History of Chicago in Timeline

Chicago, Illinois, is the third-most populous city in the United States, situated on Lake Michigan's western shore. The 2020 census recorded a city population of 2.74 million. As the seat of Cook County, it anchors a metropolitan area of 9.41 million residents, also ranking third-largest nationally. It is the most populous city in both the state of Illinois and the entire Midwestern United States.

1900: End of Era Influencing American Literature

Around 1900, a period in Chicago's history that began at the time of the Great Chicago Fire came to an end, having had a lasting influence on American literature.

1900: Chicago's Population Demographics in 1900

In 1900, over 77% of Chicago's population was either foreign-born or had foreign-born parents. The foreign-born population primarily consisted of Germans, Irish, Poles, Swedes, and Czechs, and whites comprised 98.1% of the city's population.

1900: Reversal of the Chicago River in 1900

In 1900, the city of Chicago completed a major engineering project to address sewage contamination by reversing the flow of the Chicago River away from Lake Michigan. This was achieved through the construction of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, which connects to the Illinois River and, subsequently, the Mississippi River.

1901: Establishment of Joliet Junior College

In 1901, William Rainey Harper helped establish Joliet Junior College as the first junior college in the nation.

1901: White Sox Play on South Side and Win First American League Pennant

The White Sox have played on the South Side continuously since 1901 and won the first American League pennant in 1901.

1906: Cubs and White Sox Face off in World Series

In 1906, Chicago's two Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox, faced each other in a World Series, the only time this has happened.

1906: White Sox Win World Series

In 1906, the Chicago White Sox won the 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, failing to win a World Series between 1908 and 2016.

1910: Start of the Great Migration in 1910

Between 1910 and 1930, Chicago experienced a major expansion in industry, attracting African Americans from the Southern United States. From 1910 the African American population of Chicago increased dramatically.

1910: Chicago's Railroad Hub Status in 1910

By 1910, Chicago had become the nation's railroad hub, with over 20 railroads operating passenger service out of six downtown terminals.

1912: Poetry magazine Founded

In 1912, Harriet Monroe founded Poetry magazine while working as an art critic for the Chicago Tribune.

1917: White Sox Win World Series Title

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

1919: Chicago Race Riot of 1919

Continuing racial tensions and violence in Chicago led to events such as the Chicago race riot of 1919.

1919: Start of the Gangster Era in 1919

In 1919, the ratification of the 18th amendment to the Constitution, which prohibited the production and sale of alcoholic beverages, initiated the gangster era in the United States. This period lasted roughly from 1919 until 1933.

1920: Annexation of Neighboring Townships Concluded in 1920

By 1920, Chicago had significantly expanded its size and population through the incorporation of neighboring townships. The desire to join the city was driven by the municipal services Chicago could provide to its residents.

1920: Tenant Rent Strikes and Formation of Chicago Tenants Protective Association in 1920

From 1920 to 1921, the city of Chicago experienced a series of tenant rent strikes. As a result, the Chicago Tenants Protective Association was formed, and the Kessenger tenant laws were passed. In addition, a heat ordinance was enacted, legally requiring landlords to maintain flats above 68 °F during the winter months.

1921: Tenant Rent Strikes lead to laws in 1921

From 1920 to 1921, the city was affected by a series of tenant rent strikes, which lead to passage of the Kessenger tenant laws, and of a heat ordinance that legally required flats to be kept above 68 °F during winter months by landlords.

1924: Formation of the Society for Human Rights in 1924

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

1926: Chicago 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 by the citizens of Chicago.

1928: Tax Revolt in 1928

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

In 1929, Chicago was the site of the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre, during which Al Capone sent men to murder members of Bugs Moran's rival North Side gang, resulting in the deaths of seven rival members.

1930: African American Population Growth in 1930

Between 1910 and 1930, the African American population of Chicago increased dramatically, from 44,103 to 233,903. This Great Migration had an immense cultural impact, called the Chicago Black Renaissance, part of the New Negro Movement, in art, literature, and music.

1931: Democrat Mayor Elected in 1931

The Republican political machine in Chicago was utterly destroyed by the economic crisis, and every mayor since 1931 has been a Democrat.

1933: Fiscal Crisis Resolved in 1933

From 1928 to 1933, the city of Chicago experienced a tax revolt, which made it unable to meet payroll or provide relief efforts. The fiscal crisis was resolved by 1933, and federal relief funding began to flow into the city.

1933: Anton Cermak Fatally Wounded and Century of Progress International Exposition

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

1933: Industrial Job Losses in 1933

The Great Depression significantly impacted Chicago, particularly the industrial areas on the south side and neighborhoods along the Chicago River. By 1933, over 50% of industrial jobs in the city had been lost.

1933: End of Prohibition in 1933

The gangster era, which began in 1919 with the ratification of the 18th Amendment, ended in 1933 with the repeal of Prohibition.

1934: Century of Progress International Exposition World's Fair in 1934

In 1934, the city celebrated its centennial 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 began organizing the poor, workers, the unemployed in 1935.

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

1937: Memorial Day Massacre of 1937

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

1939: Chicago Steel Production During World War II - 1939

During World War II, beginning 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 in 1942

On December 2, 1942, physicist 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 Construction Ends

In 1942, the building of the Chicago boulevard system, which began in 1869, was completed.

1943: Chicago Steel Production Surpasses Nazi Germany in 1943

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

1945: Chicago Steel Production During World War II - 1945

During World War II, the city of Chicago alone produced more steel than the United Kingdom every year from 1939 – 1945, and more than Nazi Germany from 1943 – 1945.

1945: Use of Atomic Bomb in World War II in 1945

The controlled nuclear reaction in 1942 led to the creation of the atomic bomb by the United States, which it used in World War II in 1945.

1955: Richard J. Daley Elected Mayor in 1955

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

1956: Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago Founded

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

1956: Annexation of O'Hare Airport Land in 1956

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

1966: Chicago Freedom Movement in 1966

In 1966, Martin Luther King Jr. and Albert Raby led the Chicago Freedom Movement, which resulted in agreements between Mayor Richard J. Daley and the movement leaders.

1968: 1968 Democratic National Convention

In 1968, Chicago hosted the tumultuous Democratic National Convention, which involved physical confrontations between anti-war protesters, journalists, bystanders, and the police.

1968: Chicago Imagists Produce Representational Paintings

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 Established

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

1969: Chicago Imagists Continue Production of Representational Paintings

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

1973: Robert P. Hanrahan Enters Office

In 1973, Robert P. Hanrahan began serving his term as a Republican representative of a significant portion of Chicago in the United States House of Representatives.

1974: Sears Tower Becomes World's Tallest Building in 1974

In 1974, the Sears Tower (now known as the Willis Tower) became the world's tallest building.

1975: Robert P. Hanrahan Leaves Office

In 1975, Robert P. Hanrahan's term as a Republican representative of a significant portion of Chicago in the United States House of Representatives concluded.

1977: First Chicago Marathon Held

The Chicago Marathon has been held each year since 1977 except for 1987.

1979: Jane Byrne Elected as First Female Mayor in 1979

In 1979, Jane Byrne was elected as Chicago's first female mayor. She was notable for temporarily moving into the Cabrini-Green housing project and leading the city's school system out of a financial crisis.

1983: Harold Washington Elected as First Black Mayor in 1983

In 1983, Harold Washington was elected as the first black mayor of Chicago. His term focused on addressing the needs of poor and previously neglected minority neighborhoods.

1983: Harold Washington Elected Mayor

In 1983, Harold Washington was elected mayor, marking a shift as the "independents" gained control of city government.

1985: Chicago Bears Win Super Bowl XX

In 1985, the Chicago Bears won Super Bowl XX.

1987: Harold Washington Re-elected and Dies in 1987

In 1987, Harold Washington was re-elected as mayor of Chicago but died of a heart attack soon after. He was succeeded by Eugene Sawyer.

1987: End of Harold Washington's Term

In 1987, Harold Washington's term as Mayor ended.

1987: Half Marathon Held in Place of Chicago Marathon

In 1987, a half marathon was run in place of the annual Chicago Marathon.

1989: Richard M. Daley Becomes Mayor

In 1989, Richard M. Daley began his tenure as mayor of Chicago, becoming the city's longest-serving mayor, holding office until May 16, 2011.

1989: Richard M. Daley Elected Mayor in 1989

In 1989, Richard M. Daley, son of Richard J. Daley, was elected as mayor of Chicago. His accomplishments included improvements to parks and creating incentives for sustainable development.

1991: Lollapalooza Originated in Chicago

In 1991, Lollapalooza originated in Chicago. It travelled to many cities before making Chicago its home in 2005.

1992: Chicago River Flood in 1992

In 1992, a construction accident near the Kinzie Street Bridge led to a breach connecting the Chicago River to an abandoned freight tunnel system below the downtown Loop district. The tunnels filled with 250 million US gallons of water, affecting buildings and causing a shutdown of electrical power for three days. The estimated losses were $1.95 billion.

1992: Illinois Becomes Solid Blue State

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

1994: FIFA World Cup Games Played at Soldier Field

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

1995: Michael Patrick Flanagan Enters Office

In 1995, Michael Patrick Flanagan began serving his term as a Republican representative of a significant portion of Chicago in the United States House of Representatives.

1995: Start of Blue Bag Program

In 1995, the city of Chicago started a blue bag program to divert recyclable refuse from landfills.

1997: Michael Patrick Flanagan Leaves Office

In 1997, Michael Patrick Flanagan's term as a Republican representative of a significant portion of Chicago in the United States House of Representatives concluded.

1997: Chicago Fire FC Founded

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

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, about 2 days.

2003: Chicago Named "Most Exceptional Dining Destination"

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

2005: O'Hare busiest airport

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 Title

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

2005: Lollapalooza Makes Chicago Its Home

Lollapalooza, which originated in Chicago in 1991 and initially traveled to many cities, established its permanent home in Chicago as of 2005.

2006: Chicago Sky Founded

The Chicago Sky, a professional basketball team, was founded before the 2006 WNBA season began.

2007: Chicago Music Industry Ranked Third in Size

According to a 2007 report by the University of Chicago Cultural Policy Center on the Chicago music industry, Chicago ranked third among metropolitan U.S. areas in "size of music industry".

2009: Chicago Relinquishes Rights to Public Street Parking

Since 2009 Chicago has relinquished rights to its public street parking.

2010: Chicago 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

On February 23, 2011, Rahm Emanuel, a former White House Chief of Staff and member of the House of Representatives, won the mayoral election in Chicago.

May 16, 2011: Rahm Emanuel Sworn in as Mayor on May 16, 2011

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

September 10, 2012: Chicago Teachers Union Strike

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

July 2013: Launch of Divvy bicycle-sharing system

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

2013: Violent crime and murder rates

In 2013, Chicago's violent crime rate was 910 per 100,000 people, and the murder rate was 10.4 per 100,000. High crime districts saw 38.9 murders, while low crime districts saw 2.5 murders per 100,000. According to reports in 2013, most violent crime stemmed from gangs vying for control of drug-selling territories, specifically related to the Sinaloa Cartel.

2013: Illegal campaign contributions by alderpersons

In 2013, over half of Chicago's elected alderpersons took illegal campaign contributions, according to a report from the Office of the Legislative Inspector General.

2013: Chicago Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup

In 2013, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.

2013: Chicago Public Schools Enrollment

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

2013: Chicago Stars FC Join NWSL

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

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, contributing more than US$13.7 billion to Chicago's economy.

2015: Steel Industry Employment Decline in 2015

By 2015, the steel crisis of the 1970s and 1980s had reduced the number of workers employed in the steel industry in Chicago to just 28,000.

2015: Rahm Emanuel Wins Re-election in 2015

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

2015: Chicago Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup

In 2015, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.

2016: Chicago Households without Cars

In 2016, 27.5 percent of Chicago households were without a car, while the national average was 8.7 percent. Chicago averaged 1.12 cars per household, compared to a national average of 1.8.

2016: Cubs Win World Series

In 2016, The Chicago Cubs win the World Series, ending a drought dating back to 1908.

2017: Chicago Ranked Sixth-Most Walkable U.S. City

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

2017: Northwestern Memorial Hospital Ranked Best in Chicago

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

2018: Chicago's GDP in 2018

In 2018, the Chicago area generated $689 billion in gross domestic product (GDP), making it one of the urban regions with the highest GDP in the world. Chicago's economy is diverse, with no single industry employing more than 14% of the workforce.

2018: Chicago Park Boulevard System Listed on National Register of Historic Places

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

January 2019: Newsy begins producing live news 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.

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

In May 2019, The City of Chicago announced its Electric Shared Scooter Pilot Program, scheduled to run from June 15 to October 15. The program would test electric scooters from various companies.

2019: Lori Lightfoot Elected Mayor in 2019

In 2019, Lori Lightfoot was elected as the mayor of Chicago, becoming the city's first African American woman and openly LGBTQ mayor. Also, all three city-wide elective offices were held by women for the first time in Chicago history: in addition to Lightfoot, the city clerk was Anna Valencia and the city treasurer was Melissa Conyears-Ervin.

2019: Nexstar Media Group Acquires WGN

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

2020: Chicago's Crime Rate Reaches 3,926 per 100,000

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

2020: Chicago Population in 2020

In 2020, the census recorded Chicago's population as 2.74 million, making it the third-most populous city in the United States. The Chicago metropolitan area had 9.41 million residents, ranking it as the third-largest metropolitan area in the nation, and Cook County was the second-most populous county in the United States.

2021: Chicago Ranked Fourth-Most Walkable Large City in 2021

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

2021: Chicago's 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.

May 15, 2023: Brandon Johnson Assumes Office in 2023

On May 15, 2023, Brandon Johnson took office as the 57th mayor of Chicago.

2024: Chicago Tourism in 2024

In 2024, Chicago saw 55 million visitors attracted to its cultural institutions, Lake Michigan beaches, restaurants, and other attractions. Chicago's culture significantly contributes to various art forms, including visual arts, literature, film, theater, comedy, food, dance, and music.