The History of Chicago
Chicago derives its name from the Native American word for wild garlic or onions, which were once plentiful in the area. The earliest reference to "Checagou" comes from a memoir written by LaSalle about 1679. The area was populated by the Potawatomi tribe, which had supplanted the Sauk and Fox and Miami by the middle of the eighteenth century.
The United States built Fort Dearborn in 1803 at the site of present day Chicago on land that had been ceded by Native Americans. The fort was destroyed during the War of 1812. Additional land was yielded by the Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Ottawa peoples. After forcibly removing the Potawatomi, Chicago was officially founded in 1833. At the time of its organization, Chicago had a population of approximately two hundred. The town was incorporated in 1837, and by 1840, the population had swelled to about four thousand.
The city's location played an integral part in its expansion. The town is located on Lake Michigan's southwestern edge. The Chicago River, which flows through downtown, and the Calumet River on the south, provided additional options for shipping and transportation. The Chicago Ship Canal was built to connect the Des Plaines River to the west with the Chicago River. The Illinois and Michigan Canal, opened in 1838, allowed ships to navigate from the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes.
Chicago became an important junction between the western and eastern parts of the United States. Retailers and manufacturers were attracted to the area due in part to the relative ease with which people and goods could move into and out of the city. With the invention of the refrigerated railroad car, Chicago became a leader in the meatpacking industry.
In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed about one-third of the town, including all of the central business district. Rising from the ashes, the town was not only rebuilt quickly but continued to grow. The first steel supported skyscraper was built there in 1885. Numerous large public parks were landscaped, and by 1893, the city was the site of the World's Columbian Exposition.
The building boom following the fire was one of the largest in the history of the United States. Architectural leaders were drawn to the area for both the rebuilding of the city and the construction for the Exposition. Frank Lloyd Wright made his home in a Chicago suburb, Oak Park. With the variety of styles, including the Prairie School and Chicago School, Chicago architecture became a heterogeneous mix of the most prominent types of building in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
Prohibition brought notoriety to the city with influx of gangsters such as Al Capone. It is estimated that there were more than one thousand gangs operating in Chicago during the 1920s. These gangs struggled with each other and with the police, normally in violent manners, until the end of Prohibition eliminated many gang's reason for existing.
The 1920s also brought a major increase in manufacturing. The possibility of jobs during the Great Depression brought many workers from the south. This included nearly 200,000 African-Americans, who helped Chicago a major center for jazz.
In 1892, the University of Chicago held its first classes. The university has a reputation for research and scholarship, with numerous Nobel laureates and Rhodes Scholars among its students and teachers. Enrico Fermi conducted much of his research for the Manhattan Project here during the early years of World War II.
When the city was first incorporated, "Urbs in Horto" was chosen for its motto. This translates as "A City within a Garden." The parks system has grown to encompass more than 7,300 acres featuring over 550 public parks. The largest, Lincoln Park, receives more than twenty million visitors annually, with only New York's Central Park surpassing this number.
Chicago became a leading financial center during the nineteenth century, a status that it still enjoys. Only the midtown Manhattan area of New York City boasts a larger commercial business district than Chicago. Major corporations, such as Chase Bank and Aon, are headquartered in the district. Numerous countries also have consulates located in the Loop, including Australia, Canada, France, and Israel. The district is home to several outdoor sculptures, featuring works by Joan Miro, Marc Chagall, and Pablo Picasso.
Cultural activities were introduced early in Chicago's history. Today, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony, and the Chicago Theatre are famous for their quality works. It was also the home for the Second City theater troupe, where many Saturday Night Live players received their start.
Chicago is also the home to some of the most famous sports teams in the country. The Chicago White Sox of the American League and the Chicago Cubs of the National League represent baseball, while the Chicago Bears represent the National Football League. Basketball's Chicago Bulls are among the most famous teams ever, along with the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League.
Although long associated with a devastating fire, jazz, and Chicago-style pizza, the city has become so diversified that it is no longer famous for any single event. This diversity has led to Chicago's rating as the American city with the most balanced economic standing. It is a film-friendly town, with such blockbusters as "Home Alone," "The Fugitive," "The Blues Brothers" and two Batman movies filmed in the area. The Chicago Marathon, held annually since 1977, is considered as one of the five World Marathon Majors. Chicago's cultural activities, numerous museums, financial strength, and ability to "re-invent" itself mean that the city will likely continue to grow.