IN 1848 THE FIRST RAILWAY LINKED CHICAGO WITH THE SURROUNDING DISTRICT, AND TODAY THE CITY STANDS AT THE GREATEST FOCUS OF RAILWAY ROUTES IN THE UNITED STATES. IN 1871 A FIRE BURNED FOR TWO DAYS AND NIGHTS, DESTROYING MOST OF THE CITY. A NEW CITY WAS SOON BUILT ON THE RUINS. THE “LOOP”, WHICH MAKES UP MUCH OF CHICAGO’S BUSINESS DISTRICT, IS SO CALLED BECAUSE IT IS CIRCLED BY AN ELEVATED RAILWAY THAT SERVES THE CITY AND SOME OF ITS SUBURBS. THE LOOP IS NOTED FOR ITS OUTDOOR SCULPTURES BY, AMONG OTHERS, PABLO PICASSO AND MARC CHAGALL.
CHICAGO DEVELOPED QUICKLY, BEING AT THE CENTRE OF THE GRAIN, CORN (MAIZE), AND LIVESTOCK FARM BELT OF THE MIDDLE WEST, BUT ITS MEAT-PACKING INDUSTRY DECLINED AND BY THE MID 1990S MANUFACTURING€COUNTED FOR ABOUT A QUARTER OF ALL JOBS. THE LEADING INDUSTRIES PRODUCE STEEL, METAL PRODUCTS, FOOD PRODUCTS, CHEMICALS, COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, AND ELECTRONIC GOODS. THE CITY IS ALSO A MAJOR FINANCIAL CENTRE WITH ITS OWN STOCK EXCHANGE, AND A CENTRE FOR PRINTING AND PUBLISHING. CHICAGO POSSESSES ONE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES – THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO – AND IS OUTSTANDING FOR ITS CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IS WORLD FAMOUS AND THE CITY IS RENOWNED FOR ITS JAZZ, BLUES, AND CLASSICAL MUSIC. IT IS ALSO NOTED FOR ITS ARCHITECTURE, WITH BUILDINGS DESIGNED BY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, MIES VAN DER ROHE, AND LOUIS SULLIVAN. IN THE LATTER PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY THE CITY’S SKYLINE HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED BY SKYCRAPERS, INCLUDING THE 110-STOREY SEARS TOWER, COMPLETED IN 1973, WHICH IS THE WORLD’S TALLEST OFFICE BUILDING, AT 443 METRES (1,454 FEET), AN THE 100-STOREY JOHN HANCOCK CENTER. CHICAGO IS ONE OF THE UNITED STATE’S LEADING CANVENTION CENTRES. THE CITY IS SERVED BY O’HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WHICH IS THE BUSIEST IN THE WORLD.