state of Illinois
. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States
and the third most populous in the US, after New York City
and Los Angeles
. Its metropolitan area
, sometimes called "Chicagoland," is the third largest in the United States, the largest in the Great Lakes Megalopolis
, and the 27th most populous urban agglomeration in the world, with an estimated 9.8 million people in the three US states of Illinois
, Wisconsin
, and Indiana
.
1833 Chicago is founded.
1837 Chicago is incorporated as a city.
1871 Four major fires break out on the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Peshtigo, Wisconsin, Holland, Michigan, and Manistee, Michigan including the Great Chicago Fire, and the much deadlier Peshtigo Fire.
1889 Hyde Park and several other Illinois townships vote to be annexed by Chicago, forming the largest United States city in area and second largest in population.
1890 Chicago is selected to host the Columbian Exposition
1891 The Wrigley Company is founded in Chicago, Illinois.
1892 Opening ceremonies for the World's Columbian Exposition are held in Chicago, though because construction was behind schedule, the exposition did not open until May 1, 1893.
1893 The World's Columbian Exposition opens in Chicago.
1894 The troops sent by Grover Cleveland to Chicago to end the Pullman Strike are recalled.
1895 The first American automobile race takes place over the 54 miles from Chicago's Jackson Park to Evanston, Illinois. Frank Duryea wins in approximately 10 hours.
“It is hopeless for the occasional visitor to try to keep up with Chicago — she outgrows his prophecies faster than he can make them. She is always a novelty; for she is never the Chicago you saw when you passed through the last time.”
“I'm impressed with the people from Chicago. Hollywood is hype, New York is talk, Chicago is work.”
“Chicago was a town where nobody could forget how the money was made. It was picked up from floors still slippery with blood.”
"Once you've come to be a part of this particular patch, you'll never love another. Like loving a woman with a broken nose, you may well find lovelier lovelies. But never a lovely so real." - Chicago: City on the Make
“My first day in Chicago, September 4, 1983. I set foot in this city, and just walking down the street, it was like roots, like the motherland. I knew I belonged here.”