Chicago 2011/2012

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the third most populous in the U.S.[1]Its metropolitan area, sometimes called "Chicagoland," is the third largest in the United States, with an estimated 9.8 million people in the U.S. states of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Chicago is the county seat of Cook County,[7]the second most populous county in the United States.
Chicago was incorporated as a town in 1833, near a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed. Today, the city retains its status as a major hub for industry, telecommunications and infrastructure, with O'Hare International Airport being the second busiest airport in the world in terms of traffic movements. In 2008, the city hosted 45.6 million domestic and overseas visitors. Among metropolitan areas, the Chicago area has the 4th largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the world.
Chicago is an important worldwide center of commerce. The city has the second largest financial center in the United States. The world cities study group at Loughborough University recognized Chicago among its leading group of cities. Chicago was named by The Atlantic as the world's 4th most economically powerful city, Chicago is a stronghold of the Democratic Party and has been home to many influential politicians, including the current President of the United States,Barack Obama.
The city's notoriety expressed in popular culture is found in novels, plays, movies, songs, various types of journals (for example, sports, entertainment, business, trade, and academic), and the news media. Chicago has numerous nicknames, which reflect the impressions and opinions about historical and contemporary Chicago. The best known include: "Chi-town," "Windy City," "Second City, and the "City of Big Shoulders. Chicago has also been called "the most American city" in the United States.