Prairie Pages: Chicago

              Location: the Key to Future Growth
Chicago played a huge role in the growth and
development of agriculture and agribusiness in Illinois and the
rest of the country. This world-class city began as a portage
between Lake Michigan and the Illinois River. The Native
Americans used the site long before the Europeans arrived. The
French explorer, Louis Jolliet, one of the first Europeans to
travel in
Illinois,
saw that
this
location
was a
crossroads.
He
realized
that
building a
canal at
this point
could
connect
the distant Atlantic Ocean, through a system of lakes, rivers, and
canals, to the Gulf of Mexico. His dream would one day become
true.
Linking the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River was a
large part of the growth of Chicago and all of northern Illinois.
Glossary
agriculture - anything
to do with farming
agribusiness - the
businesses related to
farming such
manufacturing farm
implements
portage - a route for
carrying boats or
goods overland from
one body of water to
another
crossroads - a point
at which roads, trails,
rail lines etc. meet
canal - a manmade
waterway
Prairie Pages
Vol. 5 # 2 Education Services Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
Chicago
Chicago in 1820. Courtesy Abraham Lincoln Presi-dential
Library.