Chicago, metropolis of the mid-continent

Online version:

Introduction. Yesterday and today ; Chicago's geographic attributes

The physical setting. In the beginning ; Effect of the glaciers ; The lake plain ; After the glaciers ; The Chicago River ; The Calumet River ; The drainage pattern ; Vegetation ; The climate

The evolution of Chicago. Early settlement ; Town and city ; The street pattern ; Mudhole of the prairies ; The fire ; Rebuilding and further expansion ; Protecting the people's health ; From fair to fair

People and settlement patterns: the Europeans. Source of early settlers ; European immigrants ; An ethnic checkerboard ; Recent population trends ; The Irish ; The Germans ; The Scandinavians ; The Jews ; The Czechs and Slovaks ; The Poles ; The Lithuanians ; The Italians ; The Greeks ; The Ukrainians ; Other European groups ; Chicago's European neighborhoods

People and settlement patterns: recent migration and trends. Population changes ; The African Americans ; The Hispanics ; The Asians ; The Native Americans ; Socioeconomic patterns ; Theoretical internal arrangement of Chicago

The economy of Chicago. Early industry ; The Union Stock Yards ; Pullman ; Present industry ; Wholesale and retail trade ; Organized industrial districts and parks ; The Calumet industrial complex ; The changing role of the central business district. Culture, education, and recreation. Recreation facilities ; Education ; The literary field ; Art ; Music ; Architecture

Transportation: external and internal. From portage to world port ; The modern port of Chicago ; The railroads spin a web ; Road transportation ; Pipelines ; Air transportation ; The CTA and its predecessors ; Pace, the suburban bus system ; Metra, the commuter rail system ; Transportation trends

Expansion of the Chicago metropolitan area. Suburban growth ; Suburban characteristics ; North suburban growth patterns ; West suburban growth patterns ; South suburban growth patterns ; Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore ; Regional shopping centers ; The rural-urban fringe ; Midwest megalopolis

Planning for the future. Problems and principles ; The Burnham plan ; Later Chicago planning ; Planning for the metropolitan area ; The challenge

Appendix A: Chicago population

Appendix B: Chicago weather and climate

Appendix C: General facts about Chicago

Appendix D: Significant dates in Chicago history

Appendix E: Chicago historic sites

Appendix F: Statistical data for incorporated communities of the Chicago area