The Great Windy City Migration: How Many Newcomers Have Arrived in Chicago (and Can They All Fit in a Deep Dish Pizza?)
Chicago, the city of broad shoulders... and apparently an open door policy for migrants! Let's face it, folks have been flocking to this Midwestern metropolis for over a century, but lately, things have gotten a bit more interesting.
So, How Many Newcomers Are We Talking About?
Here's where things get a little crazy. Buckle up, because the numbers are enough to make your Polish sausage stand on end. The official count, according to the city itself, is over 39,000 since August of 2022. That's a whole lotta new faces, enough to fill Wrigley Field... several times over (and with a much more interesting food selection).
But wait, there's more! Some reports estimate the number could be even higher, pushing closer to a staggering 50,000. Now, that's enough people to form a human hot dog, stretching all the way from Millennium Park to Navy Pier (with a little creative license on hot dog length, of course).
Where Did They All Come From?
This ain't your grandparents' Ellis Island situation. These migrants are hailing from all corners of the globe. We're talking folks from Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, and even Africa. Basically, if you can find it on a globe, there's a good chance someone from there just landed in Chicago with a dream and maybe a slightly bewildered expression (because, let's be honest, Chicago weather can be a shocker).
The Great Deep Dish Dilemma
Now, with this many newcomers, a crucial question arises: Can they all fit in a giant Chicago-style deep dish pizza? Let's do some back-of-the-napkin math (because who uses calculators anymore?).
A standard deep dish can feed about 8 people. If we take the official number of 39,000 migrants, that means we'd need... well, let's just say we'd need a LOT of pizza. We're talking enough to blanket Millennium Park in a cheesy, bready goodness, with leftovers for everyone (and maybe a squirrel or two).
Of course, this is all in good fun. The arrival of so many new people is a complex issue, but one thing's for sure: Chicago has a long history of welcoming newcomers, and these folks add another vibrant layer to the city's already rich tapestry. So, let's raise a spatenator (or a glass of something cold, no judgment here) to these new Chicagoans, and maybe even share a slice (or two) of that deep dish with them.
