70 Facts About Chicago, You Should Know

70 facts about Chicago!

1. Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States, with a population of over 2.7 million people. It is also the largest city in the state of Illinois.
2. The city of Chicago was founded in 1833, and its name comes from a Native American word meaning “wild onion” or “skunk cabbage.”
3. Chicago is home to some of the world’s most famous skyscrapers, including the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower), which was once the tallest building in the world.
4. The city’s downtown area is known as “The Loop,” and it got its name from the elevated train tracks that form a loop around the central business district.
5. Chicago is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes of North America.
6. The Chicago River runs through the city, and it was famously dyed green on St. Patrick’s Day each year from 1962 onwards to celebrate the holiday.
7. Chicago is a major hub for transportation, with two international airports, O’Hare and Midway, and a network of highways and rail lines connecting the city to the rest of the country.
8. Chicago is famous for its deep-dish pizza, which is characterized by its thick, doughy crust and generous layers of cheese and toppings.
9. The city is also known for its sports teams, including the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox in baseball, the Chicago Bears in football, and the Chicago Blackhawks in hockey.
10. Many famous people have called Chicago home, including Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Al Capone.
11. Chicago’s Museum Campus is a collection of three museums located on the lakefront: the Field Museum of Natural History, the Adler Planetarium, and the Shedd Aquarium.
12. The Magnificent Mile is a shopping district on Michigan Avenue that features high-end stores and restaurants, as well as iconic landmarks like the Chicago Water Tower and the John Hancock Center.
13. Navy Pier is a popular tourist destination that features a Ferris wheel, restaurants, shops, and entertainment options.
14. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates a system of buses and elevated trains, known as the “L,” which serves the city and some of its suburbs.
15. The city is known for its diverse neighborhoods, including Chinatown, Little Italy, Greektown, and Pilsen, among many others.
16. The annual Chicago Jazz Festival is one of the largest free jazz festivals in the world and attracts thousands of music lovers to the city every Labor Day weekend.
17. The Harold Washington Library Center, located in the Loop, is the largest public library building in the world.
18. Chicago’s flag features four red stars, representing significant events in the city’s history: the Fort Dearborn Massacre of 1812, the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, the Century of Progress Exposition of 1933, and the city’s recovery from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
19. The University of Chicago is one of the top-ranked universities in the world and has produced numerous Nobel laureates, including economist Milton Friedman and physicist Enrico Fermi.
20. The city’s nickname, “The Windy City,” has nothing to do with its weather. It actually originated in the 19th century as a reference to the city’s politicians, who were known for their long-winded speeches.
21. The Chicago Theatre, located in the Loop, is a historic landmark and one of the city’s most famous performance venues. It opened in 1921 and has hosted many famous performers, including Frank Sinatra and Bruce Springsteen.
22. Chicago is home to some of the world’s largest museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, which has over 300,000 works of art in its collection, and the Museum of Science and Industry, which is housed in a former World’s Fair building and features interactive exhibits on science and technology.
23. Chicago is a major center for the arts, with many theaters, music venues, and art galleries located throughout the city. It is also the birthplace of the Chicago-style improv comedy, which has produced many famous comedians, including Second City alumni like Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert.
24. The Chicago Riverwalk is a public promenade along the Chicago River that offers stunning views of the city’s skyline and features restaurants, bars, and outdoor seating areas.
25. The Chicago Bulls basketball team won six NBA championships in the 1990s, led by superstar Michael Jordan, and remains one of the most successful teams in NBA history.
26. The city’s lakefront is a popular recreational area that offers miles of bike and running paths, beaches, and parks, including Grant Park, which is home to the famous Buckingham Fountain.
27. Chicago is home to some of the country’s best-known food brands, including Garrett Popcorn Shops, Portillo’s Hot Dogs, and Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria.
28. The Chicago Board of Trade Building, located in the Loop, is a historic landmark and one of the city’s most recognizable buildings. It was built in 1930 and features an art deco design with a 31-story tower and a statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, on its roof.
29. The Chicago River is also known for its architectural boat tours, which offer a unique perspective on the city’s iconic buildings and skyline.
30. Chicago is a cultural melting pot, with a diverse population that includes people from all over the world. This diversity is reflected in the city’s food, music, art, and cultural events.
31. The Chicago Marathon is one of the largest and most famous marathons in the world, with over 45,000 participants from all over the globe.
32. The city’s O’Hare International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world and serves as a major hub for international travel.
33. The Chicago Riverwalk is also home to a number of public art installations, including sculptures and murals, that showcase the city’s vibrant art scene.
34. The Chicago Cubs baseball team played at Wrigley Field, one of the oldest ballparks in the country, and is known for its ivy-covered outfield walls and iconic marquee.
35. The Chicago Architecture Center, located in the Loop, is a museum dedicated to the city’s rich architectural history and offers tours of some of the city’s most famous buildings.
36. The Chicago Botanic Garden, located in the suburb of Glencoe, is a 385-acre garden and research center that features over 2.5 million plants and 27 display gardens.
37. The city’s Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the largest contemporary art museums in the country and features works by artists from around the world.
38. The Chicago River is a vital transportation link for the city, and over 10,000 boats and barges pass through it each year.
39. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange, located in the Loop, is one of the largest futures and options trading markets in the world and is a major player in the global financial industry.
40. The Chicago Bears football team has a storied history that includes winning the Super Bowl in 1985 and producing famous players like Walter Payton and Dick Butkus.
41. The Chicago Water Tower, located on Michigan Avenue, is one of the few buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and is now a symbol of the city’s resilience.
42. The city has a rich history of blues music, and is home to famous blues clubs like Buddy Guy’s Legends and Kingston Mines.
43. The Art on the Mart is a public art installation that projects large-scale digital art onto the facade of the Merchandise Mart, creating a stunning display visible from across the Chicago River.
44. The city’s Harold Washington Cultural Center is a performing arts venue that hosts a variety of cultural events, including theater, dance, and music performances.
45. Chicago is home to several prestigious universities, including the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the Illinois Institute of Technology.
46. The Chicago River was famously dyed green for the first time in 1962 to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and the tradition has continued every year since then.
47. The city’s iconic “L” train system was the first elevated rapid transit system in the world when it opened in 1892.
48. The Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team share the United Center, a state-of-the-art sports arena located on the city’s west side.
49. The city’s Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the country and is home to over 1,100 animals from around the world.
50. The Chicago History Museum, located in Lincoln Park, is a museum dedicated to the history of the city and features exhibits on topics like the Great Chicago Fire, the city’s role in the Civil Rights Movement, and the history of the Chicago Cubs.
51. The Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, was once the tallest building in the world and is still the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, standing at 1,450 feet tall.
52. The Chicago River was once so polluted that it caught fire several times, but the city has since worked to clean up the river and it is now a popular destination for boaters and kayakers.
53. The Chicago Cultural Center, located in the Loop, is a historic building that features a variety of art exhibits, music performances, and cultural events.
54. Chicago is home to several professional sports teams, including the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, and Chicago Blackhawks.
55. The city’s Millennium Park is a public park that features a variety of outdoor art installations, including the famous Cloud Gate sculpture, also known as “The Bean.”
56. The Chicago Riverwalk was recently expanded to include a section called “The Jetty,” which features floating gardens, a kayak launch, and a seating area that extends over the river.
57. The city’s Museum of Broadcast Communications is a museum dedicated to the history of radio and television broadcasting, and features exhibits on famous broadcasters and shows throughout history.
58. Chicago is home to several iconic foods, including deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, and Italian beef sandwiches.
59. The city’s Adler Planetarium is the first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere and features exhibits on space exploration and astronomy.
60. The city’s Navy Pier is a popular tourist destination that features a variety of attractions, including a Ferris wheel, boat tours, and a variety of shops and restaurants.
61. The Chicago Athletic Association building, located across from Millennium Park, is a historic building that has been converted into a hotel and features a variety of restaurants and bars, including a rooftop bar with stunning views of the city.
62. Chicago is home to several world-renowned museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Science and Industry.
63. The city’s Lincoln Park neighborhood is home to the Lincoln Park Zoo, as well as several popular restaurants, bars, and shops.
64. Chicago is known for its distinctive architecture, with famous buildings like the Tribune Tower, the John Hancock Center, and the Wrigley Building all adding to the city’s skyline.
65. The city’s Buckingham Fountain, located in Grant Park, is one of the largest fountains in the world and features a spectacular water and light show.
66. The Chicago River has been the site of several major engineering feats, including the construction of the city’s famous movable bridges, which allow boats to pass through the river without interrupting traffic on the city’s streets.
67. The city’s Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest conservatories in the country and features a variety of exotic plants and flowers from around the world.
68. Chicago is known for its thriving theater scene, with several prestigious theaters like the Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater located in the city.
69. The Chicago Board of Trade Building, located in the Loop, is a historic building that has been home to the city’s commodity trading markets for over 150 years.
70. The city’s Magnificent Mile is a stretch of Michigan Avenue that features some of the city’s most upscale shops and restaurants, as well as several iconic landmarks like the Chicago Water Tower and the Tribune Tower.