Growth of the Suburbs

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After World War II, Chicago was a booming city, surrounded by small, quiet suburbs, many dating back to the 1870s. These suburbs, largely separate and distinct from one another, flourished along the railroad lines that carried commuters to their jobs in the city. Now the Chicago metropolitan area is a sprawling megalopolis combining many bordering towns and suburbs, linked by tollways and expressways. Developers contributed to this change as they converted corn fields and orchards to shopping malls, corporate headquarters, and subdivisions. The same process has changed the landscape around smaller cities.

© Illinois State Museum 31-Dec-96