# Happy 188th birthday, Chicago!

- Date: March 5, 2025
- Type: Video
- Length: 2:27
- Topic: Other
- Video: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-hDRReNgvs)
- Transcript: Machine transcription, 313 words ([text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/youtube/q-hDRReNgvs.txt))
- Mayor: [Brandon Johnson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor)

## Description

Happy 188th birthday, Chicago! 🎉 From our legendary food scene to our iconic skyline, our city continues to shine. Today, we celebrate the spirit, strength, and resilience of every Chicagoan. Let's continue to work together toward many more years of growth and progress. #HappyBirthdayChicago

## Transcript

[0:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/q-hDRReNgvs?t=0) Happy birthday, Chicago. Today, March 4th, our great city turns 188 years old, and we look good too, y'all. There is so much to celebrate about Chicago. Our city is a global powerhouse for innovation and progress with a bold, unique, and determined spirit. Chicago is beloved for our legendary sports teams, world-class museums, Broadway theaters, and major events from Lollapalooza to the Air and Water Show.

[0:32](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/q-hDRReNgvs?t=32) Our city and its artists have given the world the gift of jazz, blues, and house music. We have a globally renowned food scene from Michelin-starred restaurants to the shops that sell our famous Italian beefs, Chicago-style hot dogs, and deep dish pizzas. Chicago has natural beauty in Lake Michigan, the Chicago River, and our parks, as well as architectural beauty.

[1:02](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/q-hDRReNgvs?t=62) The first ever skyscraper was built right here, giving way to our breathtaking, dynamic skyline and some of the world's most iconic buildings. There is a reason why we have been voted the best big city in the country for an unprecedented eight years in a row. But Chicago's greatest strength of all is the people who live here from the generations of Chicagoans who built this city and fought hard for its progress to the Chicagoans today that make up our 77 culturally vibrant community areas and the unique soul of Chicago.

[1:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/q-hDRReNgvs?t=99) The people who live here are resilient, hardworking and proud as we celebrate our city's spirit and history. Let us look to the future. My administration is working to ensure that our city can prosper and thrive for another 188 years. We are making investments in our communities so that Chicago is always growing and building upon our success. I am so proud to be a Chicagoan and to work alongside the people of Chicago, creating a brighter future.

[2:14](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/q-hDRReNgvs?t=134) So here's to many more years of progress and pride. Happy birthday, Chicago.

Sources and methods: [how we get and count this data](/about#methods) · [report an error](/about#corrections)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/q-hDRReNgvs · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt
