25. Chicago today
The combination of lake and river shipping, intercity railroads, the growth of local industry, and geography of its location combined to make Chicago the busiest freight exchange point in the United States by the end of the 20th century. Its vast rail network supports intercity passengers, commuters, tourists, and freight moving in all directions. Freight operations continue around the clock, day after day, stopping only when natural events such as blizzards impede operation. Only New York City moves more commuters by rail each business day. Both the city’s industrial base and its rail operations evolved over time and continue to do so. For example, Chicago no longer rates recognition as the meatpacker to the world.
Nonetheless, the city’s facilities allowed it to retain its position as the busiest handler of rail freight in the United States. Its international airport is the sixth busiest in the world in terms of passengers, though in number of flights handled it remained the busiest in the United States at the beginning of the 21st century. The massive railyards in the region are a major link in intermodal (containerized) shipping, and its more recent focus on high-tech industries and solutions continues to rely on its transportation systems to move people and goods. There is little doubt that transportation built Chicago, and will be continued to do so long into the future.
Where do we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“Chicago: A Biography”. Dominic A. Pacyga. 2009
“The Galena and Chicago Union”. David Young, Chicago Tribune. December 18, 2007
“Railroads”. John C. Hudson, The Chicago Encyclopedia. Online
“What (or Who) Cause the Great Chicago Fire”. Karen Abbott, Smithsonian Magazine. October, 2012
“Then and Now: A Brief History of the Chicago ‘L'”. Michael Ossman, Loop Chicago. Online
“LaSalle Street Station in Chicago”. Dan Minkus, Vintage Depots. Online
“Chicago and the Illinois Central Railroad”. Clifford J. Downey. 2007
“The North Western: A History of the Chicago & North Western Railway System”. Roger H. Grant. 1996
“Classic American Railroad Terminals”. Kevin J. Holland. 2001
“People and the Port”. Theodore J. Karamanski, Encyclopedia of Chicago. Online
“Lumber”. Theodore J. Karamanski, Encyclopedia of Chicago. Online
“Waterfront”. Dennis H. Cremin, Encyclopedia of Chicago. Online
“Then and now: Sanitary Ship Canal – Chicago”. The Herald News Online.
“Midway Airport”. Derek Vaillant, Encyclopedia of Chicago. Online
“O’Hare”. Amanda Seligman, Encyclopedia of Chicago. Online
“Expressways”. Dennis McClendon, Encyclopedia of Chicago. Online
“The Rise and Fall of the Sleeping Car King”. Jack Kelly, Smithsonian.com. January 11, 2019
“The last years of Chicago streetcars”. John R. Schmidt, WBEZ Chicago. October 5, 2012