Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Hawaii


http://chicagoshomesforsale.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/luxury-home1.jpg

Land ownership

The percentage of homes occupied by their owners stands at 68.2%, which is down from a year earlier, where the percentage was at 68.5% according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. On the other hand, in Hawaii, roughly half of all land is government owned.

The Chicago Community Land Trust (CCLT) works with Chicago’s affordable home ownership programs. The CCLT provides land and/or subsidies to working individuals and families with the opportunity to buy homes they can afford.


http://www.woodstockinst.org/press-clips/mortgage-lending-and-foreclosures/chicago%11area-homeownership-rate-dips-(crain's-real-estate-daily)/

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dcd/supp_info/chicago_communitylandtrustforbuyers.html

The North Pacific Coast


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The Chicago River is 156 miles long. The river is noted for being the reason why Chicago became such an important city as a result of its location (it serves as the connection between the Great Lakes and the waterways in the Mississippi Valley).  The river is forever acknowledged by two horizontal blue stripes that are depicted on Municipal Flag of Chicago.

The Chicago River also serves as inspiration for one of Chicago's widespread symbols: a three-branched symbol in the shape of the letter “Y”. This symbol is found on many buildings throughout Chicago; it represents the 3 branches of the Chicago River.

 http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/263.html


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Thursday, November 17, 2011

California


Chicago is an exciting place. Although California is known for its film industry, Chicago is also home to many important celebrities and figures in history and several sports teams also hold their roots there.

Harrison Ford (actor), Hugh Hefner (publisher), Bernie Mac (actor/comedian) are famous celebrities from Chicago. One of the most famous figures in American culture, Walt Disney, was born in Chicago on December 5, 1901. Jesse Jackson (minister, civil rights activist, presidential candidate). Donald Rumsfeld (congressman, secretary of Defense). Hillary Rodham Clinton (first lady, senator from New York Secretary of State) and Barack Obama (former United States Senator and 44th President of the United States) are important political figures have history in Chicago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Chicago

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Thursday, November 10, 2011

The Southwest Border Area: Tricultural Development


The 2010 US Census Bureau reported a population of 2,695,598 in the city of Chicago. This is about a 6.9 percent decrease in population since the 2000 US Census. There are fewer people living in the city now than in 1920. This recent decline in population affected Chicago’s African-American population than other populations. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the ethnic breakdown in Chicago is: White 45 percent, Hispanic or Latino 28.9 percent, African American 32.9 percent, White non-Hispanic 31.7 percent and Asian 5.5 percent.   

References:
http://www.newser.com/story/112177/chicagos-population-falls-below-1920-levels-2010-census.html
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/1714000.html

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Census+Shows+Chicago+Population+Declines+Almost+Qr6PwlNh1N3l.jpg


Thursday, November 3, 2011

The Empty Interior


Chicago is the Midwest’s top tourist destination. Nearly 40 million people visit Chicago annually. Attractions include Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago Cultural Center, Navy Pier and its boardwalk, 150-foot Ferris wheel, boat and segway tours, and many dining and shopping opportunities. Millennium Park offers music, art, landscape and architecture.

Tourists can explore the city’s architecture during a guided tour (on foot a Chicago River boat, lakeshore cruise or sightseeing bus). A popular destination is the 103rd floor of Skydeck Chicago in the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) and the 94th floor Hancock Observatory. The city’s also has 29 miles of lakefront paths, which makes Chicago one of the world’s most accessible and pedestrian friendly cities.

References
http://www.choosechicago.com/


http://navypierpassport.com/wp-content/gallery/home-gallery/navy-pier-chicago-day-time.jpg

Sunday, October 30, 2011

The Great Plains and Prairies


Irrigation and Water
Irrigation makes agriculture possible in areas that were previously not suitable for crop production.  Less than 15% of U.S. cropland is irrigated, although irrigation is essential for crop production in some of the most productive areas of the country such as Illinois. In Illinois, home to some of the highest corn yields in the country (152 bushel per acre average for the state), much of the crops are under constant irrigation from the time they are planted until they are harvested.
The Department of Water Management is responsible for delivering almost 1 billion gallons of water to Chicago and 125 suburban communities each day through a network of purification plants, tunnels, pumping stations, water mains and many other structures. Raw water enters the crib about 2-miles out in the lake and is sent to one of two purification plants where the water is treated and impurities are removed. The water then flows to 12 pumping stations located throughout the city of Chicago and ultimately delivered to homes and business.

References
http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/water.html
http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/ag101/cropirrigation.html

The Chicago Water Tower is the second-oldest water tower in the United States. Built in 1869 by architect William Boyington from limestone and is 154 feet tall.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

The Agricultural Core


Chicago is located in the agricultural core. Good agricultural hinterlands and waterways contribute to the growth of large cities, such as Chicago.
Sufficient rainfall with little erraticism and many growing seasons make the region a perfect place for growing corn and other crops. Within the Agricultural Core, there are three main crops that are grown throughout the region: corn, soybeans, and wheat. Illinois is a leading producer of soybeans, corn and swine.  Agriculture benefits the economy of Illinois. Marketing of agricultural goods from Chicago and throughout Illinois generates more than $9 billion yearly. Corn comprises for almost 40 percent of that total and soybeans comprise about one-third.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture promotes items produced, processed or packaged in Illinois. Most of the processors are located in the Chicago metropolitan area, which has one of the largest concentrations of food-related businesses in the world.
References:
Regional Landscapes of the United States and Canada
Authors: Stephen S. Birdsall, Eugene J. Palka, Jon C. Malinowski, and Margo L. Price
http://www.agr.state.il.us/about/agfacts.html
http://www.indianagrain.com/media/images/blog_entries/2958.jpg

http://www.cityfarmer.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/cityfarm.jpg