Chicago Guide

Chicago, also known as the "Windy City", is the third largest city in the USA by population size. New York City and Los Angeles rank first and second by population.

State: Illinois

Country: United States of America

Location: Chicago is located in the state of Illinois along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan.

Geographic Coordinates: Longitude 87.38 W, Latitude 41.53 N

Map: To view a Chicago city map, click here. Map of Chicago

Area: The city of Chicago covers an area of 606.1 square km.

Per Capita Income: Per capita income in the city is $20,175.

Population: According to the census taken in year 2000, there are about 3 million people in Chicago. Age Structure: 26.2 percent of the people in Chicago are below 18 years of age. Another 11.2 fall within 18 to 24 years of age. 33.4 percent belong to the 25 to 44 age group. The 45 to 64 year age group constitutes 18.9 percent of the population. 10.3 percent of the population are 65 years and above.

Racial Makeup: 36.23 percent of the population in Chicago is African-American. Another 4.35 percent is Asian. 26.03 percent of the people are Hispanic. Whites constitute 31.34 percent of the population.

Economy: Chicago is considered to be one of the 10 most important cities in the world. It is also the financial, transportation, and cultural capital of Midwestern America. Chicago has been a major financial center of the USA for most of its modern history. Today, Chicago has the nation's second largest central business district and third largest gross metropolitan product. Industries such as steel, oil, and banking are the major industries of Chicago. Chicago is considered to be the foremost transportation hub in America. Chicago holds an important place in global distribution as it is the third largest inter-modal port in the world.

Climate: The climate in Chicago can be classified as temperate. It has the typical climate of the US Midwest with hot summers and frosty winters. Yearly temperatures swing between extreme warmth in the summer and extreme cold in winter. The best time to visit Chicago is in the spring or autumn, when moderate temperatures prevail, making it a pleasure to be outdoors.

Rainfall: Chicago has an average annual rainfall of 847 mm.

Government Type: The government of Chicago consists of two branches - the executive and the legislative branches. The chief executive of the city is the Mayor who is elected for four year terms through a general election. The City Council, consisting of 50 aldermen elected from each ward of the city, constitutes the legislative section of city government. The Chicago Police Department is the second largest in the United States.

Major Political Parties: Major political parties active in Chicago include the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, America First Party of Illinois, and the Constitution Party of Illinois.