2002. The historic Chicago Cultural Center (1897), originally serving as the Chicago Public Library, now houses the city's Visitor Information Center, galleries and exhibit halls. [186] The city has also been rated as having the most balanced economy in the United States, due to its high level of diversification. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax [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. Chicago is a city music of festivals, celebrating every music genre. The proximity to Lake Michigan tends to keep the Chicago lakefront somewhat cooler in summer and less brutally cold in winter than inland parts of the city and suburbs away from the lake. [25], The city has had several nicknames throughout its history, such as the Windy City, Chi-Town, Second City, and City of the Big Shoulders. Chicagos 250-plus theatre companies take the stage at more than 200 theatres to perform work as varied and diverse as their audiences. 23,915. For questions about participation in the 2020 U.S. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. 2,716,450 residents 50 wards 77 community areas 100 neighborhoods 8 major league sports teams, including two MLB teams United States President Barack Obama Chicago is a celebrated melting pot. Nearly one-in-ten New Yorkers (8%) are Jewish, 3% are Muslim and another 3% are Hindu. Pixabay . At the turn of the 20th century, Chicago was the third-largest Czech city in the world, after Prague and Vienna. [356], The Illinois Medical District is on the Near West Side. Clear 2 Table. It grew rapidly in the mid-19th century;[8] by 1860, Chicago was the youngest U.S. city to exceed a population of 100,000. [140][143] Most of the city's rainfall is brought by thunderstorms, averaging 38 a year. The Bears have won more games in the history of the NFL than any other team,[257] and only the Green Bay Packers, their longtime rivals, have won more championships. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries. During the 1950s the Chinese population grew from 3,000 to 6,000. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. [16] The Bosnians were the first Muslims in the United States to incorporate an Islamic Association in 1906 in Chicago, Illinois. The two parks themselves are connected by a wide strip of parkland called the Midway Plaisance, running adjacent to the University of Chicago. ), Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, Other Congregationalist (Evangelical Trad. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. He is commonly known as the "Founder of Chicago". frequency of feelings of spiritual wellbeing by metro area, Learn More: frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing, At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Seldom/never, % of adults in the Chicago metro area who feel a sense of wonder about the universe, Compare: [21][22] Chicago's culture includes the visual arts, literature, film, theater, comedy (especially improvisational comedy), food, dance (including modern dance and jazz troupes and the Joffrey Ballet), and music (particularly jazz, blues, soul, hip-hop, gospel,[23] and electronic dance music, including house music). Of the total population, 28.1% of those under the age of 18 and 15.5% of those 75 and older were living below the poverty line. Other notable shows include CBS's The Good Wife and Mike and Molly. From 1928 to 1933, the city witnessed a tax revolt, and the city was unable to meet payroll or provide relief efforts. frequency of prayer by metro area, Learn More: frequency of prayer, At least daily, Weekly, Seldom/never, % of adults in the Chicago metro area who attend prayer group, Compare: [16] Moreover, the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, which helped move goods from the Great Lakes south on the Mississippi River, and of the railroads in the 19th century made the city a major transportation center in the United States. The central area includes the Near North Side, the Near South Side, and the Near West Side, as well as the Loop. Below the poverty line were 19.6% of the population and 16.6% of the families. The mayor appoints commissioners and other officials who oversee the various departments. Since 1968, the Joseph Jefferson Awards are given annually to acknowledge excellence in theater in the Chicago area. [253], Sporting News named Chicago the "Best Sports City" in the United States in 1993, 2006, and 2010. In 2015, 26.5 percent of Chicago households were without a car, and increased slightly to 27.5 percent in 2016. A scattering of diagonal streets, many of them originally Native American trails, also cross the city (Elston, Milwaukee, Ogden, Lincoln, etc.). Future services will terminate at Rockford and Moline. Diocesan Priests (including active and retired): 683, Deacons: 652(includes active, active outside the diocese, seniors, and retired), Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW), Immigrant Affairs and Immigration Education, Catholic population as percentage of total population of Cook and Lake counties: 35%, Weekend Masses Scheduled in Parishes and Missions: 1,194, Elementary schools (archdiocese-run):152, Elementary schools (non-archdiocese-run): 8, Secondary schools (non-archdiocese-run): 27, Enrollment in elementary school programs: 39,000, Enrollment in secondary school programs: 3,600, St. John Vianney College Seminary, St. Paul, MN, 5 Catholic colleges and universities serving 45,000 students. From the grand historic downtown theatres to those tucked away in a neighborhood storefront or church basement, audiences will find theatre of the highest quality throughout the city. When founded in 1833, fewer than 200 people had settled on what was then the American frontier. The central element of the Port District, Calumet Harbor, is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 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[361] In addition, the Chicago Sister Cities program hosts a number of delegation and formal exchanges. [141], According to the National Weather Service, Chicago's highest official temperature reading of 105F (41C) was recorded on July 24, 1934. An attempt was made in the early 20th century to link Chicago with New York City via the Chicago New York Electric Air Line Railroad. 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. In February 1856, Chicago's Common Council approved Chesbrough's plan to build the United States' first comprehensive sewerage system. [197] For six consecutive years since 2013, Chicago was ranked the nation's top metropolitan area for corporate relocations. [300] In 2013, the city's murder rate was only slightly higher than the national average as a whole. While the Chicago Loop is the central business district, Chicago is also a city of neighborhoods. Civil and criminal law cases are heard in the Cook County Circuit Court of the State of Illinois court system, or in the Northern District of Illinois, in the federal system. [190] In 2009 Chicago placed ninth on the UBS list of the world's richest cities. Religious groups represented include Muslims and Bah'. Today, the Chicago Park District consists of more than 570 parks with over 8,000 acres (3,200ha) of municipal parkland. By 1850 Irish immigrants accounted for about one-fifth of the city's population. [118], The destruction caused by the Great Chicago Fire led to the largest building boom in the history of the nation. A third or more of people in each of those metropolitan areas (37% in Seattle, 35% in San Francisco and 33% in Boston) are religious nones.. [242] The tradition of serving the Greek dish saganaki while aflame has its origins in Chicago's Greek community. Lincoln was nominated in Chicago for US president at the 1860 Republican National Convention, which was held in a purpose-built auditorium called, the Wigwam. [320] His legacy continues with the multiple community colleges in the Chicago proper, including the seven City Colleges of Chicago: Richard J. Daley College, KennedyKing College, Malcolm X College, OliveHarvey College, Truman College, Harold Washington College and Wilbur Wright College, in addition to the privately held MacCormac College. [32][33][34], On August 12, 1833, the Town of Chicago was organized with a population of about 200. [299] Chicago ended 2013 with 415 murders, the lowest number of murders since 1965, and overall crime rates dropped by 16 percent. The DW60 stands at approximately 196ft (60m), which is 46 feet (14m) taller than the previous wheel. [citation needed], Chicago contains less than 25% of the state's population, but it is split between eight of Illinois' 19 districts in the United States House of Representatives. View maps for any participating religious group. [249] Much notable Chicago fiction focuses on the city itself, with social criticism keeping exultation in check. [276] The council takes official action through the passage of ordinances and resolutions and approves the city budget.[277]. The top tourist destination in Chicago and the Midwest in 2017, Millennium Park offers 25 acres of exuberant architecture, serene gardens, grand pavilions, and dazzling fountains that sculpt light and water, walking paths. Manufacturing and retail and finance sectors became dominant, influencing the American economy. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax Police and political pressure caused the organization to disband. Other museums and galleries in Chicago include the Chicago History Museum, the Driehaus Museum, the DuSable Museum of African American History, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the Polish Museum of America, the Museum of Broadcast Communications, the Pritzker Military Library, the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and the Museum of Science and Industry. By the close of the 19th century, Chicago was the fifth largest city in the world. [126] Multiple kinds and scales of houses, townhouses, condominiums, and apartment buildings can be found throughout Chicago. [282] Chicago had a murder rate of 18.5 per 100,000 residents in 2012, ranking 16th among US cities with 100,000 people or more. Some Irish already lived in Chicago when it was incorporated as a city in 1837. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.50. Late in the 19th century, Chicago was part of the bicycle craze, with the Western Wheel Company, which introduced stamping to the production process and significantly reduced costs,[207] while early in the 20th century, the city was part of the automobile revolution, hosting the Brass Era car builder Bugmobile, which was founded there in 1907. Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World, Size & Demographic Characteristics of Religious Groups, all 50 states and the 17 largest metropolitan areas, Q&A: The Muslim-Christian education gap in sub-Saharan Africa, Muslims in sub-Saharan Africa are twice as likely as Christians to have no formal education, How Religious Groups Differ in Educational Attainment, 60% of Americans Would Be Uncomfortable With Provider Relying on AI in Their Own Health Care, Gender pay gap in U.S. hasnt changed much in two decades. [131], There are preliminary plans to erect a 1:1scale replica of Wacaw Szymanowski's Art Nouveau statue of Frdric Chopin found in Warsaw's Royal Baths along Chicago's lakefront in addition to a different sculpture commemorating the artist in Chopin Park for the 200th anniversary of Frdric Chopin's birth. [citation needed] The Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago was founded by Lithuanian Chicagoans in 1956,[221] and presents operas in Lithuanian. Kortmann, Bernd, Kate Burridge, Rajend Mesthrie, Edgar W. Schneider and Clive Upton (eds). And Atlanta, the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. is home to an especially large share of members of the historically black Protestant tradition (18%). [187] In 2007, Chicago was named the fourth-most important business center in the world in the MasterCard Worldwide Centers of Commerce Index. [188] Additionally, the Chicago metropolitan area recorded the greatest number of new or expanded corporate facilities in the United States for calendar year 2014. Richard M. Daley, son of Richard J. Daley, was elected in 1989. The beauty of Chicago lies not only in its magnificent architecture, but also in the city's vast preserved green and open spaces. [11][citation needed]. Greyhound Lines provides inter-city bus service to and from the city, and Chicago is also the hub for the Midwest network of Megabus (North America). A 2017 study by Walk Score ranked Chicago the sixth-most walkable of fifty largest cities in the United States. These schools offer a rigorous curriculum with mainly honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. [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. The Chicago metropolitan area has the third largest African American population, behind only New York City and Atlanta. Within sixty years of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the population went from about 300,000 to over 3million,[157] and reached its highest ever recorded population of 3.6million for the 1950 census. For questions about participation in the 2020 U.S. This dialect can also be found in other cities bordering the Great Lakes such as Cleveland, Milwaukee, Detroit, and Rochester, New York, and most prominently features a rearrangement of certain vowel sounds, such as the short 'a' sound as in "cat", which can sound more like "kyet" to outsiders. 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. Chicago has several other contemporary and jazz dance troupes, such as the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Chicago Dance Crash. [177], Non-Christian faiths accounted for 7% of the religious population in 2014.