Full History Of Chicago In Timeline From 1900

1900: End of the Chicago Literary Renaissance

Around 1900, the period from the Great Chicago Fire came to an end, which became known as the Chicago Literary Renaissance.

1900: Chicago's Population Demographics in 1900

In 1900, Chicago's population consisted of over 77% foreign-born individuals or those born in the United States to foreign parents. Germans, Irish, Poles, Swedes, and Czechs made up nearly two-thirds of the foreign-born population, and whites were 98.1% of the city's population.

1900: Reversal of the Chicago River

In 1900, the city of Chicago completed a major engineering feat by reversing the flow of the Chicago River away from Lake Michigan to resolve sewage contamination issues. The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal was built, connecting to the Illinois River, which flows into the Mississippi River.

1901: Establishment of Joliet Junior College

In 1901, William Rainey Harper was instrumental in the creation of the junior college concept, establishing nearby Joliet Junior College as the first in the nation.

1901: White Sox Played on South Side

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

1905: Benjamin Ferguson's Trust

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

1906: Cubs and White Sox in World Series

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

1907: Bugmobile Founding

In 1907, the Brass Era car builder Bugmobile was founded in Chicago.

1908: Cubs Last World Series Win Until 2016

In 1908, the Chicago Cubs began what would be the longest championship drought in American professional sports.

1910: Black Population Doubling

Between 1910 and 1920, Chicago's black population doubled due to an influx of African Americans from the American South.

1910: The Great Migration

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

1910: Railroads in Chicago in 1910

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, Poetry magazine was founded by Harriet Monroe.

1917: White Sox Win World Series

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

1919: Chicago Race Riot of 1919

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

1919: The beginning of the Gangster Era

In 1919, the ratification of the 18th amendment ushered in the beginning of the gangster era. Production and sale of alcoholic beverages became illegal in the United States.

1920: Black Population Doubling Again

Between 1920 and 1930, Chicago's black population doubled again, continuing the trend of increased migration from the American South.

1920: Tenant Rent Strikes

From 1920 to 1921, the city was affected by a series of tenant rent strikes, which lead to the formation of the Chicago Tenants Protective association, 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.

1920: Annexation of Neighboring Townships

In 1920, Chicago continued to incorporate neighboring townships to expand its size and population. This was driven by the municipal services that the city could provide its residents.

1921: Tenant Rent Strikes

From 1920 to 1921, the city was affected by a series of tenant rent strikes, which lead to the formation of the Chicago Tenants Protective association, 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, Chicago was the first American city to have a homosexual-rights organization, called the Society for Human Rights. It produced the first American publication for homosexuals, Friendship and Freedom.

1926: Blackhawks Began Play

In 1926, the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) began play.

1927: Last Republican Mayor of Chicago

Since 1927, when William Thompson was voted into office, the citizens of Chicago have not elected a Republican mayor.

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, Chicago was the location of the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre, where Al Capone sent men to gun down members of a rival gang led by Bugs Moran.

1930: The Great Migration

Between 1910 and 1930, Chicago experienced a major expansion in industry that attracted African Americans from the Southern United States. By 1930, the African American population of Chicago had increased dramatically, reaching 233,903.

1930: Increased Black Population

Between 1920 and 1930, Chicago's black population doubled again due to the continuous migration from the American South.

1930: Black Belt

By 1930, two-thirds of Chicago's black population lived in sections of the city which were 90% black in racial composition, mostly in the "Black Belt" on the South Side.

1931: Political Shift in Chicago

Since 1931, every mayor of Chicago has been a Democrat due to the economic crisis of the Great Depression.

1933: Economic Impact of the Great Depression

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%. The Republican political machine in Chicago was utterly destroyed by the economic crisis.

1933: Resolution of Fiscal Crisis and Federal Relief Funding

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

1933: Assassination attempt on President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt

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 and 1934, 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.

July 24, 1934: Highest Official Temperature

On July 24, 1934, Chicago recorded its highest official temperature reading of 105 °F (41 °C) according to the National Weather Service.

1934: Century of Progress International Exposition World's Fair

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: Formation of the Workers Alliance of America

By 1935, the Workers Alliance of America began organizing the poor, workers, 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 neighborhood of East Side.

1939: Steel Production during World War II

From 1939 to 1945, during World War II, the city of Chicago alone produced more steel than the United Kingdom every year.

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 top-secret Manhattan Project.

1942: Boulevard System Building Concluded

In 1942, the building of the Chicago boulevard system concluded.

1943: Steel Production during World War II

From 1943 to 1945, during World War II, the city of Chicago alone produced more steel than Nazi Germany every year.

1945: Steel Production during World War II

From 1943 to 1945, during World War II, the city of Chicago alone produced more steel than Nazi Germany every year.

1945: Use of Atomic Bomb

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

1950: Peak Population

In 1950, Chicago reached its highest recorded population of 3.6 million according to the census.

1953: Moore's Large Interior Form

In 1953, Moore created the Large Interior Form artwork, adding to Chicago's collection of public art.

1955: Election of Mayor Richard J. Daley

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

1956: Lithuanian Opera Company 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, the city conducted its last major expansion when it annexed the land under O'Hare airport, including a small portion of DuPage County.

1966: Chicago Freedom Movement

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

1968: Chicago Imagists Emerge

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

In 1968, the Joseph Jefferson Awards were established to annually recognize excellence in theater in the Chicago area.

1968: 1968 Democratic National Convention

In 1968, the city hosted the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention, which featured physical confrontations both inside and outside the convention hall.

1969: Chicago Imagists Continued

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 Elected

Robert P. Hanrahan represented a significant portion of Chicago from 1973 to 1975.

1974: Completion of the Sears Tower

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

1975: Robert P. Hanrahan Left Office

Robert P. Hanrahan represented a significant portion of Chicago from 1973 to 1975.

1977: Chicago Marathon Established

The Chicago Marathon has been held each year since 1977.

1979: Election of Jane Byrne

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

1979: Pope John Paul II Visits Chicago

In 1979, Pope John Paul II visited Chicago.

1983: Election of Harold Washington

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

1983: Harold Washington Elected

In 1983, Harold Washington was elected, signaling the independents' control of city government.

January 20, 1985: Record Cold Temperature

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

1985: Bears Win Super Bowl XX

In 1985, the Chicago Bears won Super Bowl XX.

1987: Previous Teachers Union Strike

Before September 10, 2012, the Chicago Teachers Union last went on strike in 1987.

1987: End of Harold Washington's Term

Harold Washington served as mayor from 1983-1987.

1987: Re-election and Death of Harold Washington

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

1987: Chicago Half Marathon

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

1989: Richard M. Daley Became Mayor

From 1989, Richard M. Daley began his term as mayor of Chicago.

1989: Election of Richard M. Daley

In 1989, Richard M. Daley, son of Richard J. Daley, was elected as mayor of Chicago.

1990: Los Angeles Overtakes Chicago

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

1990: Largest Black Majority Region

In 1990, Chicago's South Side and the adjoining south suburbs became the largest black majority region in the entire United States.

1991: Lollapalooza Originated in Chicago

In 1991, Lollapalooza originated in Chicago and traveled to many cities.

1992: Chicago River Flood

In 1992, a construction accident near the Kinzie Street Bridge caused a breach connecting the Chicago River to an abandoned freight tunnel system, resulting in widespread flooding and a shutdown of electrical power. Losses were estimated at $1.95 billion.

1992: Illinois Solid Blue

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

1993: Parliament of the World's Religions

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

1994: FIFA World Cup Hosted in 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: Blue Bag Program

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

1995: Michael Patrick Flanagan Elected

Michael Patrick Flanagan represented a significant portion of Chicago from 1995 to 1997.

1997: Chicago Fire FC Founded

In 1997, Chicago Fire FC was founded and became a member of Major League Soccer (MLS).

1997: Michael Patrick Flanagan Left Office

Michael Patrick Flanagan represented a significant portion of Chicago from 1995 to 1997.

1999: Judge Mathis Filming

Since 1999, Judge Mathis has been filming his syndicated arbitration-based reality court show at the NBC Tower.

2000: Population Rise

The city saw a rise in population for 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

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 Exceptional Dining Destination

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

2005: Lollapalooza Becomes Chicago Based

As of 2005, Lollapalooza has been based in Chicago.

2005: O'Hare International Airport Traffic

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 Chicago White Sox won their third World Series title.

2006: Chicago Sky Founded

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

2007: Chicago Music Industry Ranked Third in Size

A 2007 report 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. Due to low participation, the city started a pilot program for blue bin recycling.

2008: Parking Meter System Lease

In 2008, as Chicago struggled to close a growing budget deficit, the city agreed to a 75-year, $1.16 billion deal to lease its parking meter system to an operating company created by Morgan Stanley, called Chicago Parking Meters LLC.

2008: Merchandise Mart Loses Own Zip Code

Until 2008, the Merchandise Mart, once the largest building in the world, had its own zip code.

2009: Relinquishing Rights to Public Street Parking

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

2010: Increase in Volume of 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 Decline

By 2010, Chicago's population declined to under 2.7 million.

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 as Mayor

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

2011: Winter Blizzards

In 2011, Chicago experienced winter blizzards.

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 issues related to pay, resources, and other concerns.

2012: Corruption Charges Against Chicago Alderpersons

From 2012 to 2019, 33 Chicago alderpersons were convicted on corruption charges, which is roughly one third of those elected during that time period. This demonstrates a significant problem with corruption in Chicago's local government.

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: Divvy Bicycle-Sharing System Launch

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

2013: Chicago Violent Crime Report

According to reports in 2013, "most of Chicago's violent crime comes from gangs trying to maintain control of drug-selling territories," and is specifically related to the activities of the Sinaloa Cartel.

2013: Top Metropolitan Area

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

2013: Illegal Campaign Contributions

In 2013, a report from the Office of the Legislative Inspector General noted that over half of Chicago's elected alderpersons took illegal campaign contributions, highlighting the extent of corruption within the city's political system.

2013: Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup

In 2013, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.

2013: Chicago Stars FC Joins NWSL

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

2013: Chicago Public School Enrollment

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

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: Religion in Chicago

According to a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center, Christianity is the most prevalently practiced religion in Chicago (71%), with the city being the fourth-most religious metropolis in the United States.

2014: Chicago's School Choice System

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

2014: U.S. News & World Report 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: Chicago Tourism Numbers

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.

2014: Catholic Church largest Christian denomination

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

2014: Non-Christian Faiths

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

2015: Decline of Steel Industry Employment

By 2015, the steel crisis of the 1970s and 1980s reduced the number of workers employed in the steel industry in Chicago to just 28,000, down from a peak of 250,000 during the 1960s.

2015: Households Without Cars

In 2015, 26.5 percent of Chicago households were without a car, this is a higher than average percentage.

2015: Rahm Emanuel Re-elected

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

2015: LGBT Population 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.

2016: Households Without Cars

In 2016, 27.5 percent of Chicago households were without a car, slightly more than the previous year. The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016.

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 had the third-largest gross metropolitan product in the United States, approximately $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: U.S. News & World Report Ranking of Northwestern Memorial Hospital

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

2017: Derivatives Traded

In 2017, Chicago exchanges traded 4.7 billion in derivatives.

2017: WYCC Ends PBS Affiliation

In 2017, Chicago's second PBS member station, WYCC 20, removed its affiliation with PBS.

2018: Windy City Live

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 Metropolitan Area

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: LGBT Population Estimate

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

2018: Chicago Park Boulevard System Historic District Listed

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

2018: Chicago's GDP in 2018

In 2018, the Chicago area had one of the highest gross domestic products (GDP) of any urban region in the world, generating $689 billion.

January 2019: Newsy Production in Chicago

Beginning 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 the city's cold temperature record.

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 Bicycle-Sharing System Expansion

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

July 2019: Census Estimates

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

2019: Corruption Charges Against Chicago Alderpersons

From 2012 to 2019, 33 Chicago alderpersons were convicted on corruption charges, which is roughly one third of those elected during that time period. This demonstrates a significant problem with corruption in Chicago's local government.

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 of Tribune Broadcasting

In 2019, the Nexstar Media Group acquired Tribune Broadcasting, which owned WGN, 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: Chicago Crime Rate

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

2020: Chicago's Population in 2020

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

2020: Population Rise

The population rose again for the 2020 census.

2021: Minimum Wage Reaches $15

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

2021: Chicago Ranked Among Most Walkable Cities

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

2021: WGN America Becomes NewsNation

In 2021, WGN America, which was once carried on cable and satellite TV nationwide, eventually became NewsNation.

2022: Income and Poverty Data

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, with 17.2% of the population living below the poverty line.

2022: Ancestral Groups

In 2022, specific ancestral groups having 10,000 or more persons in Chicago were surveyed in the American Community Survey.

2022: Fortune 500 Companies Leaving Chicago

In 2022, three Fortune 500 companies left Chicago, leaving the city with 35, still second to New York City.

2022: Chicago Parking Meters LLC Revenue

Since 2022 the investors in Chicago Parking Meters LLC have already recouped over $1.5 billion in revenue.

May 15, 2023: Brandon Johnson Assumes Office as Mayor

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

2040: Projected Volume of 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.