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The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned in the American city of Chicago during October 8–10, 1871. The fire killed approximately 300 people, destroyed roughly 3.3 square miles (9 km 2) of the city including over 17,000 structures, and left more than 100,000 residents homeless.
6 gru 2019 · Now in paperback, The Great Chicago Fire presents a complete narrative history of the 1871 fire that destroyed 73,000 miles of streets and 17,500 buildings, and which left 100,000 people homeless. More than 150 photographs and illustrations help tell the inspiring story of a heroic American city.
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Chicago’s population had exploded from about 4,000 people when it gained its first city charter in 1837, to 30,000 in 1850, then to an astounding 330,000 by 1871. It had just passed St. Louis as the fourth-largest city in America and sat poised to become a major player on the international scene.
This map was created by a user. Learn how to create your own. A look at the blaze's progression across the city and the seven buildings that survived its fiery wrath.
This guide map, published just after the Great Chicago Fire, superimposes the burned area over the gridded street pattern. The fire started southwest of the city center and burned over 2,000 acres, noted by the shaded red area.
After a dry summer, a fire began on 8 October 1871 west of the Chicago River. Aided by strong winds, the fire ravaged the commercial district. When it finally succumbed to rain after thirty-six hours, a third of the city was homeless.
the simultaneous major fire outbreaks occurring in Chicago, Peshtigo and Manistee, Michigan were sparked by heavenly fireballs bombarding the Earth, the remnants of Comet Biela.
