Chicago is a city in the state of Illinois and the largest in the Midwest. The city is located almost entirely in Cook County, (a portion of the city's O'Hare International Airport overlaps into Dupage County, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States.
The windy city is a great town in every respect, with amazing architecture, amazing jazz and blues music, tasty food, the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago Bulls and loads more to see and do. Giant Lake Michigan is practically an inland sea, and a popular destination for boating enthusiasts. Travelers making there way through the state can, if they wish, follow the Mississippi River or historic Route 66, and see the sights along the way.
Depending on what you like you might want to focus on a specific neighborhood. For example, the Loop, or downtown Chicago is where you will find commercial, governmental, and cultural buildings that are contained within a corral of elevated train tracks.
The North Side is also known as the Magnificent Mile. This is where you find the trendy and elegant North Michigan Avenue, which is home to the city's best hotels, shops, and restaurants. The area stretching east of Michigan Avenue to the lake is often called "Streeterville." In the late 19th century, after his steamship ran aground, George Wellington "Cap" Streeter, an eccentric, bankrupt showman staked out 200 acres of self-created landfill in this area. He then declared himself "governor" of the "District of Lake Michigan."
River North is located to the west of the Magnificent Mile. This old warehouse district has experienced a rebirth as one of the city's most popular tourist districts. Today it is home to many of the city's hottest restaurants, nightspots, and art galleries.
Housing Cost
Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $245,000
Demographics
Estimated population in July 2006: 2,833,321. Chicago covers 227.1 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 596 feet above sea level.
Weather
Chicago, IL climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and very cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 20's.
The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 84.40 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 18.30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be fairly limited during summer with a difference that can reach 18 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 14 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation at Chicago is 38.01 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is June with an average rainfall of 4.30 Inches.
Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com
