Physical Chicago (Ch. 2)

Chicago is located in the Interior Lowlands on Lake Michigan, the Chicago River and the Calumet River. It's relation to these bodies of water is what has allowed Chicago to be such a prosperous city. The structure of the city and the way it has been built is directly tied to the rivers and the Lake, as access to these for the shipping of manufactured goods is imperative. One of the main attractions, the Navy Pier is built on waterfront of Lake Michigan.

The climate is controlled by and linked to Lake Michigan. The breeze that comes off of the lake makes its way through the city's tall buildings that often create wind tunnels. This is what gives Chicago it's nickname the "Windy City". Despite this wind, Chicago has distinct seasons. The warm, humid summers often come with long periods of hot dry spells. These months usually see temperatures in the low to mid 80s. The cold, below freezing winter months experience heavy winds and snow with temperatures in the 30s. The summer and fall months are much milder than these two seasons. The average temperature of Chicago over the year is in the high 50s, with average precipitation at about 35 inches.

While the vegetation might have been short-grass prairie at one time, now is not very apparent. Though within the city there are many parks that have been maintained by the city, the main section is really a concrete jungle. There are few to little trees. the vegetation is instead replaced by metal workings and concrete buildings. Chicago tries to maintain one of the motto's that helped to structure it's being, translated from Latin, the motto is "City in a Garden".

The city does its best to keep the 552 parks looking their best. These patches of grass and trees serve as momentary retreats for the hardworking financial brokers. Lincoln Park is the largest park in Chicago. This park is only second in visitors to New York's Central Park. The park is one of the most extensive of its kind. Through history, Chicago has done its best to have concerts, movie nights, and other events in its parks as a way to bring the community together and build a sense of peace within a very busy and driven city.

Welcome to Chicago (Ch. 1)

Welcome to Chicago everyone!!! We are about to embark upon a 15 week journey around this city to experience the sites, sounds, history, and everything else this city has to offer.

Chicago is located in Illinois, the Midwest Region of the United States. More specifically it is part of the Manufacturing Core, which is know for it's industrialization. The city has a rich history due to its location, the railroad and it's connection with the World's Fair.

Chicago was the first city in 1885 to have a building with steel frame, which allowed its builders to create the first high rise building that would later usher in skyscrapers across the nation, as well as within the city's core.

The city itself, has been said to have one of the most stable economies in the United States, which is credited to its high level of diversity. It has also been named in the top 20 of the world's richest cities. The unique thing about Chicago is that it has a financial influence, as well as a steady manufacturing center. With its prime location on Lake Michigan, Chicago is able to have a worldly influence because of its' access to the waterways and ports in which news and goods are traded.

Chicago, also known as the "Windy City", may not have natural resources that other cities across the United States have, however, the city attracts tens of thousands of tourist per year. It is one of the most visited cities for conventions, it's architecture, it's Magnificent Mile shopping district, as well as it's extensive number of museums. Chicago also has a rich theater district, that is home to many theater troupes, symphonies, ballets, and jazz, soul, and blues music. It also has plenty of history within the sports community. Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs, the Bulls, and the NHL Blackhawks all have added their name in some form to the books of sports history, and hope to do so further in the city's bid to host the 2016 Olympic games.