Basic information about Chicago

The city is located in the Midwest USA, in the state of Illinois. It is one of the three largest metropolitan areas in America (after New York and Los Angeles). Chicago has a population of over 2.6 million people. The city is spread out on the shores of Lake Michigan. It also has the Calumet and Chicago Rivers and a water canal that connects the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes.

From ancient times, Indian tribes have lived along the shores of Lake Michigan. After Europeans arrived on the continent in 1674, a missionary post was built on the site of present-day Chicago, which in 1803 became a defensive fort that repelled Indian attacks. As a separate settlement, Chicago was founded in 1833. It was then that it first appeared on the map of the United States. Four years later it received the status of a city.

In 1837, Chicago was almost destroyed by a terrible fire, the cause of which is still unknown. Fortunately, the city was quickly rebuilt.

In 1885, the world's first skyscraper was built in Chi for (funny to say) as many as 10 floors. Since then, the era of high-rises began here. Today there are more than 300 of them on the streets of the city.

In the 20s and 30s of the twentieth century, Chicago became world-famous as the capital of gangsters. The city came completely under the control of criminal groups. Their power ended only after the arrest of the mafia leader - the famous Al Capone.

Today Chicago is a developed metropolis with a thriving economy, rich architecture and world cultural heritage.