With a population of over 2.6 million, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States, after New York and Los Angeles. More than 9 million people live in the greater Chicago agglomeration. In addition, the central part of the city, where the offices of large companies are located, is the largest financial center in the US after Manhattan.

The city is located on the west coast of Lake Michigan in Illinois, where the weather is somewhat cold, dry, and often has chilly winds.