State Street is the name given to one of the major thoroughfares in Chicago, Illinois. Chicago (officially named the City of Chicago) is the third largest city in the United States and the largest inland city in the country, with an official population of 2,896,016, as of the 2000 census. ...

Originally known as State Road, this was the main route south through Illinois. In its early days, it was unpaved and known for having mud which could suck down a horse and buggy. In the late 1860s, Potter Palmer decided to improve State Street by moving the Marshall & Leiter store in 1868 and building his own Palmer House hotel on State Street in 1870. State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich Official languages English Area 149,998 km² (25th)  - Land 143,968 km²  - Water 6,030 km² (4. ... Events and trends Italian unification under King Victor Emmanuel II. Wars for expansion and national unity continue until the incorporation of the Papal States (March 17, 1861 - September 20, 1870). ... Potter Palmer (1826 - 1902) was a Chicago businessman who was responsible for much of the development of State Street. ... Marshall Fields State Street Store interior, about 1910 Marshall Field and Company is a department store. ... 1868 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Palmer House Hilton is a famous historical hotel in downtown Chicago. ... 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

State Street became a shopping destination during the 1900s and is referred to in the song "Chicago", sung by Frank Sinatra. In 1979, Mayor Jane Byrne converted the street into a pedestrian mall with only bus traffic allowed. Mayor Richard M. Daley oversaw the State Street Revitalization Project and on November 15, 1996, the street was reopened to traffic. Events and Trends Technology Lawrence Hargrave makes the first stable wing design for a heavier-than-air aircraft Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first documented flight in a powered heavier-than-air aircraft Mass production of automobile Wide popularity of home phonograph Panama Canal is built by the United... Frank Sinatra in 1947 Francis Albert Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer who is considered one of the finest vocalists of all time, renowned for his impeccable phrasing and timing. ... 1979 is a common year starting on Monday. ... Jane Margaret Byrne (born May 24, 1934) was the first female Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. ... A pedestrian street is a street where pedestrian traffic is given partial or total priority over all other kinds of traffic. ... Richard Michael Daley (born April 24, 1942) has been Mayor of Chicago since 1989. ... November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 46 days remaining. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

Sources

• Streetwise Chicago by Don Hayner & Tom McNamee ISBN 0829405968

Chicago Public Library (http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/chihist.html)