General Information

Continent: North America
Country: United States of America
State: Illinois (IL)
County: Cook County
City: Chicago
Time Zone: Central Time Zone
Chicago Population - City: 2,896,016 ('00 census)
                                              2,783,726 ('90 census)
                                  Metro: 9,157,540 ('00 census)
                                               8,239,820 ('90 census)

1673 - First Europeans discover Chicago area
1781 - First permanent settlement by Jean Baptiste Point du Sable
1832 - Chief Black Hawk defeated
1837 - Chicago is incorporated as a city
1871 - The Great Fire
1885 - The first skyscraper
1893 - World Columbian Exposition
1909 - The Chicago plan
1943 - Chicago's first subway opened
1973 - Sears Tower completedwith the help of local Indians.

           Louis Jolliet, a Canadian explorer and the French-born Jesuit Jacques Marquette were the
first Europeans to discover the Chicago area in 1673. Chicago covers over 225 square miles,
bounded along the east by Lake Michigan. The city's streets are primarily laid out on an easy-
to-follow grid system, with major thoroughfares running on straight east-west and north-south routes. Public transportation is one of the easiest and most economical ways to get around in
Chicago. Downtown Chicago was nicknamed "the Loop" after the loop made by elevated trains
encircling the area.

            The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates a network of buses and elevated/subway trains throughout Chicago. For directions to your destination, call the Travel Information Center at 312/836-7000.Chicago has an underground system of pedestrian walkways that makes navigating the Windy City easier in inclement weather. At the far point under the Illinois Center at Michigan Avenue and the Michigan Avenue Bridge a network of walkways that lead to stores in the Loop area and the major train stations can be found. There is also an entrance elevator in loop buildings and subway stations. Maps of the Pedway are available in hotels and the Illinois Center.

Places worth visiting in Chicago:
The London Guarantee Building, on 360 North Michigan Avenue, is a remarkable landmark in Chicago, situated at a prominent site at the Chicago River at the termination of Wacker Drive.
Water Tower, situated at 800 North Michigan Avenue, near the John Hancock Center and provides a sharp contrast with the surrounding high-rise buildings.
Grant Park is Chicago's principal downtown park. It is located between Michigan Avenue and Lake Michigan.
The Wrigley building serves as the headquarters of the Wrigley (chewing gum) company and
was built in 1920 by the company's founder, William Wrigley Jr.
Devon Avenue,The Indo-Pak portal for Chicago.
Sears Tower , the worlds second largest tower.