Chicago
Chicago is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 census, it is the third-most populous city in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles. As the seat of Cook County, the second-most populous county in the U.S., Chicago is the center of the Chicago metropolitan area, often colloquially called "Chicagoland" and home to 9.6 million residents.
Some of the key events about Chicago
- 1833The Town of Chicago was incorporated with a population of 350 people
- 1848The Illinois and Michigan Canal opened, connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River system
- 1871The Great Chicago Fire led to innovative urban planning and architectural advancements
- 1871The Great Chicago Fire destroyed much of the city, leaving 100,000 residents homeless.
- 1893The World's Columbian Exposition showcased Chicago's recovery and introduced several technological innovations
- 1900The city completed the engineering feat of reversing the flow of the Chicago River for sanitation purposes
- 1903The Iroquois Theater Fire killed over 600 people, becoming the deadliest single-building fire in U.S. history.
- 1915The SS Eastland disaster occurred when a passenger ship capsized in the Chicago River, killing 844 people.
- 1919The Chicago Race Riot resulted in 38 deaths and over 500 injuries, highlighting racial tensions in the city.
- 1929The St. Valentine's Day Massacre saw seven men brutally murdered, epitomizing Chicago's gang violence during Prohibition.
- 1942The world's first controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction was achieved at the University of Chicago
- 1955The first McDonald's franchise restaurant opened in Des Plaines, a suburb of Chicago
- 1966The Summerdale police scandal exposed widespread corruption within the Chicago Police Department.
- 1968Violent clashes erupted between police and protesters during the Democratic National Convention.
- 1974The Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) was completed, becoming the world's tallest building at the time
- 1974A major fire at the Gately's People's Store killed 29 people and injured many others.
- 1979American Airlines Flight 191 crashed shortly after takeoff from O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 people on board.
- 1995Chicago experienced an extreme heat wave that led to improved emergency response systems
- 1995A severe heat wave resulted in over 700 heat-related deaths in the city.
- 2004Millennium Park opened, featuring iconic public art and architecture
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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