All About the Chicago Area

Welcome to Chicago, the third largest city in the United States, with a population of nearly three million people.  As a multicultural city that thrives on the harmony and diversity of it's neighborhoods, Chicago today embodies the values of America's heartland-integrity, hard work and community-and reflects the ideals in the social fabric of its 77 distinct neighborhoods.

Did You Know...?

The world’s largest commercial office building is Merchandise Mart located at 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza

The world’s largest illuminated fountain is Buckingham Fountain located in Grant Park

The world’s largest public library is Harold Washington Library Center located at 400 S. State St.

The world’s busiest futures exchange is the Chicago Board of Trade located at 141 W. Jackson Blvd.

The world’s largest stand-alone theater is the Uptown Theatre located at 4810 N. Broadway

Chicago produced the first Roller skates in 1884

Chicago produced the first Zipper in 1896

The "Historic Route 66" begins in Chicago at Grant Park on Adams Street in front of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The first Ferris wheel made its debut in Chicago at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Today, Navy Pier is home to a 15-story Ferris wheel, modeled after the original one.

Chicago was one of the first and largest municipalities to require public art as part of the renovation or construction of municipal buildings, with the passage of the Percentage-for-Arts Ordinance in 1978.

The first televised U.S. presidential candidates’ debate was broadcast from Chicago’s CBS Studios on September 26, 1960, between John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Richard Milhous Nixon.

Check out our neighborhood map!