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The History of Chicago
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The Chicago area was first found by Louis Jolliet, a Canadian explorer and French-Born Jesuit Jacques Marquette in 1673. The first permanent settlement was founded in 1781 from there it has become a robust city. The name Chicago was derived from the native Indian words describing the area.
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Louis Jolliet
Jacques Marquette |
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The city began with conflict. Native Americans attack Fort Dearborn that was located at the mouth of the Chicago River until Chief Black Hawk was defeated in 1832.
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Chief Black Hawk |
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In 1833 Chicago was officially incorporated as a town, four years later the population reached 4170 to become a city. By 1870 the railroads caused the population to boom and reach 300,000. |
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On October 8, 1871 disaster unfolded. The city’s 185 firefighters were exhausted four city blocks were destroyed the night before. There have been 20 in the past week and the firefighters have been denied better equipment. At 9:00 p.m. The Great Fire starts in a family barn and due to miscommunication the fire begins to burn out of control. As it approaches the river people think it is contained but, due to the waste and oil in the water, the water starts and fire and jumps to the other shore. Between midnight and 2am the gasworks explodes leaving most of the city without lights. At 3am another huge blow to the city when the main source of drinking water is contaminated due to the fire. Finally on October 10 the last of the fire is extinguished with the help of some rain. When it was all over 17,450 buildings were destroyed 1/3 if the population was left homeless. The official inquiry determined that shoddy construction, lax building inspection, and a poorly-equipped fire department were to blame. Even with an inquiry many still blame Catherine O’Leary the one who owned the barn. In 1997 the Chicago City Council passed a resolution that finally cleared Mrs. O’Leary of any wrong doing. |
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On January 2 the Chicago River is reversed for the Sanitary and ship canal. The great lakes become connected to the Mississippi River. |
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The Haymarket Riot May 3, 1886 was part of the protests to create an 8-hour unified work day that many of us have today. When police entered the square a bomb was thrown, seven police died and more then fifty were injured.
More on the riot Click here |
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First skyscraper was considered to be the Home Insurance Building. It was the first to be supported by a metal skeleton. Toady it is a mear shadow in the company of the modern skyscrapers. |
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"Al Capone is America's best known gangster and the single greatest symbol of the collapse of law and order in the United States during the 1920s Prohibition era. Capone had a leading role in the illegal activities that lent Chicago its reputation as a lawless city." |
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