The Windy City's Wacky Wayback Machine: How Long Has Chicago Been Around?
Ah, Chicago. City of broad shoulders, deep dish pizzas, and that mysterious entity known as "Midwestern charm." But how long has this bustling metropolis been serving up hot dogs and hogging the spotlight? Buckle up, because we're about to take a whirlwind tour through Chicago's history, with more twists and turns than a deep-dish crust!
From Trading Post to Tourist Trap: A Tale of Two Cities (Sort Of)
There are two ways to look at Chicago's founding, depending on your definition of "founded."
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The OG Move: If you're a stickler for permanence, then Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a Haitian-born trader, gets the gold medal. He set up shop around the 1780s, making him Chicago's first known permanent resident. Think of him as the lone hipster with a fixie bike in a town full of dirt roads.
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From Humble Beginnings to Hot Dog Stands: But if your idea of a "city" involves more than one dude and his trusty musket, then 1837 is your answer. That's the year Chicago officially became an incorporated city, with a population of about 4,000. So, basically, it went from "tiny frontier town" to "slightly less tiny frontier town with a slightly better chance of finding decent plumbing."
So, How Old is Chicago, Really?
Here's the truth: it depends on how you spin it.
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Counting Jean: If you go full-on OG, Chicago is rocking around 244 years old (as of 2024). That's older than your grandma's favorite rocking chair, and probably creaks just as much.
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Officially Official: But if you're all about paperwork and legalese, then Chicago is a sprightly 187 years old. Still impressive, but maybe not quite as "ancient" as some other, cough, cough, coastal cities we could mention.
The Takeaway: Don't Make Chicago Do Math
Look, the important thing is that Chicago is a vibrant, ever-evolving city with a rich history. Whether it's been around for two or two hundred years, there's no denying its impact on American culture. Besides, who wants to do the math when you could be stuffing your face with a Chicago-style hot dog (and maybe a slice of deep dish for good measure)?
So next time you're in the Windy City, raise a glass (or a spritz, no judgment) to this grand dame of the Midwest. Just don't ask her to calculate her exact age – she might get a little windy about it.
