Chicago’s Founding
Jean Baptiste DuSable, Chicago’s first non-indiginous permanent settler, arrived in 1779 and set up shop — er, trading post — along the north bank of the Chicago River. Along with his Potawatomi wife Kitihawa, DuSable did business with Native Americans, plus British and French explorers.
Prior to his arrival, Native American tribes had thriving trade networks across the Great Lakes region. (Those routes eventually became our diagonal streets!)
All that came long before Chicago’s official incorporation as a city on March 4, 1837. At that point, the city had about 4,000 residents. (It was incorporated as a town three years prior — yes, there’s a difference.) From then on, it was full steam ahead.
Does incorporation truly = birthday? In Chicago, it certainly does. Any reason to celebrate!
St. Andrew Lutheran Church during Chicago’s 187th birthday. (Michelle Navarro / City Cast Chicago)
Upcoming Birthday Parties
Chicago’s biggest birthday party this year takes place at the city’s marked geographic center: the corner of 37th and Honore in McKinley Park. The free event will be inside Andrew Lutheran Church. Expect cake, live music, and a rendition of “Happy Birthday” in multiple languages.
There’s also a street-sign-themed party at 18th Street Casa de Cultura in the Lower West Side.
Brush Up on More Chicago History
- Remember how Chicago turned its stinking river around?
- Here’s where Al Capone actually hung out
- An ode to poetry from the City of the Big Shoulders
- How Chicago earned its (many) nicknames
- Meet the faces of Crown Fountain
- Why alleys are still the backbone of Chicago
- The etymological and environmental mystery of the Windy City
- Why Chicago’s flag rules — and Illinois’ doesn’t
Now, I leave you with my favorite quote about this City on the Make: “Chicago … Like loving a woman with a broken nose, you may well find lovelier lovelies, but never a lovely so real.”
