94.3%. Among denominational Protestant branches, Baptists formed the largest group in Chicago (10%); followed by Nondenominational (5%); Lutherans (4%); and Pentecostals (3%). The median age was 32 years. It is the seat of several dioceses. The city typically sees less snow and rain in winter than that experienced in the eastern Great Lakes region. Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2017-2021. [122][123], The Merchandise Mart, once first on the list of largest buildings in the world, currently listed as 44th-largest (as of 9September2013[update]), had its own zipcode until 2008, and stands near the junction of the North and South branches of the Chicago River. Many themes are transgressive and derived from the works of authors such as William S. Burroughs. [303], Chicago began experiencing a massive surge in carjackings after 2019, and at least 1,415 such crimes took place in the city in 2020. Chicago has one of the largest concentrations of Italian Americans in the US, with more than 500,000 living in the metropolitan area. In 1966, Martin Luther King Jr. and Albert Raby led the Chicago Freedom Movement, which culminated in agreements between Mayor Richard J. Daley and the movement leaders. Chicago has been named the Best Sports City by Sporting News three times and has made TSEs international Ranking of Sport Cities every year since 2012. 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. [citation needed] Lollapalooza originated in Chicago in 1991 and at first travelled to many cities, but as of 2005 its home has been Chicago. Below the poverty line were 19.6% of the population and 16.6% of the families. [101] The overall grade of the city's central, built-up areas is relatively consistent with the natural flatness of its overall natural geography, generally exhibiting only slight differentiation otherwise. They play home games at the Wintrust Arena. [20] Chicago has a small community of Swedish Americans. [346] CREATE, the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program, comprises about 70 programs, including crossovers, overpasses and underpasses, that intend to significantly improve the speed of freight movements in the Chicago area.[347]. [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. In 1803, the U.S. Army constructed Fort Dearborn, which was destroyed during the War of 1812 in the Battle of Fort Dearborn by the Potawatomi before being later rebuilt. Congregations and . [306], Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the governing body of the school district that contains over 600 public elementary and high schools citywide, including several selective-admission magnet schools. 2012. The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) coordinates the operation of the three service boards: CTA, Metra, and Pace. Club. While the Chicago River historically handled much of the region's waterborne cargo, today's huge lake freighters use the city's Lake Calumet Harbor on the South Side. Not to . [145] Northeast winds from wintertime cyclones departing south of the region sometimes bring the city lake-effect snow.[146]. 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. In 1956, the city conducted its last major expansion when it annexed the land under O'Hare airport, including a small portion of DuPage County. (Stacey Wescott, Chicago Tribune) Muslims have become the third-largest religious group in the state after Roman Catholics and independent evangelicals. [244] Annual festivals feature various Chicago signature dishes, such as Taste of Chicago and the Chicago Food Truck Festival. From 1995 to 2008, the city had a blue bag program to divert recyclable refuse from landfills. [314] According to data compiled in 2014, Chicago's "choice system", where students who test or apply and may attend one of a number of public high schools (there are about 130), sorts students of different achievement levels into different schools (high performing, middle performing, and low performing schools). [130] A number of Chicago's public art works are by modern figurative artists. The ethnic makeup of the population is 28% Hispanic and 72% belong to non Hispanic background. After playing its first eight seasons at Soldier Field, the team moved to suburban Bridgeview to play at SeatGeek Stadium. 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. Chicago was named Americas Best Bike City by Bicycling Magazine in 2016. [17] There are approximately 70,000 Bosnian Americans in Chicago. [180] In 2014 the Catholic Church was the largest individual Christian denomination (34%), with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago being the largest Catholic jurisdiction. views about size of government by metro area, Learn More: views about size of government, Smaller government; fewer services, Bigger government; more services, % of adults in the Chicago metro area who say government aid to the poor, Compare: Of the area's colleges and universities, the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois Chicago are classified as "highest research" doctoral universities. [224], In 2014[update], Chicago attracted 50.17million domestic leisure travelers, 11.09million domestic business travelers and 1.308million overseas visitors. The new DW60 is the first in the United States and is the sixth tallest in the U.S.[228] Chicago was the first city in the world to ever erect a ferris wheel. [9] The Great Chicago Fire in 1871 destroyed several square miles and left more than 100,000 homeless,[10] but Chicago's population continued to grow to 503,000 by 1880 and then doubled to more than a million within the decade. [96] All three city-wide elective offices were held by women (and women of color) for the first time in Chicago history: in addition to Lightfoot, the City Clerk was Anna Valencia and City Treasurer, Melissa Conyears-Ervin. [192] The city is the seat of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Bank's Seventh District. The Roma first came to Chicago during the large waves of Southern and Eastern European immigration to the United States in the 1880s until World War I. Population estimates in 2008 put the number of people in the city proper at 2,853,114, while suburban populations continue to grow, with estimates at 9,785,747 for the combined city and suburbs. The term "midway" for a fair or carnival referred originally to the Midway Plaisance, a strip of park land that still runs through the University of Chicago campus and connects the Washington and Jackson Parks. [141], According to the National Weather Service, Chicago's highest official temperature reading of 105F (41C) was recorded on July 24, 1934. [11] Chicago made noted contributions to urban planning and zoning standards, including new construction styles (such as Chicago School architecture, the development of the City Beautiful Movement, and the steel-framed skyscraper). [19][20] Landmarks in the city include Millennium Park, Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum Campus, Willis (Sears) Tower, Grant Park, Museum of Science and Industry, and Lincoln Park Zoo. Even more challenging were the social conditions in some parts of the city. [361] Like Chicago, many of them are the main city of a country that has had large numbers of immigrants settle in Chicago. [177], Chicago is the headquarters of several religious denominations, including the Evangelical Covenant Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He was reelected in 1987 but died of a heart attack soon after. THE 2020 U.S. [90] Washington was succeeded by 6th ward Alderman Eugene Sawyer, who was elected by the Chicago City Council and served until a special election. Students at the University of Chicago identify with various faith practices or do not actively identify with any faith practices at all. [11][citation needed]. [311], Chicago high school rankings are determined by the average test scores on state achievement tests. Population Estimates, July 1 2021, (V2021) . [262] The Fire have won one league title and four U.S.Open Cups, since their founding in 1997. [175], According to the 20082012 American Community Survey, the ancestral groups having 10,000 or more persons in Chicago were:[176], Persons identifying themselves in "Other groups" were classified at 1.72million, and unclassified or not reported were approximately 153,000. [citation needed], The wealth of greenspace afforded by Chicago's parks is further augmented by the Cook County Forest Preserves, a network of open spaces containing forest, prairie, wetland, streams, and lakes that are set aside as natural areas which lie along the city's outskirts,[274] including both the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe and the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield. [87] Major construction projects, including the Sears Tower (now known as the Willis Tower, which in 1974 became the world's tallest building), University of Illinois at Chicago, McCormick Place, and O'Hare International Airport, were undertaken during Richard J. Daley's tenure. [citation needed], Lakeview is home to Boystown, the city's large LGBT nightlife and culture center. Chicago is also home to the Barack Obama Presidential Center being built in Hyde Park on the city's South Side. [citation needed] The record label later signed many prominent industrial acts, with the most notable being: My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, KMFDM, Front Line Assembly and Front 242. At its peak during the 1960s, some 250,000 workers were employed in the steel industry in Chicago, but the steel crisis of the 1970s and 1980s reduced this number to just 28,000 in 2015. [24] The city is the seat of the Evangelical Covenant Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. [25] According to his diary of late September 1687: when we arrived at the said place called "Chicagou" which, according to what we were able to learn of it, has taken this name because of the quantity of garlic which grows in the forests in this region. [140] They can reach nearly 80F (27C), such as during the July 2019 heat wave. He is commonly known as the "Founder of Chicago". The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in South Side Chicago. The current mayor is Lori Lightfoot. [318], Since the 1850s, Chicago has been a world center of higher education and research with several universities. Chicago is a major world financial center, with the second-largest central business district in the United States. Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Gender. Racial Makeup of Chicago excluding Hispanics from Racial Categories (2021)[3]NH=Non-Hispanic, Racial Makeup of Hispanics in Chicago (2021)[3], According to 2021 US Census Bureau American Community Survey one-year estimates (which is conducted annually for cities over 65,000 via sampling), the population of Chicago, Illinois was 36.1% White (32.9% Non-Hispanic White and 3.2% Hispanic White), 28.5% Black or African American, 6.9% Asian, 1.1% Native American and Alaskan Native, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 13.1% Some Other Race, and 14.2% from two or more races. The demographics of Chicago is 45% white.The second largest group of people were the African Americans who made up 32.9% of the total population of Chicago. [345] According to U.S. Department of Transportation, the volume of imported and exported goods transported via rail to, from, or through Chicago is forecast to increase nearly 150 percent between 2010 and 2040. A $95 million conversion of a former rail line to a 2.7-mile elevated park that extends through four vibrant, Chicago neighborhoods. Many Polish churches are found in Chicago, built in the Polish Cathedral style of architecture. They were following Serbian and Hungarian immigrants who found work in the steel mills and factories of the city. In 1900, 470,000 Chicagoansone out of every four residentshad either been born in Germany or had a parent born there. The longevity of the study, since the 1950's,helps to identify trends and track religious change. 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. Since 1968, the Joseph Jefferson Awards are given annually to acknowledge excellence in theater in the Chicago area. Former CW affiliate WGN-TV 9, which was owned from its inception by Tribune Broadcasting (now owned by the Nexstar Media Group since 2019), is carried with some programming differences, as "WGN America" on cable and satellite TV nationwide and in parts of the Caribbean. In 2005, O'Hare was the world's busiest airport by aircraft movements and the second-busiest by total passenger traffic. Learn more atLearn more at Chicago.gov/COVIDVax. [201][202][203] Citadel's CEO Ken Griffin, formerly the richest Illinois resident, had been engaged in a three-year feud with Illinois governor J. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. [342], Chicago is the largest hub in the railroad industry. They come to see the nations oldest zoo to explore exotic plants at the grand Victorian glass conservatory, enjoy plays at the outdoor theater, row along the canal, stroll through the North Pond Nature Sanctuary and Butterfly conservatory, picnic on the playing fields, and frolic on North Avenue Beach. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main These institutions consistently rank among the top "National Universities" in the United States, as determined by U.S. News & World Report. As the former Yugoslavia continued to find its identity as a nation over the last century, the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina sought stability and new beginnings in the city of Chicago many intending to return to their homeland. [237] Enthusiasts of the Chicago-style hot dog frown upon the use of ketchup as a garnish, but may prefer to add giardiniera. They have played more games and have more wins than any other team in Major League baseball since 1876. [143] The lowest official temperature of 27F (33C) was recorded on January 20, 1985, at O'Hare Airport. From 1928 to 1933, the city witnessed a tax revolt, and the city was unable to meet payroll or provide relief efforts. Frank Gehry's detailed, stainless steel band shell, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, hosts the classical Grant Park Music Festival concert series. The availability of jobs attracted African Americans from the Southern United States. An expansion will include 32 acres of linear park space along the Chicago River, 10 acres of sports and recreational fields and 17 acres of wetland park. Three of the most heavily Catholic cities also are the nations three largest cities. [citation needed], Chicago contains a number of large, outdoor works by well-known artists. Today, the Chicago Park District consists of more than 570 parks with over 8,000 acres (3,200ha) of municipal parkland. His accomplishments included improvements to parks and creating incentives for sustainable development, as well as closing Meigs Field in the middle of the night and destroying the runways. belief in existence of standards for right and wrong by metro area, Learn More: belief in absolute standards for right and wrong, There are clear standards for what is right and wrong, Right or wrong depends on the situation, % of adults in the Chicago metro area who read scripture, Compare: The most populous city in Florida is also one of its most religious cities, and while very diverse religiously, still has a large majority which at least identifies with one religion. The unique sounds born in Chicago continue to resonate around the world. Chicago is not listed as a sister city on the official list of the Greek government. [290], The number of murders in Chicago peaked at 970 in 1974, when the city's population was over 3million people (a murder rate of about 29 per 100,000), and it reached 943 murders in 1992, (a murder rate of 34 per 100,000). This is one of the most important centers of Polonia. Of all households, 32.6% were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [88] In 1979, Jane Byrne, the city's first female mayor, was elected. [12][13], Chicago is an international hub for finance, culture, commerce, industry, education, technology, telecommunications, and transportation. Chicago averaged 1.12 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8.[333]. [158], Chicago's population declined in the latter half of the 20th century, from over 3.6million in 1950 down to under 2.7million by 2010. The Chicago Bears, one of the last two remaining charter members of the National Football League (NFL), have won nine NFL Championships, including the 1985 Super BowlXX. [citation needed] Highly regarded universities in Chicago and the surrounding area are: the University of Chicago; Northwestern University; Illinois Institute of Technology; Loyola University Chicago; DePaul University; Columbia College Chicago and University of Illinois at Chicago. Ford Motor Company has an automobile assembly plant on the South Side in Hegewisch, and most of the facilities of the Port of Chicago are also on the South Side. The Maxwell Street Polish is a grilled or deep-fried kielbasaon a hot dog roll, topped with grilled onions, yellow mustard, and hot sport peppers. [252] In the 1980s, a modern form of poetry performance began in Chicago, the poetry slam. [citation needed], Chicago Fire FC is a member of Major League Soccer (MLS) and plays at Soldier Field. religious attendance by metro area, Learn More: attendance at religious services, At least once a week, Once or twice a month/a few times a year, Seldom/never, % of adults in the Chicago metro area who pray, Compare: As of the 2010 Census, Chicago has the third-largest Puerto Rican population in the continental United States,[26] after New York City and Philadelphia, and the fourth largest Mexican population in the United States after Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Houston. The U.S. 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). [97], Chicago is located in northeastern Illinois on the southwestern shores of freshwater Lake Michigan. [124] Presently, the four tallest buildings in the city are Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower, also a building with its own zip code), Trump International Hotel and Tower, the Aon Center (previously the Standard Oil Building), and the John Hancock Center. Other notable schools include: Chicago State University; the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; EastWest University; National Louis University; North Park University; Northeastern Illinois University; Robert Morris University Illinois; Roosevelt University; Saint Xavier University; Rush University; and Shimer College. [116] Many of the city's residential streets have a wide patch of grass or trees between the street and the sidewalk itself. The University of Chicago Oriental Institute has an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern archaeological artifacts. attendance at prayer groups by metro area, Learn More: frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups, At least once a week, Seldom/never, % of adults in the Chicago metro area who meditate, Compare: Chicago Taste of Greece flies this weekend", "How Chicago's Pride Parade Grew from a Small March to a Big Event", "Instagreeter Program Launches in Boystown", "About the Lithuanian Opera Company, Inc. in Chicago", "Lollapalooza | History & Facts | Britannica", "Chicago Music City: A Summary Report on the Music Industry in Chicago", "Best Free Thanksgiving Events In Chicago", "13 Things You Didn't Know About Navy Pier's New Ferris Wheel", "Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower | Willis Tower Glass Ledge", "Top Ten Cities in the United States: Readers' Choice Awards", "Chicago's Deep Dish History: It All Started With Uno's", "Chicago: Landmarks, Pizza, Politics, and Jazz", "City of the big sandwiches: Four uncommon Chicago meals on a bun", "Omnivorous: On the Trail of the Delta Tamale", "Weekend festival celebrates food trucks in Chicago", "Robb Report Editors Name Chicago As Country's Finest Dining Destination", "The Moneyed Muse: What can two hundred million dollars do for poetry? In each of these cities, fewer than one-in-five residents are evangelical Protestants (including just 9% in New York) compared with a quarter of U.S. adults overall who are evangelicals. [176], According to a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center, Christianity is the most prevalently practiced religion in Chicago (71%),[178] with the city being the fourth-most religious metropolis in the United States after Dallas, Atlanta and Houston. [citation needed] Lured by a combination of large business customers, federal research dollars, and a large hiring pool fed by the area's universities, Chicago is also the site of a growing number of web startup companies like CareerBuilder, Orbitz, Basecamp, Groupon, Feedburner, Grubhub and NowSecure. [173], According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey data estimates for 20082012, the median income for a household in the city was $47,408, and the median income for a family was $54,188. Persons per household, 2017-2021. The city and its surrounding metropolitan area contain the third-largest labor pool in the United States with about 4.63million workers. (2004). The Exposition drew 27.5million visitors, and is considered the most influential world's fair in history. A polar vortex in January 2019 nearly broke the city's cold record of 27F (33C), which was set on January 20, 1985. The city grew significantly in size and population by incorporating many neighboring townships between 1851 and 1920, with the largest annexation happening in 1889, with five townships joining the city, including the Hyde Park Township, which now comprises most of the South Side of Chicago and the far southeast of Chicago, and the Jefferson Township, which now makes up most of Chicago's Northwest Side. [210], Chicago's minimum wage for non-tipped employees is one of the highest in the nation and reached $15 in 2021. Chicago has a sizeable Romanian American community,[13] As of 2018[update], the Lithuanian population is over 100,000 and was formerly over 300,000; the world's oldest continuously published Lithuanian-language newspaper Draugus is based in Chicago. [12] Additionally, The Patriarchal see of the Assyrian Church of the East was based in Chicago for several decades up until 2015 when it was moved to Erbil. The main ethnic groups in Chicago include Irish, German, Italian, Mexican, Assyrian, Arab, Bangladeshi, Jews, English, Bosnian, Croatian, Bulgarian, Czech, Greek, Black, Korean, Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Albanian, Pakistani, Polish, Hungarian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Swedish, Ukrainian, Dutch, Belgian, Cuban, Vietnamese, and Puerto Rican. Behind the pavilion's stage is the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, an indoor venue for mid-sized performing arts companies, including the Chicago Opera Theater and Music of the Baroque. For these figures, anything under 0.25% displays as <0.3%. The City of Chicago was incorporated on Saturday, March 4, 1837,[35] and for several decades was the world's fastest-growing city. [58] The desire to join the city was driven by municipal services that the city could provide its residents. [264], Chicago has also entered into esports with the creation of the Chicago Huntsmen, a professional Call of Duty team that participates within the CDL. It reversed the flow of the Chicago River so that the water flowed away from Lake Michigan rather than into it. [286], According to reports in 2013, "most of Chicago's violent crime comes from gangs trying to maintain control of drug-selling territories",[287] and is specifically related to the activities of the Sinaloa Cartel, which is active in several American cities. In February 1856, Chicago's Common Council approved Chesbrough's plan to build the United States' first comprehensive sewerage system. [317], The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago operates Catholic schools, that include Jesuit preparatory schools and others including St. Rita of Cascia High School, De La Salle Institute, Josephinum Academy, DePaul College Prep, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Brother Rice High School, St. Ignatius College Preparatory School, Mount Carmel High School, Queen of Peace High School, Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School, Marist High School, St.Patrick High School and Resurrection High School. ", "Chicago, IL - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast", "History of the Chicago and Rockford Weather Observation Sites", "Chicago/O'Hare, IL Climate Normals 1961-1990", "Chicago, Illinois, USA Monthly weather forecast and Climate data", "Chicago Growth 18501990: Maps by Dennis McClendon", "It's official: Los Angeles ousts Chicago as No. Two tall glass sculptures make up the Crown Fountain. Religion Census is your source for religious data at the county level. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. Experience Chicagos most notable music festivals including the Chicago Blues Festival, the Chicago Jazz Festival, Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Music Festival and Riot Fest.