Chicago at a Glance

Moving to Chicago

Chicago’s Water Tower is one of the oldest buildings in the city, which survived the Great Fire of 1871.

If you’re planning on moving to Chicago, you may enjoy this tidbit of information about its name: Derived from the Native American “shikaakwa”, it means smelly onion. If this does not convince you to move to Chicago, read the InterNations guide on moving to Chicago for info on neighborhoods, health, visa and transport!

Moving to Chicago: A Brief History

Chicago was founded in 1832. Historically, the city was a transportation hub between the eastern and western United States. Due to its geographic location, Chicago was used both for shipping and rail transport. In fact, today, Chicago’s harbor is the third largest intermodal port after Hong Kong and Singapore.

After the Great Chicago Fire back in 1871, where the city’s entire Central Business District burned to cinders, the rebuilding of the city, as you will see it when you move to Chicago, began. One of the only buildings that survived the fire was the Water Tower Building, which still stands proud today. When you move to Chicago, the first thing you will notice is how tall the skyline is. No wonder, Chicago built the world’s first skyscraper – the Home Insurance Building in 1885!

The architecture is one of the best parts of Chicago: Expats that move to Chicago mention the city’s infrastructure as another favorite aspect of the city. After moving to Chicago, you will note that the city is diverse, entertaining and can quickly feel like home!

Move to Chicago: Where to Live

Due to its size, Chicago has neighborhoods for most tastes and budgets. Factors such as whether or not you plan on moving to Chicago with a family, prefer living in an apartment or a house, proximity to your work or a school, and, of course, the price you are willing to pay, will play a role in choosing the right neighborhood for you.

Before you start moving to Chicago, it is a good idea to pay the city a visit and simply walk around the different neighborhoods in order to get a feeling for them. Most apartments/houses have “For Rent” or “For Sale” signs in their windows with a private telephone number for contact purposes.

Moving to Chicago: Neighborhoods

As there are well over 200 neighborhoods in Chicago, we will list only those which were recommended for and are well-liked by residents so that expats moving to Chicago will not panic at the prospect of finding a place. The city is divided into five general areas, for each of which we will quickly point out one or two neighborhoods:

North Side: Lincoln Park and Lakeview are the neighborhoods preferred by young people moving to Chicago. Lakeview is close to the downtown area and also within walking distance of the lakefront. Nightlife and shopping are good here. Even closer to downtown, Lincoln Park is a relatively calm and family-friendly neighborhood. Tree-lined streets offering apartments and brownstones are readily available here.
Downtown: If you should be moving to Chicago without children and working in the city with a relatively comfortable income, the downtown area is probably your best bet, as you’ll be right in the city’s financial and governmental heart.
Northwest Side: Lincoln Square and Roscoe villages are the preferred living spaces among people moving to Chicago’s Northwest side. Single-family homes are common here, thus attracting many families with children: The area is both safe and close to downtown, with the added bonus of offering many outdoor activities along the Chicago River.
West Side: Logan Square is a good choice for expats moving to Chicago who can’t count on a seven-digit paycheck. The low rents and multitude of parks makes it popular among working-class Chicagoans.
South Side: Hyde Park pretty much offers anything from small studio apartments to mid-sized mansions. As the home of the University of Chicago, it is popular among students and consequentially, it is probably one of Chicago’s most ethnically diverse neighborhoods. If you are looking for international flair, you will probably find it here!

The good news about all these neighborhoods (and the many more not listed above!), is that most of them contain some form of park, be it Grant Park in the Loop area, Lincoln Park etc. Despite moving to Chicago, the third largest city in the US, you still have the option of taking a leisurely stroll through a lush green area in the vicinity.