**Chicago** is the most populous city in the [[United States|U.S.]] state of [[Illinois]] and the [[List of United States cities by population|third-most populous city]] in the United States, after [[New York City]] and [[Los Angeles]]. Located on the southwestern shore of [[Lake Michigan]], it is the [[County seat|seat]] of [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]] and the principal city of the [[Chicago metropolitan area]], one of the largest [[Metropolitan area|metropolitan areas]] in [[North America]]. Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837 and grew rapidly through the mid-nineteenth century as a hub for [[Railroad|railroads]], [[Meatpacking industry|meatpacking]], and [[Commodity market|commodity trading]]. Much of the city was destroyed in the [[Great Chicago Fire]] of 1871, and the subsequent rebuilding spurred innovations in [[Architecture of Chicago|architecture]] and [[Urban planning|urban planning]], including early development of the [[Skyscraper|skyscraper]]. The city became a major destination during the [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]] and a center for [[Jazz|jazz]], [[Chicago blues|blues]], and [[Gospel music|gospel music]]. Chicago's economy is diversified across [[Financial services|financial services]], [[Manufacturing|manufacturing]], [[Technology|technology]], and [[Transportation|transportation]], anchored by institutions such as the [[Chicago Board of Trade]] and [[O'Hare International Airport]], one of the busiest airports in the world. The city is also home to prominent [[Higher education|universities]], [[Museum|museums]], and professional [[Sport|sports]] teams across all major [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|North American leagues]].