But this analysis does not include smaller cities, such as Salt Lake City, that may have a larger proportion of Mormons. Within the span of forty years, the city's population grew from slightly under 30,000 to over 1 million by 1890. In this particular case, the fact that the workers' agreements had expiration dates let the city of Chicago set an expiration date of 2013 for contribution to health benefits for workers who retired after 1989. When the Great Plains opened up for settlement in the 1830s and 1840s, many German immigrants stopped in Chicago to earn additional money before moving West to claim a homestead. There are 31 sand beaches, a plethora of museums, two world-class conservatories, and 50 nature areas. The 2015 year-end crime statistics showed there were 468 murders in Chicago in 2015 compared with 416 the year before, a 12.5% increase, as well as 2,900 shootings13% more than the year prior, and up 29% since 2013. In 1994, the United States hosted a successful FIFA World Cup with games played at Soldier Field. Chicago is one of the largest hubs of passenger rail service in the nation. [278] For much of the 20th century, Chicago has been among the largest and most reliable Democratic strongholds in the United States; with Chicago's Democratic vote the state of Illinois has been "solid blue" in presidential elections since 1992. As the major meat companies grew in Chicago many, such as Armour and Company, created global enterprises. The 6-mile (9.7km) long Burnham Park stretches along the waterfront of the South Side. National polls rarely give any religious data below the national level. The Chicago metropolitan area has the third largest African American population, behind only New York City and Atlanta. frequency of meditation by metro area, Learn More: frequency of meditation, At least once a week, Seldom/never, % of adults in the Chicago metro area who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing, Compare: Only the WASPs hated the Irish, and the WASPs all lived on the North Shore. [42] The Chicago Board of Trade (established 1848) listed the first-ever standardized "exchange-traded" forward contracts, which were called futures contracts.[43]. 74 music festivals the ChicagoBlues Festival, Pitchfork, and Lollapalooza, Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, Blue Man Group at Briar Street Theater - Boystown, Apollo 2000 (Formerly Marshal SquareTheater) - Little Village, More than 115 miles of protected bike lanes. But some of the nations biggest metropolitan areas have a very different look. ), Apostolic Pentecostal (Historically Black Protestant Trad. Illinois. [101] The overall grade of the city's central, built-up areas is relatively consistent with the natural flatness of its overall natural geography, generally exhibiting only slight differentiation otherwise. After the People's Republic of China was established in 1949, a new wave of immigrants from the mainland came in the 1950s. The Chicago Marathon is one of six World Marathon Majors. In 1900, 470,000 Chicagoansone out of every four residentshad either been born in Germany or had a parent born there. [citation needed], Chicago also hosts a nationally televised Thanksgiving parade that occurs annually. Chicago is served by O'Hare International Airport, the world's busiest airport measured by airline operations,[348] on the far Northwest Side, and Midway International Airport on the Southwest Side. Between 1910 and 1930, the African American population of Chicago increased dramatically, from 44,103 to 233,903. Not to . [303], Chicago began experiencing a massive surge in carjackings after 2019, and at least 1,415 such crimes took place in the city in 2020. Amtrak long distance and commuter rail services originate from Union Station. The Port of Chicago consists of several major port facilities within the city of Chicago operated by the Illinois International Port District (formerly known as the Chicago Regional Port District). Expand. [133][134][135] Summers are hot and humid, with frequent heat waves. Parks district - https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/. While the Chicago Loop is the central business district, Chicago is also a city of neighborhoods. Well-known chefs who have had restaurants in Chicago include: Charlie Trotter, Rick Tramonto, Grant Achatz, and Rick Bayless. Grant Park holds Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain (1927), and the Art Institute of Chicago. [183] Many international religious leaders have visited Chicago, including Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama[184] and Pope John PaulII in 1979.[185]. [26], In the mid-18th century, the area was inhabited by the Potawatomi, a Native American tribe who had succeeded the Miami and Sauk and Fox peoples in this region. There are 24 public beaches across 26 miles (42km) of the waterfront. Below the poverty line were 19.6% of the population and 16.6% of the families. All eight of the city's representatives are Democrats; only two Republicans have represented a significant portion of the city since 1973, for one term each: Robert P. Hanrahan from 1973 to 1975, and Michael Patrick Flanagan from 1995 to 1997. Even more challenging were the social conditions in some parts of the city. But all three will vote for a turkey. [288] Violent crime rates vary significantly by area of the city, with more economically developed areas having low rates, but other sections have much higher rates of crime. As the old saying went, "A Lithuanian wont vote for a Pole, and a Pole wont vote for a Lithuanian. These institutions consistently rank among the top "National Universities" in the United States, as determined by U.S. News & World Report. [263], Five area colleges play in DivisionI conferences: two from major conferencesthe DePaul Blue Demons (Big East Conference) and the Northwestern Wildcats (Big Ten Conference)and three from other D1 conferencesthe Chicago State Cougars (Western Athletic Conference); the Loyola Ramblers (Missouri Valley Conference); and the UIC Flames (Horizon League). [200], Prominent food companies based in Chicago include the world headquarters of Conagra, Ferrara Candy Company, Kraft Heinz, McDonald's, Mondelez International, Quaker Oats, and US Foods. [312] The district, with an enrollment exceeding 400,545 students (20132014 20th Day Enrollment), is the third-largest in the U.S.[313] On September 10, 2012, teachers for the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike for the first time since 1987 over pay, resources and other issues. [citation needed] The record label later signed many prominent industrial acts, with the most notable being: My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, KMFDM, Front Line Assembly and Front 242. 85.4%. Chicago has several other contemporary and jazz dance troupes, such as the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Chicago Dance Crash. [117] Other notable streets include Michigan Avenue, State Street, Oak, Rush, Clark Street, and Belmont Avenue. [339] The program started on June 15 with 10 different scooter companies, including scooter sharing market leaders Bird, Jump, Lime and Lyft. Chicago was named Americas Best Bike City by Bicycling Magazine in 2016. Chicago's demographic, cultural, and religious transformation at the turn of the century posed a number of challenges to this evangelical mission. ), Other Methodist (Historically Black Protestant Trad. Be mindful of course content that may privilege certain religious perspectives. [292][293] In 2009, the murder count fell to 458 (10% down). [78] Chicago was also a hotbed of labor activism, with Unemployed Councils contributing heavily in the early depression to create solidarity for the poor and demand relief, these organizations were created by socialist and communist groups. Congregations and . [74], The ratification of the 18th amendment to the Constitution in 1919 made the production and sale (including exportation) of alcoholic beverages illegal in the United States. A polar vortex in January 2019 nearly broke the city's cold record of 27F (33C), which was set on January 20, 1985. The Exposition drew 27.5million visitors, and is considered the most influential world's fair in history. "Chicagoan" redirects here. City laws and later, state laws that upgraded standards for the medical profession and fought urban epidemics of cholera, smallpox, and yellow fever were both passed and enforced. [65][66] In 1883, Chicago's railway managers needed a general time convention, so they developed the standardized system of North American time zones. Purchase this important reference work thatincludes maps and charts. [11] [86], Two years later, the city hosted the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention, which featured physical confrontations both inside and outside the convention hall, with anti-war protesters, journalists and bystanders being beaten by police. [11][citation needed]. [230], In 2013, Chicago was chosen as one of the "Top Ten Cities in the United States" to visit for its restaurants, skyscrapers, museums, and waterfront, by the readers of Cond Nast Traveler,[231][232] and in 2020 for the fourth year in a row, Chicago was named the top U.S. city tourism destination. Domestic and industrial waste was once incinerated but it is now landfilled, mainly in the Calumet area. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in South Side Chicago. The U.S. Anarchist and socialist groups played prominent roles in creating very large and highly organized labor actions. The magazine discovered such poets as Gwendolyn Brooks, James Merrill, and John Ashbery. [citation needed], Chicago also has a high concentration of post-baccalaureate institutions, graduate schools, seminaries, and theological schools, such as the Adler School of Professional Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, the Erikson Institute, The Institute for Clinical Social Work, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, the Catholic Theological Union, the Moody Bible Institute, the John Marshall Law School and the University of Chicago Divinity School. [105] The Illinois Department of Tourism defines Chicagoland as Cook County without the city of Chicago, and only Lake, DuPage, Kane, and Will counties. In the summer of 2016, Navy Pier constructed a DW60 Ferris wheel. [119] Today, Chicago's skyline is among the world's tallest and densest. [143] The lowest official temperature of 27F (33C) was recorded on January 20, 1985, at O'Hare Airport. Chicago is a major world financial center, with the second-largest central business district in the United States. [67] This system for telling time spread throughout the continent. and Chicago Med. In 1990, Chicago's South Side and the adjoining south suburbs constituted the largest black majority region in the entire United States. [130] A number of Chicago's public art works are by modern figurative artists. The city is the site of an influential hip-hop scene, and it has launched new music and dance styles such as Chicago juke and footwork. The Chicago Tribune, which coined the term, includes the city of Chicago, the rest of Cook County, and eight nearby Illinois counties: Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Grundy, Will and Kankakee, and three counties in Indiana: Lake, Porter and LaPorte. The Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine is in Downers Grove. There is a substantial Cuban population in Chicago. Over a third of the city population is concentrated in the lakefront neighborhoods from Rogers Park in the north to South Shore in the south. The racial makeup of the city in 2010 was 45.3% white and within that 45.3%, 12.9% identify as having Hispanic ancestry (31.7% non-Hispanic white), 32% black, 5% Asian, and 3% from two or more races. The beauty of Chicago lies not only in its magnificent architecture, but also in the city's vast preserved green and open spaces. [311], Chicago high school rankings are determined by the average test scores on state achievement tests. All other percentages (such as state-level data or data on specific demographic groups) are rounded to the nearest integer (e.g., 23%). The term "The Loop" is largely used by locals to refer to the entire downtown area as well. An award-winning $108 million, 1.25-mile promenade along the south bank of the Chicago River downtown. [citation needed], More representational and portrait statuary includes a number of works by Lorado Taft (Fountain of Time, The Crusader, Eternal Silence, and the Heald Square Monument completed by Crunelle), French's Statue of the Republic, Edward Kemys's Lions, Saint-Gaudens's Abraham Lincoln: The Man (a.k.a. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) performs at Symphony Center, and is recognized as one of the best orchestras in the world. In the next few years Irish numbers grew rapidly, particularly after the arrival of refugees from the Great Famine. Polish people have been prevalent from the city's early history, but the largest waves of immigration were in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; they have been influential in the economic and social development of Chicago. The Blackhawks have won six Stanley Cups, including in 2010, 2013, and 2015. Jackson Park offers more than 500 acres of mature parkland along the lakefront, containing flower gardens, watercourses to wooded isles, sports facilities, stocked fish ponds, 18 miles of walking and biking pathsand it's the future site of the Barack Obama Presidential Center. In 1803, the U.S. Army constructed Fort Dearborn, which was destroyed during the War of 1812 in the Battle of Fort Dearborn by the Potawatomi before being later rebuilt. Lake Shore Drive runs adjacent to a large portion of Chicago's waterfront. In addition, Chicago is the home of satirical national news outlet, The Onion, as well as its sister pop-culture publication, The A.V. It also contains the University of Chicago, ranked one of the world's top ten universities,[218] and the Museum of Science and Industry. [citation needed], Lincoln Park contains the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Lincoln Park Conservatory. The city is the birthplace of house music (a popular form of electronic dance music) and industrial music, and is the site of an influential hip hop scene. [111], In the late-1920s, sociologists at the University of Chicago subdivided the city into 77 distinct community areas, which can further be subdivided into over 200 informally defined neighborhoods. On June 15, 1835, the first public land sales began with Edmund Dick Taylor as Receiver of Public Monies. It reversed the flow of the Chicago River so that the water flowed away from Lake Michigan rather than into it. The tunnels filled with 250million US gallons (1,000,000m3) of water, affecting buildings throughout the district and forcing a shutdown of electrical power. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. The City of Chicago was incorporated on Saturday, March 4, 1837,[35] and for several decades was the world's fastest-growing city. Were also the home of renowned artists including Louis Armstrong, Jennifer Hudson, Earth, Wind and Fire, Chance the Rapper, Common Smashing Pumpkins, Rise Against,Muddy Waters, and Kanye West. Large swaths of the city's residential areas away from the lake are characterized by brick bungalows built from the early 20th century through the end of World War II. The Irish are still very active in the city's politics. [140][143] Most of the city's rainfall is brought by thunderstorms, averaging 38 a year. By the time of the official census count in 1990, it was overtaken by Los Angeles as the United States' second largest city. [75] Chicago was the location of the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929, when Al Capone sent men to gun down members of a rival gang, North Side, led by Bugs Moran. ", "Ken Griffin and J.B. Pritzker's secret meeting: The origin of a political feud", "Chicago's snack bar wars: May the cleanest label win", "Chicago City Council raises minimum wage to $15 by 2021, but restaurant servers still will get lower tipped wage", "Opaa! ), Independent Baptist (Historically Black Protestant Trad. [215], Downtown is the center of Chicago's financial, cultural, governmental and commercial institutions and the site of Grant Park and many of the city's skyscrapers. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. [citation needed], The city has two Major League Baseball (MLB) teams: the Chicago Cubs of the National League play in Wrigley Field on the North Side; and the Chicago White Sox of the American League play in Guaranteed Rate Field on the South Side. [338], In May 2019, The City of Chicago announced its Chicago's Electric Shared Scooter Pilot Program, scheduled to run from June 15 to October 15. Chicago is home to NetherRealm Studios, the developers of the Mortal Kombat series. It is home to a population of around 5.54 million individuals. Chicago is the birthplace of gospel, electric blues, house, juke, footwork, and drill. The first known reference to the site of the current city of Chicago as "Checagou" was by Robert deLaSalle around 1679 in a memoir. At least three short periods in the history of Chicago have had a lasting influence on American literature. [290], The number of murders in Chicago peaked at 970 in 1974, when the city's population was over 3million people (a murder rate of about 29 per 100,000), and it reached 943 murders in 1992, (a murder rate of 34 per 100,000). [11] Chicago made noted contributions to urban planning and zoning standards, including new construction styles (such as Chicago School architecture, the development of the City Beautiful Movement, and the steel-framed skyscraper). Below the poverty line were 19.6% of the population and 16.6% of the families. 40,000 of them came as refugees during the 1990s and early 2000s.[18]. Chicago has one of the largest LGBTQ+ populations in the United States. A flourishing independent rock music culture brought forth Chicago indie. Concern for social problems among Chicago's immigrant poor led Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr to found Hull House in 1889. After playing its first eight seasons at Soldier Field, the team moved to suburban Bridgeview to play at SeatGeek Stadium. [36], As the site of the Chicago Portage,[37] the city became an important transportation hub between the eastern and western United States. Home to more than 200 professional dance companies including the Joffrey Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Chicago delivers a packed calendar of performances on downtown stages and in neighborhood venues and parks. The University of Illinois College of Medicine at UIC is the second largest medical school in the United States (2,600 students including those at campuses in Peoria, Rockford and UrbanaChampaign).[360]. Protestant bodies account for most congregations and adherents. Two of the city's largest parks are also located on this side of the city: Jackson Park, bordering the waterfront, hosted the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, and is the site of the aforementioned museum; and slightly west sits Washington Park.