The City of Chicago celebrated its 181st Birthday this past Sunday, March 4th. Chicago was incorporated as a city on March 4, 1837. So, I thought it would be interesting to take a look back at what the city was like at that time.
The city was divided into three districts (North, South and West) by the Chicago River. Due to its location on the river and near a portage between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watershed, it quickly became a major trading center and grew rapidly. During that time and for several decades it became known as the world’s fastest growing city. It also became an important railroad transportation hub between the eastern and western parts of the U.S.
At the time of incorporation, Chicago’s population was approximately 4,000 and it had many dry-goods stores and grocery stores; and a few hardware stores. It also had a few taverns and law offices. Chicago was the county seat. The panic of 1837 and the depression that followed did affect the Chicago economy, but it didn’t stop it due to the money that was laid out for building the Illinois and Michigan canal.
Between 1844 and 1854 many immigrants came to Chicago to work in factories, and flour mills, grain elevators, warehouses and packing houses were formed to process the shipments moving to the East. The Illinois and Michigan Canal was completed in 1848 (which opened trading throughout Chicago). By 1854 Chicago was considered the railroad center of the West. By 1860 Chicago had a population of 109,260.
In 1865 the Union Stockyards were built at 39th and Halsted streets and meatpacking businesses soon followed. Other important events of the time included:
1840 – Public Schools established; 1848 – Chicago Board of Trade established; 1855-Chicago Police Department formed; 1855-Lager Beer riots; 1855-Street Grade raised; 1869-Chicago Water Tower built; and 1871-Great Chicago Fire.
