How Did It Start?

• Farming expanded massively in the Midwest (The "Breadbasket").
• Chicago became the central hub to buy, sell, and ship.
• Grain elevators & trading systems made storage efficient as hell.
• Not just one person—it was geography + technology.

Why Chicago?

• Location: Southwest corner of Lake Michigan. Perfect link between East & West.
• Railroads: Connected Chicago to farms nationwide like a spiderweb.
• Water: Rivers and canals allowed cheap bulk shipping.
• Chicago was the "funnel" for the entire continent's harvest.

Jobs & Workers

Inventions & Techniques

• The Grain Elevator: Steam-powered conveyor belts moved grain vertically. No more sacks!
• Standardized Grading: Wheat was sold by quality (Grade 1, 2), not by looking at every specific sack.
• The Futures Contract: Buying/selling grain for later delivery. Invented in Chicago.

Impact on America

• Made food cheaper and available year-round across the U.S.
• Turned the U.S. into a global agricultural powerhouse.
• Chicago's wealth exploded, funding skyscrapers and culture.
• Created a model for modern global commodities trading.

Where in Chicago?

• The Chicago River: Lined with massive wooden (later concrete) elevators.
• The Loop: The Chicago Board of Trade (LaSalle St) is where the money moved.
• Rail Yards: South and West sides were choked with grain cars.

Decline or Change?

• Thrived most during late 1800s to early 1900s.
• The Shift: Railroad rates changed; the St. Lawrence Seaway opened up other ports.
• Technology: Trucks and new rail lines allowed farms to bypass Chicago.
• Chicago remains a financial hub for grain (CBOT), but the physical elevators are mostly gone.

Interesting Facts

• Fun Fact: Chicago invented the "Futures Market"—betting on the future price of wheat.
• Key Org: The Chicago Board of Trade (1848) is one of the world's oldest exchanges.
• Early elevators were highly flammable; grain dust explodes like dynamite.

Sources

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