Chicago: population, area, time zone, climate. Cities with over one million inhabitants

One of the most populated cities in America is Chicago. The population of this megalopolis has already exceeded the mark of 2.5 million people. In the US, the city is on the third place in terms of population after New York and Los Angeles. There are a lot of representative offices of large companies and companies (for financial importance, the city is second only to the United States after New York). In Chicago, the largest transport hub of the entire continent is North America.

The population of Chicago

At the moment, one of the largest cities in the United States of America is Chicago. The population, according to the 2010 census, is 2 million 695 thousand people.

The majority of inhabitants are traditionally Americans. They are about 55% here. Even more impressive is the agglomeration, which is also called the "Country of Chicago" or the "Great Chicago". This congestion of mainly urban settlements, which from time to time grow together and unite, has about 9 million inhabitants. In the ranking of the world agglomerations Chicago is located on the 37th place in the world.

It is one of America's key cities in the Midwest. Chicago, whose population has always been economically active, today rightfully occupies a leading position, as the industrial, transport, economic and cultural capital of the Midwest.

The city of a millionaire

Millionaire cities of the United States form the basis of their economic and industrial power. Chicago is one of them.

In total, there are 8 cities in the United States with a population of over one million people. By the number of residents of Chicago inferior, as already mentioned, only to Los Angeles and the absolute leader of New York, which is home to almost 8.5 million people. Also on this list are Dallas, San Antonio, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Houston.

Chicago Area

The area of Chicago is more than 606 square kilometers. In this territory there are 12 federal reserve banks, the largest stock exchange, various commercial structures.

A huge area is occupied by the famous business center, known throughout the world as the Chicago Loop. It is the second largest business center after Manhattan. Here you can find the headquarters of world famous companies, such as Boeing and United Airlines.

Also Chicago is a city famous for its sights: the skyscraper quarter, the "Willis Tower" (110-story building) is the second tallest building in the United States. From the ground to the top as much as 443 meters. From the observation deck, located on the 103rd floor, offers stunning views of Lake Michigan and the city's surroundings.

In the center of architecture you can trace the whole history of skyscrapers in the USA.

Timezone

Chicago time zone - UTS - 6:00 in the winter. This is Central American time. Throughout the year, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, part of Canada, Chile and Ecuador fall into it.

In the summer, the time zone changes to UTS - 5:00. The time difference between Moscow and Chicago is 9 hours.

Climate in Chicago

This is the largest city that enters the state of Illinois. However, he is not his capital, the administrative center is located in the city of Springfield with a population of only 116 thousand people.

Chicago is right on the shores of the beautiful Lake Michigan, as well as the Chicago, Calumet and Chicago Sanitary Canal, which connects the Chicago River with Des Plaines in the east of the city. In the XIX century, the Chicago River was used for shipping, now these functions have moved to Lake Michigan.

The climate of Chicago is wet continental. A very long summer, which is accompanied by frequent rains. The weather is wet and hot.

In winter it is relatively cold, especially when compared to other US states. In this winter is short, and the weather often changes. The average July temperature exceeds 23 degrees Celsius, in January an average of -5. In a year more than 900 millimeters of precipitation falls. The wind speed during the year averages 4 and a half meters per second. Relative humidity of air hardly more than 70%.

The warmest month of the year is July, the absolute maximum reaches over 40 degrees above zero. The coldest in January, the absolute maximum this month is above 32 degrees below zero.

The largest city in the state

The state of Illinois is on the 25th place in the occupied area. Chicago is its key center. Here industrial enterprises are concentrated, as well as companies engaged in agriculture. The south of the state is fertile and rich in natural resources. This is, first of all, timber, oil and coal.

Illinois is America's main transport hub. On water the port of Chicago is connected with the largest ports of the Great Lakes, and also has a direct exit to the Atlantic Ocean.

O'Hare International Airport is located here. For several decades now it remains one of the busiest in the world.

According to the latest census of the state, held in 2011, it is home to almost 13 million people. This is the most densely populated area in the entire Midwest. Two-thirds of the inhabitants of the state belong to the famous Chicago agglomeration. However, it occupies no more than 8% of the state territory. The rest of the inhabitants of Illinois live in rural settlements or small towns.

According to the same census, over 13% of the state's residents were born outside the United States of America. Of these, almost half represent countries in Latin America, 26% - Asia, 22% - Europe, a small part came from Africa, North America and Oceania. Of these, less than half of newcomers received US citizenship .

The state has a lot of children and young people, almost 30% of the population are underage, because Chicago is a city of opportunities. It attracts many Americans for its prospects. The gender composition is almost identical, women slightly more - 51%.

If we evaluate the origin of the inhabitants of Illinois and Chicago, then most of them Germans - they are more than 20%. 13% of the Irish, from 5 to 10% of the Poles, English and Italians, about 2% of the Swedes and the French, there are also Dutch, Norwegian and Scottish diasporas.

Russian in Illinois is slightly more than 126 thousand. This is less than 1 percent of the total population.

Air communication

Chicago, whose population is very mobile, serves just two major international airports. There is also a small network. The main one is O'Hare International Airport, located in the west, outside the city limits. It belongs to the town of Park Ridge and is one of the largest in the world. It has 4 terminals, 3 of which are for local airlines and one for international. This airport takes the 4th place in the world in terms of the number of passengers carried.

Another airport is called Midway. It is located in the south-west of Chicago. Its history begins in 1923, when the first runway was opened. Then the main function of his was the transportation of mail, three years later he began to use the city for commercial purposes. Already by 1928 four runways were operating, ready for work and in the dark.

History of Chicago

In 1674 the history of Chicago begins. The US as a state at that time did not yet exist. The French Jesuit Jacques Marquette founded a missionary post on the site of the future metropolis.

The settlement with the same name appeared on the maps only in 1833. Then it was a village where 350 people lived. It is known where the name of the city came from. So the French immigrants altered the Indian word, which means garlic or wild onions.

The city status of Chicago appeared only in 1837. Three years later, its population was already 4 thousand people. Convenient and advantageous geographical position - on the border of the west and east of the USA, allowed Chicago to develop rapidly, becoming the main transport hub of the state. This led to an increase in industrial production and the influx of migrants into the agglomeration, which was already beginning to form.

International fame came to the city in 1920, when it was home to the famous gangster Al Capone. At that time in the city there were thousands of bandit groups. With a large influx of migrants, Afro-American culture began to develop rapidly in the city, in particular, jazz was gaining unprecedented popularity.

In 1942, the University of Chicago hosted the world's first nuclear reaction within the framework of the Manhattan project.

By the end of XX century Chicago has established itself as one of the centers of American architecture, specifically skyscrapers. At this time, the outflow of residents from the central part of the city to the outskirts began, many even preferred to settle in the suburbs. This trend affected all the cities with over one million people in the United States.

Green Chicago

Chicago is an incredibly green city. There is a huge number of parks and parks. And one of the green areas of Chicago is not limited. In the landscape organically interwoven about 30 beaches, which are very popular in the summer. This is a favorite holiday destination for tourists who come to Chicago. The USA is proud of another place of mass attraction of tourists.

Also in the park zone is a zoo, bird sanctuaries and even a museum town. In the general plan of development of the city, these territories are exempt from construction. As early as 1839 it was announced that they should be free of any buildings and structures. So far this decree is being implemented.

Center for Cultural Life

Chicago is not only an economic and industrial, but also a cultural center of America. A lot of festivals are held here, exhibitions are regularly opened, master classes are held. Especially a lot of activities fall on the summer period.

For two months - from the end of June until the end of September, Chicago becomes the capital of jazz. Here is the Ravinia Festival. Performs the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, ballet troupes, comedians and parodists.

In the last days of May, the Chicago International Blues Festival starts. The bright end of these holidays is the Chicago Jazz Festival, which opens in late September.

sights

The main attractions of Chicago are the skyscrapers, but there are also other things to see. First, this is the Old Town. Authentic district of the city, in which almost intact preserved shops and buildings of the early XX century. Here is the working church of St. Michael. Here annually in the beginning of summer artists and other representatives of the world of art gather from all corners of the world.

Another unique area of Chicago is the Gold Coast. It is famous for its large number of ancient mansions. In the same city stands a water tower, built in the middle of the XIX century. Only she survived the terrible fire of 1871 and still provides water to 400 thousand inhabitants of the north of Chicago.