City Information

The name "Chicago" is the French rendering of the Miami-Illinois name shikaakwa, meaning “wild leek”.Etymologically, the sound /shikaakwa/ in Miami-Illinois literally means 'striped skunk', and was a reference to wild leek, or the smell of onions.The name was initially applied to the river, but later came to denote what is presently the site of the city. Louis Hennepin, a Catholic priest, missionary and explorer, first placed the name 'Chicago' on a map in 1683.

Chicago is the largest city by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest. It is a dominant center of finance, industry and culture in the region. The city, for much of its history, has been known informally as America's "Second City." Chicago was once the capital of the railroad industry and the world's largest meatpacking facilities were at the Union Stock Yards; currently the city is home to the nation's second busiest airport, O'Hare International.

The Chicago metropolitan area is the metropolitan area associated with the city of Chicago in the United States and its suburbs. It is the area that is closely linked to the city through social, economic, and cultural ties. The metropolitan area is informally known by residents as Chicagoland, a term which may include areas outside the MSA as part of the broader Combined Statistical Area (CSA). The Chicago metropolitan area is sometimes grouped together with Milwaukee and Racine in Wisconsin, creating a megalopolis, gradually spreading toward nearby urban centers like Rockford, South Bend, and Madison. TOP

Climate

The city lies within the humid continental climate zone and experiences four distinct seasons. Summers are warm & humid with average high temperatures. Winters are cold, snowy and windy with temperatures below freezing. Spring and Fall are mild with low humidity.

Summer is typically the rainiest season, with short-lived rainfall and thunderstorms more common than prolonged rainy periods. Winter precipitation tends to be more snow than rain. Chicago's snowiest winter on record was that of 1929–30, with 114.2 inches (290 cm) of snow in total. Chicago’s highest one-day rainfall total was 6.49 inches (164 mm), on August 14, 1987. TOP  

Musuem

Science rules at the three great institutions that make up Chicago’s lakefront Museum Campus. Centered within The Field Museum’s 20 million biological and anthropological specimens is Sue, the largest and most complete T. rex ever found. Explore the universe at Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, the world’s only museum with two full-size planetarium theaters. Or head to the Shedd Aquarium and get up close with 22,000 aquatic species.

Among Chicago’s world-class institutions showcasing art is the Art Institute of Chicago, whose permanent collection of paintings, drawings, photography and textiles includes the largest compilation of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works outside the Louvre.nd the world. TOP