Page 3 - Abla/W.CH
P. 3
CHICAGO, IL
HIGHLIGHTS
Chicago’s first roots were laid in the late 1770s
when the Haitian trader Jean Baptiste Point du
Sable opened a trading post here. By 1837, Chicago
had become a major trading post and was
incorporated as a city. Through its access to Lake
Michigan and the waterways connecting the
Midwest to New York as well as its key position as a
major railroad hub, Chicago became the go‑to
market for Midwestern farmers. By pioneering
technologies and new practices Chicago soon
became the most important Midwestern city.
Although the Great Fire of 1871 destroyed much of
the original interior of Chicago, the city revived
itself with more bountiful industry, expansive
construction, diverse jobs, varied markets, and
more tremendous buildings than before (including
the first skyscrapers).
Today, Chicago is a leader in many key industries
including: architecture, business and financial
services, manufacturing, information technology,
health services, education systems, tourism,
communication and transportation.
