Arriving from the Suburbs

Living in the heart of the city was often thought of as a symbol of status and privilege. But as Chicago became more crowded at the beginning of the twentieth century, many of the city's elite sought a more tranquil existence away from the densely populated areas. Developments in transportation technology, along with better roads and the construction of rail lines, made it possible to travel more easily outside the city limits. Chicago's first regularly scheduled commuter railroad is believed to be the Illinois Central Railroad, which began suburban service on July 21, 1856, with four daily round trips between Chicago and the new suburb of Hyde Park, seven miles south of downtown. Hyde Park became part of Chicago in 1889. Around the time the Illinois Central began suburban service, the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee line was ferrying passengers as far as the northern suburb of Waukegan, about 40 miles from the city. The improvement in rail service changed settlement patterns around Chicago as people started moving to the outlying areas to create the city's suburbs and a new commuter culture.