Demographics of Chicago

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Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1840	4,470	—
1850	29,963	570.3%
1860	112,172	274.4%
1870	298,977	166.5%
1880	503,185	68.3%
1890	1,099,850	118.6%
1900	1,698,575	54.4%
1910	2,185,283	28.7%
1920	2,701,705	23.6%
1930	3,376,438	25%
1940	3,396,808	0.6%
1950	3,620,962	6.6%
1960	3,550,404	−1.9%
1970	3,366,957	−5.2%
1980	3,005,072	−10.7%
1990	2,783,726	−7.4%
2000	2,896,016	4%
Est. 2005	2,842,518	−1.8%
source: ^[1]

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 2,896,016 people, 1,061,928 households, and 632,909 families residing in the city of Chicago proper. This encompasses about one-fifth of the entire population of the state of Illinois and 1% of the population of the United States. The population density was 4,923.0/km² (12,750.3/mi²). There were 1,152,868 housing units at an average density of 1,959.8/km² (5,075.8/mi²).

1 Ethnicity
2 Households
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Ethnicity

Thematic map of black population centers, this is the largest non-White ethnic group in the city of Chicago.

The racial makeup of the city was 31.97% White, 36.77% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 4.35% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 13.58% from other races, and 2.92% from two or more races. Of the population, 26.02% are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

While most of Chicago and its surrounding area are extremely racially segregated, Chicago's unique culture arises from it being a melting pot, with nearly even percentages of Whites and Blacks as well as sizeable populations of Hispanics and Asians. The White, African American and Hispanic communities extend radially outward from the center of the city, one result of which is the heavily gerrymandered 4th congressional district.

The main ethnic groups in Chicago are African American, Irish, German, Italian, Polish, Chinese, Mexican and Puerto Rican. Chicago has a very large Irish American population on its South Side, although many Irish Americans have moved from the city to suburban areas during the past half-century. Many of Chicago's politicians have come from this massive Irish population, including the current mayor, Richard M. Daley.

When the Great Plains opened up for settlement in the 1830s and '40s, many German immigrants stopped in Chicago to earn some money before moving on to claim a homestead. Those with skills in demand in the city could—and often did—stay. From 1850, when Germans constituted one-sixth of Chicago's population, until the turn of the century, people of German descent constituted the largest ethnic group in the city, followed by Irish, Poles, and Swedes. In 1900, 470,000 Chicagoans—one out of every four residents—had either been born in Germany or had a parent born there. Although their numbers had dropped because of reduced emigration from Germany, World War I had made it unpopular to acknowledge one's German heritage, 22 percent of Chicago's population still did so in 1920^[3].

Polish market in Chicago

Poles in Chicago constitute the largest ethnically Polish population outside of Polish capital of Warsaw, making it one of the most important Polonia centers,^[4] , a fact that the city celebrates every Labor Day weekend at the Taste of Polonia Festival in Jefferson Park.^[5] The Southwest Side is home to the largest concentration of Górals (Carpathian highlanders) outside of Europe; it is the location of the Polish Highlanders Alliance of North America. The city also has a large Assyrian population, numbering as many as 80,000 and is the location of the seat of the head of the Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Dinkha IV. It is also the location of the ELCA headquarters.^[6] It has the second largest Mexican American population in the U.S. behind Los Angeles. The city is the home to a large Romanian American community with more than 100,000.^[7]

The Chicago Metropolitan area is also becoming a major center for Indian Americans and South Asian Americans. Chicago has the third largest South Asian American population in the country, after New York City and San Francisco. The Devon Avenue corridor on Chicago's north side is an example of this, as it is one of the largest South Asian neighborhoods in North America. There are also around 185,000 Arabs in Chicago and with the majority located in the suburban parts of Cook County around Chicago. There are about 75,000 more Arabs who live in the five counties around Cook County including Lake, Kendall, Will, and DuPage.[1][2]

[edit] Households

Chicago Demographics
2000 Census Data	Chicago	Illinois	US
Total population	2,896,016	12,419,293	281,421,906
Population, percent change, 1990 to 2000	+4.0%	+8.6%	+13.1%
Population density	12,750.3/mi²	223.4mi²	79.6/mi²
Median household income (1999)	$38,625	$46,590	$41,994
Per capita income (1999)	$20,175	$23,104	$21,587
Bachelor's degree or higher	25.5%	26.1%	24.4%
Foreign born	21.7%	12.3%	11.1%
White	31.97%	73.5%	75.1%
Black	36.77%	15.1%	12.3%
Hispanic/Latino origin (of any race)	26.02%	12.3%	12.5%
Asian	4.35%	3.4%	3.6%

There are 1,061,928 households, of which 28.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% were married couples living together, 18.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. Of all households, 32.6% are made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.50.

Of the city population, 26.2% were under the age of 18, 11.2% were from 18 to 24, 33.4% are from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,625, and the median income for a family was $42,724. Males had a median income of $35,907 versus $30,536 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,175. Below the poverty line were 19.6% of the population and 16.6% of the families. Of the total population, 28.1% of those under the age of 18 and 15.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Population estimates in 2003 put the number of people in the city proper at 2,869,121, while suburban populations continue to grow, with estimates at 9,650,137 for the combined city and suburbs.