Chicago

With a population of about 2.7 million people, Chicago is the third-most populous city in the United States covering about 237 square miles of land. It is also the largest inland city in the country. The city, which is nicknamed the “Windy City,” is situated on the southwestern banks of Lake Michigan in the northeast of the state of Illinois. The Chicagoland metropolitan area boasts almost 10 million people, making it the third-largest in the U.S. and 22nd-largest in the world.

There are about eleven Fortune 500 companies in Chicago and there are another 21 in its metropolitan area. It is an international center for commerce, finance, technology and telecommunications. The city has a highly diverse economy with no single industry maintaining dominance in terms of employment generation. It is home to the second-busiest airport in the world, the O’Hare International Airport.

The city has a bubbly art community boasting several cultural institutions, museums, theaters, art galleries, and music festivals among others. These include the Museum of Contemporary Art, John G. Shedd Aquarium/Oceanarium, Field Museum, Broadway, Chicago Opera Theater, and Emerald City Theatre. Chicago boasts several leading sports teams, including the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bulls, and Chicago Bears. With many leisure activities on offer, Chicago was named the fifth-most fun city in a survey by Cranium Inc in 2003.