Buffalo Soldier at Bud Billiken Parade, Chicago Trivia

Buffalo Soldier at Bud Billiken Parade, Chicago

Chicago Trivia

Chicago Trivia is perhaps, most famous for the many inventions that debuted in the city. Here are some of its lesser known trivia.

The name “Chicago” is derived from the Miami-Illinois tribe of Native-Americans who called it “shikaakwa”, that was translated by French to be “wild onion” or “wild garlic”.

During the mid-18th century, the area was inhabited by the nomadic Potawatomi tribe, who displaced nomadic Miami, Sauk and Fox tribes.

In the 1780s, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable of African and French descent became the first permanent settler in the region; for that distinction, he is credited as the Founder of Chicago.

In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed an area of 4 miles long and 1 mile wide, which was most of downtown at that time. The city survived primarily because its railroads and stockyards remained in tact.

In 1893, Chicago hosted the World’s Columbian Exposition at the present location of Jackson Park. Historians consider that World Fair the most influential in history because it introduced so many items that ushered in 20th Century modernity. In 1892, The University of Chicago was founded on the same South Side location.

Daniel Burnham, an American architect and urban designer, is most credited with the landscape design of Chicago; particularly with influence and decisions that led to 90% of shoreline being preserved as park space.

The 9.5 million population Chicago Metro Area not only consists of Chicago and northeastern Illinois counties, but a few counties in southern Wisconsin and northwestern Indiana.

At over 1.7 million, Chicago metro area has the 3rd largest African-American population in the country.

Chicago is is home to University of Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Chicago, DePaul University, Chicago State University, Loyola University Chicago, Roosevelt University and others that make it one of America’s top collegiate regions.

By 1910, Chicago became the nation’s railroad center with over 20 passenger railroads operating service out of 6 different terminals. Today, Chicago is the hub of most Amtrak long distance routes and its Union Station is the 4th busiest train station in America.

The region is America’s 2nd largest headquarter city and home to Walgreens, Archer Daniels Midland, Boeing, State Farm, United Continental Airlines, Sears, Mondelēz, Allstate, McDonald’s, Exelon, US Foods, Abbott Laboratories, Kraft Foods, Illinois Tool Works, Baxter, Navistar, CDW, RR Donnelley, W.W. Grainger, Discover Financial, Dover Corporation, Motorola, Tenneco, Ingredion, Integrys and many others.

McCormick Place is the largest convention center in North America. The largest annual events its hosts are the Chicago Auto Show, International Home and Housewares Show, and the National Restaurant Association Show.

Chicago Famous Residents

Chicago has a long list of African American celebrities, athletes, social ground-breakers and dignitaries born or made their mark here:

Jean Baptiste Point du Sable – The Founder of Chicago
Harold Washington – First African-American mayor of Chicago
Barack Obama – The First African-American President
Michelle Obama – The First African-American First Lady
Carol Mosely Braun – First African-American U.S. Senator
Fritz Pollard – One of the first NFL players and coaches and a businessman
Bernard Shaw – First African-American news anchor of a major network (CNN)
Lorraine Hansberry – Activist and Playwright of “A Raisin In The Sun”
Ricky Henderson – Hall of Fame baseball player
Mavis Staples – Soul and Gospel singer
Don Cornelius – Founder of Soul Train
Melvin Van Peeples – Playwright, actor and filmmaker who pioneered the Blaxsploitation genre
Lou Rawls – Grammy Award-winning R&B Singer
Kanye West – Rapper
Khalil Gibran Muhammad – Exec. Director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Jennifer Hudson – Singer and actress
Terrence Howard – Actor
Dwyane Wade – NBA All-Star and Finals MVP
Herbie Hancock – Pianist and songwriter
John Johnson – Founder of Ebony and Jet magazines
Bernie Mac – Comedian and actor
Verde White – bassist and songwriter for Earth Wind & Fire
Derrick Rose – basketball MVP
Deal Patrick – First African-American governor of Massachusetts
Sherri Sheperd – Military leader and Secretary of State
Lavern Baker – R&B vocalist
Curtis Mayfield – R&B singer and songwriter
R Kelly – R&B singer and songwriter
Chaka Khan – R&B singer
Isiah Thomas – Finals MVP and two-time NBA champion

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