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Chicago — travel, stays & events guide
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Chicago city overview
Chicago is a city in USA shaped by its region, population, local economy, landmarks, climate and civic history. This overview summarizes the city itself: where it sits, what defines it, which places anchor its identity and why it matters within the wider country.
City facts
Airport baseChicago O'Hare (ORD)
Known forChicago, Great Lakes, Chicago planning base 3, Chicago planning base 4
Population~2.7Mcity context
RegionUSAUSA
Time zoneAmerica/Chicagolocal time
Founded1812historical origin
City history
Army constructed Fort Dearborn, which was destroyed during the War of 1812 in the Battle of Fort Dearborn by the Potawatomi before being later rebuilt.
The Potawatomi were forcibly removed from their land after the 1833 Treaty of Chicago and sent west of the Mississippi River as part of the federal policy of Indian removal.
The City of Chicago was incorporated on Saturday, March 4, 1837, and for several decades was the world's fastest-growing city.
Chicago's first railway, Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, and the Illinois and Michigan Canal opened in 1848.
The Chicago Board of Trade (established 1848) listed the first-ever standardized "exchange-traded" forward contracts, which were called futures contracts. 1850–1874 In the 1850s, Chicago gained national political prominence as the home of Senator Stephen.
Lincoln was nominated in Chicago for U.S. president at the 1860 Republican National Convention, which was held in a purpose-built auditorium called the Wigwam.
Rauch established a plan for Chicago's park system in 1866.
On October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed an area about 4 miles (6.4 km) long and 1-mile (1.6 km) wide, a large section of the city at the time.
The University of Chicago, formerly at another location, moved to the same South Side location in 1892.
In 1900, the problem of sewage contamination was largely resolved when the city completed a major engineering feat.
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.
Major construction projects, including the Sears Tower (now known as the Willis Tower, which in 1974 became the world's tallest building), University of Illinois at Chicago, McCormick Place, and O'Hare International Airport, were undertaken.
Du Sable was of African descent, perhaps born in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (Haiti), and he established the settlement in the 1780s.
As the site of the Chicago Portage, the city became an important transportation hub between the eastern and western United States.
Worth seeing
Chicago
Chicago is a practical Chicago planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Great Lakes
Great Lakes is a practical Chicago planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Chicago planning base 3
Chicago planning base 3 is a practical Chicago planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Chicago planning base 4
Chicago planning base 4 is a practical Chicago planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Chicago planning base 5
Chicago planning base 5 is a practical Chicago planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Chicago planning base 6
Chicago planning base 6 is a practical Chicago planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Stay overview
Compare Chicago before booking Chicago hotels. Start with the places you will repeat most, then check airport timing, parking, nightly price and event demand before choosing the final base.
Hotels & areas
Compare accommodation options in and around Chicago by area, not only by nightly price. A cheaper room can become expensive when airport transfers, parking, attraction routes, late arrivals or event-week demand add time and cost.
Compare stays in Chicago, USAFlights & airports
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) arrival plan
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD)Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Chicago
Compare airport access against hotel location, arrival time, rental car pickup, late flights and onward driving before choosing the first night base.
Rental cars
Chicago day-trip car use
Compare rental cars when airport arrival, day trips, parking, luggage, theme parks, coastal routes or nearby regions matter more than staying fully on transit.
Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best time to visit
Check weather, school holidays, daylight, local festivals and major event calendars before locking in hotel rates or non-refundable tickets.
Transport notes
Choose a base around the trips you will repeat most: airport, station, old town, waterfront, venue district or day-trip route.
Crowds
Prices can jump around festivals, conventions, school holidays, cruise days, ski weeks, race weekends and large sports events.
Booking detail
Compare total cost with taxes, breakfast, parking, resort fees, transfer timing and cancellation terms before choosing the cheapest room.
