In the minds of many people, Chicago is one of the most famous American cities and is the capital of the world mafia. Indeed, the history of Chicago contains many legends associated with the activities of criminal communities, but it also contains many bright pages, joyful and pleasant events.
How it all began
It is known that the first inhabitant was Jacques Marquette, a Jesuit of French origin who came to these lands to preach. The history of Chicago begins with the founding of a missionary post in 1674. What happened over the next 150 years, little is known to historians, but only in 1833 a village appears on the map of the area, the population of which does not reach 400 people.
It is believed that the settlement got its name from garlic (wild onion) - a word that the French heard from the native inhabitants of the Maya. The settlement grew by leaps and bounds, after four years it already had the status of a city, and the number of inhabitants increased 10 times.
All this is due to the favorable geographical position, the emergence of roads connecting the south and north of the country. Immigrants from different countries also contribute to the flourishing of the city, turning it into a major economic center. The history of Chicago (briefly) might sound like this, but every day new pages appear in the book of memory, joyful and sad.
The era of scientific and technological progress
The economic rise of Chicago began in the middle of the 19th century, among the important scientific and technical innovations that appeared in the city, the following can be noted:
- 1856 - a project to build a sewerage system, the first in the United States, was adopted;
- 1871 - Construction boom comes after the Great Chicago Fire;
- 1885 - the construction of a skyscraper, the first swallow in world architecture;
- 1893 - the so-called Columbus exhibition was held, which attracted millions of visitors and guests.
On the one hand, technological progress has led to the rapid development of the city and a high standard of living. On the other hand, problems began with the environment, pollution of Lake Michigan, and the beginning of the twentieth century was marked by an increase in crime, some of which, such as Al Capone, gained worldwide fame.
At the moment, Chicago is at the forefront of many positions not only in the American, but also in the world economy and culture. The first nuclear reaction was carried out here, skyscrapers were erected. At the same time, many of the Chicagoans live in suburbs that are more comfortable to live in.
