Chicago, Illinois

For other uses of the term, see Chicago (disambiguation)

]] Chicago is the third largest city in the United States with a population of 2,886,251 (2002). It is located in the state of Illinois, on the shores of Lake Michigan. The city is the county seat of Cook County. The Chicago metropolitan area is known colloquially as Chicagoland, after a term promoted by the Chicago Tribune in the early 20th century. The name Chicago comes from "Checagou" (Chick-Ah-Goo-Ah) or "Checaguar" which in the language of the Potawatomi Indians means 'wild onions' or 'skunk'. The area was so named because of the smell of rotting marshland onions that used to cover it.

Four ships called the USS Chicago were named after the city by the U.S. Navy.

Chicago, Illinois

City flag City seal
City nickname: "The Windy City"
Location in the state of Illinois
County	Cook County, Illinois
Area  - Total  - Water	606.1 km^2 (234.0 mi²) 17.8 km² (6.9 mi²) 2.94%
Population  - Total (2000)  - Density	2,896,016 4,923.0/km^2
Time zone	Central: UTC-6
Latitude Longitude	41°54' N 87°39' W
External link: City web page

Table of contents

1 History 1.1 See Also 1.2 Important Historical Events 1.3 Nicknames 2 Geography 2.4 Urban Setting 2.5 Community areas 2.6 Neighborhoods 2.7 Major Parks 2.8 See also 3 Demographics 4 Law & Government 4.9 City departments 4.10 Municipal flag of Chicago 4.11 Sister Cities 5 Communications & media 5.12 Broadcast television stations 5.13 Radio stations 5.14 Newspapers 5.14.1 Present 5.14.2 Past 5.14.3 Community newspapers 5.15 Business, legal, entertainment and other local periodicals 6 Arts & culture 6.16 Musicians & bands from Chicago 6.17 Novels set in Chicago 6.18 Musicals and plays set in Chicago 6.19 Movies & TV shows set in Chicago 6.20 Important Citizens or people born here 7 Famous attractions, landmarks & areas of interest 8 Colleges & universities 9 Business & commerce 9.21 Companies based in Chicago & surrounding suburbs 10 Sports teams 11 Events 12 Health 12.22 Hospitals 13 Transportation 13.23 Airports 13.24 Mass transit 13.25 Street layout 13.26 Driving Distances 13.27 See also 14 External links

History

Chicago was first settled by Europeans when Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, an African American from Haiti, settled on the Chicago River. In 1795, the area of Chicago was ceded by the Native Americans in the Treaty of Greenville to the United States for a military post. In 1803, Fort_Dearborn was built and remained in use until 1837 except between 1812 and 1816 when it was destroyed in the Fort Dearborn Massacre dring the War of 1812.

On August 12, 1833, the Town of Chicago was incorporated as a town with a population of 350. Within 7 years of being incorporated, the primarily French and Native American town had a population of over 4,000. Chicago was granted a city charter by Illinois on March 4, 1837. The opening of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1848, allowed shipping from the Great Lakes through Chicago to the Mississippi River and so to the Gulf of Mexico. The first rail line to Chicago, the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad; was completed the same year. Chicago would go on to become the transportation hub of the United States with it road, rail, water and later air connections. Chicago also became home to nationwide retailers offering catalog shopping utilizing these connections like Montgomery Ward and Sears, Roebuck and Company.

Because of the geography of Chicago early citizens faced many problems. The prairie bog nature of the area provided a fertile ground for disease carrying insects. The growth of early Chicago and its commerce was stymied by lack of transportation. In the spring Chicago was so muddy from the high water that horses would often be stuck waist deep in the street. One dirt road was so hazardous that it became known as the "Slough of Despond." Comical signs proclaiming "Fastest route to China" or "No Bottom Here" were placed out to warn passersby of the deep mud.

To address these transportation problems, the board of Cook County commissioners, at its second meeting, after being created by the Illinois legislature on January 15, 1831, decided to improve two country roads toward the west and southwest. The first road went west, crossing the "dismal Nine-mile Swamp," crossed the Des Plaines River, and went southwest to Walker's Grove, which is today known as Plainfield. There is a dispute about the route of the second road to the south.

Early Chicago was also plagued by sewer and water problems. Many people described it as the filthiest city in America. To solve this problem Chicago embarked on the creation of a massive sewer system. In the first phase sewage pipes were laid across the city above ground with gravity moving the waste. Then in 1855 the level of the city was raised 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 m), with individual buildings jacked up and fill brought in to raise streets above the swamp and the newly laid sewer pipes.

Next the city decided to work on their water problem. Because Lake Michigan was the source of water for the city and it was already highly polluted from the rapidly growing industries in and around Chicago a new way of procuring clean water was needed. The city embarked on a large tunnel excavation project and started building tunnels underneath Lake Michigan to newly built Water Cribs. The water cribs were 2 miles (3.2 km) off the shore of Lake Michigan but they still didn't bring enough clean water because spring rains would wash the polluted water from the Chicago River into them. To solve this problem the direction of flow of the Chicago River was reversed in 1871 by the Army Corps of Engineers to prevent sewage from running into Lake Michigan.

By 1857 Chicago was the largest city in then what was known as the Northwest. In a period of 20 years Chicago grew from 4,000 people to over 90,000.

The 1860 Republican National Convention in Chicago nominated home state candidate Abraham Lincoln. In 1871, most of the city burned in the Great Chicago Fire. By this time the city had grown to a population of over 300,000. As a result of the fire much of the city needed be rebuilt, this gave city planners a clean slate to fix the problems of the past. In the following years, Chicago architecture would become influential throughout the world because of this. The first skyscraper in the world was constructed in 1885 using novel steel skeleton construction.

On December 2, 1942, the world's first controlled nuclear reaction was conducted at the University of Chicago as part of the top secret Manhattan Project.

Mayor Richard J. Daley was elected in 1955, in the era of so-called machine politics. During Daley's tenure (he died in office in 1976), the 1968 Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago, four major expressways were built, the Sears Tower became the world's tallest building and O'Hare Airport, which later became the world's busiest airport, was constructed. In 1983, Harold Washington became the first African American mayor of Chicago. Richard M. Daley, son of Richard J. Daley, became mayor in 1989.

See Also

• A List of the Mayors of Chicago.

Important Historical Events

• 1673: French-Canadian explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, on their way to Québec, pass through the area that will become Chicago.
• 1682: French explorer René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, passes through Chicago en route to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
• 1683: French Jesuits establish Fort de Chicago, the area's first true European settlement.
• 1696: Jesuit missionary Francois Pinet founds the Mission of the Guardian Angel. It is abandoned four years later.
• 1705: Conflicts develop between French traders and the Fox tribe of native Americans. Fort de Chicago is abandoned.
• 1779: Haitian immigrant Jean Baptiste Point du Sable establishes Chicago's first permanent settlement near the mouth of the Chicago River.
• 1795: Six square miles of land at the mouth of the Chicago River are reserved by the Treaty of Greenville for use by the United States.
• 1796: The Potawatomi Indian wife of du Sable delivers Eulalia Pointe du Sable, Chicago's first recorded birth.
• 1803: The U.S. Army constructs Ft. Dearborn near the mouth of the Chicago River.
• 1812: August 15, the Fort Dearborn Massacre.
• 1816: Ft. Dearborn is rebuilt.
• 1818: Illinois joins the union.
• 1855: Lager Beer Riot.
• 1860: September 8, the Lady Elgin Disaster.
• 1863: Mercy Hospital becomes the first hospital in Illinois.
• 1868: Rand McNally is formed as a railway guide company.
• 1871: October 8-October 10, the Great Chicago Fire.
• 1886: May 4, the Haymarket Riot.
• 1891: The World Columbian Exposition, lasted until 1892.
• 1893: First Ferris Wheel built by George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.
• 1894: May 11-August 2, the Pullman Strike.
• 1915: July 24, the Eastland Disaster.
• 1919: July 27, the Chicago Race Riot of 1919.
• 1929: February 14, the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.
• 1933: Century of Progress.
• 1935: January 19, Coopers Inc sells the world's first briefs.
• 1958: Our Lady of the Angels School Fire.
• 1966: Founding of Chicago Surrealist Group.
• 1958: August 26-August 29, 1968 Democratic National Convention.
• 1969: The Chicago 8 trial opens.
• 1979: May 25, the AA Flight 191 crashes.
• 1992: April 13, the Chicago Flood.
• 1995: The Chicago Heat Wave of 1995.

Nicknames

• "The Windy City" - It is often recited that this nickname was first used by Charles Gibson Dana, editor of the New York Sun and former editor of the Chicago Republican in 1890 in reference to the city's claims for the World Columbian Exposition. In this theory, it is said the nickname was inspired by the speechmaking proclivities of its politicians more than by its prevailing weather conditions. Ardent word sleuth Barry Popik, however, has found a reference to the "Windy City" in the Cleveland Gazette dated 19 September 1885 and the Cincinnati Enquirer dated 12 February 1877 (pg. 5, col. 2). The name may indicate the summer breezes as is described at Weather Doctor's Weather History.
• "Second City" - So called because it was, for many years, the second-largest city in the United States, and also because of its rebirth after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The term was originated in an article by A.J. Liebling that appeared in The New Yorker. The improvisational comedy troupe The Second City, based in Chicago, took their name from this article as well.
• "Chi-town" or simply "Chitown" - Pronunciation of this nickname can vary from "TCHI-town" to "SHAI-town" to "CHEE-town."
• "City of Big Shoulders" - From a Carl Sandburg poem.
• "Hog-Butcher To The World" - From a Carl Sandburg poem.
• "Slaughterhouse to the World"
• "Cowtown"
• "City by the Lake" - Used in the Smashing Pumpkins' song "Tonight, Tonight."
• "City of the Century"
• "My Kind of Town" - According to the song "My Kind of Town (Chicago Is)" (music by James Van Heusen, words by Sammy Cahn, 1964) popularized by Frank Sinatra.
• "That Toddling Town" - According to the lyrics of the song "Chicago" (music and words by Fred Fisher, 1922) also popularized by Frank Sinatra (as well as Tony Bennett). Surprisingly enough Chicago does not have an official song, according to the Chicago Public Library.
• "Sweet Home, Chicago" for those who live or have ever lived there, and have wandered away.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 606.1 km² (234.0 mi²). 588.3 km² (227.1 mi²) of it is land and 17.8 km² (6.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.94% water.

Urban Setting

When it comes to skyscrapers, Chicago is king, being the first US city to reach new heights, shortly joined by New York City. Chicago, along with New York City and Hong Kong, makes up the "big three" when it comes to city skylines. This is, of course, a very interesting quirk about Chicago as a city. Realistically by modern standards, Chicago has very little reason to build up: being located in the Midwest, Chicago has plenty of room to sprawl outwards on an almost Euclidean-esque flat ground. There is, of course, the Chicago River, which may bring some argument as to geographic restriction. Mostly though, Chicago runs on energy and inertia. Even today, Chicago is going through a massive skyscraper building boom, with projects like 55 East Erie (the tallest residential building in the US outside New York City) and Trump International Hotel (to be completed in 2007, to be the fourth tallest in Chicago and the tallest building built in the US for nearly three decades) breaking ground frequently. All this can really be attributed to precedent: Chicago has always had a history of frantic skyscraper building, mostly beginning after the Great Chicago Fire, and since this time developers simply follow the pattern set before them.

Community areas

Chicago is divided into 77 Community Areas. The community areas were defined by sociologists at the University of Chicago during the 1920s, and at that time corresponded to neighborhoods. Now, many of the communities no longer correspond to any neighborhood, and many have fallen out of use as a useful signifier. However, census data and zipcodes are tied to the community areas, and they are considered more durable than the names of neighborhoods which can change very rapidly.

For purposes of relevancy, community area designation is useful more as a historical curiosity, since its use for census data and zipcodes are quite independent of the actual character of the once neighborhood. A full listing and a map is available in the article Chicago community areas.

Major Parks

Chicago boasts the largest park district in the United States and is managed by the Chicago Park District. The Park District manages over 220 facilities throughout the city with 7,300 acres (2,954 hectares) of parkland. Each year the Park District holds thousands of special events for the citizens. The Park District also has the excellent reputation of spending the most per capita on its parks, beating out even Boston in terms of park expenses per capita. Some of the more famous parks and facilities include:

• Grant Park, which is often considered "Chicago's Front Lawn." Squeezed right between downtown and Lake Michigan, it is host to many regular festivals.
• Buckingham Fountain, one of the largest fountains around and noted for its regular light show. It is located at the heart of Grant Park.
• Millennium Park is a redeveloped section of Grant Park opened on July 16, 2004 and features various smaller parks. Millennium Park is home to such landmarks as the Crown Fountain, Cloud Gate and the Pritzker Pavillion by Frank Gehry.
• Lincoln Park, perhaps one of the most well-known parks in the city of Chicago, spanning across a significant portion of the north side. It is home to the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is a free public zoo, a rarity in the US.
• Jackson Park, probably the south side's answer to Lincoln Park. Among other things, it features lagoons, a Japanese wooded isle, and the Museum of Science and Industry.
• Washington Park, connected to Jackson Park by the Midway Plaisance and west of the University of Chicago, it features the DuSable Museum of African American History as well as several sculptures, among other normal park amenities.
• Garfield Park Conservatory, located on the west side, right off the Green Line, it was in danger of falling into decline, despite being one of the nation's most impressive conservatories. Fortunately, reinvestment and redevelopment has kept it in prime shape.
• Oak Street Beach, one of the more popular of the many beaches among Chicago's lakefront.

See also

• Complete list of Metro Suburbs in Chicagoland Region

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 2,896,016 people, 1,061,928 households, and 632,909 families residing in the city. The population density is 4,923.0/km² (12,750.3/mi²). There are 1,152,868 housing units at an average density of 1,959.8/km² (5,075.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 41.97% White, 36.77% African American, 0.36% Native American, 4.35% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 13.58% from other races, and 2.92% from two or more races. 26.02% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,061,928 households out of which 28.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% are married couples living together, 18.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% are non-families. 32.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.67 and the average family size is 3.50.

In the city the population is spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $38,625, and the median income for a family is $42,724. Males have a median income of $35,907 versus $30,536 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,175. 19.6% of the population and 16.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 28.1% are under the age of 18 and 15.5% are 65 or older.

Law & Government

The City of Chicago is divided into executive and legislative branches. The mayor is the Chief Executive, elected by general election for a term of four years. The mayor appoints commissioners who oversee the various departments.

The city council is the legislative branch and made up of 50 aldermen, one elected from each ward in the city. The city council makes local ordinances and passes the city budget.

Government priorities and activities are established in a budget ordinance usually adopted in November of each year. The city takes official action through the passage of ordinances and resolutions.

In addition to the mayor, Chicago's two other city-wide elected officials are the clerk and the treasurer.

Chicago is considered to be one of the largest Democratic strongholds in the United States, as an example, the citizens of Chicago have not elected a Republican mayor since 1927 when William Thompson was voted into office.

City departments

• Office of the Mayor
• Chicago Office of Tourism
• Administrative Hearings
• Aging
• Animal Care and Control
• Aviation
• Budget & Management
• Buildings
• Business & Information Services
• Cable Communications
• Chicago Film Office
• Consumer Services Department
• Cultural Affairs Department
• Department of Construction and Permits
• Mayors Office for People with Disabilities
• Environment
• Ethics (Board of Ethics)
• Finance
• Fire
• Fleet Management
• General Services
• Graphics & Reproduction
• Health
• Housing Department
• Human Relations
• Human Services
• Inspector General
• Law
• Library, Chicago Public
• License Appeal Commission
• Mayor's License and Local Liquor Control Commission
• Mayor's Office of Workforce Development
• Office of Emergency Management and Communication
• Personnel
• Planning & Development
• Police
• Procurement Services
• Public Building Commission
• Revenue
• Special Events
• Streets & Sanitation
• Tourism
• Transportation
• Zoning

Municipal flag of Chicago

The three white stripes of the flag represent, from top to bottom, the North, West and South sides of the city. The top blue stripe represents Lake Michigan and the North Branch of the Chicago River. The bottom blue stripes represents the South Branch of the Chicago River and the Great Canal. Finally, the four red stars on the center white stripe represent, from left to right, Fort Dearborn Massacre, the Great Chicago Fire, the World Columbian Exposition, and the Century of Progress Exposition.

In addition, each of the six points of the stars stand for a value of the city:

• On the Fort Dearborn Massacre star (added in 1939): transportation, labor, commerce, finance, populousness, and salubrity.
• On the Great Chicago Fire star (on the 1917 flag): religion, education, esthetics, justice, beneficence, and civic pride.
• The points on the World Columbian Exposition star (on the 1917 flag) represent political entities Chicago belonged to: France 1693, Great Britain 1763, Virginia 1778, the Northwest Territory 1798, Indiana Territory 1802, Illinois 1818.
• The Century of Progress star (added in 1933: World's Third Largest City, City's Latin Motto (Urbs in horto - City in a garden), City's "I Will" Motto, Great Central Marketplace, Wonder City, Convention City.

Sister Cities

Chicago actively pursues the sister cities program and has, in fact, the largest number of sister city connections out any city in the United States. Chicago also takes great pride in its many sister city connections; O'Hare International Airport displays all its sister city flags on the main thoroughfare connecting all the terminals and the Blue Line stop. Chicago's sister cities are:

• Accra, Ghana
• Athens, Greece
• Birmingham, England
• Casablanca, Morocco
• Delhi, India
• Dublin, Republic of Ireland
• Durban, South Africa
• Galway, Republic of Ireland
• Gothenburg, Sweden
• Hamburg, Germany
• Kiev, Ukraine
• Lucerne, Switzerland
• Mexico City, Mexico
• Milan, Italy
• Moscow, Russia
• Osaka, Japan
• Paris, France
• Petah-Tikva, Israel
• Prague, Czech Republic
• Shanghai, People's Republic of China
• Shenyang, People's Republic of China
• Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Vilnius, Lithuania
• Warsaw, Poland

Communications & media

Broadcast television stations

• CBS (WBBM-2)
• NBC (WMAQ-5)
• ABC (WLS-7)
• WB (WGN-9)
• PBS (WTTW-11)
• WFBT (WFBT-23)
• WCIU (WCIU-26)
• FOX (WFLD-32)
• PAX (WCPX-38)
• TEL (WSNS-44)
• UPN (WPWR-50)
• WJYS (WJYS-62)
• UNI (WGB0-66)

Radio stations

According to Arbitron, Chicago is the America's 3rd largest radio market trailing New York and Los Angeles.

AM Radio Stations

Registered Name	Call Sign	AM Frequency	Format	Network(s)
Chicago News & Talk Radio 720	WGN-AM	720	News Talk Information	WGN
Newsradio 780	WBBM-AM	780	All News	CBS, CNN, AP Radio
None Listed with Arbitron	WAIT-AM	850	Variety	Independent
Newstalk 890	WLS-AM	890	News Talk Information	ABC
Air America	WNTD-AM	950	News Talk Information	Air America (temporarily off the air)
Chicago ESPN Radio 1000	WMVP-AM	1000	All Sports	Westwood, ESPN, Premiere Radio Networks
Gospel Radio 1390	WGRB-AM	1390	Gospel	American Urban Radio, Premiere Radio Networks
The Score Sports Radio	WSCR-AM	670	All Sports	CBS, Westwood, FoxSports Net
The Talk of Chicago	WVON-AM	1450	Talk/Personality	Westwood, ABC, American Urban Radio

FM Radio Stations

Registered Name	Call Sign	FM Frequency	Format	Network(s)
The New Killer Bee	WBBM-FM	96.3	Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio	CBS
Chicago Public Radio	WBEZ-FM	91.5	News Talk Information	NPR
The Great 105.9	WCKG-FM	105.9	Talk/Personality	Westwood One Source
Chicago's Fine Arts Station	WFMT-FM	98.7	Classical	Independent
107.5 #1 For Hip-Hop & R & B	WGCI-FM	107.5	Urban Contemporary	Clear Channel
WHPK	WHPK-FM	88.5	Variety	Independent
Oldies 104.3 Magic	WJMK-FM	104.3	Oldies	Westwood, CNN
ONDA 92	WKIE-FM	92.7	Spanish Contemporary	Independent
The Alternative Q101	WKQX-FM	101.1	Alternative	Independent
La Ley 107.9	WLEY-FM	107.9	Mexican Regional	Independent
The Lite Soft Rock Less Talk	WLIT-FM	93.5	Adult Contemporary	Premiere Radio Networks
The Loop	WLUP-FM	97.9	Classic Rock	Independent
Windy 100 80's & 90's	WNND-FM	100.3	Adult Contemporary	Independent
Smooth Jazz	WNUA-FM	95.5	Smooth Jazz	Premiere Radio Networks
La Que Buena 105.1 FM	WOJO-FM	105.1	Mexican Regional	Independent
The Mix	WTMX-FM	101.9	Modern Adult Contemporary	Independent
Power 92.3	WUBT-FM	92.3	Urban Contemporary
US99 America's Country	WUSN-FM	99.5	Country	Westwood
Today's R & B & Old School V103	WVAZ-FM	102.7	Urban Adult Contemporary	ABC, Premiere Radio Networks
Chicago's Finest Rock	WXRT-FM	93.1	Album Adult Alternative	Independent
The New 103.5 KISS-FM	WKSC-FM	103.5	Today's Hits	Independent

Newspapers

By far, the Chicago Tribune enjoys the highest readership among the two main principle papers, the other being the Chicago Sun-Times. Aside from these two main giants, there are some smaller papers that enjoy city-wide readership, as well as various smaller, community-level papers. Downtown Chicago has a reputation for being filled with newspaper dispensers, a characteristic enjoyed and treasured by many residents, but many of the newspaper dispenser hotspots have been replaced with sleek, group dispensers designed to reduce clutter and improve visual aesthetics. Critics have argued that, due to the limited number of positions available in these conglomerated dispensers, smaller, independent newspapers cannot enjoy a relative freedom in display, but on the flip side, newspapers that do have a position in these dispensers get the same, clean, equal presentation as all the other papers.

Present

• Chicago Defender, 1905-present
• Chicago Reader, 1972-present
• Chicago Sun-Times, 1948-present
• Chicago Tribune, 1847-present
• Daily Southtown, 1906-present
• StreetWise, 1992-present

Past

• Chicago American, 1900-1939, became Herald-American
• Chicago Chronicle, 1895-1908
• Chicago Courier, 1874-1876
• Chicago Daily News, 1876-1978
• Chicago Daily Telegraph, 1878-1881 (became Chicago Morning Herald)
• Chicago Daily Times, 1929-1948 (merged with Chicago Sun to form Chicago Sun-Times)
• Chicago Democrat, 1833-1845
• Chicago Democratic Press, 1852-1857
• Chicago Evening Mail;, 1870-1875 (became Post & Mail)
• Chicago Evening Post;, 1865-1875 (became Post & Mail)
• Chicago Evening Press & Mail;, 1884-1897
• Chicago Examiner, 1902-1918 (became Herald-Examiner)
• Chicago Express, 1842-1843
• Chicago Globe, 1887-1895
• Chicago Herald, 1881-1918
• Chicago Herald-American, 1939-1958 (became Chicago's American)
• Chicago Herald-Examiner, 1918-39
• Chicago Journal, 1844-1929 (absorbed by Chicago Daily News)
• Chicago Mail, 1885-1894
• Chicago Morning News, 1881 (became Chicago Record)
• Chicago Morning Herald, 1893-1901 (became Record-Herald)
• Chicago Post, 1890-1929 (absorbed by Daily News)
• Chicago Record, 1881-1901
• Chicago Record Herald, 1901-1914
• Chicago Republican, 1865-1872 (became Inter Ocean)
• Chicago Sun, 1941-1948 (merged with Chicago Daily Times to form Chicago Sun-Times)
• Chicago Times, 1861-1895 (became Times-Herald)
• Chicago Times-Herald, 1895-1901 (became Record-Herald)
• Chicago's American, 1958-1969 (became Today)
• Inter Ocean, 1872-1914 (became Record-Herald)
• Post & Mail;, 1875-1878 (absorbed by Chicago Daily News)
• Today, 1969-1974
• City News Bureau of Chicago, local cooperative wire service

Community newspapers

• Ashburn Independent
• Austin Voice
• Austin Weekly News
• Back-of-Yards Journal
• Beverly News
• Beverly Review
• Brighton Park Life
• Bridgeport News
• Shoreland News
• Chicago Free Press
• Chicago Journal
• Chicago Standard
• Citizen Newspapers
• Clear Ridge Reporter
• Edgebrook Times
• Edison Review
• Exito
• Extra
• Greek Star
• Hyde Park Herald
• Inside Publications
• Korean News
• Korean Times
• La Raza
• La Voz de Chicago
• Lawndale News
• Lerner Booster
• Lerner News-Star
• Lerner Times
• Logan Square Times
• McKinley Park Life
• Mt. Greenwood Exp.
• Nadig Press-Journal
• Near West Gazette
• Near North News
• New Metro News
• North Loop News
• Northwest Leader-Post
• Norwood Review
• Polish Daily News
• River North News
• Sauganash Sounds
• Scottsdale Independent
• Skyline
• Southeast Chicago Observer
• Tri-City Journal
• Westside Journal
• Windy City Times

Business, legal, entertainment and other local periodicals

• Bar Fly
• Chicago Computer Guide
• Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
• Chicago Educator
• Chicago Magazine
• Chicago Parent
• Chicago Reporter
• Crain's Chicago Business
• New City
• Outlines
• PerformInk
• The Reader

Arts & culture

For its relative youth compared to eastern cities and older Californian cities, Chicago has made many significant pop-cultural contributions. In the field of music, Chicago is very well-known for its Chicago Blues, but it is also the origin of House style of music, whose history is related to the development and fostering of an electronic style of music in nearby Detroit. In addition, in the field of culinary arts, Chicago provides the antithesis to New York styles of pizza and hot dogs, being synonymous with deep dish pizza in addition to being linked to a robustly complex hot dog that challenges the relative simplicity of a New York coney dog. In addition, Chicago Schools have developed in various aspects of study, such as the famed Chicago School of architecture and the University of Chicago-founded Chicago Schools of economic theory, literary criticism and urban sociology.

Historically, Chicago is remembered for machine politics ("Vote early and vote often" and "A city run of the Daleys, by the Daleys, for the Daleys" are two phrases associated with Chicago politics), meat packing (as mentioned in the nicknames section and made infamous by Upton Sinclair's The Jungle), and gangster violence during Prohibition (some key figures are linked to Chicago, such as Al Capone or John Dillinger).

Musicians & bands from Chicago

• Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire
• atomly
• Califone
• Red Red Meat
• Wesley Willis
• Chicago
• My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
• Smashing Pumpkins
• Stabbing Westward
• Urge Overkill
• Screeching Weasel
• Joan Of Arc
• Liz Phair
• Patricia Barber
• Wilco
• Smoking Popes
• Veruca Salt
• Shellac
• Jesus Lizard
• Ministry
• Tortoise
• Acumen
• Material Issue
• Die Warzau
• Mighty Blue Kings
• Koko Taylor
• OK Go

Novels set in Chicago

• Upton Sinclair's The Jungle
• Theodore Dreiser's Sister Carrie
• James T. Farrell's Studs Lonigan trilogy
• Nella Larsen's Passing
• Sara Paretsky's thrillers featuring private eye V.I. Warshawski
• Erik Larsen's Devil in the White City
• Somerset Maugham's The Razor's Edge
• Nelson Algren's "Man With the Golden Arm"

Musicals and plays set in Chicago

• Chicago (musical)
• Bugsy Malone
• A Raisin in the Sun
• Bleacher Bums

Movies & TV shows set in Chicago

• About Last Night (1986)
• Ali (movie) (2001)
• Barbershop (2002)
• Biker Mice from Mars (1993-1995)
• The Blues Brothers (1980)
• The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978)
• Chicago (1927)
• Chicago (2002)
• Chicago Hope (1994-2000)
• Design (2001)
• Dragonfly (2001)
• Due South (1994-1996, 1997-1999)
• Early Edition (1996 - 2000)
• E/R (1984-1985)
• ER (1994-)
• Family Matters (1989-1998)
• Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
• The Fugitive (1993)
• Good Times (1974-1979)
• Harry and Tonto (1973)
• High Fidelity (2000)''
• How the West was Won (1963)
• I, Robot (2004)
• In the Heat of the Night (1967)
• The Jerry Springer Show (1991-)
• Married...with Children (1987-1997)
• Mean Girls (2004)
• Medium Cool (1969)
• Mickey One (1965)
• My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
• North By Northwest (1959)
• Ocean's Eleven (2001)
• On the Line (2001)
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-)
• ''Perfect Strangers (1986-1993)
• Raisin in the Sun (1961)
• The Real World (2001-2002)
• Risky Business (1983)
• Road to Perdition (2001)
• Scrubs (2002 -)
• Soul Food (1997)
• Stolen Summer (2001)
• The Sting (1973)
• The Untouchables (1987)
• While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Important Citizens or people born here

• Franklin Pierce Adams
• Jane Addams, Awarded Nobel Peace Prize
• Gillian Anderson, Actress
• Nelson Algren, Writer
• Saul Bellow, Awarded Nobel Prize for Literature
• James Belushi, Actor
• John Belushi, Actor
• Ray Bradbury, Author
• Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet
• Daniel Burnham, Architect
• Edgar Rice Burroughs, Writer
• Jane Byrne, Former Mayor
• Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
• Marvin Camras
• Harry Caray, TV & Radio Broadcaster
• Anton Cermak, Former Mayor
• Wesley Clark, Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander & United States Army General
• Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Senator & Former First Lady
• Nat King Cole, Musician
• Billy Corgan, singer
• "Bathhouse" John Coughlin, Former Alderman
• Joan Cusack, Actress
• John Cusack, Actor
• Richard J. Daley, Former Mayor
• Richard M. Daley, Current Mayor
• Miles Davis, Musician
• John Dillinger, Criminal
• Walt Disney, Founder of The Walt Disney Company
• Stephen Douglas, politician
• Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, early Chicago settler
• Phil Everly, singer
• Chris Farley, Actor
• Marshall Field, entrepreneur
• Betty Ford, former First Lady
• Harrison Ford, Actor
• Bob Fosse, Director
• Ira Glass, NPR broadcaster
• Benny Goodman, Musician
• Steve Goodman, Singer
• George Halas
• Carter Harrison, Sr, former Mayor
• Carter Harrison, Jr, former Mayor
• Ernest Hemingway, writer
• Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard, early Chicago developer
• Louis Joliet, Canadian explorer
• R. Kelly, Singer
• Michael "Hinky-Dink" Kenna, former Alderman
• John Kinzie, early Chicago settler
• Gene Krupa, Musician
• Mike "Coach K" Krzyzewski, college basketball coach
• Ann Landers (Esther Pauline Friedman Lederer), columnist
• David Mamet, playwright, poet, screenwriter, director
• Jacques Marquette, missionary
• Joseph Medill, newspaper editor & former Mayor
• Merrill C. Meigs, newspaper publisher
• Bill Murray, actor
• Charles_Gilman_Norris, author
• William Butler Ogden, first mayor of Chicago, entrepreneur
• Ruth Page, Ballet dancer
• Potter Palmer, entrepreneur
• Ed Paschke, Artist
• James Petrillo, musician
• George Pullman, entrepreneur, inventor
• Harold Ramis, actor, director
• Mike Royko, columnist
• Jack Ruby, killed Lee Harvey Oswald
• Donald Rumsfeld, current United States Secretary of Defense
• Carl Sandburg, Poet
• Horatio Sanz, Actor
• Dan Savage, Columnist
• Amy Sedaris, Actress
• David Sedaris, radio broadcaster & author
• Captain George Streeter
• Louis Sullivan, Architect
• Maria Tallchief, Ballet dancer, founder of the Chicago City Ballet
• Studs Terkel, broadcaster, author
• Isiah Thomas, Basketball Hall of Famer
• William Hale Thompson, last Republican mayor of Chicago
• James Tiptree, Jr, author
• Irving Wallace
• Harold Washington former Mayor
• John Wentworth former mayor and Congressman
• Kanye West, rapper
• Robin Williams, Actor
• Frank Lloyd Wright, Architect
• Charles Yerkes, entrepreneur
• Billy Zane, Actor
• Florenz Ziegfeld

Famous attractions, landmarks & areas of interest