We Can Build It, Yes We Can (Ch 5)

Chicago has had its hand in the manufacturing and industry world since its beginnings. With its location on the water, many products came in contact with its port, as it was a major transportation head of its time and our time.

Over the decades,Chicago has been known for it's stockyards, meat-packing factories, access to agriculture, furniture, clothing, and steel. With the publishing of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle", attention was brought to the stockyards and meat-packing industries. This attention however was not the kind that Chicago would have liked. Since then, many of the stockyards have closed due to advances in technology.

Currently, Chicago is home to the Museum of Science and Industry. The museum houses a replica coal mine, a robot operated toy factory, and model trains, just to name a few exhibits.

Transportation is abundant in Chicago. There are many ways to travel, from the train systems, to the convenient taxi systems to the water boats to walking. The above and grounded trains are fast ways to get to and from the inner city, as well as to move about the city itself. The above ground train was featured in the movie Spiderman 2, during the fight between Doc Ock and Spiderman. Chicago is also featured in The Dark Knight film.

In addition, the O'Hare International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports. The airport handles, on average, 2,500 flights a day. It's ability to act as a national and international hub makes it one of, if not the, busiest airports. Chicago is also home to a smaller airport that handles 15 to 20 airlines. Midway airport, though smaller, is closer to downtown.

Intermingle! Natives and Tourists Alike (Ch. 4)

Though Chicago is not technically apart of the Megalopolis, it shares some characteristics of such cities. In the main heart of Chicago, many industrial buildings and financial buildings are located in close proximity to wholesalers, museums, and government buildings. These complexes are all connected through the streets on which taxis, cars, buses, and horse drawn carriages travel, along with the above and grounded trains, and on the water with water taxis and similar boats.

One of the most famous roadways that is tied to Chicago is Route 66. The historic route connects Chicago with cities across the Midwest all the way to California. This route connects Chicago to one of the most important ports on the West Coast. The relativity flat surface of Chicago helps distinguish itself from other cities throughout the region. Another similar aspect Chicago has in common with New York is its location. Unlike some of the other Megalopolis cities, Chicago does not have to contend with a fall line. Like New York, Chicago is located right on a large body of water that acts as transportation and a stop on the way to other ports across the country and the world. Though it is not directly on the Atlantic Ocean, the ships that make port in Chicago can make it the other ports, other cities of the Megalopolis, and other countries. An advantage it has is its close proximity to the interior and the ocean. The access that it has to both aspects of the country, through railroads, ships, and trucks gives Chicago an advantage that other cities may not have.

These advantages allow the citizens of Chicago to be able to mix and mingle in many different atmospheres. The train stations, the efficient public transportations, and along the street, there is a constant ability to interact with others if one so choose. The city offers many places for tourists and natives to interact. Millennium park, Michigan Avenue, and Shedd Aquarium are just a few examples where tourist and natives are likely to mingle.

These amusements are uniquely clustered along the waterfront. Similarly, the Financial district, the Grand Central Station (which serves as a public transportation hub), and the residential districts are all clustered. The separation of these distinct areas also set Chicago apart from most cities across the United States.

Settlement (Ch 3)

Chicago circa 1863

The first settlers to the area were Native Americans from the Potawatomi tribe in the mid-1700s. Jean Baptiste Point du Sable is considered the "first" settler by many. He came to Chicago, married a Potawatomi woman and establish a trading post on the mouth of the Chicago River. In 1802, Fort Dearborn was established on the mouth of the river, but was later destroyed in the 1812 Fort Dearborn Massacre. 1833, the area officially became a town and four years later, had more than 4,000 residents.

Currently the population of Chicago is about 2,800,000 (as of 2007). (the Chicago Metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of 9.5 million people) The estimated number of households under the poverty line is 16.6% and 19.6% of the population is below the poverty line. The 2007 U.S. Census estimates the population of Chicago breaks down as follows:

38.9% White
35.6% Black or African American
28.1% Latino/Hispanic
5.3% Asian
0.5% American Indian/Alaskan Native
0.1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
21.3% Other

Chicago is very diverse. Though the breakdown does show the immense diversity, it is also good to note that there are many other ethnicities. Those of Irish, German, Mexican, English, Polish, Serbian,, and South Asian Americans (the 3rd largest population in the United States) also make up the population of Chicago.

It is also interesting to note that Chicago has a rich gay and lesbian community. The north section of the city has been noted to be home to this thriving community. One particular enclave is known as "Boystown", which was the first acknowledged community of its kind in the United States.

As a result of the many ethnicities and cultures that enrich Chicago, there are many religions that are practiced, from the many Christian denominations to Judaism to Islam to Hinduism and beyond.

Al Capone, one such Italian-American made Chicago his home. He, along with other gang members dominated the streets during the Prohibition Era. He became notorious and in relation, made Chicago Famous for events such as the Saint Valentine Massacre.