Scholarly Writing for English Reading Chicago, Illinois A City and its Consumers What is often known as the “Windy City” began as a city of industry, but was destined to become much more. Within its first century, the metropolis blossomed into a manufacturing and political breeding ground. Chicago features a population of nearly 3 million people; making it the third largest in the United States (State of Illinois). Diverse, rich in history, and renowned for its architecture, the city is classified as an alpha world city. The City of Chicago is almost entirely located in Cook County, Illinois, though the metropolitan area extends over several counties. Incorporated in 1833 at the site of a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River division, it soon became a transportation hub and the capital of business, finance, and culture in the Midwest. Since its incorporation as a city on March 4, 1837, (Chicago Public Libraries) the Windy City has grown to become one of the most influential cities in the world. Chicago’s history is both long and diverse. The 1920s brought international notoriety to Chicago as gangsters like Al Capone battled each other and the law during Prohibition. In addition, this decade also saw a boost in industry as the Great Migration brought droves of fresh laborers—mostly Southern blacks—to Chicago and other Northern cities. A great deal of new construction began to support Chicago’s booming status, which gave birth to a number of Chicago’s still-standing architectural wonders (Chicago Public Libraries). Later in the 20th Century, the city’s local contribution to the war effort effectively changed the standard of warfare forever. On December 2, 1942, the world's first controlled nuclear reaction was conducted at the University of Chicago as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project (Chicago Public Libraries). One of Chicago’s most profound historical milestones in terms of municipal government was the advent of the high-rise project housing system. Beginning in the 1950s, many upper- and middle-class citizens left Chicago for the surrounding suburbs, causing the city’s population to shrink by roughly 700,000 (Bernard). This in turn left entire neighborhoods under populated and destined to become a breeding ground for poverty. In the past ten years, however, Chicago has seen a turnaround from the dilapidation common to major American cities. As a result, many formerly abandoned neighborhoods are starting to show new l