Chicago

by The Linguist

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, located in Cook County in northeastern Illinois, is the third largest city in the United States with a population of over 2.7 million residents. Known as the “Windy City”, Chicago offers world class museums, a thriving economy, stunning architecture, a rich history, and unique neighborhoods to explore.

History

The Chicago area was first inhabited in the 16th century by the native Algonquin people. In the late 17th century, the area was discovered by French explorers. A fort was established in the 1780s and the area began to grow. Chicago was incorporated as a town in 1833 and as a city in 1837. Early growth was spurred by the opening of the Illinois & Michigan Canal in 1848. In 1871, much of Chicago was destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire. After the fire, Chicago was quickly rebuilt and continued to grow in population and economic power in the late 1800s. Major World’s fairs were held in Chicago in 1893 and 1933. Manufacturing and food processing industries helped drive the economy in the early 20th century. After World War II, the city saw an increase in diversity and continued urbanization of residential and business areas. While the city has had its share of challenges, Chicago continues to be a major economic and cultural hub today. For more on the history of Chicago, see the Wikipedia page.

Population

As of 2021, Chicago had an estimated population of 2,746,388 making it the 3rd largest city in the United States behind New York City and Los Angeles. The Chicago metropolitan area, which extends into Indiana and Wisconsin, has an estimated population of over 9.5 million. Chicago saw rapid growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as immigrants came from Europe and migrants came from the American South. Growth slowed in the latter half of the 20th century and the city’s population declined for several decades. In recent years Chicago has seen a slight increase in population growth again. The racial makeup of Chicago is 30.1% Black, 29.9% White, 28.9% Hispanic, and 6.2% Asian.

Economy

Chicago has a diversified economy with no single industry employing more than 14% of the workforce. Major industries include finance, manufacturing, printing and publishing, food processing, and transportation. Some of the largest companies headquartered in Chicago are Boeing, United Airlines, McDonald’s, Mondelez International, and Ulta Beauty. Chicago is home to major financial and futures exchanges including the Chicago Stock Exchange. Tourism is also a significant part of the local economy. Top employers in Chicago include Northwestern Memorial Healthcare, Advocate Aurora Health, JP Morgan Chase, United Airlines, and Walgreens Boots Alliance. The leading manufacturing sector is food processing. For more on Chicago’s economy, see the Chicago Business report.

Transportation

Chicago is a major transportation hub in the United States. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport was one of the world’s busiest airports in 2021. Chicago also has an extensive public transit system run by the Chicago Transit Authority. The “L” rapid transit system operates both elevated and subway routes throughout the city. There are also commuter rail lines extending to the suburbs run by Metra. The city operates the second largest public bus system in the country. Major highways in Chicago include I-90, I-94, I-55, I-57, and I-290. For information on public transportation in Chicago, visit the CTA website.

Landmarks

Some of the most notable landmarks and tourist attractions in Chicago include:

  • Willis Tower – formerly known as the Sears Tower, the 110-story skyscraper was once the tallest building in the world. Location: 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
  • Navy Pier – a 3,300 ft long pier located along Lake Michigan with shops, restaurants, and entertainment. Location: 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
  • Millennium Park – features the Cloud Gate sculpture and the Crown Fountain as well as music pavilions and gardens. Location: 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602
  • Art Institute of Chicago – one of the oldest and largest art museums in the country. Location: 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603
  • Wrigley Field – home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team since 1916. Location: 1060 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613

Some additional famous landmarks include the Magnificent Mile shopping district along Michigan Avenue, the Museum of Science and Industry, Lincoln Park Zoo, the Field Museum of Natural History, the Chicago Theatre, and the John Hancock Center. For more suggestions on top attractions, see Choose Chicago’s guide.

Chicago Landmarks Map

This map shows the location of 3 prominent Chicago landmarks:

  • Art Institute of Chicago – 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603 – 41.8797306, -87.623177
  • Willis Tower – 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606 – 41.8781136, -87.6368472
  • Navy Pier – 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 – 41.8924133, -87.6052688

Sports Teams

Chicago is home to several major professional sports teams:

The passion Chicago locals have for their beloved sports team is unmatched. Catch a game to experience sports fandom at its finest.

Museums

Chicago is home to world-class museums and galleries. Some of the most popular include:

  • The Art Institute of Chicago – One of the oldest and largest art museums in the U.S. housing works from around the world. Location: 111 S Michigan Ave. Website: https://www.artic.edu/
  • Field Museum of Natural History – Features exhibits on anthropology, botany, geology, and zoology. Famous for Sue the T-rex. Location: 1400 S Lake Shore Dr. Website: https://www.fieldmuseum.org/
  • Museum of Science and Industry – Science and technology museum with exhibits including a coal mine and submarine. Location: 5700 S Lake Shore Dr. Website: https://www.msichicago.org/
  • Adler Planetarium – The western hemisphere’s oldest planetarium with exhibits on space science and astronomy. Location: 1300 S Lake Shore Dr. Website: https://www.adlerplanetarium.org/

See the Chicago tourism guide for more of the city’s best museums.

Counties in Illinois

Chicago is located in Cook County in northeastern Illinois. Cook County is the second most populous county in the U.S. with over 5 million residents as of the 2020 census. The Cook County government is headquartered at 118 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60602. Phone: (312) 603-5500. Website: https://www.cookcountyil.gov/

Some other counties in Illinois include:

Illinois has 102 counties total. Cook County, where Chicago resides, is the most populated.

School Districts

Public education in Chicago is provided by Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the third largest school district in the United States. CPS has over 600 schools that provide education to over 350,000 students in grades PK-12. The district is led by CEO Pedro Martinez. Website: https://www.cps.edu/

In addition to CPS, some other school districts in the Chicago area include:

In addition, the Chicago area is home to many private K-12 schools as well as colleges and universities such as Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, the Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University Chicago, DePaul University, and more.

Additional Local Resources

Here are some additional local resources and websites for Chicago: