[17] The economy of Chicago is diverse, with no single industry employing more than 14% of the workforce. Rauch established a plan for Chicago's park system in 1866. [67] This system for telling time spread throughout the continent. 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. [256] They have won three World Series titles, including the 2016 World Series, but had the dubious honor of having the two longest droughts in American professional sports: They had not won their sport's title since 1908, and had not participated in a World Series since 1945, both records, until they beat the Cleveland Indians in the 2016 World Series. By 1850 Irish immigrants accounted for about one-fifth of the city's population. An attempt was made in the early 20th century to link Chicago with New York City via the Chicago New York Electric Air Line Railroad. By 2006, the cartel sought to control most illicit drug sales. The Republican political machine in Chicago was utterly destroyed by the economic crisis, and every mayor since 1931 has been a Democrat.[78]. 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 University of Chicago Oriental Institute has an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern archaeological artifacts. [311], Chicago high school rankings are determined by the average test scores on state achievement tests. [186] The city has also been rated as having the most balanced economy in the United States, due to its high level of diversification. 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: ), Other Nondenominational (Evangelical Trad. It is the seat of several dioceses. [9] The construction boom accelerated population growth throughout the following decades, and by 1900, less than 30 years after the fire, Chicago was the fifth-largest city in the world. [76], Chicago was the first American city to have a homosexual-rights organization. Ansari, Azadeh and Rosa Flores (January 2, 2017). The independents finally gained control of city government in 1983 with the election of Harold Washington (in office 19831987). [282] Chicago had a murder rate of 18.5 per 100,000 residents in 2012, ranking 16th among US cities with 100,000 people or more. While the Chicago Loop is the central business district, Chicago is also a city of neighborhoods. [3], In 2000, 21.7% of the population was foreign born; of this, 56.3% came from Latin America, 23.1% from Europe, 18.0% from Asia and 2.6% from other parts of the world. [342], Chicago is the largest hub in the railroad industry. 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA The challenge for early writers was that Chicago was a frontier outpost that transformed into a global metropolis in the span of two generations. [288] Violent crime rates vary significantly by area of the city, with more economically developed areas having low rates, but other sections have much higher rates of crime. All eight of the city's representatives are Democrats; only two Republicans have represented a significant portion of the city since 1973, for one term each: Robert P. Hanrahan from 1973 to 1975, and Michael Patrick Flanagan from 1995 to 1997. [242] The tradition of serving the Greek dish saganaki while aflame has its origins in Chicago's Greek community. The Exposition drew 27.5million visitors, and is considered the most influential world's fair in history. The U.S. Chicago's flourishing economy attracted huge numbers of new immigrants from Europe and migrants from the Eastern United States. The Chicago Pride Parade, held the last Sunday in June, is one of the world's largest with over a million people in attendance. From the 1950s through 1970s, American poetry continued to evolve in Chicago. [326][327], Chicago has also been the setting of a number of television shows, including the situation comedies Perfect Strangers and its spinoff Family Matters, Married with Children, Punky Brewster, Kenan & Kel, Still Standing, The League, The Bob Newhart Show, and Shake It Up. [351], Electricity for most of northern Illinois is provided by Commonwealth Edison, also known as ComEd. May 02, 2012 at 10:49 am. City of Chicago :: Facts & Statistics The Demographic Statistical Atlas of the United States - Statistical Atlas [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. Students at the University of Chicago identify with various faith practices or do not actively identify with any faith practices at all. Explore the data and maps. [278] For much of the 20th century, Chicago has been among the largest and most reliable Democratic strongholds in the United States; with Chicago's Democratic vote the state of Illinois has been "solid blue" in presidential elections since 1992. The 2020 Census of American Religion - PRRI The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. [97], Chicago is located in northeastern Illinois on the southwestern shores of freshwater Lake Michigan. Judaism has at least 261,000 adherents which is 3% of the population, making it the second largest religion. There is a substantial Cuban population in Chicago. In 2015, roughly 4% of the population identified as LGBTQ+. Chicago is also a prominent center of the Polish Cathedral style of church architecture. [243] The appetizer, which consists of a square of fried cheese, is doused with Metaxa and flambed table-side. PDF SURVEY RESULTS APRIL 2017 - University of Chicago These relationships have sought to promote economic, cultural, educational, and other ties. At the Call of Duty League's Launch Week games in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Chicago Huntsmen went on to beat both the Dallas Empire and Optic Gaming Los Angeles. Chicago, Illinois Population & Demographics - AreaVibes [236], The Chicago-style hot dog, typically an all-beef hot dog, is loaded with an array of toppings that often includes pickle relish, yellow mustard, pickled sport peppers, tomato wedges, dill pickle spear and topped off with celery salt on a poppy seed bun. Religion Census. [224], In 2014[update], Chicago attracted 50.17million domestic leisure travelers, 11.09million domestic business travelers and 1.308million overseas visitors. [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. The entertainment and cultural magazine Time Out Chicago and GRAB magazine are also published in the city, as well as local music magazine Chicago Innerview. [citation needed] Lollapalooza originated in Chicago in 1991 and at first travelled to many cities, but as of 2005 its home has been Chicago. [126] Multiple kinds and scales of houses, townhouses, condominiums, and apartment buildings can be found throughout Chicago. Frank Gehry's detailed, stainless steel band shell, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, hosts the classical Grant Park Music Festival concert series. Lake Shore Drive runs adjacent to a large portion of Chicago's waterfront. In addition, the Chicago Medical School and Loyola University Chicago's Stritch School of Medicine are located in the suburbs of North Chicago and Maywood, respectively. The Chicago Marathon is one of six World Marathon Majors. Tourists are able to look straight down. In the 1850s, Chicago gained national political prominence as the home of Senator Stephen Douglas, the champion of the KansasNebraska Act and the "popular sovereignty" approach to the issue of the spread of slavery. The Fourth Presbyterian Church is one of the largest Presbyterian congregations in the United States based on memberships. With more than 370 religious bodies,over 350,000 congregations, and over 160 million adherents,the 2020 U.S. The magazine was instrumental in launching the Imagist and Objectivist poetic movements. [209] Chicago also ranks third in the U.S. (behind Las Vegas and Orlando) in number of conventions hosted annually. In 1900, 470,000 Chicagoansone out of every four residentshad either been born in Germany or had a parent born there. [citation needed], Chicago contains a number of large, outdoor works by well-known artists. [229], The Willis Tower (formerly named Sears Tower) is a popular destination for tourists. 1935: Chicago Cubs secure a record as the third-longest unbeaten MLB game streak with 21 consecutive wins. [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]. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. 36 annual parades The city has major financial and futures exchanges, including the Chicago Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (the "Merc"), which is owned, along with the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) by Chicago's CME Group. Average male age is 32 and average female age is 33, so average state age is 33. Although their numbers dropped because of reduced emigration from Germany and because World War I had made it unpopular to acknowledge one's German heritage, 22 percent of Chicago's population still did so in 1920. [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. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males. Chicagoans have over 580 parks and 8,300 acres of green spaces at their disposal. Navy Pier, located just east of Streeterville, is 3,000ft (910m) long and houses retail stores, restaurants, museums, exhibition halls and auditoriums. [158], In the 1920s and 1930s, the great majority of African Americans moving to Chicago settled in a socalled "Black Belt" on the city's South Side. [271][272], With berths for more than 6,000 boats, the Chicago Park District operates the nation's largest municipal harbor system. [79] The theme of the fair was technological innovation over the century since Chicago's founding. [34] Within seven years it grew to more than 6,000 people. After the fire, religious activity kept pace with Chicago's tremendous population growth, from 300,000 in 1870 to 1.3 million in the early 1890s and more than 3 million by the onset of the Great Depression . About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. 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).