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92-599: The Purple Crayon was founded in 1985 by Eric Berg, class of 1987, and a bunch of theater friends, among them Ian Jacobs '87, and Adam Gross ‘88. Berg had taken a semester off during his sophomore year to act in a play at the Goodman Theater in Chicago, Illinois , where he also studied improv. There, he learned the Harold, a long-form improv format developed by Del Close and Charna Halpern . The group named itself after

184-484: A 1902 trade journal remarked that "what the mint julep is to the South , Cohasset Punch is to Chicago." Cohasset Punch was produced until the late-1980s, and was relaunched under new ownership in 2024. Chicago has made many significant pop-cultural contributions in the field of music : Chicago blues , Chicago soul , jazz , gospel , indie rock , hip hop , industrial music , punk rock , and acid house . With

276-403: A Democrat, was elected in 1955, in the era of machine politics . 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. By the 1960s, white residents in several neighborhoods left the city for the suburban areas – in many American cities, a process known as white flight – as Blacks continued to move beyond

368-653: A Time host, Rick Bayless ; Graham Elliot 's eponymous restaurant, Graham Elliot ; Jean Joho 's Everest, a new-French restaurant located on the top floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange building downtown, and Tru from chefs Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand . Chicago has become known for its ventures in molecular gastronomy , with chefs Grant Achatz of Alinea , Homaro Cantu of Moto , and Michael Carlson of Schwa . Many African American migrants who were entrepreneurs would open restaurants, female entrepreneurs especially. Food-related businesses had

460-495: A heart attack soon after. Washington was succeeded by 6th ward alderperson Eugene Sawyer , who was elected by the Chicago City Council and served until a special election. Richard M. Daley , son of Richard J. Daley, was elected in 1989. 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

552-477: A low threshold for entry because many African Americans were raised in environments where food was a central part of life. The Chicago Tribune in 2019 identified five "iconic black restaurants" run by five families as having some of the best food in the city. They were Harold's Chicken Shack (founded 1950), Lem's Bar-B-Q (founded 1954), Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken (founded 1963), Taurus Flavors (founded 1966) and Old Fashioned Donuts (founded 1972). The city

644-665: A model for the new field of social work . During the 1870s and 1880s, Chicago attained national stature as the leader in the movement to improve public health. City laws and later, state laws that upgraded standards for the medical profession and fought urban epidemics of cholera , smallpox , and yellow fever were both passed and enforced. These laws became templates for public health reform in other cities and states. The city established many large, well-landscaped municipal parks , which also included public sanitation facilities. The chief advocate for improving public health in Chicago

736-554: A number of colleges. The best known outside of the region is the Northwestern University Bienen School of Music. The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and the School of Music at DePaul University are both working to expand their reputations. Chicago's colorful history and culture have provided inspiration for a wide variety of musical compositions. In the 19th century,

828-591: A suburb of Chicago. Chicago is also home to many independent labels like Thrill Jockey, Drag City, and others, and to the popular music-news website Pitchfork Media. A handful of punk rock bands are based in Chicago. Some of the more famous punk rock products of the city are Naked Raygun , The Effigies , Big Black and Shellac (featuring Steve Albini ), and Screeching Weasel . Many of these punk and indie bands got their start at noted alternative music venues Metro (originally Cabaret Metro), Lounge Ax , Empty Bottle , Double Door , and The Fireside Bowl . Chicago

920-401: A variety of activities, such as a gala held at Roosevelt University and tours of the southwest neighborhoods of Chicago. Chicago has a long brewing history that dates back to the early days of the city. While its era of mass-scale commercial breweries largely came to an end with Prohibition , the city today has a large number of microbreweries and brewpubs . According to 2018 report by

1012-538: A wide range of spirits and was featured on the Chicago ("World's Greenest Beer") episode during the second season of the Esquire Network show Brew Dogs in 2014. Cohasset Punch is a brand of rum -based drink first created by Chicago bartenders Lewis Williams and Tom Newman in the 1890s. Officially classified as a liqueur , Cohasset Punch can also be considered a bottled cocktail or punch . It has been referred to as "the definitive Chicago cocktail", and

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1104-534: Is a brand of bäsk , a Swedish-style liqueur flavored with wormwood . Known for its bitter taste, it can be found in some Chicago-area taverns and liquor stores, but is seldom seen elsewhere in the country. The Carl Jeppson Company was founded in Chicago in the 1930s. Malört was made in Chicago until the mid-'70s, when the Mar-Salle distillery that produced it for the Carl Jeppson Company closed. It

1196-541: Is a major center for theater and is the birthplace of modern improvisational comedy . The city is home to two renowned comedy troupes: The Second City and iO Theater (formerly known as ImprovOlympic). The form itself was invented at the University of Chicago in the 1950s by an undergraduate performance group called the Compass Players , whose members went on to found Second City. It was also home to one of

1288-583: Is also home to many fried- shrimp shacks. Taste of Chicago is a large annual food festival held in early July in Grant Park in downtown Chicago. It features booths from dozens of Chicago-area restaurants, as well as live music. Beginning in 2015, Chicago Black Restaurant Week is an annual celebration of various Black cuisines where more than 20 different restaurants come together in February during Black History Month to share their foods. In 2001,

1380-506: Is also known for being the "birthplace of American Industrial Music ", as many bands got their start in Chicago. The city was also home of the now-defunct Wax Trax! Records record label which once had KMFDM , Ministry , Front 242 , PIG , Front Line Assembly , My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult , Coil , and more on its roster. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is one of the nation's oldest and most respected orchestras . It

1472-409: Is derived from a French rendering of the indigenous Miami–Illinois word shikaakwa for a wild relative of the onion ; it is known to botanists as Allium tricoccum and known more commonly as "ramps". The first known reference to the site of the current city of Chicago as " Checagou " was by Robert de LaSalle around 1679 in a memoir. Henri Joutel , in his journal of 1688, noted that

1564-683: Is home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera of Chicago , while the Art Institute of Chicago provides an influential visual arts museum and art school . The Chicago area also hosts the University of Chicago , Northwestern University , and the University of Illinois Chicago , among other institutions of learning . Professional sports in Chicago include all major professional leagues , including two Major League Baseball teams. The name Chicago

1656-527: Is known for its Chicago School and Prairie School architecture. It continues to cultivate a strong tradition of classical music , popular music , dance , and performing arts , rooted in Western civilization , as well as other traditions carried forward by its African-American , Asian-American , European American and Hispanic and Latino American citizens. The city is additionally known for various popular culinary dishes, including deep-dish pizza ,

1748-442: Is reportedly the birthplace of Slam Poetry , a style of spoken word poetry that incorporates elements of hip hop culture, drama, jazz and lyricism. Chicago is one of 13 metropolitan areas that have major league baseball, football, basketball, and hockey teams. In four of these metropolitan areas the teams from all four sports play their games within the limits of one city — Chicago, Detroit , Philadelphia , and Denver . Four of

1840-623: Is the home of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians , a group of musical artists who helped pioneer avant-garde jazz . The hip hop scene in Chicago is also very influential, with major artists including Kanye West , Chance the Rapper , Twista , Common , Lupe Fiasco , Crucial Conflict , Psychodrama , Cupcakke , Da Brat , Shawnna , Chief Keef , King Louie , Lil Reese , and Rhymefest . The rock band Chicago

1932-471: Is well regarded throughout the world through tours in both Asia and Europe and also through a large number of recordings widely available. Perhaps because of Chicago's historically large German-American population, the CSO is particularly well known for its performances of pieces by German composers. Chicago also has a thriving and youthful contemporary classical scene. Major venues for new music include concerts by

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2024-598: The American economy . The Chicago Board of Trade (established 1848) listed the first-ever standardized "exchange-traded" forward contracts, which were called futures contracts . In the 1850s, Chicago gained national political prominence as the home of Senator Stephen Douglas , the champion of the Kansas–Nebraska Act and the "popular sovereignty" approach to the issue of the spread of slavery. These issues also helped propel another Illinoisan, Abraham Lincoln , to

2116-813: The Armour Square neighborhood. The Chicago Cubs of the National League , who won the World Series in 1907, 1908, and 2016, play at Wrigley Field , located in the North Side neighborhood of Lakeview . The area of Lakeview near the stadium is commonly referred to as "Wrigleyville." The Chicago Bears of the National Football League play at Soldier Field . The Bears have won nine American Football championships (eight NFL Championships and Super Bowl XX ) trailing only

2208-772: The Battle of Fort Dearborn by the Potawatomi before being later rebuilt. After the War of 1812, the Ottawa , Ojibwe , and Potawatomi tribes ceded additional land to the United States in the 1816 Treaty of St. Louis . The Potawatomi were forcibly removed from their land after the 1833 Treaty of Chicago and sent west of the Mississippi River as part of the federal policy of Indian removal . On August 12, 1833,

2300-479: The Black Belt . While home loan discriminatory redlining against blacks continued, the real estate industry practiced what became known as blockbusting , completely changing the racial composition of whole neighborhoods. Structural changes in industry, such as globalization and job outsourcing, caused heavy job losses for lower-skilled workers. At its peak during the 1960s, some 250,000 workers were employed in

2392-641: The Butterfield Blues Band , and the Siegel–Schwall Band . Chicago has also been home to a thriving folk music scene, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s. John Prine , Steve Goodman and Bonnie Koloc were the most prominent folk singer–songwriters of that time. In the late 1970s, local band The Shoes arguably started indie rock with a power pop album recorded in their living room. 1980s and 1990s alternative bands Local H , Eleventh Dream Day , Ministry , Veruca Salt , My Life with

2484-719: The Calumet River in the industrial far South Side—flow either entirely or partially through the city. Chicago's history and economy are closely tied to its proximity to Lake Michigan. 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. The lake also provides another positive effect: moderating Chicago's climate, making waterfront neighborhoods slightly warmer in winter and cooler in summer. When Chicago

2576-652: The Chicago-style hot dog and the Italian beef sandwich. Chicago lays claim to a large number of regional specialties that reflect the city's ethnic and working-class roots. Among these are its nationally renowned deep-dish pizza ; this style is said to have originated at Pizzeria Uno. The Chicago-style thin crust is also popular in the city. A number of well-known chefs have had restaurants in Chicago, including Charlie Trotter , Rick Tramonto , Grant Achatz , and Rick Bayless . In 2003, Robb Report named Chicago

2668-672: The Great Chicago Fire destroyed several square miles and left more than 100,000 homeless, but Chicago's population continued to grow. Chicago made noted contributions to urban planning and architecture , such as the Chicago School , the development of the City Beautiful movement , and the steel-framed skyscraper . Chicago is an international hub for finance, culture , commerce, industry, education, technology, telecommunications, and transportation . It has

2760-483: The Heart of Italy . The South Asian community along Devon Avenue hosts many Pakistani and Indian eateries . The predominantly Mexican neighborhoods of Pilsen and Little Village are home to numerous eateries ranging from small taquerías to full scale restaurants. Several restaurants featuring Middle Eastern fare can be found along Lawrence Avenue, while Polish cuisine is well represented along Milwaukee Avenue on

2852-644: The International Contemporary Ensemble , Ensemble Dal Niente, Third Coast Percussion , Fulcrum Point and the CSO's MusicNOW series. Composers of note include Augusta Read Thomas , Lee Hyla , Marcos Balter , Kirsten Broberg , Hans Thomalla, Jay Alan Yim and Shulamit Ran . While lacking a school of music with the stature of the Juilliard School or the Curtis Institute of Music , the Chicago area does have

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2944-542: The Jefferson Township , which now makes up most of Chicago's Northwest Side . The desire to join the city was driven by municipal services that the city could provide its residents. Chicago's flourishing economy attracted huge numbers of new immigrants from Europe and migrants from the Eastern United States . Of the total population in 1900, more than 77% were either foreign-born or born in

3036-495: The Lyric Opera of Chicago . The opera Jūratė and Kastytis by Kazimieras Viktoras Banaitis was presented in Chicago, Illinois in 1996. The Joffrey Ballet makes its home in Chicago. Other ballet, modern and jazz dance troupes that are located in the city include Hubbard Street Dance Chicago , River North Chicago Dance Company, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Chicago Dance Crash , Thodos Dance Chicago, Chicago Festival Ballet and The Joel Hall Dancers. The city's Uptown

3128-592: The New Negro Movement , in art, literature, and music. Continuing racial tensions and violence, such as the Chicago race riot of 1919 , also occurred. The ratification of the 18th amendment to the Constitution in 1919 made the production and sale (including exportation) of alcoholic beverages illegal in the United States. This ushered in the beginning of what is known as the gangster era, a time that roughly spans from 1919 until 1933 when Prohibition

3220-1008: The Strawdog Theatre Company in the Lakeview area to landmark downtown houses like the Chicago Theatre on State and Lake Streets, present a wide variety of plays and musicals , including touring shows and original works such as the premiere in December 2004 of Spamalot . The Chicago Shakespeare Theater , Lookingglass Theatre Company , and the Victory Gardens Theater have won regional Tony Awards , along with Goodman and Steppenwolf. Broadway In Chicago , created in July 2000, hosts touring productions and Broadway musical previews at: Bank of America Theatre , Cadillac Palace Theatre , Ford Center for

3312-698: The Washington and Jackson Parks. During World War I and the 1920s there was a major expansion in industry. The availability of jobs attracted African Americans from the Southern United States . Between 1910 and 1930, the African American population of Chicago increased dramatically, from 44,103 to 233,903. This Great Migration had an immense cultural impact, called the Chicago Black Renaissance , part of

3404-458: 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. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan , Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837 near a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed . It grew rapidly in the mid-19th century. In 1871,

3496-576: The 1780s. He is commonly known as the "Founder of Chicago." In 1795, following the victory of the new United States in the Northwest Indian War , an area that was to be part of Chicago was turned over to the U.S. for a military post by native tribes in accordance with the Treaty of Greenville . In 1803, the U.S. Army constructed Fort Dearborn , which was destroyed during the War of 1812 in

3588-494: The 1800s, Chicago became the nation's railroad hub, and by 1910 over 20 railroads operated passenger service out of six different downtown terminals. In 1883, Chicago's railway managers needed a general time convention, so they developed the standardized system of North American time zones . This system for telling time spread throughout the continent. In 1893, Chicago hosted the World's Columbian Exposition on former marshland at

3680-849: The 57th mayor of Chicago. Chicago is located in northeastern Illinois on the southwestern shores of freshwater Lake Michigan. It is the principal city in the Chicago Metropolitan Area , situated in both the Midwestern United States and the Great Lakes region . The city rests on a continental divide at the site of the Chicago Portage, connecting the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes watersheds . In addition to it lying beside Lake Michigan, two rivers—the Chicago River in downtown and

3772-636: The Big Shoulders. In the mid-18th century, the area was inhabited by the Potawatomi , an indigenous tribe who had succeeded the Miami , Sauk and Meskwaki peoples in this region. The first known permanent settler in Chicago was trader Jean Baptiste Point du Sable . Du Sable was of African descent, perhaps born in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (Haiti), and established the settlement in

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3864-637: The Brewers Association, Chicago had the most breweries of any metropolitan area in the country, with 167 total. Included among these are craft brewers like Half Acre , Metropolitan , Off Color , Pipeworks and Revolution Brewing . The two largest breweries in Chicago are Lagunitas , based in Petaluma, California and now owned by Heineken International , and Goose Island , founded in Chicago in 1988 and now owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev . Annual events include Illinois Craft Beer Week,

3956-455: The Chicago River were devastated; by 1933 over 50% of industrial jobs in the city had been lost, and unemployment rates amongst blacks and Mexicans in the city were over 40%. The Republican political machine in Chicago was utterly destroyed by the economic crisis, and every mayor since 1931 has been a Democrat . From 1928 to 1933, the city witnessed a tax revolt, and the city was unable to meet payroll or provide relief efforts. The fiscal crisis

4048-476: The Culinary Historians of Chicago held a "Grits and Greens" conference at Harold Washington College. The conference was focused on highlighting the contribution of African-American women in shaping the culinary culture of Chicago's black community. Over the course of two days, the event brought together an array of people, including authors, chefs, and professors. The programming of the event featured

4140-776: The Festival of Barrel-Aged Beers (known as FOBAB), the Chicago Beer Festival, and the Chicago Beer Classic. In the mid- to late-20th century, the most popular beer in Chicago was Old Style , a mass-produced lager that at the time was brewed by G. Heileman in La Crosse, Wisconsin . The Old Style brand is now owned by the Pabst Brewing Company which supervises its production under contract by MillerCoors . Jeppson's Malört

4232-535: The Mississippi River. In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed an area about 4 miles (6.4 km) long and 1-mile (1.6 km) wide, a large section of the city at the time. Much of the city, including railroads and stockyards , survived intact, and from the ruins of the previous wooden structures arose more modern constructions of steel and stone. These set a precedent for worldwide construction. During its rebuilding period, Chicago constructed

4324-685: The Northwest side and Archer Avenue on the Southwest side. A large concentration of Vietnamese restaurants can be found in the Argyle Street district in Uptown . Along with ethnic fare and fast food, Chicago is home to many steakhouses , as well as a number of upscale dining establishments serving a wide array of cuisine. Some notable destinations include Frontera Grill , a gourmet Mexican restaurant owned by chef and Mexico: One Plate at

4416-474: The Otter Nonsense Players, Middlebury College's improv troupe. Chicago, Illinois 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 ,

4508-622: The Performing Arts Oriental Theatre . Broadway In Chicago provides over 7,500 jobs and an economic impact of over $ 635 million. Polish language productions for Chicago's large Polish speaking population can be seen at the historic Gateway Theatre in Jefferson Park . The Lyric Opera of Chicago , founded in 1954, performs in the Civic Opera House . The Civic Opera House was built in 1929 on

4600-1163: The Slate Comedy Festival at The George Washington University ; the Out of the Loop Festival at the WaterTower Theatre in Texas; and the annual Del Close Marathon run by the UCB Theatre in New York City . In 2010 and 2011, the Crayon advanced to the finals of the East Coast Regionals of the College Improv Tournament, a national competition hosted by the Chicago Improv Festival , losing to Seriously Bent, Suffolk University's improv troupe, and

4692-407: The South arrived in the city to work in the steel mills, railroads, and shipping yards. On December 2, 1942, physicist Enrico Fermi conducted the world's first controlled nuclear reaction at the University of Chicago as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project . This led to the creation of the atomic bomb by the United States, which it used in World War II in 1945. Mayor Richard J. Daley ,

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4784-455: The Thrill Kill Kult , Material Issue , Liz Phair , Urge Overkill , and The Smashing Pumpkins hail from Chicago. Contemporary rock bands The Lawrence Arms , Soil , Kill Hannah and Wilco are also Chicago-based. The 2000s have seen local artists Disturbed , Alkaline Trio , The Academy Is , Rise Against , The Audition , Spitalfield , Chevelle , the Plain White T's , Kanye West , Lupe Fiasco , and Fall Out Boy also attain success in

4876-454: The Town of Chicago was organized with a population of about 200. Within seven years it grew to more than 6,000 people. On June 15, 1835, the first public land sales began with Edmund Dick Taylor as Receiver of Public Monies. The City of Chicago was incorporated on Saturday, March 4, 1837, and for several decades was the world's fastest-growing city. As the site of the Chicago Portage , the city became an important transportation hub between

4968-542: The U.S. Chicago has become known for indie rockers following in the paths of the Smashing Pumpkins, Urge Overkill, Wilco, and The Jesus Lizard; bands like The Sea and Cake , Califone , OK Go , Andrew Bird and Umphrey's McGee hail from the city. Tim and Mike Kinsella, hailing from Chicago, fronted several seminal 90s emo bands: Cap'n Jazz , American Football , Owen , Joan of Arc , and Owls . Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger of The Fiery Furnaces , who now reside in Brooklyn, New York are originally from Oak Park, Illinois,

5060-668: The United States of foreign parentage. Germans , Irish , Poles , Swedes , and Czechs made up nearly two-thirds of the foreign-born population (by 1900, whites were 98.1% of the city's population). Labor conflicts followed the industrial boom and the rapid expansion of the labor pool, including the Haymarket affair on May 4, 1886, and in 1894 the Pullman Strike . Anarchist and socialist groups played prominent roles in creating very large and highly organized labor actions. Concern for social problems among Chicago's immigrant poor led Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr to found Hull House in 1889. Programs that were developed there became

5152-522: The United States' first comprehensive sewerage system. The project raised much of central Chicago to a new grade with the use of jackscrews for raising buildings. While elevating Chicago, and at first improving the city's health, the untreated sewage and industrial waste now flowed into the Chicago River , and subsequently into Lake Michigan , polluting the city's primary freshwater source. The city responded by tunneling two miles (3.2 km) out into Lake Michigan to newly built water cribs . In 1900,

5244-1047: The advent of the Chicago house in the 1980s, the city is also the birthplace of the house style of music, which helped lead to the development of techno music in Detroit , Michigan . Chicago artists have played an influential role in the R&B–soul genre. Popular R&B or soul artists to hail from Chicago include Sam Cooke , R. Kelly , Curtis Mayfield , The Impressions , Jerry Butler , The Chi-Lites , Ahmad Jamal , Dave Hollister , Jennifer Hudson , Baby Huey , and Carl Thomas . Prominent figures from Chicago blues include Sunnyland Slim , Howlin' Wolf , Muddy Waters , Sonny Boy Williamson , Willie Dixon , Elmore James , Albert King , Koko Taylor , Otis Spann , Little Walter , Lonnie Brooks , Junior Wells , Syl Johnson , Buddy Guy , Magic Sam , Magic Slim , Luther Allison , Freddie King , Eddy Clearwater , and Otis Rush . Jazz musicians based in Chicago have included Jelly Roll Morton , Bix Beiderbecke , Benny Goodman , Sun Ra , Von Freeman , and Dinah Washington . The city

5336-537: The chain of events surrounding the Great Chicago Fire led Chicago resident Horatio Spafford to write the hymn " It Is Well With My Soul ". Annual music festivals in Chicago with free admission include the Chicago Blues Festival , the Chicago Jazz Festival , the Grant Park Music Festival , and World Music Festival Chicago . Annual ticketed festivals in the city include Lollapalooza , Pitchfork Music Festival , Riot Fest , North Coast Music Festival , Spring Awakening , Ruido Fest , and Chicago Open Air . Chicago

5428-412: The city include the central business district, called the Loop , and the North, South , and West Sides . The three sides of the city are represented on the Flag of Chicago by three horizontal white stripes. The North Side is the most-densely-populated residential section of the city, and many high-rises are located on this side of the city along the lakefront. The South Side is the largest section of

5520-408: The city was affected by a series of tenant rent strikes , which lead to the formation of the Chicago Tenants Protective association, passage of the Kessenger tenant laws, and of a heat ordinance that legally required flats to be kept above 68 °F during winter months by landlords. Chicago was the first American city to have a homosexual-rights organization. The organization, formed in 1924,

5612-415: The city's first African American woman mayor and its first openly LGBTQ mayor, was elected to succeed Emanuel as mayor in 2019. 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 the city treasurer was Melissa Conyears-Ervin . On May 15, 2023, Brandon Johnson assumed office as

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5704-424: The city's first female mayor, was elected. She was notable for temporarily moving into the crime-ridden Cabrini-Green housing project and for leading Chicago's school system out of a financial crisis. In 1983, Harold Washington became the first black mayor of Chicago. Washington's first term in office directed attention to poor and previously neglected minority neighborhoods. He was re‑elected in 1987 but died of

5796-418: The city, encompassing roughly 60% of the city's land area. The South Side contains most of the facilities of the Port of Chicago . Culture of Chicago The culture of Chicago , Illinois is known for the invention or significant advancement of several performing arts, including improvisational comedy , house music , industrial music , blues , hip hop , gospel , jazz and soul . The city

5888-407: The convention hall, with anti-war protesters, journalists and bystanders being beaten by police. 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. In 1979, Jane Byrne ,

5980-462: The country's "most exceptional dining destination" and in 2008, Maxim awarded Chicago the title of "Tastiest City." The most popular Chicago-style foods are: Other Chicago-style dishes include: Chicago features many restaurants that highlight the city's various ethnic neighborhoods, including Chinatown on the South Side, Swedish/Nordic Andersonville on North Clark Street, Greektown on Halsted Street, and Little Italy on Taylor Street and

6072-432: The district and forcing a shutdown of electrical power. The area was shut down for three days and some buildings did not reopen for weeks; losses were estimated at $ 1.95 billion. On February 23, 2011, Rahm Emanuel , a former White House Chief of Staff and member of the House of Representatives , won the mayoral election. Emanuel was sworn in as mayor on May 16, 2011, and won re-election in 2015. Lori Lightfoot ,

6164-540: The east bank of the South Branch of the Chicago River . The Lyric Opera purchased the Civic Opera House in 1993. The Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago was founded by Lithuanian Chicagoans in 1956, and presents operas in Lithuanian . It celebrated fifty years of existence in 2006, and operates as a not-for-profit organization. It is noteworthy for performing the rarely staged Rossini's William Tell (1986) and Ponchielli's I Lituani (1981, 1983 and 1991), and also for contributing experienced chorus singers to

6256-436: The eastern and western United States. Chicago's first railway, Galena and Chicago Union Railroad , and the Illinois and Michigan Canal opened in 1848. The canal allowed steamboats and sailing ships on the Great Lakes to connect to the Mississippi River. A flourishing economy brought residents from rural communities and immigrants from abroad. Manufacturing and retail and finance sectors became dominant, influencing

6348-436: The eponymous wild "garlic" grew profusely in the area. 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. The city has had several nicknames throughout its history, such as the Windy City , Chi-Town, Second City, and City of

6440-416: The fair was technological innovation over the century since Chicago's founding. During World War II , the city of Chicago alone produced more steel than the United Kingdom every year from 1939 – 1945, and more than Nazi Germany from 1943 – 1945. The Great Migration, which had been on pause due to the Depression, resumed at an even faster pace in the second wave , as hundreds of thousands of blacks from

6532-416: The group often experiments with various styles and forms. Among the improvisation, theater, and comedy festivals in which The Purple Crayon has appeared are the National College Comedy Festival at Skidmore College , on and off since its inception in 1990 by 30 Rock producer David Miner ; the Bellwether Improv Festival at Ohio State University ; Brown University 's College Hill Longform Improv Festival;

6624-412: The largest and most diverse finance derivatives market in the world, generating 20% of all volume in commodities and financial futures alone. O'Hare International Airport is routinely ranked among the world's top six busiest airports by passenger traffic , and the region is also the nation's railroad hub. The Chicago area has one of the highest gross domestic products (GDP) of any urban region in

6716-604: The longest running plays in the country—the Neo-Futurists ' Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind , an ensemble of 30 plays in 60 minutes. Since their foundings in 1925 and 1974, Goodman Theatre , downtown, and Steppenwolf Theatre Company on the city's north side have nurtured generations of actors, directors, and playwrights. They have grown into internationally renowned companies of artists. Many other theaters, from nearly 100 black box performances spaces like

6808-451: The lowest points are along the lake shore at 578 ft (176.2 m), while the highest point, at 672 ft (205 m), is the morainal ridge of Blue Island in the city's far south side. Lake Shore Drive runs adjacent to a large portion of Chicago's waterfront. Some of the parks along the waterfront include Lincoln Park , Grant Park , Burnham Park , and Jackson Park . There are 24 public beaches across 26 miles (42 km) of

6900-670: The metropolitan areas have two baseball teams — Chicago, New York City , Los Angeles , and the San Francisco Bay Area — and of these four, only Chicago has had the same two teams since the American League was established in 1901. The Chicago White Sox of the American League , who won the World Series in 1906, 1917, and 2005, play at Guaranteed Rate Field , located on the city's South Side in

6992-597: The national stage. Lincoln was nominated in Chicago for U.S. president at the 1860 Republican National Convention , which was held in a purpose-built auditorium called the Wigwam . He defeated Douglas in the general election, and this set the stage for the American Civil War . To accommodate rapid population growth and demand for better sanitation, the city improved its infrastructure. In February 1856, Chicago's Common Council approved Chesbrough 's plan to build

7084-761: The popular children's book Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson , whose protagonist, Harold, uses a purple crayon to draw his imagination into reality. The original Purple Crayon had 13 founding members: Eric Berg, ‘87 Frances Barney, ‘89 David Baron, ‘87 Frank DeSantis, ‘88 Tom Dowe, ‘87 Leslie Goldman, ‘88 Adam Gross, ‘88 Liz Hutchinson, ‘88 Ian Jacobs, ‘87 Phil LaMarr, ‘88 Carla Power, ‘88 John Sylvain, 87 Bliss Tobin, ‘86. The group performs several shows each year on campus, appears at various comedy festivals, performs at (usually local) events and locations, and tours each spring and fall. Performances mostly consist of one or two 25-minute Harold sets, though

7176-565: The present location of Jackson Park . The Exposition drew 27.5 million visitors, and is considered the most influential world's fair in history. The University of Chicago , formerly at another location, moved to the same South Side location in 1892. 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

7268-613: The problem of sewage contamination was largely resolved when the city completed a major engineering feat. It reversed the flow of the Chicago River so that the water flowed away from Lake Michigan rather than into it. This project began with the construction and improvement of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and was completed with the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal that connects to the Illinois River , which flows into

7360-593: The runways. After successfully running for re-election five times, and becoming Chicago's longest-serving mayor, Richard M. Daley declined to run for a seventh term. In 1992, a construction accident near the Kinzie Street Bridge produced a breach connecting the Chicago River to a tunnel below, which was part of an abandoned freight tunnel system extending throughout the downtown Loop district. The tunnels filled with 250 million US gallons (1,000,000 m ) of water, affecting buildings throughout

7452-587: The steel industry in Chicago, but the steel crisis of the 1970s and 1980s reduced this number to just 28,000 in 2015. 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. Two years later, the city hosted the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention , which featured physical confrontations both inside and outside

7544-562: The unemployed. In the spring of 1937 Republic Steel Works witnessed the Memorial Day massacre of 1937 in the neighborhood of East Side. In 1933, Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak was fatally wounded in Miami, Florida , during a failed assassination attempt on President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt . In 1933 and 1934, the city celebrated its centennial by hosting the Century of Progress International Exposition World's Fair . The theme of

7636-664: The waterfront. Landfill extends into portions of the lake providing space for Navy Pier , Northerly Island , the Museum Campus , and large portions of the McCormick Place Convention Center. Most of the city's high-rise commercial and residential buildings are close to the waterfront. An informal name for the entire Chicago metropolitan area is "Chicagoland", which generally means the city and all its suburbs, though different organizations have slightly different definitions. Major sections of

7728-539: The world's first skyscraper in 1885, using steel-skeleton construction. 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

7820-566: The world, generating $ 689 billion in 2018. Chicago's economy is diverse , with no single industry employing more than 14% of the workforce. Chicago is a major destination for tourism , including visitors to its cultural institutions , and Lake Michigan beaches . Chicago's culture has contributed much to the visual arts, literature , film, theater , comedy (especially improvisational comedy ), food , dance, and music (particularly jazz , blues , soul , hip-hop , gospel , and electronic dance music , including house music ). Chicago

7912-431: Was John H. Rauch, M.D. Rauch established a plan for Chicago's park system in 1866. He created Lincoln Park by closing a cemetery filled with shallow graves, and in 1867, in response to an outbreak of cholera he helped establish a new Chicago Board of Health. Ten years later, he became the secretary and then the president of the first Illinois State Board of Health, which carried out most of its activities in Chicago. In

8004-472: Was called the Society for Human Rights . It produced the first American publication for homosexuals, Friendship and Freedom . Police and political pressure caused the organization to disband. The Great Depression brought unprecedented suffering to Chicago, in no small part due to the city's heavy reliance on heavy industry. Notably, industrial areas on the south side and neighborhoods lining both branches of

8096-462: Was founded in 1837, most of the early building was around the mouth of the Chicago River, as can be seen on a map of the city's original 58 blocks. 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. The average land elevation is 579 ft (176.5 m) above sea level . While measurements vary somewhat,

8188-579: Was made in Kentucky briefly, after which it was produced in Florida for many years. In 2018, Jeppson's Malört was acquired by Chicago-based CH Distillery, and in 2019 production was moved back to Chicago. Koval , Chicago's first distillery to operate within city limits since Prohibition, began operation in 2008. Located in the Andersonville neighborhood on the city's North Side, Koval offers

8280-582: Was named after the city, although its original name was the Chicago Transit Authority . The band's name was shortened to Chicago after the CTA threatened to sue them for unauthorized use of the original trademark. Popular 1980s band Survivor is from Chicago. Many mainstream rock bands hail from Chicago or were made famous there. Among these are The Blues Brothers , the aforementioned Chicago, Styx , Cheap Trick , REO Speedwagon , Survivor ,

8372-461: Was repealed. The 1920s saw gangsters , including Al Capone , Dion O'Banion , Bugs Moran and Tony Accardo battle law enforcement and each other on the streets of Chicago during the Prohibition era . Chicago was the location of the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929, when Al Capone sent men to gun down members of a rival gang, North Side, led by Bugs Moran. From 1920 to 1921,

8464-477: Was resolved by 1933, and at the same time, federal relief funding began to flow into Chicago. Chicago was also a hotbed of labor activism, with Unemployed Councils contributing heavily in the early depression to create solidarity for the poor and demand relief; these organizations were created by socialist and communist groups. By 1935 the Workers Alliance of America begun organizing the poor, workers,

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