WELCOME TO CHICAGOLAND!

Distinguished as the largest city in the Midwest and the third largest in the nation behind the coastal giants of New York City and Los Angeles, Chicago spearheads a metropolitan region known colloquially as Chicagoland. Strategically situated along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago serves as an important center of transportation, industry, politics, culture, finance, healthcare, and higher education. Chicago is unapologetically a business town, a place where blue-collar realism blends with cosmopolitan sophistication.

Services

Chicagoland seems to offer the finest of every imaginable service and facility, regardless of the endeavor. Internationally famous healthcare and research institutions include the Illinois Medical District, home to Rush University Medical Center, the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago, and John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County—the largest trauma center in the city. The University of Chicago operates the University of Chicago Hospitals, consistently ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report. Highly respected medical schools underline the exemplary level of healthcare services and facilities in this region, where hospitals tend to be staffed by the brightest and most talented professionals in the nation.

Two of America's leading research universities are located in Chicagoland, the University of Chicago in Hyde Park and Northwestern University in Evanston. Prestigious Catholic universities in this area include DePaul University, St. Xavier University, and Loyola University—the largest Jesuit Catholic university in the nation. Many of the institutions in this region are internationally renowned, including several fine art schools. Columbia College Chicago is also well-known for its performing arts and communications programs. Along with public and private colleges, the region is well-served by community college systems that provide affordable starts on a four-year degree as well as career and vocational programs, customized training for local businesses, and continuing education opportunities for students of all ages.

Lifestyle

World-famous restaurants and entertainment centers, major league sports, globally renowned cultural institutions, and a kaleidoscope of urban and suburban lifestyle options make Chicagoland one of America's most exciting places to call home. Many refer to Chicago as the big city with the small-town feeling, a reflection of the Midwestern warmth and friendliness that gives this area such appeal as a comfortable hometown. Whether you choose an executive custom home near a championship golf course, a lakefront estate, a cozy bungalow in the heart of a long-established neighborhood, a Victorian tucked away in a quaint historic district, or a contemporary high-rise with views of the skyline, Chicagoland has the ideal setting for every dream.

Recognized as the birthplace of modern improvisational comedy, Chicago boasts a leading theatrical scene from Broadway to community theatre. Renowned companies play in venues from dazzling to intimate, joined by exceptional performance groups for symphony, chorus, opera, music, and dance. Chicago blues, Chicago soul, jazz, and gospel are all legendary. Museums are equally impressive, from history and art to science and nature. Chicago was named the best sports city in the United States by The Sporting News, which was no surprise to thousands of screaming fans of wildly popular teams like the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Cubs, and the Chicago Bulls that draw a national following.

Luxury shopping along the Magnificent Mile, famous attractions like the Navy Pier, and Chicago's status as a global architectural leader are just a few of the highlights that draw millions of tourists to the city each year. The Ferris wheel on the lakefront north of Grant Park is one of the most visited landmarks in the Midwest, surrounded by the pulsating sights and sounds of Navy Pier restaurants, shops, museums, exhibition halls, and auditoriums. The cities and towns that dot the region as well as the forest preserves and other parks that provide breathtaking scenery and protect wildlife habitats ensure four-season recreational opportunities. Those who make Chicagoland their home have the advantage of these world-class amenities, but they also enjoy the serenity of emerald-clad suburban communities or urban neighborhoods filled with historic architectural jewels. The vast region that encompasses Chicagoland is as diverse as the city itself, supporting every imaginable lifestyle choice. Accessible and affordable, the nation's only truly livable "big city" provides virtually endless possibilities.