Chicagoland Panorama

Advertising the industrial potential of Chicagoland in the mid-20th century.

This marvelous sweeping panorama offers a very liberal interpretation of the geographic extent of Chicagoland. The image stretches all the way from Madison to Milwaukee and Michigan City, extending as far east as Dubuque, Iowa! The wide scope was deliberate, intending to highlight the vast sphere of influence enjoyed by the Windy City, particularly its commercial inhabitants.

Urban density is illustrated accordingly, concentrated along the lakeshore and radiating from the city center along the primary rail lines. Vast areas of land are shown as agricultural, emphasizing the opportunity for future growth and development. Major transportation routes (including the Tri-State Tollway), towns, and important industries are labeled throughout. Of particular interest are numerous steel mills, Meigs Field (now destroyed), and the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant, which began operations the same year as publication.

The map was illustrated by Hoomer Grooman (signed, lower left) and published in 1960 by the Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry. A keyed aerial photograph of the city, map of the greater Chicago metropolitan area, and information about local attractions are provided on the verso. The image is one of several variants issued during the decade, each with slight variations in content and perspective.