History of Chicago in Timeline

Chicago, the most populous city in Illinois and the Midwest, ranks as the third-largest city in the United States with a population of 2,746,388 as of 2020. It serves as the county seat of Cook County, the second-most populous county in the U.S. Chicago is the central hub of the Chicago metropolitan area, also known as "Chicagoland," which has a population of 9.6 million residents.

1900: Chicago River Reversal

In 1900, Chicago completed the reversal of the Chicago River's flow away from Lake Michigan, directing it towards the Illinois River to resolve sewage contamination issues.

1900: Chicago's Population Demographics

In 1900, over 77% of Chicago's population was either foreign-born or had foreign-born parents. Germans, Irish, Poles, Swedes, and Czechs made up nearly two-thirds of the foreign-born population.

1901: Establishment of Joliet Junior College

In 1901, William Rainey Harper played a crucial role in creating the junior college concept, leading to the establishment of Joliet Junior College as the first in the nation.

1901: White Sox Play on South Side & Win Pennant

In 1901, the Chicago White Sox continuously played on the South Side and won their first American League pennant.

1905: Benjamin Ferguson Establishes Art Trust

In 1905, Benjamin Ferguson established a trust to fund outdoor public art in Chicago.

1906: Cubs vs White Sox World Series

In 1906, The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox faced each other in a World Series.

1907: Bugmobile Founded

In 1907, Chicago was part of the automobile revolution, hosting the Brass Era car builder Bugmobile, which was founded there.

1908: Cubs Championship Drought Begins

In 1908, the Chicago Cubs began what would become the longest championship drought in American professional sports, lasting until 2016.

1910: Black Population Doubling

Between 1910 and 1920, Chicago's Black population doubled.

1910: Increase in African American Population

Between 1910 and 1930, the African American population of Chicago increased dramatically, from 44,103 to 233,903.

1910: Chicago Railroads

By 1910, over 20 railroads operated passenger service out of six different downtown terminals, establishing Chicago as the nation's railroad hub.

1912: Poetry Magazine Founded

In 1912, Harriet Monroe, working as an art critic for the Chicago Tribune, founded Poetry magazine, which became influential in discovering poets and publishing works such as T. S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock".

1917: White Sox Win World Series

In 1917, the Chicago White Sox won a World Series title.

1919: Chicago Race Riot

In 1919, Chicago experienced racial tensions and violence, including the Chicago race riot.

1919: Prohibition Era Begins

In 1919, the 18th amendment was ratified, ushering in the Prohibition era when alcoholic beverages became illegal.

1920: Black Population Doubling

Between 1920 and 1930, Chicago's Black population doubled again.

1920: Annexation of Neighboring Townships

By 1920, Chicago had grown significantly by incorporating many neighboring townships between 1851 and 1920, driven by the desire to provide residents with municipal services.

1920: Tenant Rent Strikes

From 1920 to 1921, Chicago experienced tenant rent strikes, leading to the formation of the Chicago Tenants Protective Association.

1921: Tenant Rent Strikes

From 1920 to 1921, Chicago experienced tenant rent strikes, leading to the formation of the Chicago Tenants Protective Association.

1924: Society for Human Rights Formed

In 1924, Chicago became the first American city to have a homosexual-rights organization called the Society for Human Rights, which also produced the first American publication for homosexuals, Friendship and Freedom.

1926: Blackhawks Founded

In 1926, the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) began play and are one of the "Original Six" teams of the NHL.

1927: Last Republican Mayor Elected

In 1927, William Thompson was voted into office, making him the last Republican mayor elected in Chicago.

1928: Tax Revolt

From 1928 to 1933, the city witnessed a tax revolt, and the city was unable to meet payroll or provide relief efforts.

1929: St. Valentine's Day Massacre

In 1929, the St. Valentine's Day Massacre occurred in Chicago, orchestrated by Al Capone against Bugs Moran's North Side gang.

1930: Increase in African American Population

Between 1910 and 1930, the African American population of Chicago increased dramatically, from 44,103 to 233,903.

1930: Black Population Concentration

By 1930, two-thirds of Chicago's Black population lived in areas that were 90% Black.

1931: Political Shift

In 1931, due to the economic crisis, the Republican political machine in Chicago was destroyed. Since then, every mayor has been a Democrat.

1933: Fiscal Crisis Resolved

By 1933, Chicago's fiscal crisis was resolved, and federal relief funding began to flow into the city.

1933: Industrial Job Losses

By 1933, over 50% of industrial jobs in Chicago had been lost due to the Great Depression.

1933: Assassination Attempt on Roosevelt

In 1933, Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak was fatally wounded during a failed assassination attempt on President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt in Miami, Florida. Also in 1933, the city celebrated its centennial by hosting the Century of Progress International Exposition World's Fair.

1933: End of Prohibition

In 1933, Prohibition was repealed, marking the end of the gangster era in Chicago.

July 24, 1934: Highest Official Temperature Recorded

On July 24, 1934, Chicago's highest official temperature of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded.

1934: Century of Progress Exposition

In 1934, Chicago continued its centennial celebration by hosting the Century of Progress International Exposition World's Fair. The theme of the fair was technological innovation over the century since Chicago's founding.

1935: Workers Alliance of America

By 1935 the Workers Alliance of America began organizing the poor, workers, and the unemployed in Chicago.

1937: Memorial Day Massacre

In the spring of 1937, the Memorial Day massacre of 1937 occurred at Republic Steel Works in the East Side neighborhood of Chicago.

1939: Steel Production

During World War II, starting in 1939, the city of Chicago alone produced more steel than the United Kingdom every year from 1939 – 1945.

December 2, 1942: First Controlled Nuclear Reaction

On December 2, 1942, Enrico Fermi conducted the world's first controlled nuclear reaction at the University of Chicago as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project.

1942: Boulevard System Building Ends

In 1942, the building of the boulevard system, a network of wide, tree-lined boulevards connecting Chicago parks, was completed intermittently.

1943: Steel Production

During World War II, from 1943 to 1945, the city of Chicago produced more steel than Nazi Germany.

1945: Steel Production

During World War II, the city of Chicago alone produced more steel than the United Kingdom every year until 1945, and more than Nazi Germany from 1943 – 1945.

1945: Use of Atomic Bomb

In 1945, the United States used the atomic bomb, created as a result of the Manhattan Project which was tested in Chicago, during World War II.

1950: Highest Population Recorded

In 1950, Chicago recorded its highest ever population of 3.6 million.

1950: Peak Population

In 1950, Chicago's population reached over 3.6 million.

1953: Moore's Large Interior Form

In 1953, Henry Moore created Large Interior Form.

1955: Richard J. Daley Elected Mayor

In 1955, Richard J. Daley, a Democrat, was elected mayor of Chicago, marking the era of machine politics.

1955: Pope Leo XIV Born

Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago in 1955.

1956: Annexation of O'Hare Airport Land

In 1956, Chicago conducted its last major expansion by annexing the land under O'Hare airport, including a portion of DuPage County.

1956: Lithuanian Opera Company Founded

In 1956, the Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago was founded by Lithuanian Chicagoans, and presents operas in Lithuanian.

1966: Chicago Freedom Movement

In 1966, Martin Luther King Jr. and Albert Raby led the Chicago Freedom Movement, resulting in agreements with Mayor Richard J. Daley.

April 21, 1967: Oak Lawn Tornado

On April 21, 1967, the F4 Oak Lawn tornado moved through the South Side of Chicago.

1968: Democratic National Convention

In 1968, Chicago hosted the Democratic National Convention, marked by confrontations between anti-war protesters and police.

1968: Chicago Imagists

In 1968, members of the Chicago Imagists, such as Roger Brown, Leon Golub, Robert Lostutter, Jim Nutt, and Barbara Rossi produced bizarre representational paintings.

1968: Joseph Jefferson Awards Inaugurated

Since 1968, the Joseph Jefferson Awards are given annually to acknowledge excellence in theater in the Chicago area.

1969: Chicago Imagists

In 1969, members of the Chicago Imagists, such as Roger Brown, Leon Golub, Robert Lostutter, Jim Nutt, and Barbara Rossi produced bizarre representational paintings.

1973: Robert P. Hanrahan Elected

In 1973, Robert P. Hanrahan was elected and served for one term.

1974: Sears Tower Completion

In 1974, the Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) was completed, becoming the world's tallest building at the time.

1975: End of Hanrahan's Term

In 1975, Robert P. Hanrahan's term ended.

1977: Chicago Marathon Established

The Chicago Marathon has been held each year since 1977 except for 1987, when a half marathon was run in its place.

1979: Jane Byrne Elected Mayor

In 1979, Jane Byrne was elected as the city's first female mayor.

1979: Pope John Paul II Visits

Pope John Paul II visited Chicago in 1979.

1983: Harold Washington Elected Mayor

In 1983, Harold Washington became the first black mayor of Chicago.

January 20, 1985: Record Low Temperature

On January 20, 1985, Chicago experienced its lowest recorded temperature of -27 °F (-33 °C).

1985: Bears Win Super Bowl XX

In 1985, the Chicago Bears won Super Bowl XX, marking their ninth NFL Championship.

1987: Harold Washington's Term Ends

Harold Washington was in office from 1983-1987.

1987: Half Marathon Run

In 1987, instead of a full Chicago Marathon, a half marathon was run.

1989: Richard M. Daley Becomes Mayor

In 1989, Richard M. Daley became mayor of Chicago, serving until May 16, 2011, and becoming the city's longest-serving mayor.

1990: Los Angeles Overtakes Chicago

By the time of the official census count in 1990, Los Angeles had overtaken Chicago as the second-largest city in the United States.

1990: Largest Black Majority Region

In 1990, Chicago's South Side and adjoining suburbs formed the largest Black majority region in the United States.

1991: Lollapalooza Originated in Chicago

In 1991, Lollapalooza originated in Chicago and at first travelled to many cities.

1992: Chicago River Flood

In 1992, a construction accident caused the Chicago River to flood an abandoned freight tunnel system, affecting buildings and electrical power in the downtown Loop district.

1992: Illinois Solid Blue

Since 1992, with Chicago's Democratic vote, the state of Illinois has been "solid blue" in presidential elections.

1993: Second Parliament of the World's Religions

The second Parliament of the World's Religions was held in Chicago in 1993.

1994: FIFA World Cup in Chicago

In 1994, the United States hosted a successful FIFA World Cup with games played at Soldier Field in Chicago.

1995: Chicago Heatwave

During the 1995 heatwave, Midway Airport recorded a heat index of 125 °F (52 °C).

1995: Blue Bag Program Implementation

From 1995 to 2008, the city had a blue bag program to divert recyclable refuse from landfills.

1995: Michael Patrick Flanagan Elected

In 1995, Michael Patrick Flanagan was elected and served for one term.

1997: End of Flanagan's Term

In 1997, Michael Patrick Flanagan's term ended.

1997: Chicago Fire Founding

Since their founding in 1997, the Chicago Fire FC have won one league title and four U.S. Open Cups.

1999: Judge Mathis Filmed at NBC Tower

Since 1999, Judge Mathis has been filmed at the NBC Tower.

2000: Population Rise in Census

Chicago experienced a rise in population in the 2000 census.

2001: Boeing Headquarters Move

In 2001, aerospace giant Boeing moved its headquarters from Seattle to the Chicago Loop.

2002: Freight Train Congestion in Chicago

As of 2002, severe freight train congestion caused trains to take as long to get through the Chicago region as it took to get there from the West Coast of the country (about 2 days).

2003: Chicago Named "Most Exceptional Dining Destination"

In 2003, Robb Report named Chicago the country's "most exceptional dining destination".

2005: Lollapalooza Home in Chicago

As of 2005, Lollapalooza's home has been Chicago.

2005: O'Hare Airport Busiest in the World

In 2005, O'Hare International Airport was the world's busiest airport by aircraft movements and the second-busiest by total passenger traffic.

2005: White Sox Win World Series

In 2005, the Chicago White Sox won a World Series title.

2006: Chicago Sky Founded

The Chicago Sky, a professional basketball team playing in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), was founded before the 2006 WNBA season began.

2007: Report on Chicago Music Industry

A 2007 report on the Chicago music industry by the University of Chicago Cultural Policy Center ranked Chicago third among metropolitan U.S. areas in "size of music industry" and fourth among all U.S. cities in "number of concerts and performances".

2008: End of Blue Bag Program

From 1995 to 2008, the city had a blue bag program to divert recyclable refuse from landfills.

2008: Parking Meter System Lease

In 2008, Chicago agreed to a 75-year, $1.16 billion deal to lease its parking meter system to Chicago Parking Meters LLC, operated by Morgan Stanley.

2008: Merchandise Mart Loses Zip Code

In 2008, the Merchandise Mart, previously the largest building in the world, lost its unique zip code.

2009: Chicago Relinquishes Public Street Parking Rights

Since 2009 Chicago relinquished rights to its public street parking.

2010: Increase in Volume of Imported and Exported Goods Transported Via Rail

According to U.S. Department of Transportation, the volume of imported and exported goods transported via rail to, from, or through Chicago is forecast to increase nearly 150 percent between 2010 and 2040.

2010: Population Decrease

After a population decrease in 2010, Chicago's population rose again.

2010: Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup

In 2010, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.

February 23, 2011: Rahm Emanuel Wins Mayoral Election

On February 23, 2011, Rahm Emanuel won the mayoral election in Chicago.

May 16, 2011: Rahm Emanuel Sworn In

On May 16, 2011, Rahm Emanuel was sworn in as mayor of Chicago.

2011: Winter Blizzard

In the winter of 2011, Chicago experienced a notable blizzard.

September 10, 2012: Chicago Teachers Union Strike

On September 10, 2012, the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike for the first time since 1987, protesting over issues related to pay, resources, and other concerns.

2012: Sanctuary City Ordinance

In 2012, Chicago became a 'de jure' sanctuary city when Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the City Council passed the Welcoming City Ordinance.

July 2013: Launch of Divvy Bike-Sharing System

In July 2013, the Divvy bicycle-sharing system was launched in Chicago with 750 bikes and 75 docking stations. It is operated by Lyft for the Chicago Department of Transportation.

2013: Top Corporate Relocation

From 2013 through 2018, Chicago was ranked as the nation's top metropolitan area for corporate relocations for six consecutive years.

2013: Chicago Violent Crime and Gang Activity

In 2013, Chicago experienced significant violent crime, largely attributed to gang activity and drug-selling territories controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel. The violent crime rate was 910 per 100,000 people, and the murder rate was 10.4 per 100,000, with high-crime districts seeing 38.9 murders per 100,000 compared to 2.5 in low-crime districts.

2013: Illegal Campaign Contributions by Alderpersons

In 2013, a report from the Office of the Legislative Inspector General indicated that over half of Chicago's elected alderpersons took illegal campaign contributions, highlighting the city's ongoing issues with public corruption.

2013: Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup

In 2013, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.

2013: Chicago Stars FC Join NWSL

In 2013, the Chicago Stars FC joined the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

2013: Chicago Public School Enrollment

In the 2013-2014 school year, the Chicago school district had an enrollment exceeding 400,545 students, making it the third-largest in the U.S.

2013: Same-Sex Marriage Legalization

Since the 2013 legalization of same-sex marriage in Illinois, over 10,000 same-sex couples have wed in Cook County, with the majority in Chicago.

2014: Religion in Chicago

According to a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center, Christianity is the most prevalently practiced religion in Chicago (71%).

2014: Data Compiled on Chicago's "choice system"

According to data compiled in 2014, Chicago's "choice system" sorts students of different achievement levels into different schools (high performing, middle performing, and low performing schools).

2014: Illinois Medical District Ranking

For 2014–16, U.S. News & World Report ranked Rush University Medical Center as the second-best hospital in the Chicago metropolitan area.

2014: Catholic Church Largest Denomination

In 2014 the Catholic Church was the largest individual Christian denomination (34%), with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago being the largest Catholic jurisdiction.

2014: Chicago Attracts Over 50 Million Visitors

In 2014, Chicago attracted 50.17 million domestic leisure travelers, 11.09 million domestic business travelers and 1.308 million overseas visitors. These visitors contributed more than US$13.7 billion to Chicago's economy.

2014: Non-Christian Faiths

In 2014, Non-Christian faiths accounted for 7% of the religious population in Chicago, with Judaism accounting for 3% of the population.

2015: Households Without Cars in Chicago

In 2015, 26.5 percent of Chicago households were without a car.

2015: Rahm Emanuel Re-election

In 2015, Rahm Emanuel won re-election as mayor.

2015: LGBT Identification

In 2015, roughly 4% of Chicago's population identified as LGBT.

2015: Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup

In 2015, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.

2015: Steel Industry Employment

In 2015, the steel industry in Chicago employed just 28,000 workers, a significant decline from its peak of 250,000 during the 1960s.

2016: Households Without Cars in Chicago

In 2016, 27.5 percent of Chicago households were without a car. Chicago averaged 1.12 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8.

2016: Cubs Win World Series

In 2016, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, ending their championship drought.

September 2017: Gross Metropolitan Product

According to September 2017 estimates, Chicago has the third-largest gross metropolitan product in the United States, about $670.5 billion.

2017: Chicago Ranked Sixth-Most Walkable City

A 2017 study by Walk Score ranked Chicago the sixth-most walkable of fifty largest cities in the United States.

2017: Northwestern Memorial Hospital Ranking

For 2017–18, U.S. News & World Report ranked Northwestern Memorial Hospital as the best hospital in the Chicago metropolitan area.

2017: Derivatives Trading

In 2017, Chicago exchanges traded 4.7 billion in derivatives.

2017: WYCC Ends PBS Affiliation

In 2017, WYCC 20, the second PBS member station in Chicago, ended its affiliation with PBS.

2018: Windy City Live in Chicago

As of 2018, Windy City Live is Chicago's only daytime talk show, which is hosted by Val Warner and Ryan Chiaverini at ABC7 Studios with a live weekday audience.

2018: Top Corporate Relocation

From 2013 through 2018, Chicago was ranked as the nation's top metropolitan area for corporate relocations for six consecutive years.

2018: Ultra-High-Net-Worth Residents

In 2018, Chicago ranked seventh globally for the highest number of ultra-high-net-worth residents, with roughly 3,300 residents worth more than $30 million.

2018: LGBTQ Population Estimate

In 2018, the Chicago Department of Health estimated that approximately 7.5% of the adult population, or 146,000 Chicagoans, were LGBTQ.

2018: Chicago Park Boulevard System Listed on National Register

In 2018, the Chicago Park Boulevard System Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2018: Chicago's GDP

In 2018, the Chicago area generated $689 billion in gross domestic product (GDP).

January 2019: Newsy Production in Chicago

In January 2019, Newsy began producing 12 of its 14 hours of live news programming per day from its new facility in Chicago.

January 2019: Polar Vortex

In January 2019, a polar vortex event nearly broke Chicago's record low temperature.

May 2019: Chicago's Electric Shared Scooter Pilot Program Announcement

In May 2019, The City of Chicago announced its Chicago's Electric Shared Scooter Pilot Program, scheduled to run from June 15 to October 15.

July 2019: Divvy Operations Update

As of July 2019, Divvy operated 5800 bicycles at 608 stations, covering almost all of the city, excluding Pullman, Rosedale, Beverly, Belmont Cragin and Edison Park.

July 2019: Summer Heat Wave

During the July 2019 heat wave, dew point temperatures in Chicago reached nearly 80 °F (27 °C).

July 2019: Racial and Ethnic Composition

According to U.S. census estimates as of July 2019, Chicago's largest racial or ethnic group is non-Hispanic White at 32.8%, followed by Blacks at 30.1% and the Hispanic population at 29.0%.

2019: Lori Lightfoot Elected Mayor

In 2019, Lori Lightfoot, the city's first African American woman and openly LGBTQ mayor, was elected.

2019: Nexstar Media Group Acquires WGN

In 2019, Nexstar Media Group acquired WGN from Tribune Broadcasting, gaining a majority stake in The CW network.

2020: Jewish Population Estimate

A 2020 study estimated the total Jewish population of the Chicago metropolitan area, both religious and irreligious, at 319,500.

2020: Population Rise in Census

Chicago's population rose again for the 2020 census.

2020: Crime Rate in Chicago

In 2020, Chicago's crime rate was 3,926 per 100,000 people.

2020: Chicago Census Data

In 2020, the census recorded Chicago's population as 2,746,388, making it the third-most populous city in the United States.

2021: Walkability Ranking

In 2021, Chicago was ranked the fourth-most walkable large city in the United States.

2021: Minimum Wage Reaches $15

In 2021, Chicago's minimum wage for non-tipped employees reached $15, making it one of the highest in the nation.

2021: WGN America Becomes NewsNation

In 2021, WGN America transitioned to NewsNation.

2022: Ancestral Groups

According to the 2022 American Community Survey, the specific ancestral groups having 10,000 or more persons in Chicago were identified.

2022: Median Household Income

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey data estimates for 2022, the median income for a household in Chicago was $70,386, and the per capita income was $45,449.