We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culture

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Why is Chicago Called the Windy City?

By Alan Rankin
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 10,942
Share

No one knows for sure when Chicago first acquired the nickname “The Windy City,” or what it really means. The earliest written references date to the 1870s, but its use in popular speech might go back further than that. Most people believe it refers to the wind that comes off nearby Lake Michigan and cuts through the city’s streets during winter months. Another theory credits the term to Chicago’s intense 19th-century rivalry with neighboring Cincinnati, Ohio; at the time, the term “windy” also meant “inclined to brag.”

Chicago has had many nicknames over the years, including “Second City,” “The Garden City,” “Paris of the Prairie,” “City of the Big Shoulders” and “The Big Onion” — the word “Chicago” means “onion.” “The Windy City” is perhaps its most famous moniker, applied since at least 1876 and used in song and story by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Mike Royko. Popular belief holds that it originated with Chicago’s successful self-promotion to become the site of the 1893 World Fair. Referring to the city’s verbal bluster, a New York newspaper editor called it “the Windy City.” Ongoing research, however, has revealed earlier references in regional newspapers.

Another theory holds that Chicago is called “the Windy City” because the city is windy. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Chicago was rebuilt on a grid plan of straight streets going north-south and east-west. As residents of such cities know, this can create a “wind tunnel” effect, especially for winter winds coming off Lake Michigan, which forms the city’s eastern border. A 2002 climate data survey, however, demonstrated that Chicago is no windier than other cities of its size and location.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chicago competed with Cincinnati for a leading role in the lucrative meatpacking industry. Among the results of this rivalry was the creation of the White Sox baseball team, Chicago’s response to Cincinnati’s popular Red Stockings, who later became the Reds. Oddly, both cities competed for the nickname “Porkopolis,” which Cincinnati eventually won. With its central location and position as a hub of rail transportation, however, Chicago claimed more meatpacking business, and its vocal expression of its superiority might have led its rivals to call it “windy.”

There is some credence to this theory, because the first recorded references to “The Windy City” appear in Cincinnati newspapers. Linguistic scholars know, however, that a phrase might be used in speech for years or decades before it first appears in print. One of these scholars eventually might find the answer in a century-old newspaper archive, but if not, the true origin of the name “The Windy City” might never be known.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Chmander — On Aug 10, 2014

I like how the last paragraph brings up the fact that there's no true origin for "The Windy City". Like several origins of words and phrases, people might associate the term with something that's not entirely true. In this case, while it's true that Chicago is windy to an extent, perhaps the phrase didn't originate from this, and many people have just assumed that it did.

By Krunchyman — On Aug 09, 2014

Like many people, the reason why I call Chicago a windy city is because it has a lot of wind, which makes a lot of sense. For example, let's say that you live in Palos Heights, which is approximately 20-30 minutes away from downtown. Have you noticed that it's a lot colder in the Chicago? This is especially true during the Holidays, where it might be thirty degrees in a nearby area, but closer to ten degrees when you arrive downtown. Despite Chicago's many nicknames, "The Windy City" is the one I like to stick with.

By RoyalSpyder — On Aug 08, 2014

One thing I like about Chicago is that it has a lot of nicknames, and not just one in particular. It really shows you how unique it is, with its various themes and whatnot. In fact, considering all of the nicknames Chicago has, I wonder how many are used in this day and age. After all, the only term I've heard people use is "The Windy City". However, considering how phrases and nicknames can change overtime, perhaps some of them have faded out, while others are a lot more popular.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/why-is-chicago-called-the-windy-city.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.