Chicago was occupied by an American tribe named Potawatomi in the 18th century. The first documented non-indigenous permanent resident in Chicago was a trader, Jean Baptiste. He is believed to have been born in Haiti and is popularly referred to as the "Founder of Chicago." Incorporated as a city in 1837, Chicago enjoyed tremendous growth in the 1800s. Chicago was a major transportation hub between the eastern and western United States. The city's first railway and the Michigan and Illinois Canal opened in 1848 only served to increase the city's population further. A flourishing economy with plenty of retail and finance sectors was also a major draw for immigrants to the city. The Great Chicago Fire, which occurred in 1871, was a major setback as it affected about 4 miles of the city. The city, however, bounced back by reconstructing structures in a modern style using stone and steel. As a part of its rebuilding process, Chicago built the world's first skyscraper using steel-skeleton construction in 1885. The city's population grew from about 30,000 to over a million between 1850 and 1890. By the end of the 19th century, it had become the fifth-largest city in the world.

Parks
Also known as the "City in a Garden," Chicago has over 8,000 acres of greenspace and parkland. The city is home to 31 sand beaches and over 50 nature areas. Lincoln Park covers 1,200 acres, and it is the biggest in the city. Lincoln Park receives over 20 million visitors annually, making it the third most visited park in the country. Chicago's oldest park is Grant Park in Chicago Loop, while some of the newest include DuSable Park on the Near North Side and Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chinatown.

Sports
Are you a sports lover? Chicagoans are die-hard sports lovers, and the city is home to eight professional teams. The White Sox and Cubs play baseball, the bears play football, the Blackhawks play hockey, the Bulls and Chicago Sky play basketball, and the Chicago Fire and Chicago Red Stars play soccer.

When Micheal Jordan was starring for the Bulls in the 90s, everyone wanted to be like Mike and the city was always welcoming visitors from different parts of the world hoping to see Mike in action on matchdays. The celebration that ensued following the Cubs World Series victory in 2016 was a sight to behold. The celebration brought millions to the city, with the celebration parade ranked as the seventh-largest human gathering in history. The Blackhawks secured victory in the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015, with the team's "Chelsea Dagger" song being the celebratory song during trophy parades.

Dining
Do you know Chicago is home to the famous James Beard Awards? The event will be held at the Lyric Opera in Chicago till 2027. While the city is renowned for its Chicago-style hotdog, you would be making a big mistake if you think that's all that there is to the city's dining scene. The city has numerous food options, such as chicken-fried steak, jibaritos, and deep-dish pizza. The city also has excellent cocktail and beer options. Take a trip to Pilsen for outstanding Mexican cuisine, Argyle Street for Vietnamese, and Devon Avenue for Indian and Pakistani. Restaurants in the city have earned 22 Michelin stars.

Biking
If you love biking, Chicago is where you should call home. There are over 248 miles of conventional and protected bike lanes all around the city, with the one on Milwaukee Avenue the most popular. Milwaukee Avenue is also called the hipster highway due to the enormous presence of cyclists during rushing hours. If you can’t afford a bike, there are several bike hailing services in the city, with rents going as low as $5 for a 30minutes ride.