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Table of Contents
Chicago is a city located in Illinois. It is the third most populous city in the US. It is nicknamed the Windy City, City in a Garden, and The City of the Big Shoulders.
See the fact file below for more information on the Chicago or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Chicago worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Geography
- Size: 234 square miles
- Population: Approximately 2.7 million
- Chicago is located along Lake Michigan.
- It is the main city of the Chicago metropolitan area in the Midwest.
- It is situated beside the Chicago River and the Calumet River.
- The highest point is near Blue Island, reaching 672 feet high.
- The lowest point is along the shore of Lake Michigan at 578 feet high.
Climate
- Chicago’s climate is influenced by its proximity to Lake Michigan.
- It has what is called a “humid continental” climate.
- Chicago experiences the four seasons distinctively.
- Summers are hot and humid while winters are very cold.
History
- Chicago got its name from “Shikaakwa” which means “wild garlic” because of the abundance of wild garlic in the area upon its discovery.
- Chicago was first settled in by a Native American tribe called Potawatomi in the mid-18th century.
- Jean Baptiste Point du Sable is known as the “Founder of Chicago” as he was the first non-indigenous permanent resident of the area in 1779.
- In 1833, the Potawatomi tribe was forced out of the area as part of the Treaty of Chicago.
- Chicago was incorporated as a city on March 4, 1837.
- The Chicago Portage made the city a major transportation center for the country.
- In 1871, the Great Chicago fire happened. It destroyed about 4 miles of the city, left more than 100,000 people homeless, and killed 300 people.
- In 1885, the world’s first skyscraper was built in Chicago as a result of rebuilding the city after the tragic fire incident.
- Chicago is now known as the home of skyscrapers.
- In 1893, the world’s all-time most influential fair, called the Columbian Exposition, was held in Chicago.
- The World’s Fair inspired the City Beautiful movement, a movement in urban planning incorporating beautiful green spaces and boulevards.
Windy City
- The Chicago metropolitan area is called “Chicagoland.”
- Chicago is the third-most populous city in the country after New York and Los Angeles respectively.
- Chicago is the railroad capital of the US.
- Chicago is called the “City in a Garden” for a reason: it is filled with hundreds of parks, sanctuaries, beaches, sports fields, and courts.
- Chicago is also a city of celebration, hosting dozens of annual parades, and film and music festivals.
- Chicago is a foodie haven. It has 22 Michelin-starred restaurants.
- Chicago is the city to go to for sports fans. It has been dubbed the “Best Sports City” by Sporting News three times. It has teams from the five major leagues: basketball, baseball, football, soccer, and hockey.
- Wrigley Field is home to the Chicago Cubs.
Other Facts
- In 1900, Chicago successfully reversed the course of the Chicago River so that it moved towards the Mississippi River instead of Lake Michigan.
- The Chicago River is the only river that flows backward.
- The Chicago River is dyed green every St. Patrick’s Day.
- Chicago’s Western Avenue is the longest street in the world.
- U.S. Route 66, the Main Street of America, starts in Chicago.
- The Harold Washington Library is the world’s largest public library. It contains around 2 million books.
- McCormick Place is the biggest convention and exhibition center in the US.
- The Home Insurance Building in Chicago was the first skyscraper built in 1885. It was only nine stories tall then. The Art Institute of Chicago is second to the Louvre in Paris for housing the largest number of impressionist paintings.
- One of Chicago’s most famous landmarks is the Cloud Gate or “The Bean” created by British artist Anish Kapoor. The sculpture is located at the center of the AT&T Plaza at Millenium Park.
- Chicago is home to a lot of inventions: the zipper (1851), vacuum cleaner (1868), ferris wheel (1893), the Twinkie (1930), and spray paint (1949).
- Chicago is also a pioneer in a lot of publications, events, and organizations, boasting the country’s first: elevated railway (1892), open-heart surgery (1893), car race (1895), gay rights group (1924), Rotary Club, McDonald’s franchise, TV soap opera, blood bank (1939), all-color TV station (1956), and the first televised U.S. presidential debate (1960).
- Chicago is home to many prominent people: Walt Disney was born here; former President Barack Obama resided in and served as a US Senator here; and the first American female to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Jane Addams, was born here.
- The world’s largest food festival called Taste of Chicago is held annually in Chicago.
- The musical term “Jazz” was first documented in the Chicago Daily Tribune.
- Chicago’s popular transit called “L” is short for elevated.
- Willis Tower, also known as Sears Tower, is located in Chicago. It is the second tallest building in the US next to the One World Trade Center.
Chicago Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Chicago across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Chicago worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Chicago which is a city located in Illinois. It is the third most populous city in the US. It is nicknamed the Windy City, City in a Garden, and The City of the Big Shoulders.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Chicago Facts
- Windy City
- Position the Past
- Make It Right!
- Notable Events
- City of Firsts
- City of Inventions
- Prominent People
- Where To Be, What To See
- Chicago Favorites
- Go Chicago!
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Link will appear as Chicago Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 24, 2018
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.