Welcome to Key to the City's page for
Chicago
Cook County,
Zip Code
The Windy City
City of the Big Shoulders
The Illinois state capital is Springfield.
What would you like to know about Chicago
Statistics & Facts
Location
Weather & Climate
History & History-related items
Chicago historical events.
City Attractions
Chicago Government
Chicago Business Directory.
Chicago Chamber of Commerce.
Chicago Organizations, Churches, and Sports.
Chicago Schools.
Zip Codes
60601, 60602, 60603, 60604, 60605, 60606, 60607, 60608, 60609, 60610, 60611, 60612, 60613, 60614, 60615, 60616, 60617, 60618, 60619, 60620, 60621, 60622, 60623, 60624, 60625, 60626, 60628, 60629, 60630, 60631, 60632, 60636, 60637, 60639, 60640, 60641, 60644, 60647, 60648, 60649, 60651, 60652, 60653, 60654, 60657, 60660, 60661, 60707
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Statistics & Facts
The population of Chicago is approximately 2,783,726 (1990).
The approximate number of families is 1,133,039 (1990).
The amount of land area in Chicago is 588.513 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Chicago is 228.5 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 17.737 sq kilometers.
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.
Chicago miscellany.
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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." Chicago Transit Authority Maps and Schedules Website
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Climate & Weather
The climate for Chicago is moderate with frequent changes. It is fairly warm in the summer and quite cold in the winter. The air movement over the Great Lakes tends to temper the coolness or warmth of the air. Most of the coldest weather comes from the south rather than from over the lakes. Summers usually bring thunderstorms, warm weather and high humidity.
Chicago average annual rainfall is 35.3 inches per year
Chicago average annual snowfall is 38.2 inches per year.
Chicago average temperature is 49.9 degrees F.
The average low temperature is 40 degrees F.
The average high temperature is 59 degrees F.
The average winter temperature is 22 degrees F.
The average spring temperature is 49 degrees F.
The average summer temperature is 74 degrees F.
The average fall temperature is 53 degrees F.
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History & History Related Items
Chicago history: 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. Fort Dearborn was built on the south bank in 1803. It wasn't until 1833 that Chicago was incorporated as a town. Very rapidly, the town expanded and was again incorporated - this time as a city - in 1837. At the time its population was 4,170. Important events in the mid-1800's are the opening of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1848 and the first railroad tracks are laid, also in 1848. In 1865, the Union Stockyards were opened. Disaster struck in the city in 1871 with the Chicago Fire. As the century drew to a close, Chicago had several "firsts". One was the world's first "skyscraper" in 1885. It was a nine-story edifice, the Home Insurance Building. The elevated trains, which began operation in 1892, were a great addition for the city. The opening of the trains came just in time for the World's Columbian Exposition to open in 1893.
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. Harold Washington was elected Chicago's first African-American mayor in 1983. In 1991, the largest public library in the world opened its doors to a new main branch named for previous mayor Harold Washington. A milestone occurred for sports fans when the Chicago Bulls won their third consecutive NBA Championship in 1993. Another first for the city was in 1994 when Chicago held the opening ceremonies and the first game of the first World Cup Soccer championship in the United States. In 1996, the art world gained prominance when the Museum of Contemporary Art moved to its new home in Chicago, the first new museum building constructed in Chicago in 60 years. Also in 1996, the Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago. (This information came from visitors to our site and from the City of Chicago) Chicago Tunnel Company Railroad
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. These tunnels became infamous in 1992 when they became flooded and shut the city down for almost one week. Learn more about the history of the Chicago freight tunnels by visiting the Chicago Tunnel Company Railroad Home Page. Here is nice history page for Chicago. The nickname of "City of Big Shoulders" appears to have come from the poem by renowned American Poet, Carl Sandburg. A portion of the poem goes as follows: "...City of the Big Shoulders... Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning, Flinging...against the little soft cities.." The title "Windy City" was given to Chicago by New York Sun editor Charles Dana in 1893. He was tired of hearing long-winded politicians boasting about the wonders of the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago the same year. A history page for the Wicker Park neighborhood in Chicago. This area was named for two brothers, Charles and Joel Wicker, who, in 1870, donated land for a park to the City of Chicago.
The settling of Chicago: 1779
The founding of Chicago: 1833
The incorporation date of Chicago: 1837
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Attractions
Chicago attractions: Things to see and do in Chicago Chicago Children's Museum
Navy Pier
700 East Grand Avenue
Phone: 312-527-1000
Please call ahead for hours of operation and cost. The Field Museum of Natural History Museum of Science and Industry
57th Street and Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60637-2093
Phone: 773-684-1414
TDD: 773-684-3323 Official Chicago Website Neighborhoods of Chicago:
Wicker Park
1500 N. Wicker Park Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
Phone: 773.276.1723
One of the oldest and most established of Chicago's neighborhoods, come to Wicker Park to see the past with Victorian mansiona and classic brownstones. This area is developing rapidly and offers something for everyone with shopping, clubs, dancing, restaurants, entertainment and much more. Wicker Park is on the northwest side of Chicago. The boundaries are Bloomingdale Street, Western Ave., Division St. and Ashland Ave. Wicker Park and Bucktown, side by side on the northwest side of Chicago, are two of the oldest, most established, and eclectic neighborhoods in the City. Book your travel arrangements now on Expedia.com
 Everything Chicago: Deals, Maps and More! Look for some Fun Facts and Trivia about Chicago.
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