3-034-783 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Chicago in 1830: Wolf's Point, at the junction of the north and south river branches, 1871. '...we present a view of the appearance in 1830 of one of [the city's] most central spots, at the junction of the north and south branches of the Chicago river, anciently called Wolf's Point. This is nearly a mile inland from the shore of Lake Michigan, and not far from the west end of Lake-street and of Randolph-street, with the Randolph-street bridge over the south branch river. At the time when this view was sketched there were, besides Fort Dearborn, only twelve houses at Chicago. The population was 170 souls - whites, half-breds [sic], and Indians; but the only white people, except the little garrison of the fort, were John Kinzie, the first settler, and his family; Dr. Woolcott, his son-in-law, who was the United States agent for the Indians; and a few fur traders, living in log cabins west of the river. Such was the state of Chicago forty-one years ago, when the first survey was made, and the Illinois and Michigan Canal was commenced. It has since become a city equal to any of provincial rank in America or in Europe'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.