History of Chicago in Timeline
Chicago is the most populous city in Illinois and the Midwest, and the third-most populous in the United States with a population of over 2.7 million as of 2020. It is the county seat of Cook County, the second-most populous county in the U.S., and the center of the Chicago metropolitan area (Chicagoland), home to 9.6 million residents.
1900: End of Influential Literary Period
Around 1900, the period from the Great Chicago Fire had a lasting influence on American literature.
1900: Immigrant Population
In 1900, over 77% of Chicago's population was either foreign-born or born in the United States of foreign parentage.
1900: Reversal of Chicago River
In 1900, the city completed a major engineering feat, reversing the flow of the Chicago River to flow away from Lake Michigan, resolving sewage contamination issues.
1901: First Junior College Established
In 1901, William Rainey Harper established Joliet Junior College as the first junior college in the nation.
1901: White Sox Play on South Side
Since 1901, the White Sox have continuously played on the South Side.
1905: Benjamin Ferguson's Trust
In 1905, donors such as Benjamin Ferguson established funding for public art.
1906: Cubs and White Sox Face off in World Series
In 1906, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox faced each other in a World Series.
1906: White Sox Win World Series
In 1906, the White Sox won a World Series title.
1907: Bugmobile Founding
In 1907, the Brass Era car builder Bugmobile was founded in Chicago.
1908: Cubs Championship Drought Begins
In 1908, the Cubs began the longest championship drought in American professional sports, which lasted until 2016.
1910: Chicago's Black Population Doubling
Between 1910 and 1920, Chicago's black population doubled due to an influx of African Americans from the American South.
1910: Great Migration Begins
Between 1910 and 1930, Chicago experienced a dramatic increase in its African American population, growing from 44,103 to 233,903 due to the availability of jobs during World War I and the 1920s.
1910: Railroad Hub
By 1910, Chicago had become the nation's railroad hub, with over 20 railroads operating passenger service out of six different downtown terminals.
1912: Poetry Magazine Founded
In 1912, Harriet Monroe founded Poetry magazine, which became influential.
1917: White Sox Win World Series
In 1917, the 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 ratification of the 18th amendment ushered in the beginning of the gangster era in Chicago due to Prohibition.
1920: Annexation of Townships
Between 1851 and 1920, Chicago grew by incorporating neighboring townships, driven by the municipal services the city offered its residents. 1920 marked the end of this period.
1920: Chicago's Black Population Doubling Again
Between 1920 and 1930, Chicago's black population doubled again, continuing the influx from the American South.
1920: Tenant Rent Strikes
From 1920 to 1921, Chicago was affected by tenant rent strikes.
1921: Tenant Rent Strikes Resolution
From 1920 to 1921, Chicago was affected by a series of tenant rent strikes, leading to the formation of the Chicago Tenants Protective Association and the passage of tenant laws.
1924: Society for Human Rights
In 1924, Chicago saw the formation of the Society for Human Rights, the first American homosexual-rights organization.
1926: Blackhawks Begin Play
In 1926, the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL began play.
1927: Last Republican Mayor Elected
Since 1927, the citizens of Chicago have not elected a Republican mayor.
1928: Tax Revolt
From 1928 to 1933, the city witnessed a tax revolt, leading to an inability to meet payroll or provide relief efforts.
1929: St. Valentine's Day Massacre
In 1929, Chicago was the location of the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre, where Al Capone's men gunned down members of Bugs Moran's rival gang.
1930: Great Migration Impact
Between 1910 and 1930, Chicago experienced a dramatic increase in its African American population, growing from 44,103 to 233,903 due to the availability of jobs during World War I and the 1920s.
1930: Chicago's Black Population Doubling Again
Between 1920 and 1930, Chicago's black population doubled again, continuing the influx from the American South.
1930: Racial Composition of Chicago
By 1930, two-thirds of Chicago's black population lived in sections of the city that were 90% black in racial composition.
1931: End of Republican Dominance
By 1931 the Republican political machine in Chicago was utterly destroyed by the economic crisis, and every mayor since has been a Democrat.
1933: Economic Devastation
By 1933 over 50% of industrial jobs in the city had been lost, and unemployment rates amongst blacks and Mexicans in the city were over 40%.
1933: Fiscal Crisis Resolved
By 1933, the fiscal crisis was resolved, and federal relief funding began to flow into Chicago.
1933: Assassination Attempt on FDR
In 1933, Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak was fatally wounded in Miami, Florida, during a failed assassination attempt on President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Chicago celebrated its centennial by hosting the Century of Progress International Exposition World's Fair.
1933: End of Prohibition
The gangster era roughly spans from 1919 until 1933 when Prohibition was repealed.
July 24, 1934: Highest Official Temperature Reading
On July 24, 1934, Chicago recorded its highest official temperature reading of 105 °F (41 °C).
1934: Century of Progress Fair
In 1933 and 1934, the city celebrated its centennial by hosting the Century of Progress International Exposition World's Fair.
1935: Workers Alliance of America
By 1935 the Workers Alliance of America began organizing the poor, workers, the unemployed.
1937: Memorial Day Massacre
In the spring of 1937 Republic Steel Works witnessed the Memorial Day massacre of 1937 in the neighborhood of East Side.
1939: Steel Production
During World War II, 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, physicist Enrico Fermi conducted the world's first controlled nuclear reaction at the University of Chicago as part of the Manhattan Project.
1942: Boulevard System Construction Continues
The building of the boulevard system continued intermittently until 1942.
1950: Peak Population
In 1950, Chicago reached its highest ever recorded population of 3.6 million, according to the census.
1953: Modern Figurative Art
A number of Chicago's public art works are by modern figurative artists such as Moore's Large Interior Form, 1953-54.
1955: Richard J. Daley Elected
In 1955, Richard J. Daley, a Democrat, was elected as mayor of Chicago.
1956: Annexation of O'Hare Airport Land
In 1956, Chicago conducted its last major expansion when it annexed the land under O'Hare airport.
1956: Lithuanian Opera Company Founded
In 1956, the Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago was founded by Lithuanian Chicagoans.
1966: Chicago Freedom Movement
In 1966, Martin Luther King Jr. and Albert Raby led the Chicago Freedom Movement.
1968: Democratic National Convention
In 1968, Chicago hosted the tumultuous Democratic National Convention, marked by confrontations between anti-war protesters and police.
1968: Chicago Imagists Produce Paintings
In 1968, members of the Chicago Imagists like Roger Brown and Leon Golub produced bizarre representational paintings.
1968: Joseph Jefferson Awards
Since 1968, the Joseph Jefferson Awards have been given annually to acknowledge excellence in theater in the Chicago area.
1969: Chicago Imagists Continue Producing Paintings
In 1969, members of the Chicago Imagists, continued to produce bizarre representational paintings.
1973: Robert P. Hanrahan elected
From 1973 to 1975, Robert P. Hanrahan represented a significant portion of Chicago.
1974: Sears Tower Completion
In 1974, the Sears Tower (now known as the Willis Tower) became the world's tallest building.
1975: End of Hanrahan's term
From 1973 to 1975, Robert P. Hanrahan represented a significant portion of Chicago.
1977: Chicago Marathon Held
Since 1977, the Chicago Marathon has been held each year except for 1987.
1979: Jane Byrne Elected Mayor
In 1979, Jane Byrne was elected as the city's first female mayor.
1983: Harold Washington Elected Mayor
In 1983, Harold Washington became the first black mayor of Chicago.
January 20, 1985: City's Cold Record
On January 20, 1985, Chicago matched its record low temperature of -27 °F (-33 °C).
1985: Bears Win Super Bowl XX
In 1985, the Chicago Bears won Super Bowl XX.
1987: Harold Washington in Office
From 1983-1987, Harold Washington was in office.
1987: Harold Washington Re-elected and Dies
In 1987, Harold Washington was re-elected as mayor of Chicago but died of a heart attack soon after.
1987: Half Marathon Run
In 1987, a half marathon was run in place of the Chicago Marathon.
1987: Chicago Teachers Union Strike
On September 10, 2012, teachers for the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike for the first time since 1987.
1989: Richard M. Daley Becomes Mayor
In 1989, Richard M. Daley became Chicago's longest-serving mayor.
1990: Los Angeles Overtakes Chicago
By the time of the 1990 census, Los Angeles had overtaken Chicago as the United States' second-largest city.
1990: Black Majority Region
In 1990, Chicago's South Side and the adjoining south suburbs constituted the largest black majority region in the entire United States.
1991: Lollapalooza Originated
In 1991, Lollapalooza, an annual festival, originated in Chicago and initially traveled to many cities.
1992: Chicago River Flood
In 1992, a construction accident caused a breach connecting the Chicago River to an abandoned freight tunnel system, leading to widespread flooding in the downtown Loop district.
1992: Illinois becomes "Solid Blue"
Since 1992, with Chicago's Democratic vote the state of Illinois has been "solid blue" in presidential elections.
1993: Parliament of the World's Religions
The second Parliament of the World's Religions was held in Chicago in 1993.
1994: FIFA World Cup Hosted by United States
In 1994, the United States hosted a successful FIFA World Cup with games played at Soldier Field in Chicago.
1995: Heatwave
During the 1995 heatwave, Midway Airport recorded a heat index of 125 °F (52 °C).
1995: Michael Patrick Flanagan Elected
From 1995 to 1997, Michael Patrick Flanagan represented a significant portion of Chicago.
1995: Blue Bag Program
From 1995 to 2008, the city had a blue bag program to divert recyclable refuse from landfills.
1997: End of Flanagan's Term
From 1995 to 1997, Michael Patrick Flanagan represented a significant portion of Chicago.
1997: Chicago Fire FC Founded
Since its founding in 1997, the Chicago Fire FC has 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
The 2000 census showed a rise in population for Chicago.
2002: Freight Train Congestion
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.
2003: Chicago Named Exceptional Dining Destination
In 2003, Robb Report named Chicago the country's "most exceptional dining destination".
2005: Lollapalooza Returns to Chicago
As of 2005, Lollapalooza has been based in Chicago.
2005: O'Hare Airport Status
In 2005, O'Hare 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 White Sox won a World Series title.
2006: Chicago Sky Founded
Before the 2006 WNBA season began, the Chicago Sky was founded.
2007: Chicago Music Industry Ranked
In 2007, a University of Chicago report ranked Chicago third among U.S. metropolitan areas in "size of music industry" and fourth among 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 Lease Deal
In 2008, Chicago agreed to a 75-year, $1.16 billion deal to lease its parking meter system to Chicago Parking Meters LLC.
2008: Merchandise Mart Zip Code Change
Until 2008, the Merchandise Mart had its own zip code.
2009: Chicago Relinquished Rights to Public Street Parking
Since 2009 Chicago relinquished rights to its public street parking.
2010: Forecast of Increased Rail Transport
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 Decline
By 2010, Chicago's population had declined to under 2.7 million.
2010: Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup
In 2010, the 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 as Mayor
On May 16, 2011, Rahm Emanuel was sworn in as mayor of Chicago.
2011: Winter Blizzard
In winter 2011, Chicago experienced a significant blizzard.
September 10, 2012: Chicago Teachers Union Strike
On September 10, 2012, teachers for the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike for the first time since 1987.
2012: Chicago Alderpersons Convicted
From 2012 to 2019, 33 Chicago alderpersons were convicted on corruption charges.
2012: Sanctuary City
In 2012, Chicago became a "de jure" sanctuary city when Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the City Council passed the Welcoming City Ordinance.
July 2013: Divvy Launch
In July 2013, the bicycle-sharing system Divvy was launched with 750 bikes and 75 docking stations.
2013: Top Metropolitan Area for Corporate Relocations
From 2013 through 2018, Chicago was ranked the nation's top metropolitan area for corporate relocations.
2013: Illegal Campaign Contributions
In 2013, over half of Chicago's elected alderpersons took illegal campaign contributions.
2013: Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup
In 2013, the 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 School District Enrollment
In 2013, the Chicago school district had an enrollment exceeding 400,545 students.
2013: Violent Crime in Chicago
In 2013, the violent crime rate was 910 per 100,000 people, and the murder rate was 10.4 per 100,000 in Chicago.
2013: Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage
Since the 2013 legalization of same-sex marriage in Illinois, over 10,000 same-sex couples have wed in Cook County, a majority of them in Chicago.
2014: Pew Research Center Study on Religion
According to a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center, Christianity is the most prevalently practiced religion in Chicago (71%), making the city the fourth-most religious metropolis in the United States.
2014: Chicago Choice System
According to data compiled in 2014, Chicago's "choice system" sorts students of different achievement levels into different schools.
2014: Catholic Church Size
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: Non-Christian Faiths
In 2014, Non-Christian faiths accounted for 7% of the religious population.
2014: Rush University Medical Center Ranking
Rush University Medical Center was ranked as the second best hospital in the Chicago metropolitan area by U.S. News & World Report for 2014–16.
2015: Households Without a Car 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 Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.
2015: Steel Industry Decline
In 2015, the steel industry in Chicago employed only 28,000 workers, a significant drop from its peak during the 1960s.
2016: Cubs Win World Series
In 2016, the Cubs won the World Series, ending their championship drought.
2016: Increase in Households Without a Car
In 2016, the percentage of Chicago households without a car increased to 27.5 percent.
September 2017: Gross Metropolitan Product
According to September 2017 estimates, Chicago had the third-largest gross metropolitan product in the United States, about $670.5 billion.
2017: Derivatives Traded
In 2017, Chicago exchanges traded 4.7 billion in derivatives.
2017: WYCC Disaffiliates with PBS
In 2017, WYCC 20, Chicago's second PBS member station, removed its affiliation with PBS.
2017: Chicago Walkability Ranking
In 2017, a study by Walk Score ranked Chicago as the sixth-most walkable of the fifty largest cities in the United States.
2017: Northwestern Memorial Hospital Ranking
Northwestern Memorial Hospital is ranked as the best hospital in the Chicago metropolitan area by U.S. News & World Report for 2017–18.
2018: Windy City Live
As of 2018, Windy City Live is Chicago's only daytime talk show.
2018: Top Metropolitan Area for Corporate Relocations
From 2013 through 2018, Chicago was ranked the nation's top metropolitan area for corporate relocations.
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 7.5% of the adult population (approximately 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 GDP
In 2018, the Chicago area's gross domestic product (GDP) was $689 billion.
January 2019: Newsy Production in Chicago
Beginning in January 2019, Newsy started 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 occurred and nearly broke the city's cold record of -27 °F.
May 2019: Chicago's Electric Shared Scooter Pilot Program Announced
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 Expansion
As of July 2019, Divvy operated 5800 bicycles at 608 stations.
July 2019: Heat Wave
During July 2019, a heat wave caused dew point temperatures to reach nearly 80 °F (27 °C).
July 2019: Racial and Ethnic Groups
In July 2019, non-Hispanic Whites made up 32.8% of Chicago's population, Blacks 30.1%, and the Hispanic population 29.0%.
2019: Chicago Alderpersons Convicted
From 2012 to 2019, 33 Chicago alderpersons were convicted on corruption charges.
2019: Lori Lightfoot Elected Mayor
In 2019, Lori Lightfoot was elected as the city's first African American woman mayor and its first openly LGBTQ mayor.
2019: Nexstar Media Group Acquisition
In 2019, Nexstar Media Group acquired WGN from Tribune Broadcasting, obtaining a majority stake in The CW network.
2020: Jewish Population Estimate
A 2020 study estimated the total Jewish population of the Chicago metropolitan area at 319,500.
2020: Chicago Crime Rate
In 2020, Chicago's crime rate was 3,926 per 100,000 people.
2020: Population Rise
The 2020 census showed a rise in population for Chicago.
2021: Minimum Wage Reaches $15
Chicago's minimum wage for non-tipped employees reached $15 in 2021.
2021: Walkability Ranking
In 2021, Chicago was ranked the fourth-most walkable large city in the United States.
2021: WGN America Becomes NewsNation
In 2021, WGN America was rebranded as NewsNation.
2022: Household and Per Capita Income
According to U.S. Census Bureau data estimates for 2022, the median household income in Chicago was $70,386, and the per capita income was $45,449.
2022: American Community Survey
According to the 2022 American Community Survey, the specific ancestral groups having 10,000 or more persons in Chicago were surveyed.
2022: Fortune 500 Companies Leave Chicago
In 2022, three Fortune 500 companies left Chicago, leaving the city with 35, which was still second to New York City.
2022: Revenue for Chicago Parking Meters LLC Investors
Since 2022 have already recouped over $1.5 billion in revenue for Chicago Parking Meters LLC investors.
May 15, 2023: Brandon Johnson Assumes Office
On May 15, 2023, Brandon Johnson assumed office as the 57th mayor of Chicago.
2040: Forecast of Increased Rail Transport
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.
2081: Parking Ticket Lease End
The rights of the parking ticket lease end in 2081.
