Immigration in Chicago

This map of Chicago was created by Eric Fischer, modeled after Bill Rankin's map of Chicago's racial and ethnic divides Each dot represents 25 people, based on 2000 census numbers. Red is White, Blue is Black, Green is Asian, Orange is Hispanic, Gray is Other.


Chicago has one of the richest immigration histories among American cities. Already in 1870 immigrants made up a larger proportion of the city's population (48 percent) than any other place in North America. During an 80-year period between 1880 and 1960 the size of Chicago's foreign-born population was second only to that of New York City. Local immigration patterns unfolded in a manner parallel to those of the nation. Mid-19th century arrivals from Ireland and Germany were followed by large numbers of Russian Jews, Slavs, and Italians in the years 1880-1920. Since the immigration reforms of 1965, the city and its suburbs have attracted growing numbers of Asians and Latin Americans. 

Chicago maintains its legacy as a major destination for immigrants to the United States. Recent patterns suggest continued growth among Mexican immigrants and Indians, as well as high percentage growth among certain sub-Saharan African groups such as Nigerians and Ghanians (both of whom tripled their size in the 1990s). Demographic statistics such as these are a starting point for understanding the impact and dynamics of immigration.

Chicago: Decades of Immigrants

Chicago Demographics
2010 Census Data	Chicago	Illinois	US
Total population	2,853,114	12,421,906	Population, percent change, 1990 to 2000	+4.0%	+8.6%	+13.1%
Population density	12,750.3/mi²	223.4/mi²	79.6/mi²
Median household income (1999)	$38,625	$46,590	$41,994
Per capita income (1999)	$20,175	$23,104	$21,587
Bachelor's degree or higher	25.5%	26.1%	24.4%
Foreign born	21.7%	12.3%	11.1%
White	42.0%	73.5%	75.1%
Black	36.8%	15.1%	12.3%
Hispanic/Latino origin (of any race)	26.0%	12.3%	12.5%
Asian	4.4%	3.4%	3.6%