a metaphor for the way in which heterogenous societies develop, in which the ingredients in the pot (iron, tin; people of different backgrounds and religions, etc. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... African Americans, also known as Afro-Americans, Black Americans, or blacks are an ethnic group in the United States of America whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to West and Central Africa. ... Hispanic, as used in the United States, is one of several terms used to categorize U.S. immigrants for whose background hail either from Spain, the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America or the original settlers of the traditionally Spanish-held Southwestern United States. ... Richard Michael Daley (born April 24, 1942) has been Mayor of Chicago since 1989. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Serbia and Montenegro  -Serbia    -Kosovo and Metohia    -Vojvodina  -Montenegro Official language Serbian1 Capital Belgrade Area  - Total  - % water 88,361 km² n/a Population  - Total (1998)  - Density 11,206,847 126. ... Belgrade (Serbian, Београд, Beograd   listen?), is the capital of Serbia since 1404, Serbia and Montenegro (2003–Present) and Yugoslavia (1918–2003). ... This article concerns the Assyrian people. ...

There are 1,061,928 households, of which 28.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% are married couples living together, 18.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% are non-families. Of all households, 32.6% are made up of individuals and 8.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.67 and the average family size is 3.50. Of the city population, 26.2% are under the age of 18, 11.2% are from 18 to 24, 33.4% are from 25 to 44, 18.9% are from 45 to 64, and 10.3% are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.1 males. The median income for a household in the city is $38,625, and the median income for a family is $42,724. Males have a median income of $35,907 versus $30,536 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,175. Below the poverty line are 19.6% of the population and 16.6% of the families. Of the total population, 28.1% of those under the age of 18 and 15.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. Marriage may be a relationship and bond between individuals (termed spouses -- a male spouse is a husband and a female spouse, a wife) that plays a key role in the definition of many families. ... The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the number of people. ... The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

Museums and galleries

In 1998, the City of Chicago officially opened the Museum Campus, a 10 acre lakefront park surrounding three of the city's main museums, the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. The Museum Campus was constructed on the southern section of Grant Park. The construction project involved re-routing Lakeshore Drive to make room for the new park. Grant Park is also home to Chicago's other major downtown museum, the Art Institute of Chicago. Some other major museums and galleries of the Chicago area include: 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. ... Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago The Field Museum of Natural History, in Chicago, Illinois, USA, sits on Lake Shore Drive next to Lake Michigan, part of a scenic complex known as Museum Campus Chicago. ... John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago in the United States is the largest indoor aquarium in the world. ... The Adler Planetarium is a public planetarium located on Lake Shore Drive in USA. It was founded by Max Adler in 1930 and its main attraction is a Zeiss planetarium projector. ... The Taste of Chicago is held in Grant Park annually around Independence Day. ... ... On the western edge of Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, is the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the premier art museums and art schools in the United States, known especially for the extensive collection of Impressionist and American art in its museum. ...

• Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. One of the premier art museums in the United States. Famous pieces include American Gothic by Grant Wood, and A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat. There is also a fine arts school on campus.

The Skull of the T-Rex Sue on display at the Field Museum

• Chicago Cultural Center (Home Page), 78 E. Washington St. Built in 1897 as Chicago's first public library, the building now houses the city's Visitor Information Center, galleries, and exhibit halls. The ceiling of Preston Bradley Hall includes a 38-foot Tiffany glass dome.
• Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago's natural history museum. Highlights include Sue, the largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton in the world as well as a great, kids-friendly Egyptian exhibit.
• Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. Art of all types from around the world made since 1945.
• Oriental Institute, part of the University of Chicago, one of the best collections of ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern archeology in the world.
• Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr. Located on the Museum Campus, the Shedd Aquarium is home to a large collection of marine life from throughout the world. The Pacific Northwest–themed Oceanarium features dolphins, whales, and other animals from the region, as well as a panoramic view of Lake Michigan. The aquarium is also largest indoor aquarium in the world.
• Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive,
• Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr.

On the western edge of Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, is the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the premier art museums and art schools in the United States, known especially for the extensive collection of Impressionist and American art in its museum. ... American Gothic (1930) 2004 Iowa state quarter Grant Wood (February 13, 1891 – February 12, 1942) was a United States painter, born in Anamosa, Iowa. ... Le Chahut was painted by Seurat from 1889 to 1890. ... T. Rex skull reconstructed, at Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. ... T. Rex skull reconstructed, at Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. ... Binomial name Tyrannosaurus rex Osborn, 1905 Tyrannosaurus rex (king of the tyrannical lizards), also known colloquially as The King of the Dinosaurs, was a giant carnivorous theropod dinosaur from the Upper Maastrichtian, the last stage of the Cretaceous period, 65 – 66 million years ago. ... Dome Ceiling at the Chicago Cultural Center Located in Chicago, the landmark building known as the Chicago Cultural Center serves as the citys official reception venue where the Mayor has welcomed Presidents and royalty, diplomats and community leaders. ... Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago The Field Museum of Natural History, in Chicago, Illinois, USA, sits on Lake Shore Drive next to Lake Michigan, part of a scenic complex known as Museum Campus Chicago. ... Binomial name Tyrannosaurus rex Osborn, 1905 Tyrannosaurus rex (king of the tyrannical lizards), also known colloquially as The King of the Dinosaurs, was a giant carnivorous theropod dinosaur from the Upper Maastrichtian, the last stage of the Cretaceous period, 65 – 66 million years ago. ... The Museum of Contemporary Art is a contemporary art museum in downtown Chicago. ... The Oriental Institute (OI) is the University of Chicagos archeology museum and research center for ancient Near Eastern studies. ... The University of Chicago is a private co-educational university located in Chicago, Illinois. ... John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago in the United States is the largest indoor aquarium in the world. ... The Museum of Science and Industry is housed in the only surviving building from the 1893 World Columbian Exposition and is a National Historic Landmark. ... The Adler Planetarium is a public planetarium located on Lake Shore Drive in USA. It was founded by Max Adler in 1930 and its main attraction is a Zeiss planetarium projector. ...

Performing arts

A Promotional Sign for Chicago's "Second City" Comedy Troupe.

Chicago is a well-known theater capital and a mecca for improvisational comedy. The city is home to The Second City and ImprovOlympic, two of the largest comedy troupes in the world. Many world-famous actors and comedians are Chicagoans or came to study in the area, particularly at Northwestern University in Evanston. Image File history File links A Promotional Poster for the Second City comedy troup in Chicago This work is copyrighted. ... Image File history File links A Promotional Poster for the Second City comedy troup in Chicago This work is copyrighted. ... For other usages see Theatre (disambiguation) Theater (American English) or Theatre (British English and widespread usage among theatre professionals in the US) is that branch of the performing arts concerned with acting out stories in front of an audience using combinations of speech, gesture, music, dance, sound and spectacle — indeed... Improvisational comedy (also called improv or impro) is comedy that is performed with a little to no predetermination of subject matter and structure. ... The Second City is a long-running improvisational comedy troupe based in the Old Town area of Chicago, Illinois, with offshoot troupes in other cities, most notably Toronto. ... The ImprovOlympic (now known as IO or IO Chicago) is a theater in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois dedicated to improvisational comedy. ... The Arch, the main entrance to Northwesterns Evanston campus Northwestern University is a private university which has its main campus in Evanston, Illinois, on a 240-acre (970,000 m²) campus along the shore of Lake Michigan. ...

Since its founding in 1976 as an ensemble effort, Steppenwolf Theatre Company on the city's north side has nurtured a generation of gifted actors, directors and playwrights and grown into an internationally renowned company of thirty-five artists. Many other theatres, from new performances spaces to landmark houses like the Chicago Theatre on State and Lake, present a wide variety of plays and musicals, both touring shows and original works, such as the premiere in December 2004 of the Tony Award winner for Best Musical in 2005, Spamalot. Monty Pythons Spamalot is a comedic musical based on the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). ...

The Lyric Opera of Chicago was founded in 1954 and performs in the Civic Opera Building, which was built in 1929 on the east bank of the Chicago River and is the second-largest opera auditorium in North America, with 3,563 seats. The Lyric Opera purchased the Civic Opera House from the building's owner in 1993. The company has reported an average of 100% sales for the past 16 years and approximately 34,000 subscribers for its six-month season. The Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. ...

Music

Chicago has made many significant pop-cultural contributions. In the field of music, Chicago is well-known for its Chicago blues, Chicago soul and it is known as the birthplace of the House style of music, whose history is related to the development and fostering of the techno electronic style of music in nearby Detroit. Popular culture, or pop culture, is the vernacular (peoples) culture that prevails in a modern society. ... Wikibooks Wikiversity has more about this subject: School of Music Look up Music on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Wikisource, as part of the 1911 Encyclopedia Wikiproject, has original text related to this article: Music Wikicities has a wiki about Music: Music MusicNovatory: the science of music encyclopedia Science of Music... The Chicago blues is a form of blues music that developed in Chicago by adding electricity, drums, piano, bass guitar and sometimes saxophone to the basic string/harmonica Delta blues. ... Chicago soul is a form of soul music that arose during the 1960s in Chicago. ... Chicago house is a style of house music. ... Techno- is a prefix relating to technology. ... Electronica is a rather ambiguous term that covers a wide range of electronic or electronic-influenced music. ... Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes - this motto was adopted after the disastrous 1805 fire that devastated the city) Nickname: The Motor City and Motown Location in Michigan Founded  -Incorporated July 24, 1701 1816  County Wayne County Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick...

The rock band Chicago was named after the city, although its original name was the Chicago Transit Authority. The band's name was shortened to Chicago after the CTA threatened to sue them for unauthorized use of the original. The popular rock band The Smashing Pumpkins comes from Chicago, and Fall Out Boy from Chicago's suburbs. Chicago also has its own Symphony Orchestra, which rivals that of New York as the nation's best. The Chicago Transit Authority, Chicagos first album, 1969. ... Quincy L Station serving the Brown Line, Purple Line and Orange Line The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), founded on October 1, 1947, provides bus and rail mass transit services to the citizens of Chicago and several of the citys inner suburbs. ... The Smashing Pumpkins (circa 1995) left to right: James Iha, DArcy Wretzky, Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin. ... Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy is a four-piece pop rock/emo band from the suburbs of Chicago, that formed in 2001. ... The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, based in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the leading orchestras in the world. ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the United States, the most densely populated major city in North America, and is at the center of international finance, politics, entertainment, and culture. ...

The hip-hop scene in Chicago is also very influential. Hip-hop artist/producer Kanye West is a native Chicagoan; his multiplatinum College Dropout album and his soon-to-be blockbuster hit Late Registration have proven that hip-hop can be successful in the mainstream music business without resorting to violent lyrics. Kanye collaborator Twista (formerly known as Tung Twista) is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's fastest rapper. Common Sense, one of the city's established rappers, is a gold selling artist. Kanye West Kanye Omari West (pronounced /ˈkɑnjeɪ/) (born June 8, 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American record producer and rapper from Chicago, Illinois. ... Late Registration is the second major label album release from Roc-A-Fella hip hop artist and producer Kanye West. ... Twista Twista, previously Tung Twista, (born Carl Terrell Mitchell on November 27, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois) is a rapper known for his rapid delivery of his raps. ... The term common sense (or as an adjective, commonsense) describes beliefs or propositions that seem, to most people, to be prudent and of sound judgment, without dependence upon esoteric knowledge. ...

Cuisine

Chicago's signature foods reflect the city's ethnic and working-class roots. Chicago deep-dish pizza, popularized by Uno and Due pizzerias, is world renowned, although thin-crust and other styles of pizza are also popular throughout the city. A traditional Chicago hotdog is typically loaded with mustard, onion. sliced tomato, pickle relish, celery salt and a dill pickle spear. A Chicago hotdog is almost always made out of Vienna Beef, the largest provider of hot dog meat for Chicago. Chicago is also known for Italian Beef sandwiches such as Al's Beef, located on the UIC campus and the Maxwell Street Polish, topped with grilled onions and mustard. Chicago-style pizza is a very specific variety of pizza. ... A Chicago style hot dog meal at the Bunny Hutch in Lincolnwood, IL A Chicago-style hot dog – named after the U.S. city of Chicago, Illinois – is a 100% beef hot dog which is topped with mustard, onion, sliced tomato, pickle relish, cucumbers, celery salt, sport peppers, and a... An Italian Beef sandwich consists of thin slices of beef served inside of Italian bread or some other crusty bread, which has been cut lengthwise and into individual portions. ... The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is the Chicago campus of the University of Illinois. ... A Maxwell Street Polish consists of a Polish sausage topped with grilled onions and mustard on a bun. ...

Chicago also has a long list of world-renowned upscale dining establishments serving a wide array of cuisine from some of the most well-known chefs in the nation. Some notable destinations include Charley Trotters on Armitage in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, Frontera Grill, a gourmet Mexican restaurant owned by Food Network star Rick Bayless, and The Everest, a new-French restaurant on the top floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange building downtown. Another famous restaurant is Demon Dogs, which is a former hotdog stand located underneath the Fullerton street El train that has achieved cult status among many Chicagoans. Upscale restaurant in Chicagos Lincoln Park neighborhood. ... Frontera Grill is the flagship restuarant of Food Network star Rick Bayless. ... Television Food Network, normally referred to as Food Network, is a New York-based cable network that airs many specials and recurring (episodic) shows about food and its preparation. ... Rick Bayless Rick Bayless is a chef who specializes in traditional Mexican food with modern interpretations. ... The Everest is an upscale New-French restuarnat located on the top floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange building. ... The Chicago Stock Exchange, located in Chicago, Illinois, is the third most active stock exchange in the United States by volume. ...

Media

Chicago is considered to command the third-largest market in North America (after New York City and Los Angeles; although Mexico City is larger, its market does not hold such importance) and as such has many different forms of media and outlets to support its status. All of the major US television networks have subsidiaries in Chicago. Chicago's local WGN-TV, which is owned by the Tribune Company, is carried (with some programming differences) as "Superstation WGN" on cable nation-wide. World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere, bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the United States, the most densely populated major city in North America, and is at the center of international finance, politics, entertainment, and culture. ... This article is about the largest city in California. ... A wide variety of systems of interconnected components are called networks. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Tribune Company is a large multimedia corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. ... Superstation in United States television can have several meanings. ... Coaxial cable is often used to transmit cable television into the house Cable television or Community Antenna Television (CATV) (often shortened to cable) is a system of providing television, FM radio programming and other services to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted directly to people’s televisions through fixed optical...

There are two major daily newspapers published in Chicago, The Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times, with the former having the larger circulation. There are also a number of regional and special-interest papers such as the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Defender. The Chicago Tribune, formerly self-styled as the Worlds Greatest Newspaper, remains the leading daily newspaper of the Midwestern United States. ... New Chicago Sun-Times building located at 350 N. Orleans St. ... The Daily Southtown is a Chicago, Illinois newspaper that targets itself to the South Side neighborhoods of the city and a wide region of the south suburbs; its slogan is People Up North just dont get it (a pun). ... The Chicago Defender was the United States’ most influential black weekly newspaper by the beginning of World War I. The Defender was founded on May 5, 1905 by Robert S. Abbott with an investment of 25 cents and a press run of 300 copies. ...

Related topics

• Landmarks of Chicago
• Parks of Chicago
• Tallest buildings in Chicago
• Broadcast television stations
• Newspapers
• Radio stations
• Notable citizens of Chicago

Marina City Apartments and Offices designed by Bertrand Goldberg The following buildings are considered Chicago landmarks. ... The Bean at Chicagos Millennium Park. ... Chicago has the tallest building in the United States, the Sears Tower, and many slightly shorter buildings, almost all in the Loop or along North Michigan Avenue. ... This is a list of radio stations in Chicago by name. ... The following list includes important people who were born or have lived in or near Chicago. ...

Economy

Chicago Board of Trade

For more details on this topic, see Economy of Chicago.

Chicago has been a center for commerce in the United States for most of its modern history. Today, Chicago remains the United States' second financial center with the nation's second largest central business district and third largest gross metropolitan product. In fact, Chicago's gross metropolitan product would rank 18th in the world if it were a nation-state, at approximately 380 billion dollars. Chicago Board of Trade pit. ... Chicago Board of Trade pit. ... The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), established in 1848, is the worlds oldest commodity for trading in futures and options. ... Today Chicago, Illinois is home to 12 Fortune 500 companies and has been a center for commerce in the United States for most of its modern history. ...

Before it was incorporated as a town in 1833, the primary industry was the fur trade. Chicago's early explosive growth led many land speculators and enterprising individuals to the area. Situated on the Great Lakes and with so many new people settling the area, Chicago became an ideal location for shipping and receiving goods. With that, many railroads started to be built from Chicago to other parts of the country, further aiding the growth of the city. Additionally, the building of the Illinois and Michigan Canal helped move goods south down the Mississippi River. In the 1840s, Chicago became the largest grain port in the world, shipping food from the Mississippi Valley region which was also growing into the largest food-producing region in the world. In 1848, Chicago built its first grain elevator, and, in 1858 there were twelve grain elevators dotting the skyline. Carl Sandburg described Chicago as a "stacker of wheat", and some would argue that the grain elevators were Chicago's first skyscrapers. In the 1850s and 1860s Chicago's pork and beef industry exploded. Great entrepreneurs such as Gustavus F. Swift and Philip Armour helped the area to become the largest producer of meat products in the world at the time. By 1862, Chicago had displaced Cincinnati, Ohio, as "Porkopolis". During the 1860s two factors helped this development: first, the Civil War increased the demand for food products, and Chicago's transportation network ensured that goods could be delivered quickly to soldiers all over the northern United States; and second, meat packing plants began to utilize ice. Before this time, meat production and distribution facilities, otherwise known as disassembly plants, had to shut down in the hot summer months. More operating months meant hundreds of thousands of new man-hours in which people could work. The efficiency of Chicago's meat packing industry and its disassembly plants inspired others such as Henry Ford when he developed Model-T assembly lines. Today, we consider industries such as steel, oil, and banking to be the great global market segments, but in the 1860s Chicago's pork and beef industry represented the first global industry. As the major meat companies grew in Chicago many, such as Armour, created global enterprises and communicated with divisions spread across the globe via telegraph. The fur trade was a huge part in the early economic development of North America. ... The Great Lakes from space The Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes on or near the United States-Canadian border. ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... The location and course of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. ... Length 6,270 km Elevation of the source 450 m Average discharge Saint Louis¹: 5,500 m³/s Vicksburg²: 16,800 m³/s Baton Rouge³: 12,800 m³/s Area watershed 2,980,000 km² Origin  Lake Itasca Mouth  Gulf of Mexico Basin countries United States (98. ... Cereal crops are mostly grasses cultivated for their edible seeds (actually a fruit called a caryopsis). ... Length 6,270 km Elevation of the source 450 m Average discharge 16,200 m³/s Area watershed 2,980,000 km² Origin Lake Itasca Mouth Gulf of Mexico Basin countries United States (98. ... This article is about grain elevators. ... Time magazine, December 4, 1939 Carl August Sandburg (January 6, 1878 – July 22, 1967), American poet, historian, novelist, and folklorist. ... Taipei 101, the worlds tallest skyscraper by roof height on high rise. ... Hormel Pork Loin Filets This article is on meat. ... Beef is meat obtained from a bovine. ... Gustavus Franklin Swift (June 24, 1839 in Massachusetts - March 29, 1903 in Chicago, Illinois) was a U.S. meat businessman. ... Philip Danforth Armour (1832-1901) was born in Stockbridge, New York, of Scotch-Irish descent. ... The article refers to the city in Ohio. ... State nickname: The Buckeye State Other U.S. States Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Governor Bob Taft (R) Official languages None Area 116,096 km² (34th)  - Land 106,154 km²  - Water 10,044 km² (8. ... The American Civil War was fought in North America from 1861 until 1865 between the United States of America – forces coming mostly from the 23 northern states of the Union – and the newly-formed Confederate States of America, which consisted of 11 southern states that had declared their secession. ... The meat packing industry is an industry that handles the slaughtering, processing and distribution of animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and other livestock. ... Time Magazine, January 14, 1935 Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was the founder of the Ford Motor Company and is credited with contributing to the creation of a middle class in American society. ... 1908 Ford Model T advertisement The Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie and the Flivver) was an automobile produced by Henry Fords Ford Motor Company from 1908 through 1928. ... An assembly line is a manufacturing process in which interchangeable parts are added to a product in a sequential manner to create an end product. ... Telegraphy (from the Greek words tele = far away and grapho = write) is the long distance transmission of written messages without physical transport of letters, originally over wire. ...

Modern-day futures and commodity trading markets were pioneered in Chicago. A number of events led to this, along with Chicago's transportation systems and geographic proximity to the rest of the country. Massive amounts of goods passed through Chicago from places in the Mississippi Valley such as St. Louis, Missouri. Grain was stored in Chicago, and people began buying contracts on it. Later, people as far away as New York City began buying contracts by telegraph on the goods that would be stored in Chicago in the future. From this were established the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), and the modern systems we use today for futures and commodity trading. The Gateway Arch, shown here behind the Old Courthouse, is the most recognizable part of the St. ... The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), established in 1848, is the worlds oldest commodity for trading in futures and options. ... President George W. Bush at the CME (March 6, 2001). ...

Related topics

• Chicago Climate Exchange
• List of major companies in Chicagoland

The Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) is a system for trading greenhouse gas emissions. ... Chicago Flag The following companies have locations within the Chicago city limits: Accenture HQ Website Aon HQ (Ranked #199 on the Fortune 500) Website Baird & Warner HQ Bank One HQ (Ranked #88 on the Fortune 500) Baxter International Boeing HQ (Ranked #21 on the Fortune 500) Brunswick Corporation HQ CDW...

Education

Entrance to the University of Chicago's main quadrangle

Download high resolution version (1005x658, 841 KB)This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, a repository of free content hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. ... Download high resolution version (1005x658, 841 KB)This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, a repository of free content hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. ... The University of Chicago is a private co-educational university located in Chicago, Illinois. ...

Public education

The Chicago Public Schools (commonly abbreviated as CPS) is the school district that controls over 600 public elementary and high schools in Chicago. It is currently the third largest school district in the United States, with more 400,000 students enrolled in the school district and is led by CEO Arne Duncan. The CPS also includes a number of selective-admission "magnet" schools, including some of the best in the country. Whitney Young Magnet High School (longtime United States Academic Decathlon winners), Albert G Lane Technical Academy, Walter Payton College Prep and Northside College Prep have all topped the lists. Chicago Public Schools (commonly abbreviated as CPS) is a school district that controls over 600 public elementary and high schools in Chicago, Illinois. ... School districts are a form of special-purpose district in the United States and Canada which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools. ... Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the job of having the ultimate executive responsibility or authority within an organization or corporation. ... Arne Duncan is the current Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools. ... School riht outside of the chacago area. ... The United States Academic Decathlon (USAD) is one of the premier academic competitions in the United States. ...

Higher education

Chicago and nearby towns are home to several prestigious colleges and universities, including the University of Chicago in Hyde Park, Chicago State University, and Northwestern University in Evanston. The Illinois Institute of Technology in Bronzeville has notable engineering and architecture programs. The city is also home to several honored Catholic universities, including DePaul University in Lincoln Park, and Loyola University in Rogers Park and Edgewater. The Chicago campus of the state's top public university, the University of Illinois at Chicago, is one of the nation's largest urban public universities. All of these institutions have downtown campuses as well as suburban locations (except for the University of Illinois at Chicago). A number of smaller colleges are known for fine arts education, including Roosevelt University, Columbia College Chicago, and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago is also home to Northeastern Illinois University, one of the nation's most multi-cultural schools. The Chicago region boasts 12 accredited theological schools representing most mainline Protestant traditions, including the city's oldest institution of higher education, the United Church of Christ-related Chicago Theological Seminary, the United Methodist run Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, the Epsicopal Seabury-Wesleyan and multiple Roman Catholic institutions; the schools are joined in a consortium known as the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS). Another well-known Christian school in downtown Chicago is the Moody Bible Institute. The city also has a community college system known as the City Colleges of Chicago. The University of Chicago is a private co-educational university located in Chicago, Illinois. ... Hyde Park is a neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, located seven miles south of the Loop; it is home to the Museum of Science and Industry and the University of Chicago. ... Chicago State University (CSU) is a university in Chicago, Illinois. ... The Arch, the main entrance to Northwesterns Evanston campus Northwestern University is a private university which has its main campus in Evanston, Illinois, on a 240-acre (970,000 m²) campus along the shore of Lake Michigan. ... Incorporated City in 1872. ... Illinois Institute of Technology Main Building McCormick Tribune Campus Center Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) is a private Ph. ... Bronzeville is a neighborhood (located in the Douglas community area) on the South Side of Chicago around the Illinois Institute of Technology, accessible via the Green Line of the Chicago Transit Authority. ... DePaul University is a university in Chicago that was founded by the Vincentians in 1898. ... Several historic and current educational institutions are named in honor of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. ... Rogers Park or East Rogers Park is the northernmost neighborhood community of Chicago, Illinois, USA, bordering the City of Evanston and Howard Street to the north, Ridge Boulevard to the west, Lake Michigan to the east, and Devon Avenue to the south. ... Edgewater is a north Chicago, Illinois, community bordering the neighborhoods of Rogers Park and Uptown. ... The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is the Chicago campus of the University of Illinois. ... Fine art is a term used to refer to fields traditionally considered to be artistic. ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Columbia College is the name of several institutions of higher education. ... On the western edge of Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, is the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the premier art museums and schools in the United States, known especially for the extensive collection of impressionist and American art in its museum. ... much of the text appears to be fluff Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) is dedicated to both excellence and access. ... Chicago Theological Seminary is an ecumenical seminary of the United Church of Christ. ... Moody Bible Institute is a prominent Christian institution for higher education. ... In Canada and the United States, a community college, sometimes called a junior college, is an educational institution providing post-secondary education and lower-level tertiary education, granting certificates, diplomas, and associates degrees. ...

Related topics

• Colleges and universities of Chicago

Gated entrance to the University of Chicagos main quadrangle Chicago holds a distinguished place in the history of American education. ...

Sports

U.S. Cellular Field on Chicago's South Side. Home of the Chicago White Sox

Chicago is one of the few cities in the United States with two professional baseball teams (Cubs, White Sox) plus professional football (Bears), soccer (Fire), basketball (Bulls), and two professional hockey teams (the Blackhawks and the minor-league Wolves). In the early history of the city, sports were at the heart of some founding legends. During the city's boomtown days local authorities staged a dogfight, knowing that it would attract some of the more unsavory characters on the town's crime scene. As soon as the fight began, police moved in and arrested every criminal and escorted them to the city borders. While the complete truth of the story is sometimes doubted, it is important as an early Chicago legend and does reflect the early days of sports in the city. Early Chicago had only the most primitive of sports. Until about 1850, men outnumbered women and this male-dominated subculture encouraged gambling and drinking, as well as activities such as billiards and horse racing. The city of Chicago has announced that it will bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. old comiskey park This file has been listed on Wikipedia:Possibly unfree images, because it is missing information on its source or copyright status. ... old comiskey park This file has been listed on Wikipedia:Possibly unfree images, because it is missing information on its source or copyright status. ... The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. ... Dogfight (1991) is a film set in San Francisco, California, during the Vietnam War (1963 – 1966), and stars River Phoenix and Lili Taylor. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The 2016 Summer Olympics, formally called the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, will be an international athletic event that has yet to be organized by the International Olympic Committee. ...

Club	Sport	League	Stadium	Logo
Chicago Bears	Football	National Football League	Soldier Field
Chicago Blackhawks	Hockey	National Hockey League	United Center
Chicago Bulls	Basketball	National Basketball Association	United Center
Chicago Cubs	Baseball	Major League Baseball: National League	Wrigley Field
Chicago Fire	Soccer	Major League Soccer	Soldier Field
Chicago White Sox	Baseball	Major League Baseball: American League	U.S. Cellular Field (New Comiskey Park)

Related topics Conference NFC Division North Year Founded 1919 Home Field Soldier Field City Chicago, Illinois Team Colors Navy Blue, Orange, and White Head Coach Lovie Smith League Championships 9: 1921 (AFPA), 1932 (NFL), 1933 (NFL), 1940 (NFL), 1941 (NFL), 1943 (NFL), 1946 (NFL), 1963 (NFL), 1985 (Super Bowl XX) The Chicago... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from American cities. ... Categories: Buildings and structures stubs | Stadiums | Football venues | Chicago sports ... Chicago Bears logo, claiming fair use This work is copyrighted. ... The Chicago Blackhawks are a National Hockey League team based in Chicago, Illinois. ... Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in areas where it is more common than field hockey, is a team sport played on ice. ... The modernized NHL shield logo, debuting in 2005. ... The United Center is a sports stadium in Chicago, Illinois, named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines, located at 1901 W. Madison Street, west of downtown, which is home to both the Chicago Blackhawks and the Chicago Bulls. ... Chicago Blackhawks logo, claiming fair use This work is copyrighted. ... The Chicago Bulls are a National Basketball Association team based in Chicago, Illinois. ... Basketball is very popular in U.S. colleges. ... NBA logo, depicting former star Jerry West The National Basketball Association, more popularly known as the NBA, is the worlds premier mens professional basketball league and one of the major professional sports leagues of North America. ... The United Center is a sports stadium in Chicago, Illinois, named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines, located at 1901 W. Madison Street, west of downtown, which is home to both the Chicago Blackhawks and the Chicago Bulls. ... Chicago Bulls logo, claiming fair use This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... The Chicago Cubs are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. ... Baseball is popular in the Americas and East Asia. ... MLB logo Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in the world. ... This article refers to the American baseball league. ... Wrigley Field is a sports stadium in Chicago, Illinois which was built in 1914 for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales and which became the home of the Chicago Cubs in 1916. ... Chicago Cubs logo, claiming fair use This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... Year Founded 1997 League Major League Soccer Stadium Soldier Field Coach Dave Sarachan, 2003- All-Time Leaders* Games C.J. Brown, Jesse Marsch, 172 Goals Ante Razov, 76 Assists Peter Nowak, 48 Points Ante Razov, 190 Shutouts Zach Thornton, 44 First Game Miami Fusion 0 - 2 Chicago Fire (Lockhart Stadium... Football is a ball game played between two teams of eleven players, each attempting to win by scoring more goals than their opponent. ... MLS logo This article refers to the current outdoor soccer league and should not be confused with the earlier indoor soccer league the Major Soccer League. ... Categories: Buildings and structures stubs | Stadiums | Football venues | Chicago sports ... This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. ... Baseball is popular in the Americas and East Asia. ... MLB logo Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in the world. ... The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ... U.S. Cellular Field (formerly New Comiskey Park) is a Major League Baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois. ... Chicago White Sox logo, claiming fair use This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ...

• Arlington Park
• Chicago Motor Speedway
• Chicago Blitz
• Chicago Rush
• Chicago Enforcers
• Chicago Bruisers
• Chicago Wolves

Arlington Park is a horse racetrack in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. ... The Chicago Motor Speedway located in Cicero, just outside of Chicago, Illinois, was built in 1999 by a group including Chip Ganassi, owner of the Target Ganassi Champcar Racing Team. ... Categories: Defunct American football teams | Chicago sports | American football stubs ... The Chicago Rush is an Arena Football League team. ... Categories: Chicago sports | Defunct American football teams | American football stubs ... The Chicago Bruisers were a charter member of the Arena Football League, playing in the four-team demonstration season of 1987. ... The Chicago Wolves are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. ...

Transportation

Chicago can be considered one of the prime transportation hubs in America. Much of this status stems from its geographic proximity during a time when the United States was growing quickly in population and area. The Illinois and Michigan Canal, completed in 1848, allowed for transportation around the world with connecting waterways through Chicago all the way to New York and the Atlantic Ocean, west to St. Louis, and south to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. Chicago then became one of the largest grain and lumber ports in the world, with grain being sent to more established populations and lumber being sent to the forest-starved prairies where new settlers needed to build. Even today, Chicago's importance in global distribution remains, as it is the third largest inter-modal port in the world after Hong Kong and Singapore. The location and course of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. ... 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Gateway Arch, shown here behind the Old Courthouse, is the most recognizable part of the St. ... New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... Gulf of Mexico. ...

Public transportation

For more details on this topic, see Mass transit in Chicago.

The Chicago Transit Authority, or CTA, operates the second largest public transportation system in the United States and covers the City of Chicago and 40 surrounding suburbs. The CTA operates 24 hours a day and, on an average weekday, 1.4 million rides are taken on the CTA. CTA has approximately 2,000 buses that operate over 152 routes and 2,273 route miles. Buses provide about 1 million passenger trips a day and serve more than 12,000 posted bus stops. CTA's 1,190 rapid transit cars operate over seven routes and 222 miles of track. CTA trains provide about 500,000 customer trips each day and serve 144 stations in Chicago, Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette, Rosemont, Forest Park, Oak Park and Cicero. Chicago is one of the few cities in the world that provides rapid transit service to two major airports. From the downtown area the CTA's Blue Line takes customers to O'Hare International Airport in about 40 minutes and the Orange Line takes customers to Midway Airport in about 30 minutes from the loop. Quincy L Station serving the Brown Line, Purple Line and Orange Line The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), founded on October 1, 1947, provides bus and rail mass transit services to the citizens of Chicago and several of the citys inner suburbs. ... The Chicago Elevated is the principal urban heavy rail and metro serving Chicago, Illinois in the United States. ... A Red Line train approaches Cermak-Chinatown station Red Line subway station The Red Line is a heavy rail line in Chicago, run by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) as part of the Chicago L system. ... The Orange Line is a heavy rail line in Chicago, run by the Chicago Transit Authority as part of the el system. ... The Skokie Swift is a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) line running from the Howard Street terminal on the northern city limits of Chicago to Skokie station at Dempster Street in Skokie. ... The Green Line of the Chicago Transit Authority runs entirely above ground. ... The Blue Line of the Chicago Transit Authority is one of two in the city that runs 24 hours a day. ... The Purple Line of the Chicago Transit Authority runs completely above ground except for a small portion in Wilmette. ... The Brown Line of the Chicago Transit Authority runs completely above ground. ... Interurban was the name used to describe a streetcar line connecting urban areas, primarily during the early 1900s. ... The Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Railroad (CA&E, (AAR reporting mark CAE)) known colloquially as the Roarin Elgin, was an interurban railroad that operated commuter trains between Wells Street in downtown Chicago and Aurora, Batavia, Elgin, and Geneva, with several branch lines. ... The Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad, often called the North Shore Line, was an interurban railroad that operated commuter and passenger trains between Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ... This page is about Chicago mass transit. ... Quincy L Station serving the Brown Line, Purple Line and Orange Line The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), founded on October 1, 1947, provides bus and rail mass transit services to the citizens of Chicago and several of the citys inner suburbs. ... The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is a public benefit corporation of the State of New York chartered by the New York State Legislature in 1965. ... Incorporated City in 1872. ... Incorporated Village in 1888. ... Wilmette is a town located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Rosemont is a village located in Cook County, Illinois, founded in 1956. ... Forest Park is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Oak Park is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Cicero is a town located in Cook County, Illinois. ... A westbound Chicago L train crosses the south fork of the Chicago River The Chicago L (short for Chicago Elevated) is an urban rapid transit metro serving Chicago and eight of its adjacent suburbs. ... The Blue Line of the Chicago Transit Authority is one of two in the city that runs 24 hours a day. ... OHare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD) is an airport located in Chicago, Illinois, 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Chicago Loop. ... The Orange Line is a heavy rail line in Chicago, run by the Chicago Transit Authority as part of the el system. ... Chicago Midway Airport (IATA: MDW, ICAO: KMDW) is an airport in Chicago, Illinois, located on the citys southwest side. ...

Street system and highways

For more details on this topic, see Streets and highways of Chicago.

The streets of Chicago primarily follow the grid system established by the Chicago City Council in 1908 and implemented on September 1, 1909. The baselines for numbering streets and buildings are State Street (east-west numbering) and Madison (north-south numbering). Street numbers begin at "1" at the baselines and run numerically in directions indicated to the city limits. Letters, N,S,E and W indicate directions. Night view of the tollbooths as you enter Chicago from the Chicago Skyway // Street layout The streets of Chicago primarily follow the grid system which was established by the Chicago Board of Aldermen in 1908 and implemented on September, 1st 1909. ... Chicago City Hall, adjacent to the Richard J. Daley Center, houses the chambers of the Chicago City Council. ...

The City of Chicago is divided into one-mile sections which contain eight blocks to the mile (though the street grid is not entirely uniform). Each block's addresses occupy a 100-number range, so a range of 800 address numbers covers approximately one mile. There are three exceptions to the 800-to-a-mile rule: Madison (the north-south zero point) to Roosevelt at 1200 south is one mile, as is Roosevelt to Cermak at 2200 south, and Cermak to 31st Street (3100 south). The regular 800-per-mile range resumes south of 31st Street so that 39th Street (3900 south) is one mile south of 31st Street. Even-numbered addresses are on the north and west sides of streets; odd-numbered address are on the south and east sides.

Seven interstate highways run through Chicago. Segments that link to the city center are named after influential politicians, and traffic reports tend to use the names rather than interstate numbers. Referring to the "Stevenson Expressway" rather than "55" avoids confusion of Interstate 55 with 55th Street. Other named interstate segments are the Kennedy Expressway (I-90 From the 'Loop' to O'Hare International Airport), Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94, From South of the 'Circle Interchange' to the I-57 Split), Edens Expressway (I-94), Eisenhower Expressway (I-290), and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294). Interstate 57 is not named. A typical rural stretch of Interstate highway, with two lanes in each direction separated by a large grassy median, and with cross-traffic limited to overpasses and underpasses. ...

Airports

For more details on this topic, see Airports of Chicago.

The American Airlines terminal at O'Hare International Airport

In the 20th century, Chicago held on to its status as a transportation hub with the building of three airports: O'Hare International Airport, Midway Airport, and Meigs Field. Meigs Field, which was closed by Mayor Richard M. Daley in a nighttime coup, was a relatively small airstrip but unique because of its proximity to Chicago's downtown, and as an airstrip for private planes it was one of the busiest in the world. Northerly Island, the land on which Meigs sat, reverted to its original status as parkland, and is now a park and nature center. In the 21st century, Chicago is working toward maintaining its status as a U.S. and international transportation hub by working to expand O'Hare International Airport. Additionally, a new airport has been controversially proposed for Peotone, Illinois, and the city is working toward expanding its ties with the Gary/Chicago International Airport in Gary, Indiana. The Gershwin Tunnel at OHare Airport between concourses B and C in Terminal 1, operated by United Airlines. ... Chicago OHare after hours. ... Chicago OHare after hours. ... OHare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD) is an airport located in Chicago, Illinois, 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Chicago Loop. ... Chicago Midway Airport (IATA: MDW, ICAO: KMDW) is an airport in Chicago, Illinois, located on the citys southwest side. ... Merrill C. Meigs Field Airport (IATA airport code CGX) was a single strip airport built on Northerly Island, the landfill originally created to house the 1933-1934 Century of Progress in Chicago, Illinois. ... Richard Michael Daley (born April 24, 1942) has been Mayor of Chicago since 1989. ... OHare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD) is an airport located in Chicago, Illinois, 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Chicago Loop. ... Peotone is a village located in Will County, Illinois. ... The Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) located in Gary, Indiana is operated by the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority. ... Gary is the largest city located in Lake County in northwest Indiana, near the city of Chicago. ...

Related topics

• Taxis of Chicago
• Chicago Pedway
• Chicago City Railway
• Bicycling in Chicago
• Union Station
• Multilevel streets in Chicago
• Rail stations of Chicago

Taxicabs in Chicago are operated by private companies and licensed by the city. ... Open 24 hours a day and covering over 40 blocks Chicago’s downtown the Pedway helps Chicagoans traverse their city during inclement weather. ... The Chicago City Railway was a cable car system, designed by William Eppelsheimer and opened in Chicago in 1882. ... // Early History Chicago is no stranger to bicycles. ... In the waiting room of the Union Station, January 1943 Union Station is a Chicago, Illinois train station which was built 1913–1925, during the time when Chicago reigned as the undisputed railroad center of the United States. ... Service level South Water Street; there are three levels here Downtown Chicago, Illinois, both north and south of the Chicago River, has some double-decked and even a few triple-decked streets. ... During the heyday of rail in the first half of the twentieth century Chicago reigned as the undisputed railroad center of the United States and was served by six intercity train stations. ...

Health and medicine

The United States has the largest health care system in the world, and Chicago is arguably the capital of that system. The city is first among the major dental and medical training centers in the United States. It is also home to the sprawling Illinois Medical District on the Near West Side, which includes Rush University Medical Center, the University of Illinois at Chicago medical center, and Cook County Hospital, the largest trauma-center in the city and the basis for the hospital in NBC's popular drama ER, as well as the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, the American Dental Association, and the American College of Surgeons. The University of Illinois at Chicago includes the largest medical school in the United States (1300 students, including those at campuses in Peoria, Rockford and Urbana-Champaign). Chicago is also home to a large number of nationally recognized medical schools. These include the above-mentioned University of Illinois medical school, Rush Medical College, University of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, and Northwestern University. Health care in the United States is provided by many separate legal entities. ... The Illinois Medical District (IMD) is a special-use zoning district on the West Side of Chicago. ... Rush Medical College (often referred to simply as Rush) is the medical school of Rush University, a private university in Chicago, Illinois. ... The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is the Chicago campus of the University of Illinois. ... Located at 1901 W. Harrison Street Chicago, Illinois the John H. Stroger, Jr. ... See E/R for the similarly titled 1980s sitcom. ... The American Medical Association (AMA) is the largest association of medical doctors in the United States. ... Founded in 1898, The American Hospital Association (AHA), located in Chicago, Illinois, is the national organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care networks, and their patients and communities. ... The American Dental Association or the ADA is an American advocacy group that promotes good tooth care. ... The American College of Surgeons, located in Chicago, Illinois is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice. ... The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is the Chicago campus of the University of Illinois. ... Rush Medical College (often referred to simply as Rush) is the medical school of Rush University, a private university in Chicago, Illinois. ... The University of Chicago is a private co-educational university located in Chicago, Illinois. ... Loyola University Chicago Loyola University is located in north Chicagos Rogers Park neighborhood. ... The Arch, the main entrance to Northwesterns Evanston campus Northwestern University is a private university which has its main campus in Evanston, Illinois, on a 240-acre (970,000 m²) campus along the shore of Lake Michigan. ...

Famous people from Chicago

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Notable citizens of Chicago. (Discuss)

• Franklin Pierce Adams
• Gillian Anderson
• Jack Benny
• Edgar Rice Burroughs
• Marvin Camras
• John Chancellor
• Raymond Chandler
• Common,
• James Gould Cozzens
• Richard J. Daley
• Walt Disney,
• Do Or Die or D.O.D.
• John Dos Passos
• James T. Farrell
• Harrison Ford
• Benny Goodman
• John Gunther
• George E. Hale
• Dorothy Hamill
• John M. Harlan
• Quincy Jones
• R. Kelly
• David Mamet
• Homer Z. Martin
• Stanley Mazor
• Bob Newhart
• Frank Norris
• William S. Paley
• Melvin Van Peebles
• Rondell Sheridan
• William L. Shirer
• Preston Surges
• Gloria Swanson
• Twista
• Irving Wallace
• Alfred Wallenstein
• Raquel Welch
• Kanye West
• Florenz Ziegfield

Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The following list includes important people who were born or have lived in or near Chicago. ... Franklin Pierce Adams (November 15, 1881 - March 23, 1960), was an American columnist (under the pen name F.P.A.), writer, and wit, part of the famous Algonquin Round Table of the 1920s and 1930s. ... Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully Gillian Leigh Anderson (born August 9, 1968) is an American actress, best known for her role as FBI Agent Dana Scully in the American TV series The X-Files. ... Jack Benny Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky, February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974) was a comedian, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the most prominent early stars of American radio and television. ... Edgar Rice Burroughs (September 1, 1875 - March 19, 1950) was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan, although he produced works in many genres. ... Marvin Camras (January 1, 1916 - June 23, 1995) invented magnetic recording. ... John Chancellor (July 14, 1927 - July 12, 1996) was an American journalist. ... Raymond Chandler Raymond Thornton Chandler (July 23, 1888 – March 26, 1959) was an American author of crime stories and novels. ... Common may refer to : A common - an area of common land The rapper, Common (aka Common Sense) Commonness, the property possessed by those who are vulgar, especially those who are working class. ... James Gould Cozzens (1903 August 19 - 1978) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning U.S. novelist. ... Richard Joseph Daley (May 15, 1902 - December 20, 1976) was an Irish-American politician who served as Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Central Committee from 1953 and Mayor of Chicago from 1955, retaining both positions until his death in 1976. ... Walter Elias Walt Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966), was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, and animator. ... John Roderigo Dos Passos, born January 14, 1896 in Chicago, Illinois, United States - died September 28, 1970 in Baltimore, Maryland, was a novelist and artist. ... James Thomas Farrell was born on Feb. ... Harrison Ford Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor who, between 1977 and 1983, appeared in what were then four of the top ten highest-grossing movies ever. ... Benny Goodman, born Benjamin David Goodman, (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was a famous Jazz musician, known as King of Swing, Patriarch of the Clarinet, and Swings Senior Statesman. // Childhood and early years Goodman was born in Chicago, the son of poor Jewish immigrants who lived on Chicago... John Gunther (August 30, 1901 - May 29, 1970) was an American author whose success came primarily in the 1940s and 1950s with a series of non-fiction books about the political situations in various corners of the world, though he is today most frequently remembered for the memoir Death Be... Dorothy Hamill is an American figure skater who was born July 26, 1956 at Chicago, Illinois, here parents moved to Riverside, Connecticut shortly after she was born, where she spent the rest of her childhood. ... See also Harlans grandson John Marshall Harlan II, who was also an American Supreme Court associate justice. ... Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones II (born March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois) is an United States record, television and film producer, musician, arranger and songwriter. ... Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois), who goes by the stage name of R. Kelly, is a successful R&B singer-songwriter and record producer who came to dominate the R&B music scene throughout the 1990s and in the current decade. ... David Alan Mamet (born November 30, 1947) is a Jewish-American playwright, screenwriter, director and poet born in Flossmoor, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. ... Bob Newhart is an American actor, comedian and writer famous for his timing and bemused demeanor. ... Benjamin Franklin Norris (March 5, 1870 - October 25, 1902) was an American novelist during the Progressive Era, the United States first important naturalist writer. ... William S. Paley (September 28, 1901 - October 26, 1990) was an executive who built CBS from a small radio network to the dominant television network in America. ... Melvin Van Peebles (August 21, 1932 - ) is an American actor, director, screenwriter and composer, and the father of actor and director Mario Van Peebles. ... Rondell Sheridan is an actor in the Disney programme Thats So Raven. Rondell is an alumnus of Marquette University. ... William Lawrence Shirer (February 23, 1904 - December 28, 1993) was an American historian and journalist. ... Gloria Swanson (March 27, 1897 – April 4, 1983) was an American actress. ... Twista Twista, previously Tung Twista, (born Carl Terrell Mitchell on November 27, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois) is a rapper known for his rapid delivery of his raps. ... Irving Wallace (March 19, 1916 - June 29, 1990) was an American bestselling author and screenwriter. ... Raquel Welch in the film poster for One Million Years B.C. Raquel Welch (born September 5, 1940) is an American actress. ... Kanye West Kanye Omari West (pronounced /ˈkÉ‘njeɪ/) (born June 8, 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American record producer and rapper from Chicago, Illinois. ... Florenz Ziegfeld (March 21, 1869 - July 22, 1932) was a Broadway impresario who achieved fame by perfecting the United States revue. ...

References

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When creating references please refer to the Wikipedia Cite Sources guidelines. Image File history File links Chicago. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...

• Travel guide to Chicago from Wikitravel

• City of Chicago Homepage
• The Encyclopedia of Chicago ISBN 0226310159
• The Encyclopedia of Chicago (online version)
• City of the Century: The Epic of Chicago and the Making of America by Donald L. Miller ISBN 0684801949

Wikitravel is a project to create an open content, complete, up-to-date, and reliable world-wide travel guide. ...

External links

• Official City Website
• Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

City of Chicago Geography | History | Government | Places and Landmarks | Schools | Sports | Community Areas | Neighborhoods | Counties of Chicagoland | Economy | Parks The Municipal Flag of Chicago External links [Municipal Code of Chicago (sections pertaining to Municipal Flag)] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article is about the history of Chicago. ... Marina City Apartments and Offices designed by Bertrand Goldberg The following buildings are considered Chicago landmarks. ... Gated entrance to the University of Chicagos main quadrangle Chicago holds a distinguished place in the history of American education. ... The city Chicago, Illinois, is divided into seventy-seven community areas. ... The neighborhoods of Chicago lay within Chicagos seventy-seven community areas. ... The Chicagoland region is colored red. ... The Bean at Chicagos Millennium Park. ...

Metropolitan area of Chicagoland States: Illinois | Indiana | Wisconsin Largest cities (over 30,000): Aurora | Berwyn | Calumet City | Chicago | Chicago Heights | Crystal Lake | Des Plaines | East Chicago | Elgin | Elmhurst | Evanston | Gary, IN | Hammond, IN | Harvey | Highland Park | Joliet | Kenosha, WI | Naperville | North Chicago | Park Ridge | Waukegan | Wheaton Largest towns and villages (over 30,000): Addison | Arlington Heights | Bartlett | Bolingbrook | Buffalo Grove | Carol Stream | Carpentersville | Cicero | Downers Grove | Elk Grove Village | Glendale Heights | Glenview | Hanover Park | Hoffman Estates | Lombard | Merrillville, IN | Mount Prospect | Mundelein | Niles | Northbrook | Oak Lawn | Oak Park | Orland Park | Palatine | Schaumburg | Skokie | Streamwood | Tinley Park | Wheeling | Woodridge Counties: Cook | DuPage | Kane | Kendall | Kenosha | Lake (IL) | Lake (IN) | McHenry | Will This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... The Chicagoland region is colored red. ... State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) Official languages American English (as oppossed to Englands English) Area 149,998 km² (25th)  - Land 143,968 km²  - Water 6,030 km² (4. ... State nickname: The Hoosier State Other U.S. States Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Governor Mitch Daniels (R) Official languages English Area 94,321 km² (38th)  - Land 92,897 km²  - Water 1,424 km² (1. ... State nickname: Badger State State motto: Forward Other U.S. States Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Governor Jim Doyle (D) Official languages None Area 169,790 km² (23rd)  - Land 140,787 km²  - Water 28,006 km² (17%) Population (2000)  - Population 5,453,896 (18th)  - Density 38. ... Auroras Logo Durka-Durkastain is a city located in Kane, DuPage, Will and Kendall counties in Illinois. ... Berwyn is a city located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Calumet City is a city located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Chicago Heights is a city located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Crystal Lake is a city located in McHenry County, Illinois. ... Incorporated City in 1874. ... East Chicago is a city located in Lake County, Indiana, opposite Chicago, Illinois. ... Incorporated City in 1854. ... Elmhurst is a city located in DuPage County, Illinois. ... Incorporated City in 1872. ... Gary is the largest city located in Lake County in northwest Indiana, near the city of Chicago. ... Hammond is a city located in Lake County, Indiana. ... Harvey is a city located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Highland Park is a city located in Lake County, Illinois. ... Joliet is a city located in both Will and Kendall County, Illinois and is a suburb southwest of Chicago. ... Kenosha is a city located in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. ... Naperville is a city located in DuPage County, Illinois and Will County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 128,358; a special census in 2003 estimated the population at 135,858. ... North Chicago is a city located in Lake County, Illinois. ... Park Ridge is a suburb of Chicago located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Waukegan is a city located in Lake County, Illinois, of which it is the county seat. ... Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County, Illinois, located about 28 miles west of Near North Side, Chicago and Lake Michigan. ... Addison is a village located in DuPage County, Illinois. ... Arlington Heights is a village located in Cook County, Illinois and a northwestern suburb of Chicago. ... Bartlett is a village located in both Cook County and DuPage County, Illinois. ... Bolingbrook is a village located in Will County, Illinois and DuPage County, Illinois. ... Incorporated Village in 1958. ... Carol Streams third and newest logo was adopted in 1996. ... View of Carpentersville from the cemetery, 1898 Carpentersville is a village located in Kane County, Illinois. ... Cicero is a town located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Downers Grove, Illinois Downers Grove is a suburb located 19 miles west of Chicago, Illinois in DuPage County, Illinois. ... Elk Grove Village is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Glendale Heights is a village located in DuPage County, Illinois. ... Glenview is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Hanover Park is a village located in both Cook County and DuPage County, Illinois. ... Hoffman Estates is a village located primarily in Cook County and a small section in Kane County, Illinois. ... Lombard The Lilac Village, is a village located in DuPage County, Illinois. ... Merrillville is a town located in Lake County, Indiana. ... Mount Prospect, part of Elk Grove Township, is a village located in Cook County, Illinois about 22 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. ... Mundelein is a village located in Lake County, Illinois. ... Niles is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Northbrook is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Oak Lawn is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Oak Park is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Orland Park is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... -1... Schaumburg is a village located in Cook County and DuPage County, Illinois. ... Incorporated Village in 1888. ... Streamwood is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Type Village Incorporated 1892 State Illinois County Cook County Township Bremen Government Council-manager Mayor Edward Zabrocki Population (2000) 48,401 (up 30. ... Wheeling is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Woodridge is a village located predominantly in DuPage County, but also has portions in Will County and a very small parcel in Cook County, Illinois. ... Cook County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... DuPage County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Kane County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Kendall County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Kenosha County is a county located in the state of Wisconsin. ... Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Lake County is a county located in the state of Indiana. ... McHenry County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Will County is a county located in the northern part of the state of Illinois. ...