Settled in the early 18th century by the Potawatomi Indians, the area of Chicago has always been an area of human activity.
The first Europeans arrived in the area around 1780 and right off the bat realized the stratigic location of this area. Perfectly situated on the lake and rivers, with plenty of good harborage Chicago was destined its now glory.
With the removal of the native inhabitants by 1833, Chicago was set for expansion and development. With its location along the waterfront, shipping and trading was able to support the city and drew people to the area, along with the fur trading and farming. To improve the location and manage there most valuable resource, Lake Michigan, the city reversed the flow of the Chicago River to drain into the Mississippi river instead of the lake. This protected the water resources from pollution, but also provided a direct shipping route from the heart of the nation to the great lake area and beyond.
In its time, Chicago has become a world recognized city. Its history contains major events like the Great Chicago Fire, the gangster era and the first controlled nuclear reaction. It is also the birth place of such invention as the zipper, the crackerjack, the steel skyscraper, roller skated and elevated railways.
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