Why is Chicago called Chicago?

Answer 1

Prior to Los Angeles becoming the second most populated city in the United States, Chicago was the second most populated behind New York City. After loosing the title as the second most populated city in the United States, a reporter for the New Yorker Magazine, A.J. Liebling, commented about how Chicago had many neighborhoods that were segregated by class, ethnic origin, or creed. This showed neighborhoods were in fact their own cities within the City of Chicago. Liebling stated that Chicago was the "second hand city" to these neighborhoods, to which Chicagoins then changed the term to be the second city.

Answer 2

Chi-Town was a term first used in the African Americam communites in the city of Chicago. It was used to abbreviate Chicago in conversations with each other. The term was used dating back in the late 70's early 80's.

Answer 3

Chicago was called the "black city" in contrast to the nickname for the Worlds Columbian Exposition 1893 which was called the "white city". The fair was designed implementing urban design strategies that imitated the beaux art tradition and European cities. All of the buildings within the court of honor was white washed, giving a fresh clean grandeur to the fair. At this time, the city of Chicago was over crowded, poverty stricken, and polluted. Visitors to the fair contrasted the city of Chicago (The Black City) with the ideal city of the exposition (the White City) as a view of what city planning could bring to urban development.

Answer 4

Chicago means, "wild onion" because of the Indians that used to live there many, many years ago when it was still prairie land.

Answer 5

Chicagoland doesn't refer to just the city of Chicago. The term covers all the city and the suburbs.

You can see Info on the history of the term at the related question below.