Chicago

Chicago is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 census, it is the third-most populous city in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles. As the seat of Cook County, the second-most populous county in the U.S., Chicago is the center of the Chicago metropolitan area, often colloquially called "Chicagoland" and home to 9.6 million residents.

Some of the key events about Chicago

1833
The Town of Chicago was incorporated with a population of 350 people
1848
The Illinois and Michigan Canal opened, connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River system
1871
The Great Chicago Fire led to innovative urban planning and architectural advancements
1871
The Great Chicago Fire destroyed much of the city, leaving 100,000 residents homeless.
1893
The World's Columbian Exposition showcased Chicago's recovery and introduced several technological innovations
1900
The city completed the engineering feat of reversing the flow of the Chicago River for sanitation purposes
1903
The Iroquois Theater Fire killed over 600 people, becoming the deadliest single-building fire in U.S. history.
1915
The SS Eastland disaster occurred when a passenger ship capsized in the Chicago River, killing 844 people.
1919
The Chicago Race Riot resulted in 38 deaths and over 500 injuries, highlighting racial tensions in the city.
1929
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre saw seven men brutally murdered, epitomizing Chicago's gang violence during Prohibition.
1942
The world's first controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction was achieved at the University of Chicago
1955
The first McDonald's franchise restaurant opened in Des Plaines, a suburb of Chicago
1966
The Summerdale police scandal exposed widespread corruption within the Chicago Police Department.
1968
Violent clashes erupted between police and protesters during the Democratic National Convention.
1974
The Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) was completed, becoming the world's tallest building at the time
1974
A major fire at the Gately's People's Store killed 29 people and injured many others.
1979
American Airlines Flight 191 crashed shortly after takeoff from O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 people on board.
1995
Chicago experienced an extreme heat wave that led to improved emergency response systems
1995
A severe heat wave resulted in over 700 heat-related deaths in the city.
2004
Millennium Park opened, featuring iconic public art and architecture

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.