Known as the Windy City, Chicago is the United States' third most populous city. With over 3 million people in it, Chicago is a center for economic growth and industry. Chicago is located in Illinois along the Great Lakes. It was founded in 1833 by settlers who liked it's location near the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. The first settler arrived in Chicago in the 1770's. He married a Native American woman of the Potawatomi tribe and started a trading post. This was the first commercial activity in the city that is now the economic hub of the Midwest. The land upon which Chicago now rests was acquired from the Potawatomi Indians in the Treaty of St. Louis. Two main factors contributed to Chicago's growth: the railroad and the Illinois and Michigan canal. They started the railroad project in 1836 and finished it in 1848. In the same year that it was finished, the canal also opened. This made this time period in Chicago a strong time of growth. People flocked in from all over. The canal allowed transport from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River. The railroad also brought many people in from the east. It was a great train station in between the east and the west. Many people subsequently used it as a starting point to all points westward. Chicago became one of the fastest growing cities in the world. In 40 years, it grew from a population of 30,000 to over 1 million. This was obviously a great deal of people moving into a city at one time. In 1871, the city of Chicago also experienced a great fire taht destroyed almost a third of the city. The damage was great and cost many people a lot of money. Many people were out of house and home, or a place to work. Chicago soon rebuilt and came back more powerful than ever. Prohibition in the 1920s ushered in a new era for Chicago. There were several gangsters that ruled the town including the notorious Al Capone. These gangsters controlled much of what went on during the prohibition era in American history. The government wanted to outlaw alcohol and Capone wanted to sell it. This meant that there were many conflicts and battles on the streets of Chicago in that time. Since then, Chicago has continued to grow and grow. Every year, more than 44 million people visit The Windy City. If you live near the Chicago area, you will undoubtedly need some form of transportation to get around. Chicago has a vast array of used cars for purchase. In the market of used cars Chicago has a large supply for everyone. If you need to purchase a car, be sure and check with your local Chicago used car dealers.
As one of the largest cities in the United States, Chicago is an enviable place to live. The economy in the city is varied and thriving and residents enjoy ample opportunities for entertainment when the work day is done. Unfortunately, so many people have fallen in love with Chicago that the housing prices remain constant in spite of market slumps in other parts of the country.
Even rental units can be costly. In fact, the director of Heartland Alliance's Institute on Poverty, estimates that almost a third of the renter in the Chicago area spend more than half of their income on housing. If renting is so costly, it might be wiser for families to consider buying there own home. It could be hard, but at least they are building up equity rather than lining someone else's pockets.
One way to find more affordable housing is to move further away from the city. This could mean a longer commute, social adjustments for families, and even cultural changes due to the new environment, but public transportation should keep the city accessible for employment and entertainment.
Although there are pricey districts in every sector of the city, the west and south sides are generally known for being more affordable than the loop and the northern sector. This makes the west and south parts of the city popular among students and families with lower incomes.
If your finances place you on the other side of the economic spectrum, there are also very expensive and posh housing accommodations in the windy city. For people who like to be right in the thick of it, a sky rise apartment in the loop will probably command beautiful views of Lake Michigan and cost as much as $1,000 per square foot. Or, many of the older warehouses in the city are being converted into loft apartments. And well-to-do families can find some of the most beautiful neighborhoods among the parks and beaches in northern Chicago though.
The sprawling metropolis known as Chicago land is massive though and provides housing options for everyone from the very poor to the very rich. If you are looking for a home that meets your budget and your needs, one of the best ways to sort through the hundreds of choices is to hire a local Realtor. They will be able to showcase the houses you are looking for in the neighborhoods you want and save you some time and money in the process.
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