Chicago is one of the most respected and prominent cities in the United States. It has an interesting background and a wonderful mixture of history which gives it its unique ability to still capture the tourist and local hearts as a growing, thriving city. The citizens of Chicago are proud of their city. You often see them walking around in a t-shirt representing the Cubs or the Bulls.
In 1673, two Europeans (with the help of some Indians) discovered Chicago. These two explorers were Louis Jolliet and Jesuit Marquette. A trading post was set up in 1781 around the mouth of the Chicago River. The fort was attacked by Indians many times, but was eventually stopped by the death of Chief Black Hawk. Chicago’s’ name was derived from what the Native Americans from the area.
1870 was the year in which Chicago really grew. The financial growth spurt (which reached 300,000 that year) was greatly influenced by the introduction of the railroad to the city. With this boom came a bit of a misfortune when the Great Fire of Chicago struck down the towns buildings. Although the city was up against a wall with the fire, the citizens of Chicago banded together to rebuild the city they believed in and had come to love. Even though the fire had destroyed much of the original architecture of the city, it also gave a new face to what was now the New Chicago. The city reintroduced itself at the 1893 World Fair where the “White City” had visitors bedazzled and very impressed. Daniel Burnham, in 1909, made an original and very attractive plan in which the streets of Chicago became wider and included an array of smartly arranged parks.
Chicago was the first to introduce a skyscraper to its layout in 1884. But it didn’t stop with just building the first skyscraper, but also the tallest, with the addition of the 1974 Sears Tower. With many families in the middle class leaving the suburbs in the 1950′s, many of Chicago’s populated areas became desolate. As with many of the US cities after World War 2, Chicago was in the lines to be re-colonized in its big city spots. It has since then been successful and is still in the process of the rehabilitation of some of these areas.