Statistics & Facts about Chicago

The population of Chicago is approximately 2,783,726 (1990). The approximate number of families is 1,133,039 (1990).The distance from Chicago to Washington DC is 619 miles. The distance to the Illinois state capital is 177 miles. (as the crow flies) Chicago is positioned 41.83 degrees north of the equator and 87.68 degrees west of the prime meridian. Chicago elevation is 578.5 feet above sea level.

Location

Chicago location: Stretching 29 miles along the shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago is a large city in Illinois, traditionally divided between the North, West and South sides. The central part of the city is commonly known as "the Loop."

Climate & Weather

Chicago average temperature is 49.9 degrees F. The average low temperature is 21.0 degrees F. The average high temperature is 73.2 degrees F.

History about Chicago

It wasn't until 1833 that Chicago was incorporated as a town.

Commerce and Economy

It was in 1779 that Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, the first settler of Chicago, established a trading post. He chose the north bank of the Chicago River as the site for his post. Chicago continued to grow and develop as more settlers came.Chicago had a 60-mile underground narrow gauge electric railway that operated with 149 locomotives and over 3000 freight cars forty feet below the streets of downtown Chicago from 1906 until 1959 During the 1900's, progress continued in Chicago. In 1909, Daniel Burnham's Chicago Plan was published. In 1933 another major exposition came to Chicago. This one was a Century of Progress International Exposition. In 1955, the O'Hare Airport began its operations.