Nickname: "City on a Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Solar System), Athens of America" Official website: www.cityofboston.gov Location Location of Boston, Massachusetts Location in Massachusetts Government Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas Menino (Dem) Geographical characteristics Area Total 89.6 sq mi (232.1 km²) Land 48.4 sq mi (125.4 km²) Water 41.2 sq mi (106.7 km²) Population (2004) City proper 569,165 Density 11,760 /sq mi (4,540 /km²) Urban area 4,313,000 Metro area 5,809,111 Elevation 141 ft (43 m) Time zone Eastern (UTC-5) Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
"Boston" redirects here. For other uses, see Boston (disambiguation).
Boston is the capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. It is the largest city and unofficial capital of the region known as New England. Boston is one of the oldest, wealthiest, and most culturally significant large cities in the United States. Its economy is based on education, health care, finance, and technology.
Boston has many nicknames. The City on a Hill came from original Massachusetts Bay Colony's governor John Winthrop's goal to create the biblical "City on a Hill." It also refers to the original three hills of Boston. Beantown refers to early Bostonian merchants' habit for making baked beans with imported molasses. The Hub is a shortened form of writer Oliver Wendell Holmes' phrase The Hub of the Solar System, now more commonly The Hub of the Universe. William Tudor, co-founder of the North American Review, christened the city The Athens of America for its great cultural and intellectual influence. Boston is sometimes called the Puritan City because its founders were Puritans, and also called The Cradle of Liberty for its role in instigating the American Revolution. Citizens of Boston and the surrounding area are called Bostonians.
The city lies at the center of the Boston CMSA (Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area), the seventh largest in the United States. The area encompasses parts of the states of New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The city also lies at the center of Greater Boston, which also includes the cities of Cambridge, Brookline, Quincy, Newton, and many suburban communities farther from Boston.
History
Boston was founded on September 17, 1630 , by Puritan colonists from England, on a peninsula called Shawmut by its original Native American inhabitants. The peninsula was connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus, and surrounded by the waters of Massachusetts Bay and the marshes at the mouth of the Charles River. Boston's early European settlers first called the area Trimountaine. They later renamed the town for Boston, England, in Lincolnshire, from which several prominent "pilgrim" colonists emigrated. A majority of Boston's early citizens were Puritans. Massachusetts Bay Colony's original governor, John Winthrop, gave a famous sermon entitled "a City upon a Hill," which captured the idea that Boston had a special covenant with God. (Winthrop also led the signing of the Cambridge Agreement which is regarded as a key founding document of the city.) Puritan ethics molded an extremely stable and well-structured society in Boston. For example, shortly after Boston's settlement, Puritans founded America's first school, Boston Latin School (1635), and America's first college, Harvard College (1636). Hard work, moral uprightness, and an emphasis on education remain part of Boston's culture.
During the early 1770s, British attempts to exert control on the thirteen colonies, primarily via taxation, prompted Bostonians to initiate the American Revolution. The Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and several early battles occurred in or near the city, including the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Battle of Bunker Hill, and the Siege of Boston. During this period, Paul Revere made his famous midnight ride.
After the Revolution, Boston became one of the world's wealthiest international trading ports — major exports were rum, fish, salt, and tobacco. During this era, descendants of old Boston families became regarded, in the American popular mind, as the nation's social and cultural elites; they were later dubbed the Boston Brahmins. In 1822, Boston was chartered as a city. By the mid-1800s, the city's industrial manufacturing overtook international trade in economic importance. Until the early 1900s, Boston remained one of the nation's largest manufacturing centers, and was notable for its garment production, leather goods, and machinery industries. From the mid-to-late-nineteenth century, Boston flourished culturally — it became renowned for its rarefied literary culture and lavish artistic patronage. It also became a center of the abolitionist movement.
In the 1820s, Boston's ethnic composition began to change dramatically; groups like the Irish and Italians moved into the city and brought with them Roman Catholicism. Currently, Catholics make up Boston's largest religious community. The Irish have played a major role in Boston politics — prominent figures include the Kennedys and John F. Fitzgerald. Boston in 1772 and 1880. The original area of the Shawmut Peninsula was substantially expanded by landfill. Enlarge Boston in 1772 and 1880. The original area of the Shawmut Peninsula was substantially expanded by landfill.
Between 1630 and 1890, the city tripled its physical size by land reclamation, specifically by filling in marshes and mud flats and by filling gaps between wharves along the waterfront,[1] a process Walter Muir Whitehill called "cutting down the hills to fill the coves." The most intense reclamation efforts were in the 1800s. Beginning in 1807, the crown of Beacon Hill was used to fill in a 50-acre (20 ha) mill pond that later became Haymarket Square (just south of today's North Station area). The present-day State House sits atop this shortened Beacon Hill. Reclamation projects in the middle of the century created significant parts of the areas now known as the South End, West End, Financial District, and Chinatown. After The Great Boston Fire of 1872, building rubble was used as landfill along the downtown waterfront. The most dramatic reclamation project was the filling in of the Back Bay in the mid to late 1800s. Almost 600 acres (2.4 km²) of brackish Charles River marshlands west of the Boston Common were filled in with soil brought in by rail from the hills of Needham Heights. Boston also grew by annexing the adjacent communities of East Boston, Dorchester, South Boston, Brighton, Allston, Hyde Park, and Charlestown, some of which were also augmented by landfill reclamation. Scollay Square, Boston, Boston, in the 1880s Enlarge Scollay Square, Boston, Boston, in the 1880s
By the early and mid-20th century, the city was in decline as factories became old and obsolete, and businesses moved out of the region for cheaper labor elsewhere. Boston responded by initiating various urban renewal projects, including the demolition of the old West End neighborhood and the construction of Government Center. In the 1970s, Boston boomed after thirty years of economic downturn, becoming a leader in the mutual fund industry. Boston already had a reputation for excellent healthcare services. Hospitals such as Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Brigham and Women's Hospital led the nation in medical innovation and patient care. Universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Boston University attracted many students to the Boston area. Nevertheless, the city experienced conflict starting in 1974 over desegregation busing, which resulted in unrest and violence around public schools throughout the mid-1970s. The unrest served to highlight racial tensions in the city.
Over the past several decades, Boston has experienced a dramatic loss of regional institutions and traditions, which once gave it a very distinct social character. Boston has begun to resemble other parts of the continuous string of Northeast seaboard cities dubbed the BosWash megalopolis. The city faces gentrification issues and exorbitant living costs. Regardless, throughout the past several decades, Boston has once again become a major hub of intellectual, technological, and political ideas. [edit]
Geography and climate A simulated-color satellite image of the Boston area taken on NASA's Landsat 3. Enlarge A simulated-color satellite image of the Boston area taken on NASA's Landsat 3. [edit]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 89.6 square miles (232.1 km²)— 48.4 square miles (125.4 km²) of it is land and 41.2 square miles (106.7 km²) of it is water. The total area is 46.0% water. With an elevation of 19 feet (5.8 m) above sea level at Logan International Airport, Boston is bordered by the cities of Winthrop, Revere, Chelsea, Everett, Somerville, Cambridge, Watertown, Newton, Brookline, Needham, Dedham, Canton, Milton, and Quincy—often known as, and considered a part of, Greater Boston. Downtown Boston Enlarge Downtown Boston
Much of the Back Bay and South End are built on reclaimed land—two and a half of Boston's three original hills were used as a source of material for landfill. Only Beacon Hill, the smallest of the three original hills, remains partially intact. The downtown area and immediate surroundings consist mostly of low-rise brick or stone buildings, with many older buildings in the Federal style. Several of these buildings mix in with modern high-rises, notably in the Financial District, Government Center, Back Bay, and the South Boston waterfront. To this day, the South End Historic District remains the nation's largest surviving contiguous Victorian-era neighborhood. Smaller commercial areas are interspersed amongst single-family homes and wooden/brick multifamily row houses.
The Charles River separates Boston proper from Cambridge, Watertown, and the neighborhood of Charlestown. To the east lies Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands, many of which are part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, operated by the National Park Service. The Neponset River forms the boundary between Boston's southern neighborhoods and the cities of Quincy and Milton. The Mystic River separates the neighborhoods of East Boston and Charlestown from Chelsea and Everett. [edit]
Climate Looking at Boston's Back Bay from Cambridge in the winter Enlarge Looking at Boston's Back Bay from Cambridge in the winter
Boston experiences a continental climate that is very common in New England. The weather in Boston, like much of New England, changes rapidly. It is not uncommon for the city to experience temperature swings of 54 Fahrenheit degrees (30 Celsius degrees) or more over the course of a couple of days. Summers are typically warm and humid, while winters are cold, windy and snowy. It has been known to snow in October -- the city received an inch of snow on October 30, 2005. The earliest recorded 90 °F temperature was in late March 1998, while February in Boston has seen 70 degrees only once in recorded history, on February 24, 1985. Spring in Boston can be hot, with temperatures in the 90s, though it is just as possible for a day in late May to remain in the 40s. The hottest month is July, with an average high of 82 °F (28 °C) and a low of 64 °F (18 °C). The coldest month is January, with an average high of 36 °F (2.2 °C) and a low of 22 °F (-5.6 °C).[2] Periods exceeding 90 °F in summer and below 10 °F in winter are not uncommon, but rarely prolonged. The record high temperature is 104 °F (40 °C), recorded on July 4, 1911. The record low temperature is -18 °F (-28 °C), recorded on February 9, 1934.[3] The city averages 42 in (1,080 mm) of rainfall a year. It also coincidentally averages 42 in (108 cm) of snowfall a year, although this increases dramatically as one goes inland away from the city. Massachusetts' geographic location's jutting out into the North Atlantic also make the city very prone to Nor'easter weather systems that can dump more than 20 in (50 cm) of snow on the region in one storm event. Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Avg high °F (°C) 36°F (2°C) 39°F (4°C) 46°F (8°C) 56°F (13°C) 67°F (19°C) 77°F (25°C) 82°F (28°C) 80°F (27°C) 73°F (23°C) 62°F (17°C) 52°F (11°C) 42°F (6°C) 59°F (15°C) Avg low °F (°C) 22°F (-6°C) 24°F (-4°C) 31°F (-1°C) 41°F (5°C) 50°F (10°C) 59°F (15°C) 65°F (18°C) 64°F (18°C) 57°F (14°C) 46°F (8°C) 38°F (3°C) 28°F (-2°C) 44°F (6°C) Rainfall in inches (millimeters) 3.92" (99.6mm) 3.30" (83.8mm) 3.85" (97.8mm) 3.60" (91.4mm) 3.24" (82.3mm) 3.22" (81.8mm) 3.06" (77.7mm) 3.37" (85.6mm) 3.47" (88.1mm) 3.79" (96.3mm) 3.98" (101.1mm) 3.73" (94.7mm) 42.53" (1,080.2mm) [edit]
Demographics Town (to 1820) and City of Boston Population by year[4] Census year Population Rank 1790 18,320 3 1800 24,937 4 1810 33,787 4 1820 43,298 4 1830 61,392 4 1840 93,383 5 1850 136,881 3 1860 177,840 5 1870 250,526 7 1880 362,839 5 1890 448,477 6 1900 560,892 5 1910 670,585 5 1920 748,060 7 1930 781,188 9 1940 770,816 9 1950 801,444 10 1960 697,197 13 1970 641,071 16 1980 562,994 20 1990 574,283 20 2000 589,141 20
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 589,141 people, 239,528 households, and 115,212 families residing in the city. The population density was 12,166 people per square mile (4,697/km²). There were 251,935 housing units at an average density of 5,203 per square mile (2,009/km²). The Irish are one of the larger ethnic groups in the city of Boston, and sometimes considered the capital of "Irish America". Italians also form a very large segment of the city's population. The racial makeup of the city was 49.48% White, 27.33% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 7.52% Asian American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 7.83% from other races, and 4.39% from two or more races. 14.44% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. These figures became less reliable because of the large, Brazilian population, estimated by some studies to approach 250,000 in Massachusetts. Census data did not account for this significant segment of the community because of confusing terminology, as Brazilians speak Portuguese and often do not consider themselves specifically Hispanic, Latino, White or African American. Per capita income in the greater Boston area, by U.S. Census block group Enlarge Per capita income in the greater Boston area, by U.S. Census block group
There were 239,528 households out of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.4% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.9% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.8% under the age of 18, 16.2% from 18 to 24, 35.8% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,629, and the median income for a family was $44,151. Males had a median income of $37,435 versus $32,421 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,353. 19.5% of the population and 15.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 25.6% of those under the age of 18 and 18.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
The population is pushed up to one million or more on an average week day. On days with major events such as baseball or basketball games the population can easily increase to 1.5 million. Like many other major cities in the 1950s and 1960s, Boston's population decreased dramatically due to new highway systems that made it easier to access the suburbs and outer regions.
See also: Neighborhoods in Boston, Massachusetts
[edit]
Law and government Massachusetts State House Enlarge Massachusetts State House
Boston has a "strong mayor" system in which the mayor is vested with extensive executive powers. The mayor is elected to a four-year term by plurality voting. The city council is elected every two years. There are nine district seats, each elected by the residents of that district through plurality voting, and four at-large seats. Each voter casts up to four votes for at-large councilors, no more than one vote per candidate. The candidates with the four highest vote totals are elected. The president of the city council, currently Michael F. Flaherty, is elected by the councilors from within themselves. The school committee is appointed by the mayor, as are city department heads.
In addition to city government, numerous state authorities and commissions play a role in the life of Bostonians, including the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport). As the capital of Massachusetts, Boston plays a major role in state politics. Boston is also the United States federal government center for New England. Properties include the John F. Kennedy Federal Office Building and the Thomas P. O'Neil Federal Building. The city also serves as the home of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, as well as the headquarters of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (the First District of the Federal Reserve). The city is in the Eighth and Ninth Congressional districts.
Boston's low crime rate in the last years of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st has been credited to its police department's collaboration with neighborhood groups and church parishes to prevent youths from joining gangs, as well as heavy involvement from the District Attorney's office. The current DA for Suffolk County and Boston, Daniel F. Conley, spent nearly ten years working at reducing gang violence in the city. This helped lead in part to what has been touted as the "Boston Miracle." Murders in the city dropped from 152 in 1990 (for a murder rate of 26.5 per 100,000 people) to just 31—not one of them a juvenile—in 1999 (for a murder rate of 5.26 per 100,000).
In more recent years, however, the annual murder count has fluctuated by as much as 50% compared to the year before, with 60 murders in 2002, followed by just 39 in 2003, 64 in 2004, and 75 in 2005. Though the figures are nowhere near the high-water mark set in 1990, the aberrations in the murder rate have been unsettling for many Bostonians and have prompted discussion over whether the Boston Police Department should reevaluate its approach to fighting crime.[5][6][7]
Boston has eight sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International (SCI): Barcelona (Spain), Hangzhou (People's Republic of China), Kyoto (Japan), Melbourne (Australia), Padua (Italy), Strasbourg (France), Sekondi-Takoradi (Ghana), and Taipei (Taiwan). The city has thrice been a recipient of the All-America City Award, the oldest and most respected civic award in the U.S. County government: Suffolk County Clerk of Courts: Michael Joseph Donovan County Treasurer: District Attorney: Daniel F. Conley Registrar of Deeds: Francis Roache Registrar of Probate: Richard Iannella Sheriff: Andrea J. Cabral State government Representative(s) in General Court: Anthony Petruccelli, Salvatore DiMasi, Brian Wallace, Marie St. Fleur, Shirley Owens-Hicks, Gloria Fox, Paul Demakis, Byron Rushing, Michael Rush, Elizabeth Malia, Linda Dorcena-Forry, Martin Walsh, Angelo Scaccia, Jeffrey Sanchez, Kevin Honan, Michael Moran Senator(s) in General Court: Jarrett Barrios, Eugene L. O'Flaherty, Marian Walsh, Steven A. Tolman, John Hart, Jr., Dianne Wilkerson, Robert Travaglini Governor's Councilor(s): Michael J. Callahan, Kelly A. Timilty, Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney Federal government Member(s) of the U.S. House of Representatives: Michael Capuano (D-8th District), Steven Lynch (D-9th District) U.S. Senators: Edward Kennedy (D) John Kerry (D)
See also: List of Mayors of Boston, Massachusetts
[edit]
Economy Boston's Back Bay viewed over the Charles River from the Esplanade. Enlarge Boston's Back Bay viewed over the Charles River from the Esplanade.
Boston's colleges and universities have a major impact on the city and region's economy. Not only are they major employers, but they also attract high-tech industries to the city and surrounding region, including computer hardware and software companies as well as biotechnology companies like Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Biogen Idec. Boston receives the highest amount of annual funding from the National Institutes of Health of all cities in the United States.[8]
Other important industries include financial services, especially mutual funds and insurance. Boston-based Fidelity Investments helped popularize the mutual fund in the 1980s, and has made Boston one of the top financial cities in the United States. The city is also the regional headquarters of major banks such as Bank of America and Sovereign Bank, and a center for venture capital. Boston is also a printing and publishing center. Textbook publisher Houghton Mifflin is headquartered within the city. The city is also a major convention destination with four major convention centers: the Hynes Convention Center in the Back Bay, the Bayside Expo Center in Dorchester, and the World Trade Center Boston and Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on the South Boston waterfront. Because of its status as a state capital and the regional home of federal agencies, law and government is another major component of the city's economy.
Major companies headquartered within the city include Gillette, owned by Procter & Gamble, and Teradyne, one of the world's leading manufacturers of semiconductors and other electronic equipment. New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. has its headquarters in the city. Other major companies are located outside the city, especially along Route 128. The Port of Boston is the largest and busiest seaport in Massachusetts. It is also a major seaport along the United States east coast as well as a major fishing port.
See also: Major companies in Greater Boston
[edit]
Education [edit]
Colleges and universities
Boston's reputation as the Athens of America derives in large part from the teaching and research activities of more than 100 colleges and universities located in its metropolitan area. Boston College was the first institution of higher education established in the city. It was originally located in the South End before moving to Chestnut Hill, on the city's western edge. Its campus gradually expanded and it is now within the outer edges of the city's political boundaries. Boston University, now the city's second largest employer and one of the largest private universities in the country, was originally established in Vermont before moving to Brookline and later to its present campus in the Back Bay in the 1950s. Harvard University, the nation's oldest institution of higher learning, is based across the Charles River in Cambridge; however, most of its current land holdings lie in Boston. These holdings include the Arnold Arboretum, and its business and medical schools. Harvard recently announced plans to expand its main campus across the Charles River into Boston's Allston neighborhood, which already hosts some of the university's dormitories and sports facilities.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) operates several major laboratories within the city. Emerson College, a highly regarded arts and communications school, maintains a campus near the Theatre District at the southeast corner of Boston Common. Northeastern University, a large private university with a distinctive cooperative education program, maintains a campus in the Fenway district. Next door is Wentworth Institute of Technology, a nationally accredited institution and a founding member of the Colleges of the Fenway. Founded in 1904, it offers fifteen bachelor's degree programs in such areas as architecture, computer science, and engineering. Suffolk University, a small private university known for its law school, maintains a campus on Beacon Hill. The city is also home to a number of conservatories and art schools, including the Massachusetts College of Art, New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, and Berklee College of Music. The University of Massachusetts Boston, Roxbury Community College, and Bunker Hill Community College are the city's three state-run colleges. [edit]
Primary and secondary schools
Boston Public Schools, the oldest public school system in the U.S., enrolls 58,600 students from kindergarten to grade 12. The system operates 145 schools, which includes Boston Latin School (the oldest public school, established in 1635), English High (the oldest public high school, established 1821), and Mather (the oldest public elementary school, established in 1639).[9] The city also has private, parochial, and charter schools. 3000 students of racial minorities attend participating suburban schools through the Metropolitan Educational Opportunity Council, or METCO.
See also: List of colleges and universities in metropolitan Boston
[edit]
Culture A summer day on the Charles River esplanade. Enlarge A summer day on the Charles River esplanade.
Main article: Culture in Boston, Massachusetts
Boston shares many cultural roots with greater New England, including a dialect of the Eastern New England accent popularly known as Boston English, and a regional cuisine with a large emphasis on seafood and dairy products. Irish Americans are a major influence on Boston's politics and religious institutions and consequently on the rest of Massachusetts. Italian, Chinese, and Hispanic groups also have major contributions to Boston's cultural composition. Boston has its own collection of neologisms known as Boston slang.
Many consider Boston a highly cultured city, perhaps as a result of its intellectual reputation; much of Boston's culture originates at its universities.[10] The city also has a number of ornate theatres, including the Cutler Majestic Theatre and The Wang Center for the Performing Arts. Renowned performing arts groups include the Boston Ballet, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Boston Lyric Opera Company, and the Handel and Haydn Society (the oldest choral company in the United States). There are a number of major annual events such as First Night, which occurs during New Year's Eve, and several events during the Fourth of July. These events include the weeklong Harborfest festivities and a Boston Pops concert accompanied by fireworks on the banks of the Charles River. Faneuil Hall, looking at the east side Enlarge Faneuil Hall, looking at the east side
In contrast to what might be considered the more "refined" aspects of Boston's culture, the city is also one of the birthplaces of the hardcore punk genre of music. Boston musicians have contributed greatly to the hardcore scene over the years (see also Boston hardcore). Boston also had one of the leading local ska scenes in the ska revival of the mid-1990s with bands like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Allstonians, and Skavoovie and the Epitones. [edit]
Media
Main article: Media in Boston, Massachusetts
The Boston Globe, owned by the New York Times Company, and The Boston Herald are Boston's two major daily newspapers. The city is also served by a number of smaller publications such as The Boston Phoenix, The Improper Bostonian, and The Weekly Dig.
Boston has the largest broadcasting market in New England, with the Boston radio market being the eleventh largest in the United States.[11] Several major AM stations include talk radio WRKO 680 AM, sports/talk station WEEI 850 AM, and news radio WBZ 1030 AM. A variety of FM radio formats serve the area as well as NPR stations WBUR and WGBH. University radio stations include WZBC (Boston College), WERS (Emerson), and WUMB (UMass Boston).
The Boston television DMA, which also includes Manchester, New Hampshire, is the fifth largest in the United States.[12] The city is served by stations representing every major American network including WBZ 4 (CBS), WCVB 5 (ABC), WHDH 7 (NBC), WFXT 25 (Fox), WSBK 38 (UPN), and WLVI 56 (WB). Boston is also home to PBS station WGBH 2, which also operates WGBX 44. WGBH is a major producer of PBS programs. Most Boston television stations have their transmitters in nearby Needham and Newton. [edit]
Sites of interest The Frog Pond in the Boston Common. Enlarge The Frog Pond in the Boston Common.
Main article: Sites of interest in Boston, Massachusetts
Because of the city's prominent role in the American Revolution, several historic sites relating to that period are preserved as part of the Boston National Historical Park. Many are found along the Freedom Trail, which is marked by a red line or bricks embedded in the ground. Also along the Freedom Trail is Boston Common, with the Boston Public Garden being adjacent. Boston Common is part of the Emerald Necklace, a string of parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. In the winter, the Frog Pond at Boston Common doubles as a popular ice-skating rink. Another major park is the Esplanade located along the banks of the Charles River. A major recreation site for many Bostonians, it is also the site of the Hatch Shell. Other parks are scattered throughout the city, with the major parks located near Castle Island, Charlestown, the Dorchester shoreline, and East Boston. Back Bay Enlarge Back Bay
The Back Bay district includes many prominent landmarks such as the Christian Science Center, Boston Public Library, Copley Square, and Newbury Street. Back Bay is also the home of two of New England's tallest buildings: the John Hancock Tower and the Prudential Center.[13] Near the John Hancock Tower is the old John Hancock Building with its prominent weather forecast beacon. Other notable districts/neighborhoods include Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Downtown Crossing, North End, and South Boston.
Boston is home to several world-renowned museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Museum of Science. The University of Massachusetts campus at Columbia Point houses the John F. Kennedy Library. The New England Aquarium, Franklin Park Zoo, Boston Athenaeum (one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States), and the Boston Children's Museum are located within the city.
There are also two self-guided walking tours: Harbor Walk, which is designed to allow people the walk the entire shore of Boston Harbor, and the Black Heritage Trail. A popular guided tour is the Boston Duck Tour, which uses World War II-era duck boats. The outer suburbs of Boston, which tend to be forested, have vibrantly colored foliage every autumn that attracts many tourists. [edit]
Sports
The TD Banknorth Garden (formerly called the Fleet Center) is above North Station and is the home of two major league teams: the Boston Bruins ice hockey team of the (National Hockey League) and the Boston Celtics basketball team of the (National Basketball Association). The Celtics have the distinction of having more World Championships than any other NBA team with 16 championships from 1957 to 1986. A Boston Red Sox baseball game at Fenway Park Enlarge A Boston Red Sox baseball game at Fenway Park
The Boston Red Sox baseball is a member of the American League of Major League Baseball. They play their home games at Fenway Park, located near Kenmore Square, in the Fenway section of Boston. It is the oldest sports arena or stadium in active use in the United States, among the four major professional sports. Boston was once the home of the National League's Boston Braves, before they left for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1953, and then later on Atlanta, Georgia. Boston was also one of the sites of the first World Series in 1903. The series was played between the Boston Pilgrims (currently the Boston Red Sox) and the Pittsburgh Pirates.[14]
The New England Patriots of the National Football League team plays their home games in nearby Foxboro. Boston fans travel there to see the Patriots and the New England Revolution soccer team of Major League Soccer. Both teams play at Gillette Stadium. Before moving to Foxboro the Patriots, while still playing in the now defunct American Football League, played their home games at Fenway Park and Harvard Stadium. The team moved to Foxboro in 1971. Another major league team is the Boston Cannons lacrosse team of Major League Lacrosse. The team plays at Boston University's Nickerson Field (the former Braves Field).
Boston's many colleges and universities field sports teams. The most prominent include Boston College (member of the Atlantic Coast Conference), Boston University (America East Conference), Northeastern University (Colonial Athletic Association), and Harvard University (Ivy League). The hockey teams of these four universities meet every year in an immensely popular four-team tournament known as the "Beanpot".
One of the most famous sporting events in the city is the Boston Marathon, the 26 mile (42 km) run from Hopkinton to Copley Square in the Back Bay. The Marathon is so popular and heavily attended that the city declares the Monday that is run Patriot's Day, or "Marathon Monday" as it is known locally. Adding to the excimtement, the Red Sox always schedule a home baseball game early in the day. Another famous event held in the city is the Head of the Charles Regatta rowing competition on the Charles River.
Boston's first all-female flat-track roller derby league, Boston Derby Dames, formed in May 2005. The league is among the original members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association.
See also: U.S. cities with teams from four major sports
[edit]
Infrastructure [edit]
Health and medicine
As the home to some of the world's most respected research hospitals, Boston enjoys an international reputation in the medical field. The Longwood Medical Area is a region of Boston with a concentration of medical and research facilities, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Harvard Medical School. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Brigham and Women's Hospital were both formed by mergers: the former between Beth Israel Hospital and New England Deaconess Hospital, and the latter by Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and the Boston Hospital for Women. Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is located near the Beacon Hill neighborhood, with the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital nearby. Boston also has VA medical centers in the Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury neighborhoods.
Many of Boston's major medical facilities are associated with universities. The facilities in the Longwood Medical Area and MGH are world-renowned research medical centers affiliated with Harvard Medical School. New England Medical Center, located in the southern portions of the Chinatown neighborhood, is affiliated with Tufts University. Boston Medical Center, located in the South End neighborhood, is the primary teaching facility for the Boston University School of Medicine as well as the largest trauma center in the Boston area; it was formed by the merger of Boston University Hospital and Boston City Hospital. [edit]
Transportation Longfellow Bridge across the Charles River, with two MBTA Red Line trains. The Beacon Hill neighborhood is in the background. Enlarge Longfellow Bridge across the Charles River, with two MBTA Red Line trains. The Beacon Hill neighborhood is in the background.
Main article: Boston transportation
Logan International Airport, located in the East Boston neighborhood, is the major airport serving Boston. Another airport serving the city and surrounding areas is Hanscom Field in Lexington and Bedford. T. F. Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island, and Manchester-Boston Airport in Manchester, New Hampshire, are airports outside Massachusetts which serve as secondary facilities.
Downtown Boston's streets appear as though they were not planned, and are often alleged, incorrectly, to have evolved from centuries-old foot and cow paths. Except for the reclaimed Back Bay and part of South Boston, the city has no street grid. Boston has been described as a "City of Squares", referring to the tradition of naming the intersections of major thoroughfares after prominent city residents. Roads change names and lose and add lanes seemingly at random. The city also has a number of rotaries, which have confused many drivers. In its March 2006 issue, Bicycling magazine named Boston as one of the three worst cities in U.S. for cycling, though the city does have a huge cult following of the activity, especially fixed gear.
Boston is the eastern terminus of I-90, also known as the Mass Pike. I-95, which surrounds the city, is locally referred to by its historical state route numbering — Route 128. U.S. Route 1 (also known locally as 'Route 1') and I-93 runs north to south through the city. The most infamous portion, the Central Artery, runs through downtown Boston and was constantly prone to heavy traffic. Through the Big Dig the elevated highway was replaced with an underground tunnel.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) operated the nation's first underground rapid transit system, which has since been expanded, reaching as far north as Malden, as far south as Braintree, and as far west as Newton. Collectively known as the "T", the MBTA also operates an extensive network of bus lines and water shuttles, and a commuter rail network extending north to the Merrimack River valley, west to Worcester, and south to Providence, Rhode Island.
Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and Chicago lines originate at South Station and stop at Back Bay. Fast Northeast Corridor trains, which service New York City, Washington, D.C., and points in between, also stop at Route 128 Station in the southwestern suburbs of Boston. Meanwhile, Amtrak's Downeaster service to Maine originates at North Station. [edit]
Utilities
Water supply and sewage-disposal services are provided by the Boston Water and Sewer Commission. The Commission in turn purchases wholesale water and sewage disposal from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). Established as a public authority in 1984, the MWRA pipes water from reservoirs in Western and Central Massachusetts, notably the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs, for several communities within Greater Boston. The agency operates several facilities for sewage treatment, notably an effluent tunnel in Boston Harbor and the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant near the mouth of Boston Harbor.
NSTAR is the exclusive distributor of electric power to the city, though due to deregulation, customers now have a choice of electric generation companies. Natural gas is distributed by KeySpan Corporation (the successor company to Boston Gas); only commercial and industrial customers may choose an alternate natural gas supplier. Verizon, successor to New England Telephone, NYNEX, and Bell Atlantic, is the primary wired telephone service provider for the area. Phone service is also available from various national wireless companies. Cable television is available from Comcast and RCN. Broadband Internet access is provided by Comcast and RCN in certain areas. Satellite television is available from Dish Network and DirecTV. A variety of DSL providers and resellers are able to provide broadband Internet over Verizon-owned phone lines. [edit]
See also
* Notable Bostonians * List of television shows set in Boston * List of films, operas, and plays set in Boston * List of Boston skyscrapers * Boston in fiction * Fictional people from Boston
[edit]
Notes
1. ^ The History of Land Fill in Boston iBoston.org. Accessed January 9, 2006. Also see Boston: History of the Landfills 2. ^ NWS Taunton, MA. Boston Daily Normals. Accessed April 19, 2006. 3. ^ NWS Taunton, MA. Boston Temperature Records. Accessed April 19, 2006. 4. ^ Gibson, Campbell (June 1998). Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790 to 1990. U.S. Bureau of the Census - Population Division. 5. ^ Winship, Christopher (March 2002). End of a Miracle? Harvard University. 6. ^ Boston Police Department's Monthly Crime Statistics (2005). CityOfBoston.gov. 7. ^ Boston MA Crime Statistics (2004 - New Crime Data). areaConnect.com. 8. ^ Top 100 NIH Cities, 2004. SSTI.org. 9. ^ The Boston Public Schools at a Glance (2004). Boston Public School. Accessed October 5, 2005. 10. ^ Phelan, Joseph (11-2004). Boston Marathon. Artcyclopedia. Accessed October 1, 2005. 11. ^ Arbitron - Market Ranks and Schedule, 1-50 (Fall 2005). 12. ^ Nielsen Media - DMA Listing (September 24, 2005). 13. ^ Boston Skyscrapers. Skyscrapers.com. Accessed May 15, 2005. 14. ^ 1903 World Series - Major League Baseball: World Series History. MLB.com.
[edit]
References
* The Boston Indicators Project (2004). The Boston Foundation. * Ira Gershkoff and Richard Trachtman (2004). The Boston Driver's Handbook. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0306813262. * Patricia Harris and David Lyon (1999). Boston. Oakland, CA: Compass American Guides. ISBN 0679002847. * Howard Mumford Jones and Bessie Zaban Jones (1975). The Many Voices of Boston: A Historical Anthology 1630-1975. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0316472824. * Rambow, John D. et. al (2003). Fodor's Boston. New York: Fodors Travel Publication. ISBN 1400010284. * Vanderwarker, Peter (1982). Boston Then and Now. Courier Dover Publications. ISBN 0486243125. * Elevation data: USGS—Boston
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External links Find more information on Boston by searching Wikipedia's sister projects:
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Coordinates: 42.35° N -71.066666° E
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Nickname: "Space City" Official website: www.houstontx.gov Location Location of Houston, Texas Location in the state of Texas Government Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Mayor Bill White Geographical characteristics Area Total 601.7 sq mi (1,558 km²) Land 579.4 sq mi (1,501 km²) Water 22.3 sq mi (57.7 km²) Population (2004) City proper 2,012,626 Density 502.6 /sq mi (1,301.8 /km²) Urban area 4,283,000 Metro area 5,280,752 Coordinates 29°45′25&Prime ; N 95°22′12″ W Elevation 43 ft (13 m) Time zone CST (UTC-6) Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Houston is the largest city in the state of Texas and the fourth-largest in the United States. The city covers more than 600 square miles (1,600 km²) and is the county seat of Harris County—the third-most populous in the country. As of the 2004 US Census estimate, Houston had a total population of more than 2 million. The city is at the heart of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, the largest cultural and economic center of the Gulf Coast region and the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. with a population of 5.3 million in 10 counties.
Houston is world-renowned for its energy (particularly oil) and aeronautics industries, and for its ship channel. The area is also the world's leading center for building oilfield equipment. The Port of Houston is the sixth-largest port in the world; amid other U.S. ports, it is the busiest in foreign tonnage and second in overall tonnage. Second only to New York City in Fortune 500 headquarters, Houston is the seat of the internationally-renowned Texas Medical Center, which contains the world's largest concentration of research and healthcare institutions.[1]
Houston is ranked as one of 11 U.S. world-class cities by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group & Network. The city has a vibrant visual and performing arts scene—the Houston Theater District is ranked second in the country for the number of theatre seats in a concentrated downtown area per capita[2] and has world-class visual and performing arts organizations. The city is also close to beaches on Galveston Island as well as one of the United States' largest concentrations of pleasure boats and local tourist attractions.
History
Houston's founding
In the mid-1800s, two brothers who were New York real estate promoters, John Kirby Allen and Augustus Chapman Allen, sought a location where they could begin building "a great center of government and commerce." In August 1836, they purchased 6,642 acres (27 km²) of land from T. F. L. Parrot, John Austin's widow, for $9,428. The Allen brothers named their town after Sam Houston.
Houston started out as a hamlet. Gail and Thomas H. Borden surveyed and mapped the town in typical grid fashion, with wide streets running parallel and perpendicular to the area's system of bayous. The city was granted incorporation on June 5, 1837, and James S. Holman became the first mayor. That same year, Houston also became the county seat of Harrisburg County, which was renamed Harris County in 1839. At this time, the the Texas Legislature designated Houston as the temporary capital of the new Republic of Texas. On January 14, 1839, the capital was moved to Austin, then known as Waterloo. [edit]
Early settlers
Early settlers used lumber to build frame houses, ditches for drainage, and relied on pigs to clean the streets. Lawlessness, epidemics and financial problems prompted the people of the community to establish a Chamber of Commerce, chartered by the Congress of the Republic on November 26, 1838. Because many of the first settlers were from the South, Houston endorsed the slavery-plantation system. Slaves lived scattered through the neighborhoods, though there were few free blacks in the city. During this period, yellow fever struck periodically—in 1839 the disease devastated the fledgling city, killing about 12 percent of its population.
In 1840, the city was divided into four wards, each with different community functions. The wards are no longer political divisions today, though their names are still used to refer to geographic areas. The Allen brothers began to promote Houston as a place to live at the same time the Republic of Texas started promoting colonization of Texas.
By 1860 Houston began to emerge as a commercial and railroad hub for the export of cotton. Railroad spurs from the Texas inland converged in Houston, where they met rail lines to the ports of Galveston and Beaumont. During the Civil War, Houston served as a headquarters for General John Bankhead Magruder, who used Houston as an organization point for the Battle of Galveston. Houston saloon keeper Dick Dowling became the city's first famous personality after his victory at the battle of Sabine Pass in 1863.
After the Civil War, Houston businessmen initiated efforts to widen the city's extensive system of bayous so the city could accept more commerce between downtown and the nearby port of Galveston. After several privately-financed dredging projects in the 1860's and 1870's, the U.S. government took over the Houston Ship Channel project in 1881. [edit]
Early 20th century
In 1900, Houston's population was about 45,000, making it the 85th largest city in the United States. Oil discovery at Spindletop in Beaumont in 1901 prompted the development of the oil industry, which eventually would would transform Houston into a large city. In 1902, Theodore Roosevelt approved a $1 million improvement project for the Houston Ship Channel. By 1910, the population of Houston was larger than that of Galveston. President Woodrow Wilson opened the Port of Houston in 1914, 74 years after digging started. Service started with the Satilla, a ship that ran from Houston to New York City. By 1914, the Houston Ship Channel was dredged to give Houston a deep-water port, outpacing Galveston's port which was devastated by the Galveston Hurricane of 1900.
By the end of the 1930s, Houston began having growing pains — the city was no longer a frontier town, and its air service was inadequate for its needs. By 1939, Houston was Texas' most populous city. Educational facilities for minority groups, including Wiley College, opened in this time period. April 1940 saw streetcar service replaced by buses.
When World War II started, tonnage levels fell and five shipping lines ended service to Houston, but the war did have some economic benefits for the city. Ellington Field, initially built during World War I, was revitalized as a training center for bombardiers, and aircraft and shipbuilding became large industries statewide. The M. D. Anderson Foundation formed the Texas Medical Center in 1945. The banking industry also rose to prominence in the late 1940s. After the war, Houston's economy reverted back to a healthy, port driven economy. In 1948, several unincorporated areas were annexed into the city limits, and Houston proper began to spread across the prairie.
The Gulf Freeway and the International Terminal at Houston International Airport (originally, Houston Municipal Airport; now, William P. Hobby Airport) were signs of increasing wealth in the area. [edit]
Decades of growth The Astrodome Enlarge The Astrodome
Shipbuilding during World War II spurred Houston's growth, as well as the establishment in 1961 of NASA's "Manned Spacecraft Center" (renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in 1973), which created the city's aerospace industry. December 1961 saw Hurricane Carla, a very destructive storm that hit the city head on. The Astrodome (then called the Harris County Domed Stadium), the first indoor, domed sports stadium, opened in 1965 and was quickly nicknamed the "Eighth Wonder of the World."
The late 1970s saw a population boom due to the Arab Oil Embargo as people from Rust Belt states moved en masse into Texas, which benefited from the oil crunch. But Houston's reliance on petroleum as the base of its industry led to its downfall when oil prices collapsed in the 1980s. Since then, Houston has made efforts to diversify its economy, focusing on aerospace and biotechnology, and reducing its dependence on petroleum. The space shuttle, atop its Boeing 747, flying over NASA's Johnson Space Center Enlarge The space shuttle, atop its Boeing 747, flying over NASA's Johnson Space Center
In 1981, Kathryn J. Whitmire became the city's first female mayor and held that position for 10 years. August 18, 1983 saw Hurricane Alicia, a Category 3 storm, which hit Galveston and downtown Houston, causing massive damage. The population boom calmed down when oil prices fell in 1986 due to the embargo being lifted. The space industry also took a blow that year with the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. The 1980s was a decade of recession for the Houston economy — The first nine months of 1987 saw the death of eleven banks — though its arts and culture expanded.
The year 1990 saw the Mickey Leland International Airlines building of Houston Intercontinental Airport open. The 12-gate terminal was named after Mickey Leland. In that same year, the G8 Summit was held in Houston. The largest master-planned community in Harris County—Kingwood&mda sh;was annexed in 1996, after much opposition. Lee P. Brown, Houston's first African American mayor, was elected in 1997. [edit]
The new millennium Hurricane Rita evacuation in September 2005 Enlarge Hurricane Rita evacuation in September 2005
In 2001, Tropical Storm Allison dumped feet of rain on the city, causing billions of dollars in damage and killing 43 people. To date, the flooding caused by Allison was the worst in the city's history. Many neighborhoods and communities have changed since the storm; older houses in some affected neighborhoods have been torn down and replaced with larger houses with higher foundations.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, Houston provided shelter to more than 25,000 refugees from New Orleans, Louisiana in various facilities around the city, including the infrequently-used Reliant Astrodome stadium. This unprecedented situation involved Houston-area public school systems, which are providing education for child refugees. According to CNN, around 230,000 people from the New Orleans metropolitan area are now living in the Houston area, in shelters or elsewhere. Katrina refugees have swelled the city proper's population past 2.5 million. It is unclear how that variable will fluctuate in the coming months. Some have speculated that, because of a variety of social and economic factors, the enormous population shift could—at least in part—be permanent.
Approximately 2.5 million (out of 5.2 million) Greater Houston area residents evacuated when Hurricane Rita approached the Gulf Coast one month after Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Rita left little damage to the Houston metropolitan area. Dead stop traffic and gas shortages were rampant during the evacuation. This event marked the largest evacuation in the history of the United States.
See also: Historical events of Houston
[edit]
Geography and climate [edit]
Geography A simulated-color image of Houston taken on NASA's Landsat 7 satellite with Galveston Bay and Galveston Island visible in the picture Enlarge A simulated-color image of Houston taken on NASA's Landsat 7 satellite with Galveston Bay and Galveston Island visible in the picture
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 601.7 square miles (1,558.4 km²)— 579.4 square miles (1,500.7 km²) of it is land and 22.3 square miles (57.7 km²) of it is water. The total area is 3.7 percent water.
Houston has four major bayous passing through the city: Buffalo Bayou, which runs into downtown and the Houston Ship Channel; and three of its tributaries: Brays Bayou, which runs along the Texas Medical Center; White Oak Bayou, which runs through the Heights and near the northwest area; and Sims Bayou, which runs through the south of Houston and downtown Houston. The ship channel goes past Galveston and into the Gulf of Mexico.
Much of Houston is very flat, making flooding a recurring problem for its residents. The city stands about 50 feet (15 m) above sea level; the Houston Heights area has the highest elevation in the city. The city once relied on groundwater for its water needs, but land subsidence forced the city to turn to ground-level water sources such as Lake Houston. [edit]
Geology
Underpinning Houston's land surface are unconsolidated clays, clay shales, and poorly-cemented sands up to several miles deep. The region's geology developed from stream deposits from the erosion of the Rocky Mountains. These sediments consist of a series of sands and clays deposited on decaying organic matter that, over time, transformed into oil and natural gas. Beneath these tiers is a water-deposited layer of halite, a rock salt. The porous layers were compressed over time and forced upward. As it pushed upward, the salt dragged surrounding sediments into dome shapes, often trapping oil and gas that seeped from the surrounding porous sands. This thick rich soil also provides a good eviroment for rice farming in suburban outskirts that the city continues to grow into near Katy. Evidence of past rice farming is even still evident in developed areas as there is an abundance of rich dark loamy top soil.
The Houston region is generally earthquake-free. While the city of Houston contains 86 mapped and historically active surface faults with an aggregate length of 149 miles (240 km), the clay below the surface precludes the buildup of friction that produces ground shaking in earthquakes. These faults generally move at a smooth rate in what is termed "fault creep." [edit]
Climate The "500-year" flood from Tropical Storm Allison Enlarge The "500-year" flood from Tropical Storm Allison
Houston's climate is classified as humid subtropical. The city is located in the gulf coastal plains biome, and its vegetation is classified as temperate grassland. Much of Houston was built on forested land, marshes, swamp, or prairie, all of which can still be seen in surrounding areas. The average yearly precipitation level is approximately 48 inches (910 to 1,220 mm). Prevailing winds are from the south and southeast during most of the year, bringing heat from the deserts of Mexico and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.
In the summer, daily high temperatures are in the 95 °F to 102 °F (35 °C to 39 °C) range throughout much of July and August, with the average high peaking at 94 °F at the end of July.[3] The air tends to feel still and the humidity (often 90 to 100 percent relative humidity, while average afternoon relative humidity is between 57 and 60 percent in the summer) results in a heat index higher than the actual temperature. To cope with the heat, people use air conditioning in nearly every car and building in the city. Summer thunderstorms sometimes bring tornadoes to the area. Afternoon rains are not uncommon, and most days Houston meteorologists predict at least some chance of rain. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Houston was 109 °F (43 °C) on September 4, 2000.[4]
Winters in Houston are cool and temperate. Many days the temperatures are between the 45 °F and 55 °F (7 °C and 16 °C). The coldest period is usually in January, when north winds bring winter rains. Snow is almost unheard of, and typically does not accumulate when it is seen. The last snowstorm to hit Houston was on December 24, 2004; only a few inches accumulated and it was all melted by the next afternoon. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Houston was 5 °F (−15 °C) on January 23, 1940. [edit]
Government and politics Bill White, mayor of Houston as of 2006 Enlarge Bill White, mayor of Houston as of 2006
Founded in 1836 and incorporated in 1837, Houston is one of the fastest growing major cities in the United States and the largest without zoning laws. The city is the county seat of Harris County. A portion of southwest Houston extends into Fort Bend County and a small portion in the northeast extends into Montgomery County.
The city of Houston has a strong mayor-council government. The City's elected officials, serving concurrent two year terms, are: the mayor, the city controller and 14 members of the city council.
Under the strong mayor-council government, the mayor serves as the executive officer of the city. As the city's chief administrator and official representative, the mayor is responsible for the general management of the city and for seeing that all laws and ordinances are enforced.
The current mayor is Bill White, who is serving his second term. In Houston, a mayor can be elected consecutively for three terms. City council members, who also have a three-term limit, are elected from nine districts in the city, along with five at-large positions. At-large council members represent the entire city. The current city council lineup was based on a U.S. Justice Department mandate which took effect in 1979. Houston is a home rule city and all municipal elections in the state of Texas are nonpartisan. The Harris County Civil Courts Law building Enlarge The Harris County Civil Courts Law building
Many local lawmakers have been impacted by the city's term limits. Several former city officials—Anthony Hall, Rodney Ellis, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Sylvia Garcia, Martha Wong, Chris Bell, and Annise Parker—had to run for another elected position once their term expired.
Former mayor Lee P. Brown denounced the term limits, saying they prevented incumbents from gaining enough experience in city government. A proposal to double the current two-year term of office has been debated—as of 2005, several candidates for the city council have brought up the issue of whether term limits should be amended or eliminated.
Some elected officials from the Greater Houston area within the Texas Legislature—primari ly Garnet Coleman and Sylvester Turner—have also spoken against term limits.
According to the 2005 Houston Area Survey, 67 percent of non-Hispanic whites in the city are declared or favor Republicans while 88 percent of non-Hispanic blacks in the city are declared or favor Democrats. About 58 percent Hispanics (of any race) in the city are declared or favor Democrats. Overall about half of Houston area is considered socially conservative, with more conservatives residing in the suburbs and more liberals in the city. Fifty-four percent of Houston area residents oppose abortion and 49 percent believe "homosexuality is morally wrong."[5] Democratic candidate John Kerry won the city of Houston during the 2004 presidential election, while George W. Bush carried Harris county and the other surrounding counties in the Houston area [6].
See also: List of Houston mayors and List of consulates in Houston
[edit]
Economy The Port of Houston Enlarge The Port of Houston
Houston's energy industry is a world powerhouse (particularly oil), but biomedical research, aeronautics, and the ship channel are also large parts of the city's industrial base. The Houston metropolitan area comprises the largest petrochemical manufacturing area in the world, including for synthetic rubber, insecticides, and fertilizers. The area is also the world's leading center for building oilfield equipment. Much of Houston's success as a petrochemical complex is due to its busy man-made ship channel, the Port of Houston. [7] Because of these economic trades, many residents have moved to Houston from other U.S. states, as well as hundreds of countries worldwide. Unlike most places, where high gas prices are seen as harmful to the economy, they are generally seen as beneficial for Houston as many are employed in the energy industry.
Historically, Houston has had several growth spurts (and some devastating economic recessions) related to the oil industry. The discovery of oil near Houston in 1901 led to its first growth spurt — by the 1920s, Houston had grown to almost 140,000 people. The city's burgeoning aerospace industry heralded its second growth spurt, which solidified with the 1973 oil crisis. Demand on Texas oil increased, and many people from the northeast moved to Houston to profit from the trade. When the embargo was lifted, the growth mostly stopped. However, Pasadena still has its refineries, and the Port of Houston is among the busiest in the world.
Houston is second to New York City in Fortune 500 headquarters. The city has attempted to build a banking industry, but the companies originally started in Houston have since merged with other companies nationwide. Banking, however, is still vital to the region.
See also: List of companies in Houston
[edit]
Demographics [edit]
Census 2000 City of Houston Population by year [8] [9] Year Population Rank 1850 2,396 1860 4,845 1870 9,332 1880 16,513 1890 27,557 1900 44,633 85 1910 78,800 68 1920 138,276 45 1930 292,352 26 1940 384,514 21 1950 596,163 14 1960 938,219 7 1970 1,232,802 6 1980 1,595,138 5 1990 1,630,553 4 2000 1,953,631 4 2004 2,012,626 4
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,953,631 people, 717,945 households, and 457,330 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,371.7 people per square mile (1,301.8/km²). There were 782,009 housing units at an average density of 1,349.6 per square mile (521.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.27 percent White, 25.31 percent Black or African American, 0.44 percent Native American, 5.31 percent Asian, 0.06 percent Pacific Islander, 16.46 percent from other races, and 3.15 percent from two or more races. 37.41 percent of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 717,945 households out of which 33.1 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2 percent were married couples living together, 15.3 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3 percent were non-families. 29.6 percent of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.39.
In the city, the population was spread out with 27.5 percent under the age of 18, 11.2 percent from 18 to 24, 33.8 percent from 25 to 44, 19.1 percent from 45 to 64, and 8.4 percent who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,616, and the median income for a family was $40,443. Males had a median income of $32,084 versus $27,371 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,101. 19.2 percent of the population and 16.0 percent of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 26.1 percent of those under the age of 18 and 14.3 percent of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. [edit]
Crime
Houston recorded 336 murders in 2005, in comparison to 272 in 2004. Murders in Houston peaked at 702 back in 1981. Despite the rise in homicides of 23.5 percent, overall crime in the city dropped by 2 percent in 2005 compared to 2004. Most of the homicides that occurred in the last quarter of 2005 occurred in the city's apartment complexes—primarily in the southwest and north-central areas of Houston.[10]
Houston is currently going through a spike in crime due in part to an influx of refugees from New Orleans into the city following Hurricane Katrina. Since September 1, 2005, when an estimated 200,000 Louisianans resettled in Houston after the hurricane, refugees are believed to have been involved in 26 slayings, or nearly 17 percent of all homicides. The cases, according to Houston police, involved 34 refugees—19 of them victims and 15 of them suspects. Houston's murder rate increased 70 percent in November and December of 2005 compared to 2004's levels. At least 35 percent of the city's December 2005 increase in homicides—five of 14 over last year’s level— have been directly attributed to the presence of Katrina refugees.[11]
Police say that southwest Houston, long recognized as a problem area, is facing another manifestation of the Louisiana exodus—Katrina crime. In late January, investigators in the Houston Police Department's Gang Murder Squad announced the arrests of eight of 11 suspects believed linked to nine homicides in the city's southwest side and two others in nearby Pasadena, which is southeast of Houston.[12] The slayings occurred since November 2005 and all the suspects are displaced New Orleanians who landed in Houston after the hurricane.
In the first 19 days of 2006, a new Neighborhood Enforcement Team Taskforce had responded to calls involving complaints by 110 Katrina refugees. Of the suspects apprehended, 229 were Katrina refugees.[13] [edit]
People and culture Tranquility Park in Downtown Enlarge Tranquility Park in Downtown
Officially, Houston is nicknamed the "Space City" as it is home to NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, where Mission Control Center is located. Because of this, "Houston" was the first word spoken on the moon. Many locals, however, prefer to call it the "Bayou City." Other nicknames include "H-Town," "Clutch City," and "Magnolia City."
Because the Greater Houston area and the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex are the major economic centers of Texas, the two areas enjoy a friendly rivalry. Houstonians often consider themselves more "down to earth" than their neighbors to the north, and some Houstonians complain that Dallas seems to get more attention nationally, though Houston has a larger population. This rivalry often leads to comparison of the assets of one city to the assets of the other. For example, Dallas has more restaurants per person than even New York City while Houstonians eat out more often than residents of any other city in the United States.
Houston has the lowest cost of living and the lowest median housing costs among 27 major U.S. metropolitan areas with populations of more than 1.7 million.
The Houston Theater District is located in the heart of downtown Houston and is home to nine of Houston's performing arts organizations, six performance halls, as well as the 130,000 square foot Bayou Place entertainment complex and several public plazas and parks. Houston is one of only five cities in the United States with permanent professional resident companies in all of the major performing arts disciplines—opera, ballet, music, and theatre.
Of the many popular events held in the city by far the largest is the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo that is held over twenty days from late February through early March. The event begins with trail rides that originate from several points throughout the state, all of which convene at Reliant Park for a barbeque cook-off. The rodeo includes typical rodeo events, as well as concert performances from major artists and carnival rides.
Several Houston-based restaurants—most notably Ninfa Laurenzo's Mama Ninfa's Mexican restaurant chain, Johnny Carrabba's Carrabba's, and Kim Su Tran La's Kim Sơn Vietnamese restaurant chain—have become well known in Texas and throughout the country. Houston is also home to Landry's Restaurants, Inc. which owns and operates hundreds of restaurants throughout the United States under 28 different concepts. The design for the first Compaq computer was sketched on a napkin at House of Pies—a well-known diner in the Upper Kirby district.
See also: List of famous people raised in Houston
[edit]
A cosmopolitan city Williams Waterwall in Uptown Houston Enlarge Williams Waterwall in Uptown Houston
Houston is a diverse and international city, in part because of its many academic institutions and strong biomedical, energy, manufacturing and aerospace industries. A port city, Houston also has large populations of immigrants from Mexico, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, India, Pakistan, and Vietnam. This influx of immigrants is partially responsible for Houston having a population younger than the national average.
Houston has two Chinatowns, as well as the third largest Vietnamese American population in the United States. Recent redevelopment of Midtown from run-down to upscale has increased property values and property taxes, but has also forced some Vietnamese-Americans into other areas of the city. The older downtown Chinatown is also disappearing.
About 90 languages are frequently spoken in the Houston area. Some neighborhoods with high populations of Vietnamese and Chinese residents have Chinese and Vietnamese street signs in addition to English ones. Houston has the second highest South African population in the United States, after Miami, Florida. The city is also noted for its large Nigerian population, counting about 100,000 native Nigerians as residents[14].
The Hispanic population in Houston is increasing as more illegal immigrants from Latin American countries—primarily from Mexico—look for work in Houston. The city has the third largest Hispanic population in the United States. It is estimated that about half a million are here illegally in the city.
Houston has the largest concentration of gay and lesbian (or LGBT) population in Texas and one of the largest in the country—trailing behind San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City. The annual gay pride parade—one of the largest events in Houston—is held in June commemorating the struggle for gay liberation, gay rights, gay pride, and the Stonewall riots of the late 1960s in New York City. The event is held along Westheimer Road in the Montrose area. This area is also home to many gay establishments, such as restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and coffeehouses.
Aided by the popularity of the late hip-hop artist DJ Screw and many local hip-hop labels such as Swisha House Records, Houston is known among youth, primarily in the South, as having its own distinctive style of hip-hop commonly known as chopped and screwed (referred to locally as simply "screw"). Many young Houstonians of all ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds in touch with local hip-hop culture may remember the advent of this form of Southern rap which began to take place around 1993, helping the city earn the nickname "Screwston." In its April 2006 cover story, hip hop magazine The Source declared Houston "the new hip-hop hotspot."
See also: List of events in Houston
[edit]
Cultural institutions Hobby Center for the Performing Arts Enlarge Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
Known for the vibrancy of its visual and performing arts, Houston's Theater District is ranked second in the country (behind New York City) in the amount of theatre seats in a concentrated downtown area with 12,948 seats for live performances and 1,480 movie seats. Houston has world-class visual and performing arts organizations, along with a dose of homegrown folk art such as Art Cars[15]. Houston is also one of only five cities in the United States with permanent professional resident companies in all of the major performing arts disciplines (the Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Ballet, and The Alley Theatre)[16]. Houston widely recognized as the nation's third most important city for contemporary visual arts. The city is a prime stop for touring companies from Broadway, concerts, shows, and exhibitions for a variety of interests, ranging from the nation's largest quilting show to auto, boat, home and gun shows.
Adjacent to the Texas Medical Center is the Museum District, which is home to most of the city's major museums — the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, the Cullen Sculpture Garden, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Holocaust Museum Houston, the Children's Museum of Houston, Lawndale Art Center, the Houston Zoo, the John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science, and The Menil Collection. Approximately 4 million people visit institutions in the Museum District every year.
Houston is also home to several multicultural arts organizations including: MECA (Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts), Kuumba House Dance Theatre, and Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say. [edit]
Local attractions Bayou Place Entertainment Complex in Downtown Enlarge Bayou Place Entertainment Complex in Downtown
Space Center Houston is the official visitors’ center of NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Space Center Houston includes many interactive exhibits — including moon rocks and a shuttle simulator—in addition to special presentations that tell the story of NASA's manned space flight program. It also features Texas’ largest IMAX theater.
The Theater District, a 17-block area in the heart of downtown Houston, is home to Bayou Place Entertainment Complex, restaurants, movies, plazas and parks. Bayou Place is a large multilevel building that is home to full service restaurants, bars, live music, billiards, multiple theatres and art house films. The Houston Verizon Wireless Theatre stages a variety of live concerts and the Angelika Theatre presents the latest in art, foreign and independent films.
Houston is home to many parks including Hermann Park, which houses the Houston Zoo and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. What was once the Houston Civic Center was replaced by the George R. Brown Convention Center, one of the nation's largest; and the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, home of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. Sam Houston Coliseum and Music Hall have been replaced by the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.
Other tourist attractions include the Galleria, Houston's largest shopping mall located in the Uptown District, Old Market Square, Sam Houston Historical Park, which contains restored homes (built between 1824 and 1868) and reconstructed buildings. The San Jacinto battlefield is in the nearby city of Deer Park. The Port of Houston offers free, 90-minute cruises (except on Mondays and during September). [edit]
In the 1960s, Downtown Houston comprised of a modest collection of mid-rise office structures, but has since grown into one of the largest skylines in the United States. In 1960, the central business district had 10 million square feet (1,000,000 m²) of office space, increasing to about 16 million square feet (1,600,000 m²) in 1970. Downtown Houston was on the threshold of a boom in 1970 with 8.7 million square feet (870,000 m²) of office space planned or under construction and huge projects being launched by real estate developers. The largest proposed development was the 32-block Houston Center. Only a small part of the original proposal was ultimately constructed. Other large projects included the Cullen Center, Allen Center, and towers for Shell Oil Company. The surge of skyscrapers mirrored the skyscraper booms in other cities, such as Los Angeles and Dallas. Houston experienced another downtown construction spurt in the 1970s with the energy industry boom. Wells Fargo Bank Plaza Enlarge Wells Fargo Bank Plaza
The first major skyscraper to be constructed in Houston was the 50-floor, 714-foot-tall (218 m) One Shell Plaza in 1971. A succession of skyscrapers were built throughout the 1970s, culminating with Houston's tallest skyscraper, the 75-floor, 1,002-foot-tall (305 m) JPMorgan Chase Tower (formerly the Texas Commerce Tower), which was completed in 1982. In 2002, it was the tallest structure in Texas, ninth-tallest building in the United States and the 23rd tallest skyscraper in the world. In 1983, the 71-floor, 970-foot-tall (296 m) Wells Fargo Bank Plaza was completed, which became the second-tallest building in Houston and Texas, and 11th tallest in the country. Skyscraper construction in downtown Houston came to an end in the mid-1980s with the collapse of Houston's energy industry and the resulting severe economic recession. When the 53-floor Texaco Heritage Plaza was completed in 1987, it appeared that no more skyscrapers would be constructed for a while. However, in 2002, the Houston-based Enron Corporation began construction of a 40-floor skyscraper which was about to be completed in 2001, the year the company collapsed in one of the most dramatic corporate failures in the history of the United States. Other smaller office structures were built in the 2000-2003 period. As of December 2001, downtown Houston had about 40 million square feet (4,000,000 m²) of office space, including 28 million square feet (2,800,000 m²) of class A office space.
Many downtown buildings are linked by a system of tunnels and skywalks, which also house shops, restaurants and convenience stores. [edit]
Uptown Uptown Houston Enlarge Uptown Houston
The Uptown Houston district boomed along with Houston during the 1970s and early 1980s. A collection of mid-rise office buildings appeared along the Interstate 610 west (or simply "West Loop"). It became one of the most impressive instances of the edge city. The highest achievement of Uptown Houston was the construction of the 899-foot-tall (274 m), Philip Johnson designed landmark Williams Tower (known as the Transco Tower until 1999). At the time, it was believed to the be the world's tallest skyscraper outside of a central business district. The Williams Tower was the product of a unique era in Houston: energy companies were loaded with assets and sought impressive, monumental structures to broadcast their power. Williams Tower Enlarge Williams Tower
The Uptown Houston district is also home to other buildings designed by noted architects such as I. M. Pei and César Pelli among others also designed by Philip Johnson. Large-scale office construction in Uptown Houston, however, came to an end with the collapse of energy prices and the meltdown of Houston's economy in the mid-to-late 1980s. Uptown Houston had 23.8 million square feet (2,210,000 m²) of office space in 2001, whereas Downtown Houston had about 40 million square feet (4,000,000 m²). In the late 1990s, there was a mini-boom of mid-rise residential tower construction, typically about 30 stories tall. Uptown Houston has accumulated a large concentration of high-rise residential structures for such a low-density city.
See also: Tallest buildings in Texas
[edit]
Districts and communities
Main article: Districts and communities of Houston
Midtown Enlarge Midtown
When Houston was established in 1837, the city's founders divided it into political geographic districts called "wards." The ward designation is the progenitor of the current-day Houston City Council districts — there are nine in all.
Locations in Houston are generally classified as either being inside or outside Interstate 610, known as the "610 Loop" or "The Loop". Inside the loop generally encompasses the central business district, and has come to define an urban lifestyle and state of mind. The appellation “inner looper” carries with it the expectation of someone who appreciates cosmopolitan-style city life.
The outlying areas of Houston, the airports and the city's suburbs and enclaves are outside the loop. Another ring road, Texas Beltway 8 (also known simply as the "Beltway"), encircles the city another 5 miles (8 km) farther out. Another ring road, Texas Highway 99 (also known as the Grand Parkway), is under construction.
Houston, being the largest city in the United States without zoning laws, has grown in an unusual manner. Rather than a single "downtown" as the center of the city's employment, five additional business districts have grown throughout the inner-city. If these business districts were combined, they would form the third largest downtown in the United States. The city also has the third largest skyline in the country (after New York City and Chicago), but because it is spread over a few miles, pictures of the city show, for the most part, the main downtown area. [edit]
Healthcare and medical research Texas Medical Center Enlarge Texas Medical Center
Houston is the seat of the internationally-renowned Texas Medical Center, which contains the world's largest concentration of research and healthcare institutions.
There are 42 member institutions in the Texas Medical Center—all are not-for-profit, and are dedicated to the highest standards of patient and preventive care, research, education, and local, national, and international community well-being. These institutions include 13 renowned hospitals and two specialty institutions, two medical schools, four nursing schools, and schools of dentistry, public health, pharmacy, and virtually all health-related careers. It is where one of the first, and still the largest, air emergency service was created—a very successful inter-institutional transplant program was developed—and more heart surgeries are performed than anywhere else in the world.
Some of the academic and research health institutions are Baylor College of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is widely considered one of the world's most productive and highly-regarded academic institutions devoted to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention.
Following the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans in late August of 2005, Tulane University Medical School temporarily relocated to Baylor College of Medicine for the 2005–2006 school year.
See also: List of hospitals in Texas
[edit]
Transportation [edit]
Highways U.S. Highway 59 as it traverses by Greenway Plaza Enlarge U.S. Highway 59 as it traverses by Greenway Plaza
In Houston urban sprawl and hot, humid summers have made automobiles the favored means of transportation. Houston also has excessive ozone levels and is ranked among the most ozone-polluted cities in the United States.
Houston freeways are heavily traveled and often under construction to meet the demands of continuing growth. Interstate 45 south has been in a continuous state of construction, in one portion or another, almost since the first segment was built in 1952. Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) planners have sought ways to reduce rush hour congestion, primarily through High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane for vans and carpools. Timed freeway entrances, which regulate the addition of cars to the freeway, are also common. Houston has an extensive network of freeway cameras linked to a transit control center to monitor and study traffic. One characteristic of Houston's freeways (and Texas freeways in general) are its frontage roads (which locals call "feeders"). Alongside most freeways are two to four lanes in each direction parallel to the freeway permitting easy access to individual city streets. Frontage roads provide access to the freeway from businesses alongside, such as gas stations and retail stores. New landscaping projects and a longstanding ban on new billboards are ways Houston has tried to control the potential side effects of convenience.
Houston has a hub-and-spoke freeway structure with multiple loops. The innermost is Interstate 610, forming approximately a 10 mile diameter loop around downtown. The roughly square "Loop-610" is quartered into "North Loop," "South Loop," "West Loop," and "East Loop." The roads of Texas Beltway 8 and their freeway core, the Sam Houston Tollway, are the next loop, at a diameter of roughly 25 miles. Most of this freeway requires payment of $1.25 toll every five or ten miles ($2.00 toll when crossing the Houston Ship Channel). A controversial proposed highway project, Texas Highway 99 (The Grand Parkway), would form a third loop outside of Houston. Currently, the completed portion of Texas Highway 99 runs from just north of Interstate 10, west of Houston, to U.S. Highway 59 in Sugar Land, southwest of Houston, and was completed in 1994. The next portion to be constructed is from the current terminus at U.S. Highway 59 to Texas State Highway 288 in Brazoria County.
Further information: List of highways in Houston
See also: List of Texas highways
[edit]
Mass transit METRORail along the Main Street Corridor in Downtown Enlarge METRORail along the Main Street Corridor in Downtown
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas, or METRO, provides public transportation in the form of buses, trolleys and lift vans. Uptown, METRO provides free service on the Uptown Shuttle.
METRO began running light rail service (METRORail) on January 1, 2004. Currently the track is rather short — it runs about 8 miles (13 km) from Downtown Houston to the Texas Medical Center and Reliant Park. METRO's various forms of public transportation still do not connect many of the suburbs to the greater city, causing Houstonians to rely on the automobile as a primary source of transportation. Prior to the opening of METRORail, Houston was the largest city in the United States devoid of a rail transit system by a very large margin.
Following a successful referendum held locally in 2004, METRO is currently in the beginning design phases of a ten year expansion plan to add five more sections to connect to the current rail system. An 8.3 mile (13.4 km) expansion has been approved to run the service from Uptown (the Galleria area) through Texas Southern University, ending at the University of Houston campus. [edit]
Airports The International Arrivals Building at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Enlarge The International Arrivals Building at George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Houston is served by two commercial airports—the largest of which is the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The airport is the ninth-busiest in the United States for total passengers, and 19th busiest worldwide. Houston is the headquarters of Continental Airlines, Bush Intercontinental is Continental Airline's largest hub, with more than 750 daily departures (more than 250 of which are Continental flights).
Bush Intercontinental currently ranks second in the United States for non-stop domestic and international service (221 destinations), trailing only Atlanta Hartsfield with 250 destinations. The United States Department of Transportation has also recently named George Bush Intercontinental Airport one of the top ten fastest growing airports in the U.S. [17]
The second-largest commercial airport in Houston is the William P. Hobby Airport (named Houston International Airport until 1967). The airport operates primarily small to medium-haul flights and is the only airport in Houston served by Southwest Airlines. Business travelers on shorter routes to Houston from within the United States tend to prefer Hobby over Bush Intercontinental.
The third-largest airport and former U.S. Air Force base, Ellington Field, is primarily used for government and private aircraft. At one point, Continental Express operated flights across the city to Bush Intercontinental primarily for residents of southeast Houston and Galveston County. Passenger flights, however, ended on September 7, 2004.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the state of Texas selected the Houston Airport System as Airport of the Year for 2005, largely because of its multi-year, $3.1 billion airport improvement program for both major airports in Houston. [edit]
Education [edit]
Colleges and universities University of Houston Enlarge University of Houston Rice University Enlarge Rice University
Houston is home to the prestigious Rice University, a private institution boasting one of the largest financial endowments of any university in the world . Rice was ranked the 17th best university overall in the nation by U.S. News & World Report [18]. The small undergraduate student body is among the nation's most select and has one of the highest percentages of National Merit Scholarship winners. Rice maintains a variety of research facilities and laboratories. Rice is also associated with the Houston Area Research Center, a consortium supported by Rice, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and the University of Houston.
Houston is served by the University of Houston System, the largest urban state system of higher education in the Gulf Coast. The system has four universities, all but one of which are in Houston or are partially in Houston, and two multi-institution teaching centers. Their flagship institution is the University of Houston, which was founded in 1927 and is the only doctoral degree granting extensive research institution in Houston. It is the third most populous university in Texas with an enrollment of more than 35,000. The University of Houston is also home to more than 40 research centers and institutes. Among the most prestigious of the University of Houston's colleges is the University of Houston Law Center (law school). The University of Houston Law Center's Health Law and Policy Institute is ranked number one in the nation while its intellectual property law program is ranked fifth, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Texas Southern University is a historically black university located in the historic Third Ward, is heralded as a pioneer, and distinguishes itself as one of the leading producers of African American scholars that obtain collegiate, professional, and graduate degrees in the state, as well as the nation.
Houston also is home to the University of Saint Thomas, a Catholic liberal arts college following the Basilian tradition, founded by the Basilian fathers of Canada, and located in the Montrose area. Another religious college serving Houston is Houston Baptist University. South Texas College of Law, located in the heart of downtown Houston, boasts one of the nation's finest programs for trial advocacy.
Much of Houston is served by the Houston Community College System, which is one of the largest community college systems in the United States. HCCS serves the HISD portion of Houston and other areas. Parts of northern Houston are served by North Harris Montgomery Community College District. Parts of eastern and southeastern Houston are served by San Jacinto College. Many of Houston's suburbs also have their own community college systems.
Further information: List of colleges and universities in Houston
See also: List of colleges and universities in Texas
[edit]
Public schools and libraries Lamar High School Enlarge Lamar High School
There are many school districts serving the city of Houston, the largest of which, the Houston Independent School District, serves a large majority of the area within the city limits. A portion of west Houston falls under the Spring Branch and Alief independent school districts. Aldine and North Forest independent school districts take up a part of northeast Houston. Parts of Pasadena, Clear Creek, Crosby, Cypress-Fairbanks, Fort Bend, Galena Park, Huffman, Humble, Katy, New Caney, and Sheldon independent school districts also take students from the city limits of Houston.
Other agencies, such as KIPP and North Houston High School for Business, operate public alternative schools in the Houston area.
Houston is served by the Houston Public Library—it has 36 branches throughout the city, plus the Central Library, located Downtown. The portion of Houston within Fort Bend County is served by the Fort Bend County Libraries, in addition to Houston Public Library. The Harris County Public Library has 26 branches, primarily serving areas outside the city limits of Houston. [edit]
Private schools St. John's School Enlarge St. John's School
The Houston area is home to more than 300 private schools and several are well-known. Many of the schools are accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by Texas Private School Accreditation Commission (TEPSAC).
Among the 50 Houston Area Independent Schools are Robert M. Beren Academy, Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Saint Agnes Academy, St. Thomas High School, Incarnate Word Academy, St. John's School, Saint Catherine's Montessori, Awty International School, The Emery/Weiner School, St. Thomas' Episcopal School, and The Kinkaid School.
In nearby city of Bellaire is the Episcopal High School.
Houston-area Catholic schools are operated by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. [edit]
Professional sports Minute Maid Park Enlarge Minute Maid Park
Houston is home to the MLB Houston Astros, NFL Houston Texans, NBA Houston Rockets, WNBA Houston Comets, AHL Houston Aeros, and MLS Houston Dynamo—all of whom are playing in new state-of-the-art stadiums. Minute Maid Park (home of the Astros) and Toyota Center (home of the Rockets, Comets and Aeros) are located downtown—contributi ng to an urban renaissance that has transformed Houston's center into a day-and-night destination. Rice Stadium, at Rice University, was the home to Super Bowl VIII, and Super Bowl XXXVIII was played at the Reliant Stadium in February 2004. Other sports facilities in Houston are Hofheinz Pavilion, Reliant Astrodome, and Robertson Stadium.
The Houston Astros advanced to the World Series for the first time in the team's history on October 19, 2005, when the team won game six of the National League Championship series against their traditional rival the St. Louis Cardinals. The Astros subsequently lost the World Series to the Chicago White Sox, who swept the series four to zero.
Beginning in 2006, the Champ Car auto racing series will return to Houston for a yearly race, held on the streets of the Reliant Park complex. The city had previously been home to a Champ Car round from 1998 to 2001. On April 1, 2001, Houston hosted World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)'s WrestleMania X-Seven at the Reliant Astrodome.
The city hosts the annual NCAA football's Houston Bowl in December. Houston was also host of the NCAA football 2005 Big 12 Conference title game. Additionally, Houston's Minute Maid Park hosted the MLB All-Star game in 2004 and Toyota Center hosted the NBA All-Star game in 2006.
The city received a new Major League Soccer team on December 15, 2005 when the San Jose Earthquakes decided to relocate the franchise to Houston. Under the relocation agreement the Earthquake name, mascot and logo will remain in San Jose reserved for a future expansion team. The Houston team, renamed "Houston Dynamo," plays at Robertson Stadium during the 2006 season.
Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander is currently working to bring a National Hockey League (NHL) franchise to Houston. The team is expected to be acquired by the purchase and relocation of an existing team rather than through league expansion, most likely the Pittsburgh Penguins—which is interested in relocating to Houston. Logo Club Sport League Venue Houston Aeros Ice Hockey American Hockey League Toyota Center Houston Astros Baseball Major League Baseball (NL) Minute Maid Park Houston Comets Basketball Women's National Basketball Association Toyota Center Houston Dynamo Soccer Major League Soccer Robertson Stadium Houston Rockets Basketball National Basketball Association Toyota Center Houston Texans Football National Football League (AFC) Reliant Stadium
See also: Former professional sports teams in Houston
[edit]
Media and entertainment
Houston is served by The Houston Chronicle, its only major daily newspaper with wide distribution. The Hearst Corporation, which owns and operates the Chronicle, bought the assets of the Houston Post, its long-time rival and main competition, when the Post ceased operations in 1995. The only other major publication to serve the city is the Houston Press, a free, alternative news journal with a weekly circulation of more than 300,000 readers.
Houston also is home to several TV stations and radio stations that serve the metropolitan area.
KTRK TV's Marvin Zindler is a well-known figure in Houston, recognizable as much for his voice as for his trademark blue eyeglasses. His week-long exposé on the Chicken Ranch brothel later became the basis for the Broadway musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and his health reports on local restaurants have made the phrase "slime in the ice machine" immediately recognizable to any local.
KHOU-TV's investigative team, "The 11 News Defenders," began an investigation into the failure of Firestone Wilderness AT tires on several vehicles (most notably on the popular Ford Explorer). The expose ended up becoming a national story with wide-reaching implications for both Ford and Firestone. These reports garnered the station and the lead reporter, Anna Werner international attention and several awards including the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award and George Foster Peabody Award. Among the many respected journalists that have worked for KHOU, the best known are former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather, Linda Ellerbee, and Jessica Savitch.
Univision Affiliate KXLN-TV is among the highest rated Spanish-language television stations in the United States. Its "En Su Defensa" (in your defense) segments have garnered regional acclaim, and En Su Defensa month was proclaimed by Mayor Bill White in 2004. Led by Investigative reporter Patricio Espinoza, the segment generated strong community following and historic ratings along with several Emmy awards through 2005.
Houston Not-For-Profit News is a subsidiary of World Internet News Cooperative. It is one of Houston's few non-profit news sources which receives no money from advertising. It totes itself as being unbiased with the ability to be more objective than the commercial news media due to the fact that they are not tied to advertisers. Stories covered by the cooperative range from consumer rights, to corporate welfare, to working-class issues. In April 2006, Houston Not-For-Profit News received four Society of Professional Journalist Mark of Excellence awards. Their work has also been nominated for a Robert F. Kennedy Memorial journalism award.
Further information: Houston featured in films and List of newspapers in Houston
See also: List of television stations in Texas and List of radio stations in Texas
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Trivia
* If the city of Houston were a state, it would rank 36th in population—its 2.01 million residents in 2004 would place it behind Nevada and ahead of New Mexico.[19] * With 5.2 million inhabitants in mid-2004, the 10-county Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area is the nation's seventh most populous metro area. Were it to become a state, it would rank 21st, ahead of Minnesota and behind Wisconsin. Its population exceeds that of North and South Dakota, Alaska, Delaware, Vermont, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia combined.[20] * Houston has the first domed stadium in the United States and also holds the NFL's first retractable roof stadium.
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Sister cities
Houston has 16 sister cities designated by Sister Cities International. Parentheses denote the year in which sister city relationships were established.
* Aberdeen, Scotland (1979) * Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (2001) * Baku, Azerbaijan (1976) * Chiba, Japan (1973) * Guayaquil, Ecuador (1987) * Huelva, Spain (1969) * Istanbul, Turkey (1986) * Leipzig, Germany (1993)
* Luanda, Angola (2003) * Nice, France (1973) * Perth, Western Australia, Australia (1983) * Shenzhen, People's Republic of China (1986) * Stavanger, Norway (1980) * Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China (1963) * Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico (2003) * Tyumen, Russia (1995)
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Sources
* Entry for Houston, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online * Johnston, Marguerite (1991). Houston, The Unknown City, 1836-1946. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 0-89096-476-9. * Miller, Ray (1984). Ray Miller's Houston. Gulf Publishing Company. ISBN 0-88415-081-X. * Slotboom, Oscar F. "Erik" (2003). Houston Freeways. Oscar F. Slotboom. ISBN 0-9741605-3-9. * Elevation data: USGS—Houston
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External links Find more information on Houston by searching Wikipedia's sister projects:
Dictionary definitions from Wiktionary Textbooks from Wikibooks Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Images and media from Commons News stories from Wikinews
* City of Houston Official Web Site * Houston Downtown District * Downtown Entertainment District Alliance * Greater Houston Partnership * Uptown Houston District * Midtown Houston District * Central Houston Redevelopment Organization * Detailed History of Houston * Greater Houston Preservation Alliance * Buffalo Bayou Partnership * Nothing but pictures of Houston * Wikitravel article about Houston * Houston Freeways * Houston Employment Data * Houston Airport System * Houston Real Estate Statistics
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Flag Official seal of Dallas, Texas Seal Nickname: "Big 'D'" Official website: www.dallascityhall.com Location Location of Dallas, Texas Location in the state of Texas Government Counties Dallas County Collin County Denton County Kaufman County Rockwall County Mayor Laura Miller Geographical characteristics Area Total 385.0 sq mi (997.1 km²) Land 342.5 sq mi (887.2 km²) Water 42.5 sq mi (110.0 km²) Population (2004) City proper 1,210,393 [1] Density 3,534 /sq mi (1,364 /km²) Urban area 4,612,000 [2] Metro area 5,700,256 [3] Elevation 108 ft (33 m) Time zone Central (UTC-6) Summer (DST) Central (UTC-5)
"Dallas" redirects here. For other uses, see Dallas (disambiguation).
Dallas is the third-most-populous city in the state of Texas and the ninth-most-populous in the United States. The city is also large in geographic area as it covers 385 square miles (997 km²) and is the county seat of Dallas County. Dallas is one of 11 U.S. global cities as it is ranked "Gamma World City" by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group & Network.
As of the 2000 U.S. Census, Dallas had a total population of 1.1 million (though a 2006 estimate placed the population at more than 1.26 million [4].) The city is the main cultural and economic center of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area (colloquially referred to as Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex), which is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. with a population of 5.7 million in 12 counties. The 16-county metropolitan area designated by the North Central Texas Council of Governments had a population of 6.2 million in 2006 [5].
History
Native Americans inhabited the Dallas area before it was claimed, along with the rest of Texas, as a part of the Spanish Province of New Spain in the 1500s. The area was very close to French territory, but the boundary was carried upward a bit in 1819 with the Adams-Onís Treaty. Present-day Dallas remained under Spanish rule until 1821, when Mexico declared independence from Spain. Dallas joined the new nation, and became part of the state of Coahuila y Tejas. The Republic of Texas broke off from Mexico in 1836 (and remained an independent country for nearly 10 years), and this is when Dallas's development began.
The city of Dallas was founded by John Neely Bryan in 1841 after first surveying the area in 1839. Bryan, who shared Sam Houston's insight into the wisdom of Native American customs, must also have realized that these Caddo trails intersected at one of the few natural fords for hundreds of miles along the wide Trinity floodplain. Dallas County was established in 1846 and was named after George Mifflin Dallas, who was the eleventh United States Vice President at the time. However, the origin of the city's name is debatable; Bryan stated only that it was named "after my friend Dallas".
Dallas was formally incorporated as a town in 1856. The city had a few slaves, mostly brought by settlers from Alabama and Georgia. It was a fairly insignificant place until after the American Civil War in which it was part of the Confederate States of America, and only legally became a city in 1871. The city paid the Houston and Central Texas Railroad $5,000 to shift its route 20 miles (32 km) to the west and build its north-south tracks through Dallas, rather than through Corsicana as planned. A year later, Dallas leaders could not pay the Texas and Pacific Railroad to locate there, so they devised a way to trick the Railroad—Dallas had a rider attached to a state law which required the railroad to build its tracks through Browder Springs—which turned out to be just south of Main Street. The major north-south and east-west Texas railroad routes intersected in Dallas in 1873, thus ensuring its future as a commercial center.
By the turn of the twentieth century Dallas was the leading drug, book, jewelry, and wholesale liquor market in the Southwestern United States. It also quickly became the center of trade in cotton, grain, and even buffalo. It was the world's leading inland cotton market, and it still led the world in manufacture of saddlery and cotton gin machinery [6]. As it further entered the 20th century, Dallas transformed from an agricultural center to a center of banking, insurance, and other businesses.
In 1930, oil was discovered 100 miles (160 km) east of Dallas and the city quickly became the financial center for the oil industry in Texas and Oklahoma. Then in 1958 the integrated circuit was invented in Dallas by Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments. During the 1950s and 1960s, Dallas became the nation's third-largest technology center, with the growth of such companies as Ling-Tempco-Vought (LTV Corporation) and Texas Instruments. In 1957 two developers, Trammell Crow and John M. Stemmons, opened a Home Furnishings Mart that grew into the Dallas Market Center, the largest wholesale trade complex in the world.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Dallas underwent the building boom which produced a distinctive contemporary profile for the downtown area and a prominent skyline, influenced by nationally acclaimed architects. By the 1980s, when the oil industry mostly relocated to Houston, Dallas was beginning to benefit from a burgeoning technology boom (driven by the growing computer and telecom industries), while continuing to be a center of banking and business. Also in the mid-to-late 1980s, many banks, especially in Dallas, collapsed during the Savings and Loan crisis, nearly destroying the city's economy and scrapping plans for hundreds of structures. In the 1990s, Dallas became known as Texas's Silicon Valley, or the "Silicon Prairie."
Like many major US cities, Dallas has experienced an "urban renewal" in the 2000s. From the mid-1980s to 2005, not a single highrise structure was built within the downtown freeway loop. In 2005, three towers began construction amid tens of residential conversions and smaller residential projects. By the year 2010, the North Central Texas Council of Governments expects 10,000 residents to live within the loop. Just north, Uptown is one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. [edit]
Geography and environment
Dallas is the county seat of Dallas County. A small portion of the city also extends into the neighboring counties of Collin County, Denton County, Kaufman County, and Rockwall County.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 385.0 square miles (997.1 km²)—342.5 square miles (887.2 km²) of it is land and 42.5 square miles (110.0 km²) of it is water. The total area is 11.03% water. These statistics are only for the city of Dallas proper. In fact, Dallas is a relatively small part of the much larger urbanized area known as the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. About one in four Texans lives in the DFW metroplex. [edit]
Cityscape Tree-lined Haskell Ave in Cityplace, near Uptown. Enlarge Tree-lined Haskell Ave in Cityplace, near Uptown.
The City of Dallas has many vibrant communities and eclectic neighborhoods. Major areas in the city include: Downtown, the center of the city and the epicenter of urban revival, coupled with Oak Lawn and Uptown Dallas, the shiny new urbanist areas thriving with shops, restaurants, and nightlife. East Dallas is home to Deep Ellum, a trendy arts area, the homey Lakewood, and Fair Park. North Dallas is home to mansions as palacial as Versailles in Preston Hollow, strong middle-class communities like Lake Highlands around White Rock Lake, and high-powered shopping at the Dallas Galleria, Northpark Center, and Preston Center. South Dallas lays claim to the Cedars, an eclectic artist hotbed, and Pleasant Grove, a poorer section of the southeastern city. Oak Cliff is a gorgeous hilly area with beautiful old homes and schools and even entertainment districts like the Bishop Arts District. The city is further surrounded by tens of suburbs and encloses enclaves like Cockrell Hill, Highland Park and University Park.
Further information: List of neighborhoods in Dallas, Texas
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Geology The DFW metroplex at night, photographed from the International Space Station in early 2003. Dallas is the larger nexus of light on the right (east), Fort Worth the smaller on the left (west). Blurriness over parts of the image is caused by clouds. Enlarge The DFW metroplex at night, photographed from the International Space Station in early 2003. Dallas is the larger nexus of light on the right (east), Fort Worth the smaller on the left (west). Blurriness over parts of the image is caused by clouds.
Main article: Geology of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
Dallas, and its surrounding area, is mostly flat and lies at an elevation ranging from 450 to 550 feet (137 to 168 m). The western edge of the Austin chalk formation, a limestone escarpment, rises 200 feet (61 m) and runs roughly north-south through Dallas County. The uplift is particularly noticeable in the neighborhood of Oak Cliff and the adjacent cities of Cockrell Hill, Cedar Hill, Grand Prairie, and Irving. Marked variations in terrain are found as well in cities immediately to the west in Tarrant County surrounding Fort Worth.
The Trinity River is a major Texas waterway that passes from the city of Irving into West Dallas, where it is paralleled by Interstate 35E along the Stemmons Corridor, then flows alongside western and southern downtown, and ultimately between South Dallas and Pleasant Grove, paralleled by Interstate 45, where it exits into unincorporated Dallas County and heads southeast to Houston. The river is flanked on both sides with a 50 feet (15 m) earthen levee to keep the city from flooding. Several bridges traverse the river connecting southern Dallas to downtown Dallas. From the early 2000s to the 2010s, the Trinity River Project, a major public works project undertaken by the city of Dallas, will improve the river along its length.
White Rock Lake is Dallas's other significant water feature. The lake and surrounding park is a popular destination among boaters, joggers, bikers, and skaters in the Lakewood/Casa Linda neighborhoods of East Dallas. The lake also boasts 66 acre (27 ha) [7] Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden on its shore. Bachman Lake, just northwest of Love Field, is a smaller lake and surrounding park that is also used for recreation. Lake Ray Hubbard, a 22,745 acre (9,205 ha) [8] lake is a vast and popular recreational lake located in an extension of Dallas between Garland, Rowlett, Rockwall and Sunnyvale. Mountain Creek Lake is a small lake along Dallas's border with Grand Prairie and is home to the (defunct as of September 1998 [9]) Naval Air Station Dallas (Hensley Field). North Lake, a small lake in an extension of Dallas surrounded by Irving and Coppell, served primarily as a water source for a nearby power plant but the surrounding area is now being targeted for redevelopment due to its proximity to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (a plan that the neighboring cities oppose [10].) [edit]
Climate
Dallas gets about 37.1 inch (941.1 mm) of rain per year, much of which is delivered in the spring. The climate of Dallas is classified a humid subtropical climate, yet this part of Texas also tends to get hot, dry winds from the north and west in the summer. In the winter, strong cold fronts from the north pass through Dallas, which often causes temperatures in the region to fall below freezing. The average annual snowfall in Dallas is 2.5 inch (6.35 cm), with snowfall seen on six days per year and snow accumulations seen two days per year on average [11]. Occasionally, warm and humid air from the south overrides cold, dry air, leading to freezing rain, which usually causes major disruptions in the city for a day or two if the roads and highways become dangerously slick. Regardless, winters are relatively mild compared to the Texas Panhandle and other states to the north. Dallas winters are occasionally interspersed with Indian summers.
Spring and fall and the pleasant, moderate temperatures accompanying those seasons are somewhat short-lived in Dallas. However short the seasons are, residents and visitors appreciate the beauty of the vibrant wildflowers (such as the bluebonnet, Indian paintbrush and other flora) which bloom in spring and are planted around the highways throughout Texas [12]. In the spring the weather can also be quite volatile and change quickly in a matter of minutes. The cliché about volatile climates popular in various parts of the US—"if you don't like the weather, wait a little while and it'll change"—applie s well to Dallas's spring weather. Many consider autumn, around late September and October, to be the best time to visit the Metroplex. Yet many events are also scheduled for the more volatile season of spring.
Dallas lies near the southern end of Tornado Alley, which runs through the prairie lands of the midwest. In the spring, cool fronts moving from Canada collide with warm, humid air streaming in from the Gulf Coast. When these fronts meet over Dallas, severe storms are generated with spectacular lightning shows, torrents of rain, large hail and, at times, tornadoes.
Tornadoes are perhaps the biggest threat to the city of Dallas. They are common in the Dallas suburbs in the spring and summer, but the city itself is not immune to being hit by a major tornado. Many experts fear a direct hit on downtown Dallas by an F4 or F5 tornado can cause major devastation and kill hundreds, perhaps thousands and leave a large part of the city in ruins. Dallas was hit by a tornado on April 2, 1957 that likely would've registered as an F3 [13], but it luckily missed downtown. Next-door Fort Worth suffered a direct hit from a tornado in 2000 causing great damage to many of the city's downtown skyscrapers [14].
D/FW experiences a particularly acute springtime "monsoon" season every year[citation needed]--around the middle of March--that rapidly feeds a unique region-wide runoff that swells Johnson Creek (in Arlington and Grand Prairie), as well as the West and Elm Forks of the Trinity River, onto several square miles of flood plain inside the metro area, much of it inhabited. Annually in this month, many neighborhoods in these cities have 4 or more feet of water inside dwellings, and low-lying developed areas adjacent to the Stemmons Corridor and Oak Cliff in Dallas experience severe flooding.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture places the city of Dallas in Plant Hardiness Zone 8. Dallas has the 10th worst ozone air pollution in the nation according to the American Lung Association, worse than Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City, but better than Los Angeles, Fresno, California, and Houston [15]. In reality, much of the air pollution in Dallas, and the DFW Metroplex in general, comes from a hazardous materials incineration plant in Midlothian, a small town just south of Dallas, as well as many concrete installations in neighboring Ellis County [16].
The average daily low in Dallas is 57°F (14°C) and the average daily high in Dallas is 77°F (25°C). [17] Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Avg high °F(°C) 55°F (13°C) 61°F (16°C) 69°F (21°C) 77°F (25°C) 84°F (29°C) 92°F (33°C) 96°F (36°C) 96°F (36°C) 89°F (32°C) 79°F (26°C) 66°F (19°C) 57°F (14°C) 77°F (25°C) Avg low °F(°C) 36°F (2°C) 41°F (5°C) 49°F (9°C) 56°F (13°C) 65°F (18°C) 73°F (23°C) 77°F (25°C) 76°F (24°C) 69°F (21°C) 58°F (14°C) 47°F (18°C) 39°F (4°C) 57°F (14°C) Rainfall inches (mm) 1.89" (88.4mm) 2.31" (78.0mm) 3.13" (104.6mm) 3.46" (77.7mm) 5.30" (106.2mm) 3.92" (83.3mm) 2.43" (100.6mm) 2.17" (102.9mm) 2.65" (103.1mm) 4.65" (81.0mm) 2.61" (87.6mm) 2.53" (93.7mm) 37.1" (941.1mm) [edit]
Demographics Astronaut photograph of clockwise: Plano-Dallas-DFW airport/Grapevine-Lewisvi lle area. This is the eastern half of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. April, 2005. Enlarge Astronaut photograph of clockwise: Plano-Dallas-DFW airport/Grapevine-Lewisvi lle area. This is the eastern half of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. April, 2005. Dallas's Population by year [6] Year Pop. 1860 678 1870 3,000 1880 10,385 1890 38,067 1910 150,000 1920 158,976 1930 260,475 1940 294,734 1950 434,462 1960 679,684 1970 844,401 1980 904,078 1990 1,006,877 2000 1,188,580 2004 (est.) 1,210,393 2006 (est.) 1,260,950
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,188,580 people, 451,833 households, and 266,581 families residing in the city proper, which is bounded by largely developed suburbs and exurbs. The population density was 3,469.9 people per square mile (1,339.7/km²). There were 484,117 housing units at an average density of 1,413.3 per square mile (545.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 50.83% White, 25.91% Black or African American, 0.54% Native American, 2.70% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 17.24% from other races, and 2.72% from two or more races. 35.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Hispanics outnumbered African-Americans for the first time in the 2000 census as the largest minority group in Dallas. Many newly-arrived Hispanics have settled in poorer neighborhoods like Oak Cliff that were once predominately African American. While Hispanics have moved in, many African Americans have migrated further south to cities like Cedar Hill or DeSoto that were predominately White communities until recently.
There were 451,833 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.0% are classified as non-families by the United States Census Bureau. Of 451,833 households, 23,959 are unmarried partner households: 18,684 heterosexual, 3,615 same-sex male, and 1,660 same-sex female households. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.37.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 35.3% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,628, and the median income for a family was $40,921. Males had a median income of $31,149 versus $28,235 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,183. 17.8% of the population and 14.9% of families were below the poverty line. 25.1% of those under the age of 18 and 13.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. The median price for a house was $118,435, and the Dallas area has seen a steady increase in the cost of homes over the past 5 years.
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Economy Downtown Dallas as seen from Lake Cliff Enlarge Downtown Dallas as seen from Lake Cliff
Dallas and the surrounding metroplex are very important economically. The city is sometimes referred to as Texas's Silicon Valley or the "Silicon Prairie" because of a high concentration of telecom companies. Originally seeded with a nexus of communications engineering and production talent following World War II by companies like Collins Radio Corp., the epicenter of the area's telecom industry is along the "Telecom Corridor" which is home to more than 5,700 companies [18] and regional offices for Alcatel, AT&T, Ericsson, Fujitsu, MCI, Nokia, Nortel, Rockwell, Sprint and Verizon. The headquarters for Texas Instruments is also located there.
AMR Corporation (parent company of American Airlines), Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, Radio Shack, and Pier 1 Imports are based in Fort Worth. id Software is based in Mesquite. ExxonMobil, Kimberly-Clark, Michael's Stores, and Zale Corporation are headquartered in Irving. Electronic Data Systems, Frito Lay, Dr Pepper and JCPenney are headquartered in Plano. FUNimation is headquartered in North Richland Hills. Educational Products, Inc. is headquartered in Carrollton. Sabre Holdings, the owner of the Sabre System, is headquartered in Southlake. Halliburton Energy Services was once based in Dallas, but moved to Houston in 2003.
Dallas has more shopping centers per capita than any United States city and metro [19]. There are several malls scattered around the Dallas/Ft.Worth Metroplex.
The city of Dallas is also home to 12 billionaires, concentrated in the Preston Hollow area of North Dallas. This designation places Dallas in 8th place (a tie with Paris, France) among cities in the world with the most billionaires. Nearby Fort Worth holds 11th place with 9.
See also: List of companies in Dallas, Texas See also: List of major companies in Dallas/Ft. Worth See also: List of shopping malls in Dallas, Texas See also: List of cities with the most billionaires
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Law and Government
The current mayor of Dallas is Laura Miller. The city is split into 14 different council districts, with council members appointed per district. The form of civic government is the council-mayor format, which was recently contested in favor of a strong-mayor city charter, but shot down by Dallas voters.
In the 2005-2006 fiscal year, the city's total budget (the sum of operating and capital budgets) was $2,218,345,070 [20]. The city has seen a steady increase in its budget throughout its history due to sustained growth: the budget was $1,717,449,783 in 2002-2003, $1,912,845,956 in 2003-2004 [21], and $2,049,685,734 in 2004-2005 [20]. [edit]
Crime
From 1998 until 2004 (the most recent year with available statistics), the city of Dallas has had the highest overall crime rate for the nine United States cities with over 1 million people [22]. Violent crime in Dallas was also ranked #1 during the same time period, though the crime was centered mainly around the city's expressways and run-down apartment complexes. Murders peaked at 500 in 1991. It then fluctuated from 227 in 2000 to 240 in 2001, 196 in 2002, 223 in 2003, 275 in 2004 [23], and finally 198 in 2005, the lowest in recent years. [edit]
Culture Pedestrians in downtown Enlarge Pedestrians in downtown
Main article: Culture of Dallas, Texas
See also: People of Dallas, Texas and Facts on Dallas, Texas
The people of Dallas, Dallasites, are stereotypically proud, cosmopolitan, and sophisticated. The city itself has historically been white but has diversified over the past century. The city is a major destination for Mexican immigrants seeking opportunity in the United States while staying close to their home in Mexico. For the most part, the southwest area of the city is predominantly Hispanic, the southern and southeastern area of the city is predominantly black, the northern part of the city is predominantly white and the northwestern portion of the city is Hispanic and Asian. These definitions are of course quite generalized, and the city boasts a high degree of diversity in all of its neighborhoods.
On average, Dallasites eat out about four times every week, which is the third highest rate in the country; Dallas has twice as many restaurants per capita than New York City. Dallasites are very fond of their local sports teams especially "America's Team," the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys-- five time Super Bowl champions-- are well loved by locals, even during losing seasons, and even if another local team is a leader in its sport. Sports calendars and other memorabilia are very common, and on Sundays people tend to watch sports games on television. [edit]
Arts The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District Enlarge The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District
Dallas is the epicenter of the North Texas region's art scene. Some areas known especially for the local art and culture include:
The Arts District of downtown is home to several arts venues, both existing and proposed. Notable venues in the district include the Dallas Museum of Art, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, The Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and nearby The Dallas Contemporary. Venues currently under construction or planned include the Winspear Opera House and the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts. The district is also home to DISD's Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, which is currently being expanded [24].
Deep Ellum originally became popular during the 1920s and 1930s as the prime jazz and blues hotspot in the south. Artists such as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter, and Bessie Smith played in original Deep Ellum clubs like The Harlem and The Palace. Today, Deep Ellum is home to hundreds of artists who live in lofts and operate in studios throughout the district alongside bars, pubs, and concert venues. One major art infusion in the area is the city's lax stance on graffiti, thusly several public ways including tunnels, sides of buildings, sidewalks, and streets are covered in murals.
The Cedars is home to a growing population of studio artists and an expanding host of entertainment venues as well. The area's art scene began to grow in the early 2000s with the opening of Southside on Lamar, a Sears warehouse converted into lofts, studios, and retail. Current attractions include Gilley's Dallas and Poor David's Pub. Entrepreneur Mark Cuban recently purchased land in the area near Cedars Station, and locals speculate that he is planning an entertainment complex [25].
The Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff is home to a growing number of studio artists living in converted warehouses. Walls of buildings along alleyways and streets are painted with murals and the surrounding district is home to many eclectic restaurants and shops. [edit]
Media
Dallas has a significant number of local newspapers, magazines, television stations and radio stations that serve the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex as a whole, which is one of the largest media markets in the United States.
Dallas has a daily newspaper, The Dallas Morning News, which was founded in 1885 by A. H. Belo and is Belo Corp's flagship newspaper. The Dallas Times Herald, started in 1888, was the Morning News's major competitor until Belo purchased the paper on 8 December 1991 and closed the paper down the next day. Other daily papers that operate currently are Al Día, a Spanish-language paper, and Quick, a free, summary-style version of The News, both put out by Belo.
Other significant paper-publications include the Dallas Observer, an alternative weekly newspaper, and D Magazine, a monthly magazine about business, life, and entertainment in the metroplex.
Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation (HBC), the largest company in the Spanish language radio station business was based in Dallas. In 2003, HBC was acquired by Univision and became Univision Radio Inc. But the radio company's headquarters remains in Dallas.
The Dallas area also has a station from every major television broadcasting network — KDFW 4 (FOX), KXAS 5 (NBC), WFAA 8 (ABC) (also owned by Belo), KTVT 11 (CBS), KERA 13 (PBS), KTXA-21 (UPN), KUVN 23 (UNI), KDAF 33 (The WB/The CW) and KXTX 39 (TMD).
Dallas is also served by a large amount of radio stations. The City of Dallas operates WRR 101.1 FM, a classical music radio station broadcast from city offices in Fair Park [26]. It was licensed in 1948 and is the oldest commercially operated radio station in Texas and the second-oldest in the United States [27], after KDKA (AM) in Pittsburgh. Because of the city's centrally-located position and lack of nearby mountainous terrain, many high-strength antennas in the city have bands that can broadcast as far off as North Dakota and can be used as emergency broadcasting antennas when broadcasting is down in other major metropolitan areas in the United States. [edit]
Religion
There is a large Protestant influence on the Dallas community. Methodist and Baptist churches are prominent in many neighborhoods and anchor the city's two major private universities. The Catholic Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe in the Arts District oversees the second largest membership in the country. There is a vibrant Mormon community, and many members of the Jewish faith have long contributed to the city. Dallas also has a significant Muslim community. Dallas is also home to the Cathedral of Hope, the largest GLBT congregation in the world [28]. [edit]
Events The Cotton Bowl main entrance Enlarge The Cotton Bowl main entrance
Dallas is home to several significant events throughout the year. Perhaps the most notable is the annual State Fair of Texas held annually at Fair Park since 1886. The fair is a massive event for the state's 22 million people and brings an estimated $350 million to the city's economy annually. The UT-OU game at the Cotton Bowl and other Cotton Bowl games also bring significant crowds to the city. Other festivals in the area include Cinco de Mayo festivities, extravagant Independence Day events, Saint Patrick's Day parades in Irish communities like Lower Greenville, and Juneteenth festivities.
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Architecture
Most of the notable architecture in Dallas is modernist and postmodernist. Iconic examples of modernist architecture include I. M. Pei's Fountain Place, the Bank of America Plaza, Renaissance Tower, and Reunion Tower. Examples of postmodernist architecture include the JPMorgan Chase Tower and Bank One Center. Several smaller structures are fashioned in the Gothic Revival and neoclassical styles. One architectural "hotbed" in the city is a stretch of homes along Swiss Avenue, which contains all shades and variants of architecture from victorian to neoclassical. Dallas skyline from the Trinity River floodplain Enlarge Dallas skyline from the Trinity River floodplain
Tallest structures in Dallas By structural height By roof height
1. Bank of America Plaza 281 m (921 ft) 2. Renaissance Tower 270 m (886 ft) 3. Bank One Center 240 m (787 ft) 4. JPMorgan Chase Tower 225 m (738 ft) 5. Fountain Place 219 m (720 ft)
1. Bank of America Plaza 281 m (921 ft) 2. Bank One Center 240 m (787 ft) 3. JPMorgan Chase Tower 225 m (738 ft) 4. Fountain Place 219 m (720 ft) 5. Renaissance Tower 216 m (710 ft)
See Also: List of buildings in Dallas, Texas [edit]
Education
Main article: Education of Dallas, Texas
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Colleges and universities
Further information: List of colleges and universities in Dallas, Texas
Dallas Hall at Dedman College at Southern Methodist University Enlarge Dallas Hall at Dedman College at Southern Methodist University
Dallas is a major center of education for much of the South Central United States. The city itself contains several universities, colleges, trade schools, and educational institutes. Several major Universities also lie in enclaves, satellite cities, and suburbs of the city, including the University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, the University of Dallas in Irving, the University of North Texas in Denton, the University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington and the Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie.
Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a private, coeducational university located in University Park, an enclave of Dallas. It was founded in 1911 by the Southern Methodist Church [29] and now enrolls 6,500 undergraduates, 1,200 professional students in the law and theology departments, and 3,500 postgraduates [30].
Dallas Baptist University (DBU) is a private, coeducational university located in the Mountain Creek area of southwestern Dallas. Originally located in Decatur, it moved to Dallas in 1965. The school currently enrolls almost 5,000 students.
Paul Quinn College is a private, historically Black college located in southeast Dallas. Originally located in Waco Texas, it moved to Dallas in 1993 and is housed on the campus of the former Bishop College, another private, historically Black college. Dallas billionaire and entrepreneur Comer Cottrell, founder of ProLine Corporation, bought the campus of Bishop College and bequeathed it to Paul Quinn College in 1993. The school enrolls 3,000 undergraduate students.
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School is a prestigious medical school located in the Stemmons Corridor of Dallas. It is part of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, again one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world. The school is highly selective, admitting around 200 students a year. The facility enrolls 3255 postgraduates. [edit]
Schools Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (DISD) in the Arts District Enlarge Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (DISD) in the Arts District
The Dallas Independent School District, which covers most of the city, is one of the largest school districts in the United States. It operates independently of the city and enrolls over 161,000 students [31]. In 2006, one of the district's magnet schools, The School for the Talented and Gifted, was named the best school in the United States (in a list of both public and private schools) by Newsweek. Another one of DISD's schools, the Science and Engineering Magnet, came in at number eight in the same survey [32].
Dallas also extends into several other school districts including Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Duncanville, Garland, Highland Park, Mesquite, Plano, and Richardson. The Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District once served portions of southern Dallas but it was shut down for the 2005-2006 year. WHISD students started attending other Dallas ISD schools during that time. Following the close, the Texas Education Agency consolidated WHISD into Dallas ISD, which will work to restructure and rebuild the WHISD system.
A governmental agency called Dallas County Schools provides transportations services and other services to the school districts in Dallas County. [edit]
Libraries
The city is served by the Dallas Public Library system. The system was originally created by the Dallas Federation of Women's Clubs with efforts spearheaded by then-president Mrs. Henry (May Dickson) Exall — Her work raising money led to a grant from philanthropist and steel baron Andrew Carnegie, which enabled the construction of the first branch in 1901 [33]. Today the library operates 22 branch locations throughout the city [34] including the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, the 8-story main branch in the Government District of downtown.
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Infrastructure [edit]
Health and medicine UT Southwestern Medical Center Enlarge UT Southwestern Medical Center
The city of Dallas has many hospitals within its bounds and a number of medical research facilities. One major research center is UT Southwestern Medical Center in the Stemmons Corridor, along with its affiliate medical school, UT Southwestern Medical School. The system includes Parkland Memorial Hospital and Children's Medical Center Dallas. The city also has a VA hospital in South Dallas, the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Other hospitals include Baylor University Medical Center in East Dallas, Central Methodist Hospital in Oak Cliff, Charlton Methodist Hospital near Duncanville, Medical City Dallas Hospital in North Dallas, and the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Oak Lawn. [edit]
Protection
Policing in Dallas is provided by the Dallas Police Department which has 2,977 officers [35]. The Dallas chief of police is David Kunkle [36]. The central police station is located in the Cedars, a South Dallas neighborhood near downtown. Fire protection in the city is provided by Dallas Fire-Rescue, which has 1,670 firefighters [35] and 55 working fire stations in the city limits [37]. The Dallas Fire & Rescue chief is Eddie Burns, Sr. [36] The department also operates the Dallas Firefighter's Museum at Dallas' oldest remaining fire station, built in 1907, along Parry Avenue near Fair Park. [edit]
Transportation
Main article: Transportation of Dallas, Texas
North Central Expressway (US 75) southbound towards downtown Dallas Enlarge North Central Expressway (US 75) southbound towards downtown Dallas
The primary mode of local transportation in the city is the automobile. Efforts to diversify including the construction of light rail lines, biking and walking paths, wider sidewalks, and more efficient public transportation are currently major priorities of the city and its residents. The city is much like other United States cities developed primarily in the late 20th century — criss-crossed by a vast network of highways which has led to and contributes to Dallas being a very low-density city.
The city of Dallas is at the confluence of a large number of major interstate highways — Interstates 20, 30, 35E, and 45 all run through the city. The city's freeway system, as it has no major geographical inhibitors surrounding it, is set up in the popular hub-and-spoke system, much like a wagon wheel. Starting from downtown Dallas, there is the main downtown freeway loop, Interstate 635/20 Lyndon B. Johnson loop, and ultimately the tolled President George Bush Turnpike. Inside these freeway loops are other partially-limited-access and parkway-style loops including Loop 12 and Belt Line Road. Another beltway around the city is planned upwards of 46.50 miles (70 km) from downtown in Collin County. Radiating out of downtown as the spokes of the system are Interstates 30, 35E, and 45, US 75, US 175, TX Spur 366, the tolled Dallas North Tollway, and further out TX 114, US 80 and US 67. Other major highways within the city that do not serve primarily as spokes include TX 183 and TX Spur 408. Passengers at White Rock Station on DART's Blue Line Enlarge Passengers at White Rock Station on DART's Blue Line
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is the Dallas area public transportation authority, providing buses, rail, and HOV lanes. DART began operating the first light rail system in the Southwest United States in 1996 and continues to expand its coverage. Currently, two light rail lines are in service. The red line goes through Oak Cliff, downtown, Uptown, North Dallas, Richardson and Plano. The blue line goes through South Dallas, downtown, Uptown, North Dallas, and Garland. The red and blue lines are conjoined in between 8th & Corinth Station in Oak Cliff and Mockingbird Station in North Dallas. The two lines service Cityplace Station, the only subway station in the Southwest.
Fort Worth's smaller public transit system, The T, connects with Dallas's via a commuter rail line, the Trinity Railway Express, connecting downtown Dallas's Union Station with downtown Fort Worth's T&P Station and several points in between. The system of light rail transit, especially through downtown, has skyrocketed land values and has sparked a residential living boom in downtown. Although the system is increasingly popular, most people in the Metroplex still choose to drive their vehicles rather than take public transportation. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport serves most passengers flying in and out of the metroplex Enlarge Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport serves most passengers flying in and out of the metroplex
Dallas is served by two commercial airports: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (known as DFW International) and Dallas Love Field. In addition, Dallas Executive Airport (formerly Redbird Airport), is a general aviation airport located within the city limits, and Addison Airport is another general aviation airport located just outside the city limits in the suburb of Addison. Two more general aviation airports are located in the outer suburb of McKinney, and on the west side of the Metroplex, two general aviation airports are located in Fort Worth.
DFW International Airport is located in the suburbs north of and equidistant to downtown Fort Worth and downtown Dallas. In terms of size, DFW is the largest airport in the state, the second largest in the United States, and third largest in the world. In terms of traffic, DFW is the busiest in the state, third busiest in the United States, and sixth busiest in the world. Love Field is located within the city limits of Dallas, 6 miles (10 km) northwest of downtown, and is headquarters to Southwest Airlines. [edit]
Utilities
Dallas is served by Dallas Water Utilities, which operates several waste treatment plants and pulls water from several area reservoirs. The city's electric system is maintained by TXU, who headquarters in the city. The city offers garbage pickup and recycling service weekly. Telephone networks are available from several companies and broadband internet and cable television service is available for the majority of the city. [edit]
Sports American Airlines Center in Victory Park Enlarge American Airlines Center in Victory Park
See also: U.S. cities with teams from four major sports
Dallas is home to the Dallas Desperados (Arena Football League), Dallas Mavericks (National Basketball Association), and Dallas Stars (National Hockey League). All three teams play at the American Airlines Center. The Major League Soccer team FC Dallas, formerly the Dallas Burn, used to play in the Cotton Bowl but moved to the recently constructed Pizza Hut Park in Frisco in 2005. The college football game, aptly named the Cotton Bowl is still played there, however. The Dallas Sidekicks, a former team of the Major Indoor Soccer League, used to play in Reunion Arena. The Texas Tornado, two time defending champions of the North American Hockey League, play at the Deja Blue Arena in Frisco.
Nearby Irving is home to the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League while Arlington is home to the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball.
Other teams in the Dallas area include the Dallas Harlequins of the USA Rugby Super League, and the Frisco RoughRiders of Minor League Baseball in Frisco. The Dallas Diamonds, a Women's Professional Football League Women's American football team, plays in North Richland Hills. McKinney is home to the Dallas Revolution, an Independent Women's Football League Women's American football team. [edit]
Recreation
The city of Dallas operates 406 parks on 21,000 acres (8,500 ha) of parkland. There are also 17 separate lakes within the city spanning 4,400 acres (1,780 ha), 61.6 miles (99 km) of bike & jogging trails, 47 recreation centers, 276 sports fields, 258 tennis courts, 60 swimming pools, and 6 18-hole golf courses [35]. [edit]
Sister cities
Dallas has seven sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):
Dallas also maintains a friendship city relationship with Sendai (Japan), although it is not recognized by Sister Cities International. [edit]
See also
* List of mayors of Dallas * List of movies set in Dallas * List of newspapers in Dallas * List of radio stations in Texas * List of television stations in Texas
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References
1. ^ U.S. Census Bureau - Population Estimates of Incorporated Places - Texas 2. ^ United Nations World Urbanization Prospects 3. ^ U.S. Census Bureau - Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas 4. ^ 2006 NCTCOG Population Estimates (PDF). 5. ^ 2006 Population Estimates from NCTCOG (PDF) - See Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area for differences in 12 and 16 county region. 6. ^ a b Handbook of Texas Online - DALLAS, TX. Retrieved 21 February 2006. 7. ^ Dallasarboretum.org - General Info. Retrieved 17 April 2006. 8. ^ Lake Ray Hubbard - the Hook! Guide to Lone Star Lakes and Lunkers. Retrieved 17 April 2006. 9. ^ Navail Air Station Dallas - Author: David Weber. Retrieved 3 May 2006. 10. ^ The Dallas Morning News - 18 May 2005. Foes say North Lake development a threat to lifestyle by Eric Aasen. (Original Location of article.) Retrieved 7 April 2006. 11. ^ NOAA - DFW Climate. Retrieved 26 March 2006. 12. ^ TXDOT - Wildflower Facts. Retrieved 26 March 2006. 13. ^ Stormtrack.org - APRIL 2, 1957: DALLAS' DATE WITH DISASTER. Retrieved 17 April 2006. 14. ^ Kenuhl.com - Personal Account of tornado. Retrieved 17 April 2006. 15. ^ Lungusa.com. Retrieved 2 March 2006. 16. ^ Downwindersatrisk.org - Polluion in Midlothian. Retrieved 17 April 2006. 17. ^ Weather.com - Climatology Graph - Dallas, Texas, United States. Applies to following table as well. Retrieved 28 March 2006. 18. ^ Telecom Corridor website. Retrieved 21 February 2006. 19. ^ Visit Dallas.com - Shopping in Dallas. (PDF) Retrieved 29 March 2006. 20. ^ a b City of Dallas FY05-06 Adopted Budget Overview. (PDF) Retrieved 9 May 2006. 21. ^ City of Dallas FY03-04 Adopted Budget Overview. (PDF) Retrieved 9 May 2006. 22. ^ infoplease.com. The nine cities are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Antonio, and Dallas. 23. ^ AnalyzeDallas.org. Violent Crime Statistics for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Retrieved 9 February 2006. 24. ^ Artsmagnet.org. Retrieved 20 April 2006. 25. ^ The Dallas Morning News - 6 September 2005. Mark Cuban snaps up tracts near downtown by Steve Brown. Retrieved 20 April 2006. 26. ^ Dallas' Fair Park Newsletter. Retrieved 9 May 2006. 27. ^ WRR Classical 101.1 FM: The First Radio Station In Texas, est. 1921 - About WRR. Retrieved 9 May 2006. 28. ^ Cathedralofhope.com - History. Retrieved 17 April 2006. 29. ^ SMU.edu - Facts About SMU History. Retrieved 9 May 2006. 30. ^ SMU.edu - Facts About Demographics. Retrieved 9 May 2006. 31. ^ DallasISD.org - Inside DISD. Retrieved 1 May 2006. 32. ^ Newsweek America's Best High Schools - MSNBC.com. Retrieved 1 May 2006. 33. ^ DallasLibrary.org - History. Retrieved 1 May 2006. 34. ^ DallasLibrary.org. Retrieved 13 March 2006. 35. ^ a b c DallasCityHall.org - All About Dallas. Retrieved 4 May 2006. 36. ^ a b DallasCityHall.org - Government. Retrieved 7 May 2006. 37. ^ Dallas Fire-Rescue - Station List - Note stations 40 and 50 do not exist, thus listing of 57-2 = 55. Retrieved 4 May 2006.
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Further reading
1. Herbert E. Bolton, "Athanase de Mezieres and the Louisiana-Texas Frontier 1768-1780," Cleveland: Arthur H Clark Company, 1914. 2. John William Rogers, "The Lusty Texans of Dallas " E P Dutton, 1951
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External links Find more information on Dallas by searching Wikipedia's sister projects:
Dictionary definitions from Wiktionary Textbooks from Wikibooks Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Images and media from Commons News stories from Wikinews
* Official City Website * Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau * Dallas Historical Society (including message board) * Dallas Historical Society photographs hosted by the Portal to Texas History * Dallas Fort Worth Metropolis * Dallas Public Library * Dallas Independent School District * Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) * North Texas Tollway Authority * Dallas Children's Museum * Dallas Museum of Art * The Dallas Center for Contemporary Art * Dallas Police * Dallas Civilian Employees * The Handbook of Texas Online: Dallas, Texas * Dallas Housing Statistics * USGS Elevation data
Coordinates: 32.799528° N -96.787166° E
* Maps and aerial photos o Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps o Topographic map from TopoZone o Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA o Satellite image from Google Maps or Windows Live Local
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Official flag of Chicago, Illinois Flag Official seal of Chicago, Illinois Seal Nickname: "The Windy City" Motto: "Urbs In Horto" (Latin: "City in a Garden"), "I Will" Official website: http://egov.cityofchicago.org... Location Location of Chicago, Illinois Location in Chicagoland Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area Total 234.0 sq mi (606.2 km²) Land 227.1 sq mi (588.3 km²) Water 6.9 sq mi (17.9 km²) Population (2004) City proper 2,862,244 Density 12,604 /sq mi (4,867 /km²) Urban area 8,711,000 Metro area 9,750,000 (2006)[9] Coordinates 41°54′00&Prime ; N 87°39′00″ W Elevation 587 ft (179 m) Time zone CST (UTC-6) Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5) Founded 1795 Incorporated 1837
"Chicago" redirects here. For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation).
Chicago, Illinois is a city in the Midwestern state of Illinois, in the United States of America.
Chicago (help·info), known as the "Second City," the "Windy City," the "City of Big Shoulders," and "Chi-town," (and other nicknames) is the third most populous city in the United States, following New York City and Los Angeles. Chicago is located along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. When combined with its suburbs and nine surrounding counties in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana, the greater metropolitan area known as Chicagoland encompasses a population of nearly 10 million people.
Growing from its 1833 founding as a frontier town of the Old Northwest into one of the world's premier cities, Chicago is ranked as one of 10 "Alpha" (most influential) world cities by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group & Network. Chicago was the site of the world's first skyscraper, and today is the architectural, financial, and cultural capital of the Midwest and transportation center of the country, with more rail lines and interstates radiating from the city than any other city in the country. Chicago is third in the country behind Las Vegas and Orlando in the number of conventions hosted annually. The city has long been known around the world as a financial, industrial, and transportation center and for its ethnic diversity. Chicago's skyscrapers, local cuisine, political traditions, and sports teams are some of its most recognized symbols. A variety of colloquial nicknames reflect Chicago's unique character.
A resident of Chicago is referred to as a Chicagoan. There is some ambiguity regarding the suburbs - some residents call themselves "Chicagoans" and identify with the central city, while others rarely deal with or visit the central city. Typically, residents of Chicago will identify themselves with one of the many neighborhoods of Chicago. About one-third of central-city Chicagoans are Caucasian, another third African American, around a quarter Hispanic and one-twentieth Asian, with small amounts of other groups filling in the remainder. Chicago also has several dozen distinct neighborhoods to match its ethnic diversity; the city is divided into 77 official community areas.
Origin of name
The indigenous Potawatomi tribe called the marshes on which Chicago was later built "Checagou," which translates to "wild onion" or "garlic" (also referred to as "skunk cabbage"). [1] This name was transferred by European explorers to the Chicago River, and then by settlers to the name of the city. Before Chicago's founding, the name of the river was spelled several ways, such as "Chetagu" or "Shikago".[citation needed]
The origin of Chicago's nickname as "The Windy City" is debated and has many possible politically-motivated origins (see List of nicknames for Chicago). The most common explanation is that the phrase was created by New York newspapers in the 1880s, during a national debate over which city would host the 1893 World's Fair. However, the Chicago citizenry turned the intended slur into a compliment of the city's new life and vitality following a quick recovery from the previous decade's Great Chicago Fire. Hence the name remains in common usage. However, there has been evidence that the term Windy City had been in use prior to this common explanation. See Windy City, Origin of Name (Chicago) for a more thorough discussion. [edit]
History
Main article: History of Chicago
The Home Insurance Building in Chicago, the world's first skyscraper. Enlarge The Home Insurance Building in Chicago, the world's first skyscraper.
During the mid-1700s, the Chicago area was inhabited primarily by Potawatomis, who took the place of the Miami and Sauk and Fox. The first non-native settler in Chicago was Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable, a Haitian of African descent, who arrived in the 1770s, married a Potawatomi woman, and founded the area's first trading post. In 1803, the U.S. Army built Fort Dearborn; in 1812 it was destroyed in the Fort Dearborn Massacre. The Ottawa, Ojibwa, and Potawatomi then ceded the land to the United States in the 1816 Treaty with the Ottawa, etc. [edit]
Incorporation and growth
On August 12, 1833, the Town of Chicago organized with a population of 350. Within seven years a flood of new arrivals from New England and other points east gave the town a population of over 4,000. Chicago incorporated on March 4, 1837 when the State of Illinois granted Chicago a city charter. Thus began the next step in what would become massive early growth. Many factors contributed to that growth but early on the most important aspects could be attributed to Chicago's geographic proximity in an expanding nation. The city was the logical transportation link between eastern and western United States, using the Great Lakes and the river systems, and (after 1850) the railroads. The opening of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1848 allowed shipping from the Great Lakes through Chicago to the Mississippi River. The first rail line to Chicago, the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, was completed the same year. These projects foreshadowed Chicago's eventual development into the transportation hub of the United States. Chicago, looking North from State and Washington Streets Enlarge Chicago, looking North from State and Washington Streets
The geography of Chicago presented early citizens with many problems, including transportation and sewage. These problems were rectified by several large public works projects.
The 1860 Republican National Convention in Chicago nominated home-state candidate Abraham Lincoln for U.S. president, and was the first of twenty-five in the city.
The city was the site of the now famous Haymarket Riot on May 4, 1886 which was a culmination of a strike at the McCormick reaper plant. A bomb was set off in the crowd, killing one police officer. Eventually eight men were tried and convicted for the crime in what many consider a fixed trial. These events would be a catalyst in the American labor movement as well as the inspiration for May Day events around the world.
In 1840, Chicago was the ninety-second most populous city in the United States. It population grew so rapidly that twenty years later, it was the ninth most populous city in the country. Thirty years after that it had grown to become the nation's second largest city, and one of the largest cities in the world. [edit]
Great Chicago Fire
Main article: Great Chicago Fire
In 1871, most of the city burned in the Great Chicago Fire. By this time the city had a population of over 300,000. Due to the fire much of the city needed to be rebuilt; this gave city planners a clean slate to fix the problems of the past. In the following years, Chicago architecture would become influential throughout the world. The first skyscraper in the world was constructed in 1885 using novel steel-skeleton construction. The architecture, however, was not the only aspect of Chicago that flourished after the fire. The rebuilding kickstarted the metabolism of business in the city, and contributed to the economic prosperity of the last 135 years.
Other tragic fires have plagued Chicago. 602 persons died in the Iroquois Theater fire in 1903. The LaSalle Hotel fire in 1946 claimed the lives of 61 guests. In 1958 a Roman Catholic elementary school, Our Lady of the Angels, burned 18 minutes before the end of the school day, killing 92 children and three teaching nuns. [edit]
20th century State Street circa 1907 Enlarge State Street circa 1907
Lake Michigan — the primary source of fresh water for the city — was already highly polluted from the rapidly growing industries in and around Chicago, a new way of obtaining clean water was needed. The city embarked on a large tunnel excavation project and began building tunnels below Lake Michigan to newly built water cribs. The water cribs were two miles (3 km) off the shore of Lake Michigan. The cribs failed to bring enough clean water because spring rains would wash the polluted water from the Chicago River into them. In 1900 this problem was solved by reversing the direction of the River's flow with the construction of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal leading to the Illinois River. Fifteen years later, the Eastland, a large passenger ship, capsized in the river and sank with 841 deaths.
The 1920s brought international notoriety to Chicago as gangsters, such as Al Capone, battled each other and the law during the Prohibition era. Nevertheless, this decade also saw a large increase in industry in the city as well as the first arrivals of the Great Migration that would lead thousands of mostly Southern blacks to Chicago and other Northern cities.
On December 2, 1942, the world's first controlled nuclear reaction was conducted at the University of Chicago as part of the top secret Manhattan Project. Picasso sculpture in Chicago, Illinois - the sculptor refused to be paid the $100,000 fee due him and donated it to the people of Chicago Enlarge Picasso sculpture in Chicago, Illinois - the sculptor refused to be paid the $100,000 fee due him and donated it to the people of Chicago
Mayor Richard J. Daley was elected in 1955, in the era of so-called machine politics. During Daley's tenure the 1968 Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago, four major expressways were built, McCormick Place (the nation's busiest convention hall) was constructed, the Sears Tower became the world's tallest building and O'Hare Airport (which later became the world's busiest airport) was constructed. 1979 saw the election of the city's first female mayor, Jane Byrne. Four years later in 1983, Harold Washington became the first African American to be elected to the office of mayor. Richard M. Daley, son of Richard J. Daley, became mayor in 1989. One new development under the younger Daley has sparked debate, the destruction of the city's vast public housing projects. New projects during young Daley's administration have been making world headlines building Chicago larger, environmentally friendly, and more accessible. With a new skyline to form in 2009, the city is growing faster with a denser atmosphere and a more breathable one as well. The park district, which is committed to the biodiversity recovery plan, is set to restore damaged natural areas of the city as well as creating new ones. If the city runs out of ground they are still creating new ways to plant a tree by creating rooftop gardens on most flattop skyscrapers. [2]
Starting in the 1950s, many upper- and middle-class citizens left the inner-city of Chicago for the suburbs, and the city itself shrank by nearly 700,000, leaving many impoverished neighborhoods in their wake. However, since the early 1990s, Chicago has seen a turnaround from the decline common to American cities following World War II. Many formerly abandoned neighborhoods are starting to show new life and the city's diversity has grown with larger percentages of ethnic groups such as Asians and Hispanics. In the 1990s alone, Chicago gained 113,000 new inhabitants. The skyline of Chicago at sunset. Enlarge The skyline of Chicago at sunset. [edit]
Geography
Main article: Geography of Chicago
USGS Landsat Image Enlarge USGS Landsat Image
Chicago is located in northeastern Illinois at the southwestern tip of Lake Michigan, its official Latitude/Longitude is 41°53′0″N , 87°39′0″W . It sits on the continental divide, at the site of the Chicago Portage, connecting the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes watersheds. When Chicago was founded in the 1830s most of the early building began around the mouth of the Chicago River. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Chicago has a total area of 234.0 square miles (606.1 km²), of which 227.1 square miles (588.3 km²) is land and 6.9 square miles (17.8 km²) is water. The total area is 2.94% water. The city has been built on relatively flat land; the average elevation of land is 579 feet (176 m) above sea level. The lowest points are along the lake shore at 577 feet (176 m). The highest point at 735 feet (224 m) is in the landfill on the city's far south side (41°39′18&Prime ;N, 87°34′44″ W). The highest naturally occurring point is near 95th street and Western Avenue at 666 feet (203 m). The city lies beside Lake Michigan and two rivers, the Chicago in downtown and the Calumet in the industrial far South Side, entirely or partially flow through Chicago. The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal connects the Chicago River with the Des Plaines River, which runs to the west of the city. [edit]
Climate
Main article: Climate of Chicago, Illinois
Chicago in winter Enlarge Chicago in winter
Chicago, like much of the Midwest, has a climate that is prone to variable weather. The city experiences four distinct seasons. In July, the warmest month, high temperatures average 84 °F (29 °C) and low temperatures 63 °F (17 °C). In January, the coldest month, high temperatures average 29 °F (−2 °C) with low temperatures averaging 13 °F (−11 °C).
Chicago's yearly precipitation averages about 38 inches (965 mm). Summer is the rainiest season, with short-lived rainfall and thunderstorms more common than prolonged rainy periods [3]. Winter is the driest season, with most of the precipitation falling as snow.
Month [4] Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Avg high °F (°C) 32°F (0°C) 38°F (3°C) 47°F (8°C) 59°F (15°C) 70°F (19°C) 80°F (27°C) 84°F (29°C) 83°F (28°C) 76°F (24°C) 64°F (18°C) 49°F (9°C) 37°F (3°C) 60°F (16°C) Avg low temperature °F (°C) 18°F (−8°C) 24°F (−4°C) 32°F (0°C) 42°F (6°C) 51°F (11°C) 61°F (16°C) 66°F (19°C) 65°F (18°C) 57°F (14°C) 46°F (8°C) 35°F (2°C) 24°F (−4°C) 43°F (6°C) Rainfall in. (mm) 2.2" (55mm) 1.8" (45mm) 3.0" (77mm) 3.7" (93mm) 3.7" (94mm) 4.3" (109mm) 3.7" (94mm) 3.9" (98mm) 3.2" (82mm) 2.7" (69mm) 3.3" (84mm) 2.7" (67mm) 38.0" (965mm) [edit]
Geology
Since the first recorded earthquake in 1804 [5], Chicago has occasionally experienced earthquakes. More recently, an earthquake with an epicenter in Ottawa, Illinois registering about 4.3 on the Richter scale shook some buildings in Chicago on June 28, 2004. This earthquake sparked worries that the New Madrid fault might become active again. An earthquake of 6 or higher in the Missouri Fault might cause moderate to high damage in Chicago. [edit]
Law and government
Main article: Law and government of Chicago
Chicago is the largest city and the county seat of Cook County. The government of the City of Chicago is divided into executive and legislative branches. The mayor is the chief executive, elected by general election for a term of four years. The mayor appoints commissioners and other officials who oversee the various departments. The current mayor is Richard M. Daley, a Democrat. In addition to the mayor, Chicago's two other citywide elected officials are the clerk and the treasurer. The City Council is the legislative branch and is made up of 50 aldermen, one elected from each ward in the city. The council enacts local ordinances and approves the city budget. Government priorities and activities are established in a budget ordinance usually adopted each November. The council takes official action through the passage of ordinances and resolutions. [edit]
Politics
For much of the last century, Chicago has been among the largest and most reliable Democratic strongholds in the United States. The citizens of Chicago have not elected a Republican mayor since 1927, when William Thompson was voted into office. Today, only one alderman is Republican. Former Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley's mastery of machine politics preserved the Chicago Democratic Machine long after the demise of similar machines in other large American cities. The city is also well known for corruption in many levels of government, a typical example being the Hired Trucking Scandal.
Chicago's politics lean famously to the left compared to the rest of the Midwest, and it is often said that Chicago is the "East Coast" of the Midwest. Social liberalism is strong in the city, with a strong majority of Chicagoans supporting welfare programs. In 2004, Mayor Richard M. Daley rejected a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage in the city. The issue was controversial especially in Illinois, since the state is arguably the most varied in terms of liberal urban areas vs conservative rural areas. In partisan elections, such as for the State Legislature and U.S. Congress, most elections are won by Democrats, and the landslide election of Barack Obama to the U.S. Senate in 2004 was considerably helped by his tremendous vote totals in Chicago. In 2006, Chicago enacted the first effective ban on foie gras in the U.S., due to concerns of animal cruelty. [edit]
Law enforcement CPD Officers making an arrest. Enlarge CPD Officers making an arrest.
The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, under the jurisdiction of the mayor. It is the second largest police department in the nation (with 13,619 sworn officers and 2,625 other employees covering 227 square miles as of 2003), and one of the oldest organized police forces in the world.
There are twenty-five police districts, each led by a commander. Each commander oversees a network of administrative and operational departments that include patrol officers, detective forces, and other investigative units. Commanders report to the superintendent of police who in turn is subject to the authority of the mayor of Chicago. [edit]
Crime
Despite its prosperity and reputation as a world-class city, Chicago's crime situation in the latter half of the 20th century, and the early years of the 21st, has often been poor. In addition to its gangland problems, starting in the late 1960s, Chicago, like many other major American cities, saw a major rise in violent crime that took decades to reverse. Murders in the city peaked first in 1974, with 970 murders for the year when the city's population was over three million, resulting in a murder rate of around 28.8 per 100,000; and again in 1992, with 943 murders for the year when the city had fewer than three million people, resulting in a murder rate of 33.87 per 100,000. Following 1992, the murder count slowly petered down to 703 by 1999; by this time, it had the most murders of any big city in the country and continued to until 2004. That year, after adopting crime-fighting techniques recommended by the New York Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department, Chicago recorded 448 homicides, the lowest total since 1965. Despite the impressive gains, the city's murder rate of 15.65 (going by the 2004 population estimate) is still significantly higher than those of New York City and Los Angeles, two other cities that were notorious for having high crime rates in general, but have experienced declines over the past decade.
Chicago has been among the first U.S. cities to build an integrated emergency response center to coordinate the city's response to terrorist attacks, gang violence, and natural disasters in the city. Built in 1995, the center is integrated with over 2000 cameras, a direct link to the National Counterterrorism Center, and communications with all levels of city government. Recently installed anti-crime cameras have been introduced and are capable of pinpointing gunshot sounds, calculating where the shots were fired, and pointing and zooming the cameras in the direction of the shots. So far early results show these new cameras to be highly effective in reducing crime within a 2 block radius. Placed in residential areas, these cameras cause some Chicagoans to feel uneasy about being so closely watched. They have prompted some calls of discrimination since these cameras are prevalent in Black and Latino communities.
The FBI often does not accept crime statistics submitted by the Chicago Police Department, which tallies data differently than other cities. For instance, the police record all criminal sexual assaults as opposed to only rape, like other police departments do; and aggravated battery is counted along with the standard category of aggravated assault. As a result, Chicago is often omitted from studies like Morgan Quitno's annual "Safest/Most Dangerous City" survey. [6] [7] [edit]
See also
* Organized crime in Chicago * Chicago City Hall * List of Chicago city departments * List of mayors of Chicago * Municipal Flag of Chicago * Chicago City Council * Chicago Police Department * Chicago Fire Department * Sister Cities of Chicago * [8] * [9] - A searchable database of crime in Chicago. * [10] - A suite of web applications designed to share crime data and facilitate cooperation between the Chicago Police Department and citizens to fight crime.
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People and culture [edit]
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Chicago
Chicago Demographics 2000 Census Data Chicago Illinois US Total population 2,896,016 12,419,293 281,421,906 Population, percent change, 1990 to 2000 +9.4% +8.6% +13.1% Population density 12,750.3/mi² 223.4 mi² 79.6/mi² Median household income (1999) $38,625 $46,590 $41,994 Per capita income (1999) $20,175 $23,104 $21,587 Bachelor's degree or higher 25.5% 26.1% 24.4% Foreign born 21.7% 12.3% 11.1% White 41.97% 73.5% 75.1% Black 36.77% 15.1% 12.3% Hispanic/Latino 26.02% 12.3% 12.5% Asian 4.35% 3.4% 3.6% City of Chicago Population by year [11] Year Population Rank 1840 4,470 92 1850 29,963 24 1860 112,172 9 1870 298,977 5 1880 503,185 4 1890 1,099,850 2 1900 1,698,575 2 1910 2,185,283 2 1920 2,701,705 2 1930 3,376,438 2 1940 3,396,808 2 1950 3,620,962 2 1960 3,550,404 2 1970 3,366,957 2 1980 3,005,072 2 1990 2,783,726 3 2000 2,896,016 3 Children playing in Chicago's Millennium Park Enlarge Children playing in Chicago's Millennium Park
People living in Chicago are called "Chicagoans." The metropolitan area is referred to as "Chicagoland," and the term "Chicagoan" is therefore also sometimes applied colloquially to those living in one of the neighboring communities.
As of the 2000 census, there were 2,896,016 people, 1,061,928 households, and 632,909 families residing in the city of Chicago proper. A 2006 estimate puts the city's population at over 3 million. This encompasses about one-fifth of the entire population of the state of Illinois and 1% of the population of the United States. The population density was 12,750.3 people per square mile (4,923.0/km²). There were 1,152,868 housing units at an average density of 5,075.8 per square mile (1,959.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 36.39% Black or African American, 31.32% White, 26.02% Hispanic or Latino, 4.33% Asian and Pacific Islander, 1.64% from two or more races, 0.15% Native American, and 0.15% from other races. For changes between the 1990 and 2000 census, see [12].
The city itself makes up 23.3% percent of the total population of Illinois, down from a high of 44.3% in 1930.
Chicago's unique culture arises from it being a melting pot, with nearly even percentages of Caucasians and African-Americans and a sizable Hispanic minority.
The main European ethnic groups in Chicago are the Irish, Germans, Italians and Polish. Chicago has a large Irish-American population on its South Side. Many of Chicago's politicians have come from this population, including current mayor Richard M. Daley. Chicago has the largest population of Swedish-Americans of any city in the US, numbering 123,000. After the Great Chicago Fire, many Swedish carpenters helped to rebuild the city, which is why it is sometimes called the city the Swedes built.
Today, Chicago has the largest ethnically Polish population outside of Poland, making it one of the most important Polonia centers. Polish food and customs have melted into the culture of the city. Chicago is also considered to be the second-largest Serbian and Lithuanian city in the world, and the third largest Greek city after Melbourne, Australia. The city also has the country's largest Assyrian population, numbering as many as 80,000 and is the location of the seat of the head of the Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Dinkha IV. It is also the location of the ELCA headquarters. [13]It has the second largest Chicano population in the U.S. behind Los Angeles.
The Chicago Metropolitan area is also becoming a major center for Indian-Americans and South Asians. Chicago has the third largest South Asian population in the country, after New York City and San Francisco. The Devon Avenue corridor on Chicago's north side is an example of this, as it is one of the largest South Asian neighborhoods in North America.
There are 1,061,928 households, of which 28.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% were married couples living together, 18.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. Of all households, 32.6% are made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.50.
Of the city population, 26.2% are under the age of 18, 11.2% are from 18 to 24, 33.4% are from 25 to 44, 18.9% are from 45 to 64, and 10.3% are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $38,625, and the median income for a family was $42,724. Males had a median income of $35,907 versus $30,536 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,175. Below the poverty line are 19.6% of the population and 16.6% of the families. Of the total population, 28.1% of those under the age of 18 and 15.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. [edit]
Museums and galleries Millennium Park Enlarge Millennium Park The Shedd Aquarium. Enlarge The Shedd Aquarium.
In 1998, the City of Chicago officially opened the Museum Campus, a 10 acre lakefront park surrounding three of the city's main museums, the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. The Museum Campus was constructed on the southern section of Grant Park. The construction project involved re-routing Lakeshore Drive to make room for the new park. Grant Park is also home to Chicago's other major downtown museum, the Art Institute of Chicago. Some other major museums and galleries of the Chicago area include:
* Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr. * Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. One of the premier art museums in the United States. Famous pieces include American Gothic by Grant Wood, and A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat. The Museum is partnered with The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. * Chicago Cultural Center ([14]), 78 E. Washington St. Built in 1897 as Chicago's first public library, the building now houses the city's Visitor Information Center, galleries, and exhibit halls. The ceiling of Preston Bradley Hall includes a 38-foot Tiffany glass dome. * Chicago History Museum * DuSable Museum of African-American History, 740 East 56th Place. Displays many artifacts of many well known African-Americans and rich history. * Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago's natural history museum. Highlights include Sue, the largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton in the world as well as a great, kids-friendly Egyptian exhibit. * Freedom Museum * Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, 1852 West 19th St., a museum dedicated to Mexican, Latino and Chicano art and culture. * Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. Art of all types from around the world made since 1945. * Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr. Highlights include the U-505 submarine and working coal mine. * Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive. Museum dedicated to ecology. It is noted for its butterfly exhibit. * Oriental Institute, part of the University of Chicago, one of the best collections of ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern archeology in the world. * Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr. Located on the Museum Campus, the Shedd Aquarium is home to a large collection of marine life from throughout the world. The Pacific Northwest–themed Oceanarium features dolphins, whales, and other animals from the region, as well as a panoramic view of Lake Michigan. This aquarium was the largest indoor aquarium in the world until the Georgia Aquarium opened in November 2005.
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Performing arts A Promotional Sign for Chicago's "Second City" Comedy Troupe. Enlarge A Promotional Sign for Chicago's "Second City" Comedy Troupe.
See also: Chicago theatre
Chicago is a well-known theater capital and the birthplace of improvisational comedy, where it remains extremely popular. The city is home to The Second City and I.O., two of the best-known comedy troupes in the world. It is also home to one of the longest running plays in the country the Neo-Futurarium's "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind" an ensemble of 30 plays in 60 minutes. Many world-famous actors and comedians are Chicagoans or came to study in the area, particularly at Northwestern University in Evanston. The form itself was invented at the University of Chicago in the 1960s by an undergraduate performance group called the Compass Players, whose members went on to found Second City. (In honor of this, Second City returns to the school on major anniversaries to perform free shows.)
Since its founding in 1976 as an ensemble effort, Steppenwolf Theatre Company on the city's north side has nurtured a generation of gifted actors, directors and playwrights and grown into an internationally renowned company of thirty-five artists. Many other theatres, from new performances spaces to landmark houses like the Chicago Theatre on State and Lake, present a wide variety of plays and musicals, both touring shows and original works, such as the premiere in December 2004 of the Tony Award winner for Best Musical in 2005, Spamalot. Notably, the Goodman Theatre and the Victory Gardens Theatre have won regional Tony Awards, along with Steppenwolf.
The Lyric Opera of Chicago was founded in 1954 and performs in the Civic Opera Building, which was built in 1929 on the east bank of the Chicago River and is the second-largest opera auditorium in North America, with 3,563 seats. The Lyric Opera purchased the Civic Opera House from the building's owner in 1993. The company has reported an average of 100% sales for the past 16 years and approximately 34,000 subscribers for its six-month season.
The Joffrey Ballet makes its home in Chicago, as do several modern and jazz dance troupes such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, River North Chicago Dance Company, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, and The Joel Hall Dancers. [edit]
Music Chicago Jazz Club Enlarge Chicago Jazz Club
Chicago has made many significant pop-cultural contributions. In the field of music, Chicago is well-known for its Chicago blues, Chicago soul, Jazz, and Gospel. It is known as the birthplace of the House style of music, whose history is related to the development and fostering of the Techno style of music in nearby Detroit. The Hip-Hop scene in Chicago is also very influential, with major artists including Kanye West, Twista, R. Kelly, Common, and Da Brat.
The rock band Chicago was named after the city, although its original name was the Chicago Transit Authority. The band's name was shortened to Chicago after the CTA threatened to sue them for unauthorized use of the original trademark.
1990s' alternative bands Local H, Eleventh Dream Day,Veruca Salt, Big Angry Fish!, The Lawrence Arms, Kill Hannah, Material Issue, Liz Phair, and The Smashing Pumpkins hail from Chicago. Contemporary rock band Wilco is also Chicago-based. The 2000s' have seen local artists Disturbed, Alkaline Trio, Chevelle, and Fall Out Boy also attain nationwide success.
Chicago's contribution to punk rock is generally not as highly regarded as cities on the coasts, but a handful of celebrated bands called the city home. The some of the more famous punk rock products of the city are Naked Raygun, The Effigies, Big Black (featuring Steve Albini), Screeching Weasel, and The Blue Meanies.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is one of the nation's oldest and most respected orchestras.
Chicago's colorful history and culture have provided inspiration for a wide variety of musical compositions. In the 19th Century, for example, the chain of events surrounding the Great Chicago Fire led Chicago resident Horatio Spafford to write the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul". [edit]
Cuisine
Chicago's signature foods reflect the city's ethnic and working-class roots. Chicago deep-dish pizza was popularized by Pizzeria Uno. It is generally accepted that it was also invented at Uno in 1943. One of the creators of this new style of pizza was Rudy Malnati. Rudy's grandson, Lou, would go on to found Lou Malnati's which is another very popular purveyor of deep dish pizza. The first Lou Malnati's Pizzeria opened on March 17, 1971. Chicago deep-dish pizza is world renowned and popular locally, although thin-crust and other styles of pizza are also popular throughout the city. In particular, Chicago pizzerias also serve stuffed pizza (a close relative of deep dish), popularized by such places as Giordano's, and a style of thin crust that is crispy, rather than floppy in the style of New York and other East Coast cities. A traditional Chicago hot dog is typically loaded with mustard, chopped onion, sliced tomato, pickle relish, celery salt, sport peppers and a dill pickle spear. It is somewhat taboo to put ketchup on a Chicago hot dog; there are actually some small hot dog shops and stands that will refuse service to you if you make the request. A Chicago hot dog is almost always made out of Vienna Beef, the largest provider of hot dog meat for Chicago. Chicago is also known for Italian Beef sandwiches and the Maxwell Street Polish (always served topped with grilled onions and mustard).
Chicago also has a long list of world-renowned upscale dining establishments serving a wide array of cuisine from some of the most well-known chefs in the United States. Some notable destinations include Frontera Grill, a gourmet Mexican restaurant owned by Food Network star Rick Bayless, and Everest, a new-French restaurant on the top floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange building downtown. Chicago also features strips of ethnic restaurants, including "Greektown" on South Halsted, "Little Italy" on Taylor street, just west of Halsted, and "Chinatown" on the near south side, to name a few. [edit]
Media and entertainment
See also: Media in Chicago
Harpo Studios, home of talk show host Oprah Winfrey. Enlarge Harpo Studios, home of talk show host Oprah Winfrey.
Chicago commands the third-largest market in North America (after New York City and Los Angeles) and as such has many different forms of media and outlets to support its status. All of the major US television networks have subsidiaries in Chicago. Chicago's local WGN-TV, which is owned by the Tribune Company, is carried (with some programming differences) as "Superstation WGN" on cable nation-wide.
There are two major daily newspapers published in Chicago, the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times, with the former having the larger circulation. There are also a number of regional and special-interest newspapers such as the Daily Southtown, the Chicago Defender, the Newcity News, the Daily Herald, StreetWise and the Chicago Reader.
Chicago Public Radio offers diverse and informative programs and is perhaps best known for producing NPR favorites This American Life and Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!.
Chicago is also the home of the Oprah Winfrey Show. [edit]
See also
* Famous Chicagoans * List of fiction set in Chicago * List of non-fiction about Chicago * List of Chicago music venues
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Economy
Main article: Economy of Chicago
Economic Profile 2000 Census Data Chicago Illinois US Manufacturers shipments, 1997 ($1000) 26,789,880 200,019,991 3,842,061,405 Wholesale trade sales, 1997 ($1000) 31,971,060 205,968,383 N/A Retail sales, 1997 ($1000) 13,882,143 176,002,177 2,460,886,012 Retail sales per capita, 1997 $4,944 $8,982 $9,190 accommodation and foodservices sales, 1997 ($1000) 4,481,917 14,826,805 N/A Total number of firms, 1997 176,605 1,809,053 N/A Minority-owned firms, percent of total, 1997 26.7% 12.5% 14.6% Women-owned firms, percent of total, 1997 27.0% 27.2% 26.0%
Chicago has been a center for commerce in the United States for most of its modern history. Today, Chicago remains the United States' second financial center with the nation's second largest central business district and third largest gross metropolitan product. In fact, Chicago's gross metropolitan product would rank 18th in the world if it were a nation-state, at approximately $380 billion.
Before it was incorporated as a town in 1833, the primary industry was the fur trade. Chicago's early explosive growth led many land speculators and enterprising individuals to the area. Situated on the Great Lakes and with so many new people settling the area, Chicago became an ideal location for shipping and receiving goods. With that, many railroads started to be built from Chicago to other parts of the country, further aiding the growth of the city. Additionally, the building of the Illinois and Michigan Canal helped move goods south down the Mississippi River. In the 1840s, Chicago became the largest grain port in the world, shipping food from the Mississippi Valley region which was also growing into the largest food-producing region in the world. In 1848, Chicago built its first grain elevator, and, in 1858 there were twelve grain elevators dotting the skyline. Carl Sandburg described Chicago as a "stacker of wheat", and some would argue that the grain elevators were Chicago's first skyscrapers. In the 1850s and 1860s Chicago's pork and beef industry exploded. Great entrepreneurs such as Uwe Boll, Gustavus Swift, and Philip Armour helped the area to become the largest producer of meat products in the world at the time. By 1862, Chicago had displaced Cincinnati, Ohio, as "Porkopolis". During the 1860s two factors helped this development: first, the Civil War increased the demand for food products, and Chicago's transportation network ensured that goods could be delivered quickly to soldiers all over the northern United States; and second, meat packing plants began to utilize ice. Before this time, meat production and distribution facilities, otherwise known as disassembly plants, had to shut down in the hot summer months. More operating months meant hundreds of thousands of new man-hours in which people could work. The efficiency of Chicago's meat packing industry and its disassembly plants inspired others such as Henry Ford when he developed Model-T assembly lines. Today, we consider industries such as steel, oil, and banking to be the great global market segments, but in the 1860s Chicago's pork and beef industry represented the first global industry. As the major meat companies grew in Chicago many, such as Armour, created global enterprises and communicated with divisions spread across the globe via telegraph. Chicago Board of Trade. Enlarge Chicago Board of Trade.
Modern-day futures and commodity trading markets were pioneered in Chicago. A number of events led to this, along with Chicago's transportation systems and geographic proximity to the rest of the country. Massive amounts of goods passed through Chicago from places in the Mississippi Valley such as St. Louis, Missouri. Grain was stored in Chicago, and people began buying contracts on it. Later, people as far away as New York City began buying contracts by telegraph on the goods that would be stored in Chicago in the future. From this were established the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), and the modern systems we use today for futures and commodity trading.
Chicago, and its surrounding suburbs, are home to the second largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the United States. The greater Chicago area hosts 31 members of the Fortune 500. The city of Chicago is home to 11 Fortune 500 companies, while the metropolitan area hosts a total of 21 members of the Fortune 500. Chicago also hosts 12 Fortune Global 500 companies and 17 Financial Times 500 companies.
Chicago, and its surrounding metropolitan area, are also home to the second largest labor pool in the United States numbering approximately 4.25 million workers. [edit]
See also
* Chicago Climate Exchange * List of major companies in Chicagoland
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Education [edit]
Public education
The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the school district that controls over 600 public elementary and high schools in Chicago. It is currently the third largest school district in the United States, with more 400,000 students enrolled in the school district and is led by CEO Arne Duncan. The CPS also includes a number of selective-admission magnet schools, such as Whitney Young Magnet High School, William Jones College Prep, Walter Payton College Prep, Lane Tech College Prep, and Northside College Preparatory High School.
Like many urban U.S. school districts, CPS suffered with a number of problems throughout the latter half of the 20th century, including overcrowding, underfunding, mismanagement and a high dropout rate. In 1987, then U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett named the Chicago Public Schools as the "worst in the nation." A number of school reform initiatives have since been undertaken to improve the system's performance. Reforms have included a system of Local School Councils, Charter Schools, efforts to end social promotion and others. An aerial view of the University of Chicago shows the skyline of downtown Chicago (including the Sears Tower) clearly visible in the background. Enlarge An aerial view of the University of Chicago shows the skyline of downtown Chicago (including the Sears Tower) clearly visible in the background. [edit]
Higher education
Main article: Colleges and universities of Chicago
Chicago is home to many institutions of higher education within its city limits and nearby environs, though even if some of these institutions are primarily located on the out of central Chicago, many of them have downtown branches as well. The city is home to two of America's leading universities, the University of Chicago in Hyde Park on the near South Side and Northwestern University in nearby northside suburb Evanston. Both maintain campuses near the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago. The Illinois Institute of Technology in Bronzeville has notable engineering and architecture programs, notable for its campus being designed by Mies van der Rohe, in addition to being easily accessed by the Green Line of the CTA.
The city is also home to several honored Catholic universities, including Loyola University, with campuses in Rogers Park, Edgewater and Water Tower Place, and DePaul University, which is the largest Catholic university in the United States and the largest private institution in Chicago, with campuses in Lincoln Park and the Loop.
The Chicago region boasts 12 accredited theological schools representing Catholic and most mainline Protestant traditions. Those in Chicago are the United Church of Christ-related Chicago Theological Seminary (which is the city's oldest institution of higher education), Presbyterian-related McCormick Theological Seminary, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Unitarian-Universalist-re lated Meadville Lombard Theological School, the Catholic Theological Union, and the Evangelical Covenant Church related North Park Theological Seminary. These and the other accredited seminaries in the region are joined in a consortium known as the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS). [15] The well-known evangelical/fundamentalis t Moody Bible Institute is near downtown Chicago.
The Chicago campus of the University of Illinois system, the University of Illinois at Chicago, is the city's largest university and one of the nation's largest urban public universities. Other state universities in Chicago include Chicago State University and Northeastern Illinois University. In addition, the city also has a large community college system known as the City Colleges of Chicago.
A number of smaller colleges are known for fine arts education, including Roosevelt University, Columbia College Chicago, and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago; annually, the latter ranks alongside the Rhode Island School of Design and Yale University as having the best graduate and undergraduate level arts programs in the country.
Dominican University, recognized for its accredited library and information science graduate program, is located just outside Chicago in River Forest, but many of the library courses are taught at the Chicago Public Library's main Harold Washington building in the Loop. [edit]
Sports New Comiskey Park, now known as U.S. Cellular Field on Chicago's South Side. Home of the 2005 Champion Chicago White Sox. Enlarge New Comiskey Park, now known as U.S. Cellular Field on Chicago's South Side. Home of the 2005 Champion Chicago White Sox.
Chicago is the home to 15 different pro athletic teams and is one of three U.S. cities that has two Major League Baseball teams (Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs), a National Football League team (Chicago Bears), a Major League Soccer team (Chicago Fire), a National Basketball Association team (Chicago Bulls), a Women's National Basketball Association team (Chicago Sky) and a National Hockey League team (Chicago Blackhawks). Chicago also has an American Hockey League team (Chicago Wolves), an Arena Football League team (Chicago Rush), a Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) team (Chicago Storm), a Major League Lacrosse team (Chicago Machine, which will begin play in 2006), a National Lacrosse League team (Chicago Shamrox), a National Pro Fastpitch softball team (Chicago Bandits), an Independent Women's Football League (IWFL) team (Chicago Force), and an American Basketball Association (ABA) team (Chicago Rockstars).
The Chicago Cubs of the National League play in the second-oldest major league stadium, Wrigley Field, located in the north side neighborhood of Lakeview. The Cubs are famous as "lovable losers" whose fans are nevertheless famously dedicated. The Cubs are the oldest team to play continuously in the same city since the formation of the National League in 1876.
The Chicago White Sox of the American League won the World Series championship in 2005, their first since 1917. Police estimated 1.75 million fans turned out to cheer on the victory parade. U.S. Cellular Field, or The Cell, is located on the city's south side on the corner of 35th and Shields; built in 1990 and originally known as New Comiskey Park, it is across the street from the original Comiskey Park, where the White Sox played from 1910 to 1990.
The Chicago Bears football team has had some of the best-loved and most famous NFL personalities, including owner George Halas, players Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Jim McMahon, William "Refrigerator" Perry, the legendary Walter Payton, and coach Mike Ditka. The Bears play in Soldier Field on the city's lakefront. In 1985 the Bears went 15-1, dominated the playoffs, and dismantled the Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.
The Chicago Bulls of the NBA are one of the most recognized basketball team in the world, thanks to the heroics of a player often cited as the best ever, Michael Jordan, who led the team to six NBA championships in eight seasons in the 1990s.
The Chicago Fire soccer club are members of MLS and are one of the league's most successful and best-supported since its founding in 1997, winning one league and three US Open Cups in that timespan. After eight years at Soldier Field, they will begin play at the new Toyota Park at 71st and Harlem Avenue in Summer 2006.
The city is currently bidding for the 2016 Summer Olympics, where it is considered the strongest contender among American cities. Club Sport League Stadium Website Chicago Bandits Womens Pro Softball National Pro Fastpitch Benedictine University Sports Complex softball Stadium League Team Chicago Bears Football National Football League Soldier Field League Team Chicago Blackhawks Hockey National Hockey League United Center League Team Chicago Bulls Basketball National Basketball Association United Center League Team Chicago Cubs Baseball Major League Baseball-National League Wrigley Field League Team Chicago Fire Soccer Major League Soccer Toyota Park League Team Chicago Force Women's Football Independent Women's Football League Lane Stadium at Lane Technical College Prep High School League Team Chicago Machine Lacrosse Major League Lacrosse Benedictine University League Team Chicago Rockstars Basketball ABA:White Conference Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center League Team Chicago Rush Arena Football Arena Football League Allstate Arena League Team Chicago Shamrox Indoor Lacrosse National Lacrosse League Sears Centre League Team Chicago Sky Basketball Women's National Basketball Association UIC Pavilion League Team Chicago Storm Indoor Soccer Major Indoor Soccer League UIC Pavilion League Team Chicago White Sox Baseball Major League Baseball-American League U.S. Cellular Field (New Comiskey Park) League Team Chicago Wolves Hockey American Hockey League Allstate Arena League Team
Related topics
* 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago * Arlington Park * Chicago Motor Speedway * Chicago Blitz * Chicago Enforcers * Chicago Bruisers * Windy City Rollers
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Transportation In the Great Room at Union Station. Enlarge In the Great Room at Union Station.
Chicago is considered to be the premier transportation hub in America. Much of this status stems from its geographic proximity during a time when the United States was growing quickly in population and area. The Illinois and Michigan Canal, completed in 1848, allowed for transportation around the world with connecting waterways through Chicago all the way to New York and the Atlantic Ocean, west to St. Louis, and south to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. Chicago then became one of the largest grain and lumber ports in the world, with grain being sent to more established populations and lumber being sent to the forest-starved prairies where new settlers needed to build. Even today, Chicago's importance in global distribution remains, as it is the third largest inter-modal port in the world after Hong Kong and Singapore. [edit]
Streets and highways
Main article: Streets and highways of Chicago
The streets of Chicago primarily follow the grid system established by the Chicago City Council in 1908 and implemented on September 1, 1909. The baselines for numbering streets and buildings are State Street (east-west numbering) and Madison (north-south numbering). Street numbers begin at "1" at the baselines and run numerically in directions indicated to the city limits. Letters, N, S,E and W indicate directions. The Lake Shore Drive (LSD) Bridge over the Chicago River. Enlarge The Lake Shore Drive (LSD) Bridge over the Chicago River.
The City of Chicago is divided into one-mile sections which contain eight blocks to the mile (though the street grid is not entirely uniform). Each block's addresses occupy a 100-number range, making a range of 800 address numbers cover approximately one mile. There are three exceptions to the 800-to-a-mile rule: Madison (the north-south zero point) to Roosevelt at 1200 south is one mile, as is Roosevelt to Cermak at 2200 south, and Cermak to 31st Street (3100 south). The regular 800-per-mile range resumes south of 31st Street so that 39th Street (3900 south) is one mile south of 31st Street. Even-numbered addresses are on the north and west sides of streets; odd-numbered address are on the south and east sides.
Seven interstate highways run through Chicago. Segments that link to the city center are named after influential politicians, and traffic reports tend to use the names rather than interstate numbers. The named interstate segments are the Kennedy Expressway (I-90 From the 'Loop' to O'Hare International Airport), Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94, From South of the 'Circle Interchange' to the I-57 Split), Stevenson Expressway (I-55), Edens Expressway (I-94), Eisenhower Expressway (I-290), Bishop Ford Expressway (I-94 from the I-57 Split south), and the Chicago Skyway (I-90 when it breaks off the Dan Ryan). Interstate 57 is not named.
See also: Multilevel streets in Chicago, Bicycling in Chicago, and Chicago Pedway
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Public transportation Chicago 'L' Chicago Transit Authority Red Line Orange Line Yellow Line Green Line Blue Line Purple Line Brown Line Pink Line edit this box
Main article: Mass transit in Chicago
The Chicago Transit Authority or CTA, handles public transportation in the City of Chicago and a few adjacent suburbs, and the Regional Transportation Authority or RTA, provides service in forty surrounding suburbs and partially into the city. Transfer tickets purchased on one system are usable on the other system. The CTA is one of only two transit agencies in the country to operate 24 hour subway and elevated rail servce, the other being New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority. On an average day, 1.6 million rides are taken on the CTA.
CTA has approximately 2,000 buses that operate over 152 routes and 2,273 route miles. Buses provide about 1 million passenger trips a day and serve more than 12,000 posted bus stops. CTA's 1,190 rapid transit cars operate over seven routes and 222 miles of track. CTA trains provide about 500,000 customer trips each day and serve 144 stations in Chicago, Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette, Rosemont, Forest Park, Oak Park and Cicero. The elevated train is also known as the "Chicago L" or "El" to Chicagoans.
Chicago is one of the few cities in the United States that provides rapid transit service to two major airports. From the downtown area the CTA's Blue Line takes customers to O'Hare International Airport in about 45 minutes and the Orange Line takes customers to Midway Airport in about 30 minutes from the Loop.
Metra operates commuter rail service at over 200 stations in Chicago and its suburbs. Metra features the Electric District Main Line, which offers commutes from the Far South Suburbs to Chicago's Lakefront Attractions like McCormick Place, Millennium Park, Soldier Field and Museum Campus. Metra's Electric Line is Chicago's oldest continuing commuter train (1856), sharing the railway with the South Shore Line's NICTD Northwest Indiana Commuter Rail Service, which accesses Chicago/Gary Airport.
Pace operates a primarily-suburban bus service that also offers some routes into Chicago.
See also: Rail stations of Chicago, Taxis of Chicago, Chicago City Railway, and Union Station (Chicago)
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Airports
Main article: Airports of Chicago
In the 20th century, Chicago held on to its status as the nation's transportation hub with the building of two airports: Midway Airport, on the south side, which was superseded in the 1960s by O'Hare International Airport on the far northwest. Today, O'Hare is one of the world's busiest airports, playing an important role in domestic connections for many airlines. Both O'Hare and Midway are owned and operated by the city of Chicago. For years now, Illinois has debated opening a new airport near Peotone, Illinois, with no decision. For now the Gary/Chicago International Airport, located in nearby Gary, Indiana serves as the third Chicagoland airport. [edit]
Health and medicine Cook County Hospital Enlarge Cook County Hospital
The United States has the largest health care system in the world, and Chicago is arguably the capital of that system. The city is first among the major dental and medical training centers in the United States. It is also home to the sprawling Illinois Medical District on the Near West Side, which includes Rush University Medical Center, the University of Illinois at Chicago medical center, and John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, the largest trauma-center in the city and the basis for the hospital in NBC's popular drama ER.
The American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, American Dental Association, and the American College of Surgeons are based in the city. The American Osteopathic Association is also located in Chicago.
The University of Illinois College of Medicine at UIC is the largest medical school in the United States (1300 students, including those at campuses in Peoria, Rockford and Urbana-Champaign). Chicago is also home to a large number of nationally recognized medical schools. These include the above-mentioned University of Illinois medical school, Rush Medical College, the Pritzker School of Medicine of the University of Chicago, and the Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University. In addition, the Chicago Medical School and Loyola University Chicago's Stritch School of Medicine are located in the suburbs of North Chicago and Maywood, respectively. The Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine is located in Downers Grove.
The leading healthcare informatics organizations are located in Chicago, including the American Medical Informatics Association and the long-standing HIMSS Health Information Management Systems Society. These organizations include as members most healthcare I.T. vendors and the C.I.O./VP Technology leaders of most American healthcare operations.
Medical products and services companies headquartered in the Chicago area include Baxter International, Abbott Laboratories, and the Healthcare Financial Services division of General Electric. [edit]
Utilities and infrastructure [edit]
Electric
Electricity is provided to residents through Commonwealth Edison, also known as ComEd. With over 6,000 employees ComEd provides service to all of northern Illinois. Their service territory borders Iroquois County to the south, the Wisconsin border to the north, the Iowa border to the west and the Indiana border to the east. [edit]
Telecommunications
Most landline telephone service is provided by AT&T, but there are a number of other smaller players such as RCN that service the city. New technologies allowing phone service over cable lines and the Internet are broadening the competitive landscape.
Related Topics
* Area Codes o 312 (The Loop and central neighborhoods, e.g. the Near North Side) o 773 (Everywhere else in the city proper, the neighborhoods) o 847 (North and Northwest Suburbs) o 708 (Near West and South Suburbs) o 630 (Western Suburbs) o 224 (Overlay area code for 847) o 815 (far northwest and some south suburbs, Joliet)
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Cable
Cable television services in Chicago are provided to the citizens through one of three providers over five service territories covering the city. The three players are Comcast, Wide Open West (WOW) and RCN. Comcast services are available city wide while RCN and WOW are only cover the North East and South side respectively. Service providers are regulated by The Office of Cable Communications which is a division of the Department of Consumer Affairs. [edit]
See also
* Parks of Chicago * Chicago architecture * Tallest buildings in Chicago * Notable citizens of Chicago * List of fiction set in Chicago * List of non-fiction about Chicago * List of Chicago music venues
[edit]
Footnotes
1. ^ Alice Maggio (January 29, 2004). From Checagou to Chicago: A City by No Other Name. URL accessed on April 29, 2006. 2. ^ [1] 3. ^ [2] 4. ^ [3] 5. ^ [4] 6. ^ [5] 7. ^ [6] 8. ^ Municipal Code of Chicago 9. ^ Chicago Crime Database 10. ^ CLEARpath 11. ^ [7] 12. ^ [8] 13. ^ 3 14. ^ Home Page 15. ^ Association of Chicago Theological Schools
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References
* Chicago travel guide from Wikitravel * City of Chicago Homepage * (October 2004) Edited by James R. Grossman, Ann Durkin Keating, Janice L.
Manufacturer: Volkswagen AG Production: 1994–present Predecessor: Audi 100 Class: Full-size luxury car Body style: 4-door sedan Platform: FF, AWD Similar: BMW 5-Series Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The Audi A6 is an executive luxury car produced by Audi. It is available in two bodywork configurations, the sedan and the station wagon (Avant). The second generation A6 was also used as the basis for the Allroad. Its primary competitors are the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5-Series, Alfa Romeo 166, Jaguar S-Type, Lexus GS and Volvo S80.
C4 1994-1997
In 1994 the last version (C4) of the Audi 100 was facelifted and re-badged as the A6, to fit in with Audi's new naming policy (as the A8 had just been introduced). The exterior was largely left unchanged from the C4 100 as well as the engines; up until 1997 the A6 came with several different engines, two of them Diesel, and most of them available with Audi's quattro four wheel drive system.
The C4 design was available with the following engines: Engine Cyl. Power (PS) 1.8 20V 4 125 2.0 4 115 2.3 5 133 2.6 V6 150 2.8 V6 174 2.8 30V V6 193 S6 2.2 T 5 230 S6 4.2 V8 280 S6 4.2 Plus V8 326 1.9 TDI 4 90 2.5 TDI V6 115 2.5 TDI V6 140 [edit]
C5 1997-2004 C5 Audi A6 sedan quattro Enlarge C5 Audi A6 sedan quattro
In 1997 the scene changed strikingly for the A6. With the introduction of an ambitious new design (C5) and a new pack of engines, the A6 moved up a notch and was positioned alongside the hegemonious BMW 5-Series and the solid Mercedes E-class. The new A6 presented itself with a wide range of engines and configurations. The crisp 30-valve 2.4 and 2.8 V6 engines represented the bulk of the A6's development programme, but the resilient 2.5 V6 TDI and the powerful all-new Audi S6 were the flagships. As an alternative to the manual transmission, a 5-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission was also available. The Avant body arrived in 1998.
In 2000 the A6 received a facelift which saw little change in the design of the car but presented a few notable changes in terms of engines. The 1.8 L engine was removed and replaced by a 2.0 L powerplant with 130 PS (96 kW). The 1.9 L TDI was tweaked into producing a maximum of 130 PS (96 kW) and 310 Nm (228 ft.lbf), receiving a 6-speed gearbox in the process. The 2.4's power was slightly upgraded and the 2.8 V6 was replaced by a 3.0 L engine boosting 220 PS (162 kW). The turbocharged 2.7 L was given a tweak on the turbo resulting in 250 PS (184 kW) and 330 Nm (244 ft.lbf), controlled by standard quattro. The V6 Diesel was also slightly modified resulting in 163 PS (120 kW) (after the second modification) and 350 Nm (258 ft.lbf). A new more powerful V6 diesel was also introduced presenting 180 bhp and 370 nm.
Also new was the revolutionary Multitronic drive by wire continuously variable transmission, available in most front wheel drive models in the lineup. All models, except the 2.0 petrol and 1.9 TDI, were available with Audi's four wheel drive system, quattro. A four wheel drive version of the estate with raised ground clearance and slightly altered styling was sold as the Audi Allroad Quattro, Audi's first crossover SUV.
In the late years of the A6 C5 design, a monstrous Audi RS6 model was presented. Producing a staggering 450 PS (331 kW) and 560 Nm (413 ft.lbf), it propels the A6 from 0-100 km/h in 4.7 sec and on to 200 km/h in under 18 seconds. This model saw the end of the C5 design which was replaced in 2004 by a new model.
The C5 design was available with the following engines: C5 Audi A6 avant Enlarge C5 Audi A6 avant Engine Cyl. Power (PS) 1.8 20V 4 125 2.0 20V 4 130 1.8 T 4 150 2.4 30V V6 165/170 2.8 30V V6 193 3.0 30V V6 220 2.7 T V6 230/250 4.2 V8 300 S6 4.2 V6 340 RS6 4.2 T V8 450 1.9 TDI V6 110/115/130 2.5 TDI V6 150/155/163 2.5 TDI V6 180 [edit]
C6 2004-present C6 (sixth-generation) Audi A6 Enlarge C6 (sixth-generation) Audi A6
The new A6 (C6-design) came in 2004. The new model is a larger car (492 cm) with more sophisticated technology. Most notably is the MMI (Multi Media Interface) which is an optional system controlling radio, satellite navigation, climate control and (when available) suspension settings through a central screen interface. On the engine side the new FSI direct injection technology was introduced for the first time outside the race track. Although the line of engines represents the same progression as the former model, all engines were new. The Multitronic automatic transmission continues as an alternative alongside a new 6-speed Tiptronic gearbox available in the high end models. Quattro four wheel drive is available in most of the lineup, and standard in the most powerful models.
Like the previous model, the A6 is available with other body options. The Avant arrived during the course of 2005, while in China, a longer version was introduced in the same year, named A6 L (the A8 is not sold in this country). The Allroad model is slated to make its debut during 2006. The sporting S6 was introduced in the Frankfurt Motor Show, with sales beginning in early 2006. It is powered by a Lamborghini-derived V10. Technical diagram of the quattro system used in the C6 Enlarge Technical diagram of the quattro system used in the C6
The C6 design was available with the following engines: Engine Cyl. Power (PS) 2.0 TFSI 4 170 2.4 30V V6 177 3.2 FSI V6 255 4.2 V8 335 S6 5.2 V10 420 2.0 TDI 4 140 2.7 TDI V6 180 3.0 TDI V6 225/233 [edit]
Awards
The A6 was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 2000 and 2001. The updated 2005 A6 won the World Car of the Year award for 2005. The new Audi A6 (the sixth-generation) has been drawn by Italian Walter Dà Silva. [edit]
See also
* Audi S6 * Audi RS6 * Audi Allroad Quattro
[edit]
References
* "Audi's A6 4.2 'S-line' Breaks Cover", a VWVortex news story * "Paris Auto Show: New Engines for the Audi A6", an Audi AG news story
The following is a series, listed in order, of detailed information on various aspects of the sixth-generation A6 (the "C6") from VWVortex.
* At a Glance * Design & Performance * Drivetrain * Audi Dynamic Suspension * Body Structure * Lighting * Comfort and Communications Electronics * Predecessors & Current Market
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External links
* Audi New Zealand: 100 and A6 official history * AutoguideWiki.com * Used Audi A6 information * Official A6 Microsite
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A motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle powered by an engine. The wheels are in-line, and at higher speed the motorcycle remains upright and stable by virtue of gyroscopic forces; at lower speeds continual readjustment of the steering by the rider gives stability.
The operator or "rider" sits astride the vehicle on a seat, with his hands on a set of handlebars. The feet are supported on a set of footpegs which stick out from the frame. When the bike is at rest, the rider puts one or both feet on the ground, because the gyroscopic force that keeps a moving bike up is absent. Speed is controlled with a twist throttle on the right side handlebar grip (standard configuration). Braking is controlled with a hand-lever and foot pedal (front and rear wheel, respectively). Gear control (shifting) is accomplished by clutch, disengaged by compressing the left hand lever, and moving a foot-lever up or down. The shift foot-lever is on the opposite side of the machine from the foot brake. Steering is accomplished by trained application of slight turning of the handlebars and lateral shifting of the rider's weight.
History
The inspiration for the earliest motorcycles, and arguably the first motorcycle, was designed and built by the German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Cannstatt (since 1905 a city district of Stuttgart) in 1885. It was the first petroleum-powered vehicle ever, but for the provision of a pair of stabilizing wheels, a motorized bicycle, although they called their invention the Reitwagen ("riding car"). They had not set out to create a vehicle form but to build a simple carriage for the engine which was the focus of their endeavours. However,if one counts two wheels with steam propulsion as being a motorcycle, then the first one may have been American. One such machine was demonstrated at fairs and circuses in the eastern US in 1867, built by one Sylvester Howard Roper of Roxbury, Massachusetts. There is an existing example of a Roper machine, dated 1869. It's powered by a charcoal-fired two-cylinder engine, whose connecting rods directly drive a crank on the rear wheel. This machine predates the invention of the safety bicycle by many years, so its chassis is also based on the "bone-crusher" bike.
In 1894, the Hildebrand & Wolfmüller was the first motorcycle that was available for purchase.
In the early period of motorcycle history there were many manufacturers as producers of bicycles adapted their designs for the new internal combustion engine. As the engines became more powerful and designs outgrew the bicycle origins, the number of motorcycle producers reduced. 2002 Harley-Davidson Heritage Enlarge 2002 Harley-Davidson Heritage
Up until the First World War, the largest motorcycle manufacturer was Indian. After that, this honour went to Harley Davidson, until 1928 when DKW took over as the largest manufacturer. After the Second World War, in 1951, the BSA Group became the largest producer of motorcycles in the world. The German NSU was the largest manufacturer from 1955 until the 1970s when Honda became the most prominent manufacturer, a title it retains to this day. British manufacturers (Triumph, BSA, Norton) held a dominant position in some markets until the rise of the Japanese manufacturers (led by Honda) in the late 1960s and early 1970s who were able to produce designs faster, cheaper and of better quality. Today, the Japanese manufacturers Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha dominate the motorcycle industry, although Harley-Davidson still maintains a high degree of popularity in America.
Recent years have also seen a resurgence in the popularity of many other brands, including BMW, Triumph and Ducati. [edit]
Construction [edit]
Variations
Variations exist:
* There are three basic forms of motorcycles: offroad, street and dual-purpose. * Some motorcycles have floorboards instead of footpegs. * Some motorcycles can be fitted with a sidecar, thus converting it into a 3-wheeler or "hack". * There are other 3-wheeled variations, commonly referred to as a trike or motortricycle. * Motorcycle manufacturers often also produce All-terrain vehicles or ATVs. These have two or more back wheels, usually two front wheels, an open driver's seat and a motorcycle-type handlebar. (Early models had a single front wheel, but these were prone to rollovers.) ATVs are used off-road for utility and recreation. However, a proper motorcycle has fewer than four wheels in contact with the ground.
[edit]
Riding Position
Modern motorcycle riding positions are evolutions of horse riding saddles. The riding position of American style Cruisers and Choppers evolved from the saddle and riding position used by Western Cowboys (See Western Saddle). This position allows greater long distance comfort, with some compromise of control. In contrast, Sportbikes, Standards and Dirtbikes derive their seating position from the more sporting oriented English Saddle.
Although the definition of riding comfort will vary from rider to rider, neither the foot forward cruiser or chopper; or the supersport style-sportbike seating configuration will allow the most comfort for the average rider. Motorcycles that are arranged with a more natural seating position that has your spine erect should be considered best for long distance riding comfort. Choppers and cruisers with the foot forward position places your weight on top of your tail bone which can cause pressure and pain. Also, because their feet are so far in front of them, any bumps and imperfections in the road are transferred directly to their spine, as they do not have the option of supporting their weight with their legs. Sportbikes with aggressive seating positions place the rider in a hunched or crouched in the most aerodynamic position possible, behind a very small fairing. This position also bringing with it pain and discomfort over time. Their weight would have to be supported by their hands and lower back, while their legs are bent behind them due to the rearward set footpegs.
If judging on ergonomics alone, the most comfortable saddles and seating positions on modern bikes that you can find would have to be from touring motorcycles. These bikes place the rider in a more upright riding position. Their feet naturally placed beneath them with the handlebars place within natural reach. Keeping this in mind, there are some cruisers, sportbikes, and other types of motorcycles that also have this standard seating positions. [edit]
Chassis A British motorcycle from 1966, the 250 cc Ariel Leader Enlarge A British motorcycle from 1966, the 250 cc Ariel Leader
The chassis (or frame) of a motorcycle is typically made from welded aluminium or steel (or an alloy) struts, with the rear suspension being an integral component in the design (although some motorcycle enthusiast do not believe in having a rear suspension on their bikes and ride bikes that have no rear suspension save for the air in the rear tire). Carbon-fiber is used in a few very expensive custom frames.
Some motorcycles include the engine as a load-bearing (or stressed) member; this has been used all through bike history but is now becoming more common.
The fuel tank is usually mounted above the engine. This tank is generally made of stamped and brazed or welded sheet metal, or blow molded high-density polyethylene. At least one motorcycle manufacturer (Buell) offer models that use a hollow frame as the fuel tank, and various manufacturers offer designs which use part of the frame as an oil reservoir. The wheel rims are usually steel or aluminum (generally with steel spokes and an aluminium hub) or 'mag' type cast or machined aluminum. At one time, motorcycles all used spoke wheels built up from separate components (see wheelbuilding), but one-piece wheels are more common now. Performance racing motorcycles often use carbon-fiber wheels, but the expense of these wheels is prohibitively high for general usage.
A plastic or fiberglass shell, known as a fairing, is placed over the frame on some models to shield the rider from the wind. Drag is the major factor that limits motorcycle speed, as it increases at the square of the velocity, with the resultant required horsepower increasing with the cube of velocity. As can be seen from the streamlined appearance of new performance motorcycles, there is much aerodynamic technology included in the design. Unfortunately, no one has been able to overcome the effect of the turbulence caused by the spinning front wheel, which prevents the motorcycle from cutting a clean path through the air. Another problem is the fact that no designs have been discovered that can improve aerodynamic performance without unacceptably compromising the rider's ability to control the machine. In the absence of a fairing or windshield, a phenomenon known as the windsock effect occurs at speeds above 100 km/h, where the rider becomes a major source of drag and is pushed back from the handlebars, tiring the rider. However, these motorcycles still effectively push their way through the atmosphere with brute force.
Cabin cycle solved the problem of aerodynamics by isolating driver from outside air. [edit]
* 'Dropping the bike' is well known at low speeds, this is usually done when parking the bike or using the front brake at low speeds with the front wheel out of line with the rear wheel or stalling the bike at low speeds.
* Wobbling (AVI movie) is a high frequency (7-9 Hz) oscillation of the front wheel. It is often relatively harmless but annoying (and quite frightening if not previously experienced). It can appear at moderate speeds.
* Weaving (AVI movie) is a low frequency (2-3 Hz) oscillation of the whole vehicle. It can become unstable at higher speeds with fatal results.
Based on The control and stability analysis of two-wheeled road vehicles:
* The weave oscillations damp out once the rider reduced the roll angle.
* Tire characteristics and inflation pressures are important variables in the behaviour of the motorcycle at high speeds.
* From a stability point of view it is desirable to make the lateral stiffness as large as possible, with the possibility of an optimum value for the torsional stiffness of the rear frame.
* Common levels of lateral stiffness at the wheel spindle deteriorates the wobble mode damping substantially with significant changes in the wobble frequency as well, and slight reduction in the weave mode damping at high speeds.
* Lateral distortion should be opposed as much as possible by locating the front fork torsional axis as low as possible.
* The largest contribution to the weave damping came from the cornering and camber stiffnesses and relaxation length of the rear tyre and not so much from the same parameters of the front tyre.
* Amongst others, stiff frames, a long wheelbase, a long trail and a flat steering head angle were found to increase weave mode damping.
* Degraded damping of the rear suspension, rear loading and increased speed amplifies cornering weave tendencies.
* Rear load assemblies with appropriate stiffness and damping were successful in damping out weave and wobble oscillations.
Motorcyclists on a Honda CB600F Hornet. Enlarge Motorcyclists on a Honda CB600F Hornet. [edit]
Suspension
Modern designs have the two wheels of a motorcycle connected to the chassis by a suspension arrangement, however 'chopper' style motorcycles often elect to forego rear suspension ("rigid frame").
The front suspension generally consists of sliding steel tubes with long springs inside called forks which use hydraulic fluid for damping shock absorbers. The front fork is the most critical part of a motorcycle. The angle of rake determines how controllable the steering is. The rake should be chosen so that precessive force from countersteer and body steering slightly overbalance the leaning forces from the weight of the bike, at a speed near the running speed of a person. This is the speed at which the rider's feet can no longer be safely used to balance the bike.
The rear suspension supports the swingarm, which is attached via the swingarm pivot bolt to the frame and holds the axle of the rear wheel. The rear suspension can consist of several shock arrangements:
* dual shocks, which are placed at the far ends of the swingarm * traditional monoshock, which is placed at the front of the swingarm, above the swingarm pivot bolt * 'Softail' style monoshock, which is mounted horizontally in front of the swingarm, below the swingarm pivot bolt
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Brakes
There are generally two independent brakes on a motorcycle, one set on the front wheel, controlled by the right hand lever, and one on the rear controlled by the right foot. In older motorcycles the rear may be on the left foot. However, several models have "linked brakes" which apply both at the same time, although one more than the other. The front brake is generally much more powerful than the rear as roughly 2/3rds of stopping power can come from the front brake when properly applied and in some cases 100% depending on the model of motorcycle and operator; rear wheels can generally lock and skid much more easily than the front due to dynamic weight transfer. Brakes can either be drum or disc based, with disc brakes being more common on large, modern or expensive motorcycles for their far superior stopping power, particularly in wet conditions. There are many brake performance enhancing aftermarket parts available for most motorcycles including brake pads of varying compounds and steel braided brake lines. Some manufacturers have created Antilock braking systems (ABS).
In virtually all cases, 70% to 90% of total braking force should be applied by the front brake when operated on a hard surface such as tarmac, with the remainder being simultaneously applied to the rear brake. Riders fear that aggressive use of the front brake will stop rotation of the tire and cause loss of control, or a skid, and therefore often fail to use the front brake to its full potential, but this is unlikely on dry pavement. Another common misconception is that application of the rear brake will cause motorcycle instability. Trailbraking is a term used to describe carrying the braking action of a vehicle past the turn entry, allowing the rider to adjust speed all the way through a turn to the apex. Another variation of brake use can be seen at top level motorcycle roadracing and motorcross events. The technique of steering the motorcycle in a high speed turn (or lower speeds on a dirt course) using the rear brake is called "backing it in" (or "turning" on dirt). Racers while hard on the front brake will feather the rear brake just enough to start a controlled rear slide, thus rendering a sharper turn angle. Note: This technique is not recommended for public road use. [edit]
Engine
Main article: motorcycle engine
Motorcycles have, over time, been powered by an extraordinary array of engines, from very early models powered by steam, to the ubiquitous gasoline engines of today. In terms of gas engines there were two common types. One was the four cycle or four stroke which is similar to that in cars. The other was a two cycle (sometimes called two stroke)engine in which the engine oil was mixed with the gasoline or went into an injector system.
Two stroke engines produced power every time the piston came up to top dead center, rather than every other time as with a four stroke, allowing twice as many power cycles, and nearly twice as much power. Additionally typical performance improvements such as pipes (called expansion chambers on a two stroke)made bigger gains in power than one would typically find with a four stroke. A two stroke could expect a 20% percent gain from a good expansion chamber vs a four stroke engine getting 10-15%. Additionally, the two-stroke engine is a much simpler design than the four stroke; it consists of only two moving parts--the piston and the crank. A four stroke engine has between six and ten moving parts, depending on the cam setup. This increased simplicity of the two stroke allows it to rev higher and be repaired much easier and cheaper. There are three main downsides of the two stroke: first, they are less efficient, second, they rely on oil mixed with the gas to provide lubricant, and finally, their increased rate of fire causes them to wear out faster.
Two cycle engines were lighter than their four stroke counter parts, a typical two cylindar 400CC engine weighed 70 to 100 pounds, heads included. It was not uncommon because of the higher engine power production and lighter weight of a two cycle to see a 350cc or 400cc two cycle facing off against a 750cc-900cc four cycle in a street drag race, with a better than fair chance of winning. Two cycle motorcycles were discontinued in 1980 in the US with the advent of the EPA. The EPA declared war on the oil burning motorcycles which led to their demise. Yamaha introduced the RZ-350 in the mid 1980's but by then the hour of the two cycle had passed. Enlarge [edit]
Transmission
The transmission is controlled by a clutch lever under the left hand in standard configurations, a twistgrip throttle on the right handlebar and a gear lever at the left foot.
The gear lever operates by shifting gears when it is pressed or lifted. A normal street motorcycle is put in first gear by pressing the gear lever, while second and all further gears are reached by lifting it. Downshifting is done by pressing the gear lever. Neutral sits between first gear and second, so a small lift out of first causes the gearbox to change into neutral, but a large movement causes the gearbox to change into second gear. In contrast, racing motorcycles have all gears arranged "below" the first gear, thus pressing the gear lever always shifts up, while lifting it shifts down.
Modern motorcycles normally have five or six forward gears. Only the largest touring motorcycles (most prominently, the Honda Goldwing) and a few models that are routinely used with a sidecar are fitted with a reverse gear.
The clutch is typically an arrangement of plates stacked in alternating fashion, one geared on the inside to the engine, and next geared on the outside to the transmission input shaft. Whether wet (rotating in engine oil) or dry, the plates are squeezed together by a spring, causing friction buildup between the plates until they rotate as a single unit, driving the transmission directly. A lever on the handlebar, through a cable or hydraulic arrangement, uses mechanical advantage to release the clutch spring, allowing the engine to freewheel with respect to the transmission.
The most commonly used transmission is a sequential gearbox. From neutral, you may select either first or second gear, but higher gears may only be accessed in order - you may not shift from second gear to fourth gear, without shifting through third gear. Internally, a rotating cam on the shift lever operates cogs on two counter-rotating shafts carrying a variety of gears. One shaft is geared to the final drive mechanism, and the other to the clutch. Operating the shift lever slides individual gears on one shaft, to intersect with a matching gear on the other. The small mass of the whole arrangement allows for extremely quick gear changes. Also, gear synchronizers typically found in passenger cars with manual transmissions are not necessary. The two shafts are always geared together (except in neutral), always spinning at a speed nearly approximating the next higher or lower gear ratio. Aided by beveled edges on the gears, shifting gears is simple for novices - no double clutching or grinding of gears. Advanced drivers can perform "full-throttle upshifts" on racing mounts, but this risks both the warranty and mechanical integrity.
Final drive from the gearbox to the rear wheel is typically accomplished with a chain, which requires both lubrication and adjustment for elongation (stretch) through wear. The lubricant is subject to being thrown off the fast-moving chain and results in grime and dirt buildup. Chains do deteriorate, and excessive wear on the front and rear sprockets can be dangerous. Many motorcyclists replace the chain and both sprockets as a set to maintain efficiency and safety. Many manufacturers offer cruiser models with final drive options of a belt or a shaft. A belt drive is still subject to stretch, but operates very quietly, cleanly, and efficiently. However, belt drives are limited in the amount of power they can transmit. The belt is frequently toothed. A shaft drive is completely enclosed, the visual cue is a tube extending from the rear of the transmission to a bell-housing on the rear wheel. Inside the bell housing a bevelled gear on the shaft mates with another on the wheel mount. This arrangement is superior in terms of noise, cleanliness, and is virtually maintenance free. However, the additional gearsets are a source of power loss and add to bike weight. [edit]
Tires
Motorcycles use pneumatic tires which come in many configurations, the most important characteristic of any tire being the contact patch. That is the small area that is in contact with the road surface while riding.
There are tires designed for dirtbikes, touring, sport and cruiser bikes. Dirtbike tires have knobby, deep treads for maximum grip on loose dirt, mud, or gravel — such tires tend to be less stable on paved surfaces. Touring tires are usually harder rubber and last longer but provide less grip (significantly less grip while cold, and the heavier rubber takes longer to warm up), while sport/performance tires provide amazing grip but may only last 1,000 miles (1,600 km) or less. Cruisers and "Sport Touring" tires try to find the best compromise between grip and durability. Some cruiser tires have raised white lettering on the sidewalls as a "retro" detail.
Tires should be maintained at the proper air pressure at all times; tire pressure is critical, the difference of a few PSI can have a dramatic impact on the handling and longevity of the tire. Tires usually have an average life expectancy of four to five years from date of manufacture; as mentioned above, mileage is also a factor, with many street tires having a service life between 3,000 and 10,000 miles. Small cracks on the sidewall or bald spots on the tread are indicators of the need to replace the tire.
Motorcycle tires can also be found in "race compounds." However, race compound tires should not be used in street applications. Race compounds are designed specifically for the short life and few heat cycles of a race environment, whereas street tires are designed for multiple heat cycles and use in a street environment. In most cases street riders will actually achieve higher levels of performance using street tires than race compounds.
If a tire loses grip or goes flat, the rider may crash. The motorcyclist must, therefore, consider proper motorcycle attire such as helmet ("full-face" helmets with DOT certification provide the most protection; open-face, or "skullcaps" do not meet DOT certification standards), gloves, boots, and leather or synthetic protective clothing. Wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals on a motorcycle is not advised. The use of an approved helmet is required by law in many countries (or individual localities therein).
Although typically motorcycle tires are manufactured from black rubber, recently it has become possible to purchase tires which are colored. Colored tires for motorcycles are typically made by re-manufacturing tires (in colloquial terms, they are 're-treads'). [edit]
Performance Motocross racing bike Enlarge Motocross racing bike
The most efficient way to improve the handling and speed of a motorcycle is via increased operator skill. By attending riding schools and increasing rider education levels, a motorcyclist will be able to ride more skillfully and, thus, more safely. Even experienced riders can benefit from top-level instructors helping to fine-tune their skills, as well as the opportunity to practice crash-avoidance techniques in a more controlled environment (and without risking one's own motorcycle).
The next-most-common cause of loss of speed is one of the easiest to remedy: rolling resistance. The right tires kept at the proper pressure will contribute to both speed and safety.
On the engine, keep the air filter and drive chain (or drive belt) clean, use high-quality lubricants and fuel with precisely-tuned spark plugs, air / fuel mixture, and timing. This is obvious, but often neglected.
Engine modifications can yield appreciable performance improvements, but this is often costly and very time-consuming. Improper attempts at tuning can yield benefits in one particular part of an engine's power band, while impairing performance everywhere else, provoking a net loss of power or handling. Blueprinting, or meticulous restoration of an engine to (or beyond) factory tolerances can help to improve an engine's efficiency and restore power that would otherwise be lost. Enlarging cylinder head ports, while common practice amongst many tuners, is often unnecessary (unless a big-bore kit has been fitted) to the extent that many engines benefit from decreasing the volume in the cylinder head. Done correctly, this increases the velocity of the fuel / air mixture entering the cylinder, packing more mixture in per revolution.
More usable improvements can be had by improving and upgrading suspension components. Suspension is typically the one element of the motorcycle that will receive the least amount of engineering attention from the factory. Replacing stock shocks and fork springs as well as changing damping and valving rates will result in dramatic improvements in motorcycle stability and increased speed and rider confidence as a result. While improving a motorcycle's suspension will have far better gains that improvements to the engine, suspension upgrades are not just accomplished by simply upgrading suspension components. The proper setup of the bike's suspension, from the spring rates, to the damping, to controlling friction, can go a long way to improving the bike's traction, control and the rider's comfort. The setup should be matched to, among many factors, the rider's weight, the bike's weight and weight distribution, and the rider's riding style.
Another way to increase performance is to install a tuned exhaust system. This helps evacuate the exhaust from the engine more rapidly, and permits a longer power-stroke. However many modern production bikes already have tuned exhausts. A "custom" tuned exhaust will often operate only at a narrower range of engine RPM, and therefore more suited to more specialised applications, usually racing (road or drag).
Aftermarket exhaust systems are usually louder, by varying degrees, than stock systems. Most countries have limits on how much noise can legally be produced by vehicles, however this usually does not deter motorcyclists from fitting louder exhaust systems. There is even a school of thought that louder systems are safer, as they attract the attention of (car) drivers, who might otherwise have failed to notice the motorcyclist. This view is not universal; others argue that to overcome the noise inside a car from stereos, etc., a motorcycle's exhaust note would have to be impossibly loud.
One of the most effective ways of increasing power is forced induction. Turbochargers are generally more effective than superchargers because turbos spin using the exhaust gases while a supercharger uses engine power to spin it directly (usually via a belt system), robbing power. Since more air is being forced into the engine, the air/fuel ratio must be changed to prevent the engine from running lean [and potentially destroying itself]. On low boost settings, the turbocharger can increase power and fuel range. Engine internals such as pistons and connecting rods must be replaced with stronger ones for all but the smallest boost. In addition, the compression ratio must be considered and adjusted accordingly, as an "overboosted" engine will destroy itself as well. However, due to the special motorcycle dynamics, turbochargers are rarely used on production bikes.
With great care, an engine can be helped to "sprint" by injecting small amounts of nitrous oxide (N2O). The main benefits of nitrous oxide are three-fold —
* More oxygen is introduced into an engine's combustion chamber * As nitrous oxide is stored in liquid form, it is still very cold when it evaporates and is mixed with fuel. This chilling effect raises the density of the mixture, packing more fuel and oxygen into the combustion chamber. * This colder mixture helps to keep the engine running cooler, which is very useful as nitrous oxide is almost exclusively used in stressful, high RPM situations, primarily drag racing.
Engines using large amounts of nitrous oxide need precise mixtures and/or configurable timing and carburation. It's very easy to blow the head gaskets or burn the valves of the engine with careless nitrous oxide injection. Using methods like nitrous oxide are fine on dragstrips, but while not illegal, can be very dangerous on the street. In any case, a canister of nitrous oxide is rapidly expended, and impractical for sustained use on a road-going bike. [edit]
Instruments
Almost all motorcycles have a speedometer, an odometer and a tachometer. Fuel gauges are becoming more common, however traditionally a reserve tank arrangement has been used with a petcock on the side of the motorcycle allowing the rider to switch to a reserve fuel supply when the main fuel supply is exhausted; this is typically done while the vehicle is in motion. There is not actually a separate reserve tank, the intake for the petcock has two pipes, one extending higher into the fuel tank than the other, when fuel no longer covers the long pipe the rider switches to the shorter pipe. Riders without a fuel gauge usually learn how many miles/km they can go with a full tank of fuel, and then use a trip meter if available to judge when they must refill the tank. [edit]
Motorcycle types
Motorcycles have been built in myriad different models for innumerable different purposes. For a complete discussion of contemporary motorcycle types, see the main article: types of motorcycle [edit]
Safety
Motorcycles have a far higher rate of crippling and fatal accidents per unit distance than automobiles. According to the US Highway Safety Authority, in 2002 20.9 cars out of 100,000 ended up in fatal crashes. The rate for motorcycles is 66.7 per 100,000. Given that motorcycles cover less distance than cars per year on average, the figure per unit distance is likely to be much worse. Many of these accidents are caused by car drivers, though; they tend to underestimate the speed and acceleration of motorcycles, or to simply overlook them. The most common type of motorcycle accident is caused by drivers making a left or a right turn immediately in front of the motorcycle, crossing its path (depending on which side of the road driving is on).
For a complete discussion, see the main article: Motorcycle Safety. [edit]
Culture [edit]
Gangs and counter-culture movements
Across the world, and both past and present, motorcycles have been associated with subcultures of society. Some of these subcultures have been loose-knit social groups such as the Cafe racers of 1950s Britain, and the Mods and Rockers of the 1960s. Others are purportedly fraternal organizations, the most well known of these being the Hells Angels. Most motorcycle organizations have law-abiding and peaceful members, and many raise money for charities through organized events and rides. [edit]
Risk taking
Motorcycles are typically more agile, can accelerate more quickly, and are generally perceived to be more fun to ride than an average car is to drive. Because of this, they sometimes attract people — typically, but not exclusively, young men — with a propensity to take risks or behave dangerously and anti-socially. Such people contribute significantly to the fatalities, injury rates and the somewhat tarnished reputation of motorcyclists. See also: Squid, Hooligan
The U.S, U.K. and Europe are also seeing a surge in motorcycle ownership, thanks in large part to an older demographic, people in their 40's and upwards. Many of these riders have had previous experience but have not been on a motorcycle for many years; they would benefit from rider training as much as any new rider. A substantial increase in the number of riders (regardless of age) indicates a greater number of inexperienced riders, who are more likely to be involved in accidents. See Born again biker.
It has been theorized based on data, that humans have some innate need for risk. The upsurge in extreme sports and hobbies coincides with the upsurge in workplace and home safety. [edit]
Public perception
In less developed nations, motorcycles are often the only motorized transportation affordable to the majority of the population. In much of the developed world, motorcycles are thought of as a cheap and efficient means of transportation, but they are tainted by a stereotype of riders as anti-social and reckless, even though the majority are safe and law-abiding.
This is because the very small number of events where a non-motorcyclist is offended by a motorcyclist (perhaps by excess exhaust noise, reckless behaviour, or news reporting of a motorcycle gang incident) are amplified in popular thought. This phenomenon is known by sociologists as availability error, and all minority groups in society tend to fall afoul of it.
In American speech, the term biker has come to be associated with members of the gangs described above. Many of those who ride motorcycles prefer the more neutral terms "rider" or "motorcyclist." In Australia and New Zealand the word "bikie" is used instead of "biker".
Often, motorcyclists just love the thrill of traveling the world on the back of a bike. In an article called, "Arizona Road Trip Fulfills Lifelong Dream," a Massachusetts man travels all over Arizona on a Harley Davidson Dyna Low Rider and explains the joy of his trip. He encourages more people to engage in such an experience. [edit]
Clannishness and brand loyalty
Like most minority cultures, motorcyclists in developed countries "stick together." Most cities have several bars and hangouts where riders congregate. When riders pass each other in the opposite direction, riders often wave or nod. Riders will sometimes stop and help if another rider has broken down.
Within motorcycle culture, people congregate around brand names, type of bike, and individual models. [edit]
Brands
There are many brands of motorcycles currently produced as well as vintage brands which can be found here List of motorcycle manufacturers [edit]
Clubs
Most manufacuturers subsidize a club to foster a sense of community between, provide services to, and make money from the owners of their bikes. Such clubs include:
* Adventure Rider For dual-sport and other types of adventure motorcycle rides. * Boss Hoss Riders Association * Yamaha Owners Club * Harley Owners Group (HOG) * Buell Riders Adventure Group (BRAG) * Riders of Kawasaki (RoK) * Honda Riders Club of America * Los Angeles "Bike Nights" sportbike event * Suzuki Intruder-Boulevard Owners Club * Kawasaki Concours Owners Group
Groups also organise themselves to offer support and advice.
* Honda GL1800 Gold Wing riders forum * The Blue Knights - International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club (England XIII Chapter) * V4HondaBBS - Honda Sabre, Magna, & Interceptor riders' forum * Yamaha Road Star Warriors * MIG Cruisers - Suzuki Marauder and Intruder riders' forum * Katriders - Suzuki Katana riders' forum * FJRForum - Yamaha FJR1300 riders' forum * East Coast Bikers Forum * BARF San Francisco Bay Area Riders Forum * Wild Pelicans Long Distance Club * The Single Overhead Cam Owners Club - dedicated to SOHC4 Hondas * The Ducati Monster List * Wheels Of Italy - Italian Motorcycles and Cars
BMW Motorrad has no national owners clubs, but, uniquely, has many independent clubs in different countries, such as BMW Motorcycle Owners of America (BMWMOA) and BMW Riders Association (BMWRA). [edit]
Types
Many interest groups form around a particular type of riding or style of bike:
* Track Racing (sport bikes) * Classic Racing (Racing bikes from an earlier era) * Street Racing (sport bikes) * Cruising (cruisers, or motorcycles that resemble Harley-Davidson models) * Touring and Motorcycle camping (touring and dual-sport bikes) * Extreme Distance Events (competitive long distance riding, including Iron Butt events) * Adventure Touring (dual-sport bikes) Ontario Dual Sport Club * Minibikes or Pocket-Bikes as used in Pocketbike racing * Superbike - can be ridden at sustained speeds of over 150 mph—originated from the race replica motorcycles made in Japan in the early 1980s
[edit]
Rallies
* Daytona Bike Week [1] * Laconia Motorcycle Week [2] * Port Dover Friday the 13th [3] * Sturgis Motorcycle Rally [4] * Parry Sound Sportbike Rally * Austin Republic of Texas Biker Rally
[edit]
See also
* American Motorcyclist Association * List of motorcycle manufacturers * List of Honda motorcycles * Motorcycle racing * Motorcycle leathers * Helmet law defense league * Motorcycle helmet * Feet forwards motorcycle * Countersteering * Trailbraking * Chicken strips * Pillion * Rockers * Cafe racers * Supermoto * Motocross * Freestyle Motocross
[edit]
External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Motorcycle
* Motards-Online - English and French speaking bikers community. Let's talk about motorcycles. * Motorcycle Safety Training Benefits of safety training to reduce accidents. * Bikenut Australian Motorcycle site.
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Most people use the term car audio to describe the sound system in an automobile, though the term also refers more broadly to the field of mobile entertainment and is becoming a sport at large. A stock car audio system refers to exactly what was specified by the manufacturer when the car was built. A custom car audio installation could mean anything from the upgrade of the radio to a full-blown customization of a car based around delivering exceptional sound quality or volume from audio equipment.
The most common and familiar piece of audio equipment is the radio/tape player/CD player which is generically described as a Head unit, which also can be called a deck, after older tape-decks. It is also the most likely component to be upgraded with an after market item. A recent development in head unit technology has been the addition of CD players with MP3, WMA, AAC, and USB support.
Many cars include at least a CD player some have the option for a CD changer which holds multiple disks either in the head unit itself or in a separate unit usually located in a trunk or console. Our horizons have been broadend even further-even newer technology is the addition of DVD players. The position of the LCD screen differs for different DVD players - certain DVD players require the screen to be mounted on the roof of the car (just above the front windscreen), while others require the screen to be attached to the back of the headrests of the front seats and some DVD players have the screens come out of the head unit.
Speakers are generally located in doors and rear parcel shelves of a sedan in modern cars. Before stereo radio was introduced, the most common speaker location was in the middle of the dashboard pointing through perforations towards the front windshield.
High-end audio systems include Component Speakers that consist of a matched tweeter (small, high frequency), midrange (medium, medium frequency) and woofer (large, low frequency) set. These component pairs are available in two speaker and three speaker combinations, and include an audio crossover which limits the frequency range that each component speaker must handle. This allows each cone to produce its optimal frequency for maximum sound quality and volume. In addition subwoofer(s) are provided for bass and sub bass(ultra low frequency), which is felt, rather than heard.
Amplifiers provide the necessary music power, measured in watts to drive the speakers. High Power amplifiers require a large gauge cable to provide adequate voltage and current to the amplifier. The amlifier is a very important component of a loud speaker system. Connecting too many speakers to the head unit alone. (Make sure that the total power of the speakers connected to the amplifier or even the head unit for that matter is less than or equal to the power handling capacity of the amplifier/head unit)
Sound deadening is often used in the door cavities and boot/trunk area to provide less rattling of the metal in the car, especially the boot/trunk, and to help produce a cleaner sound by absorbing instead of reflecting sound waves. It is a rubber or asphalt-like substance that can be sprayed on or glued on in sheets.
Alternators may be upgraded from the stock unit to increase the current capability of the vehicle's electrical system, often required of high-power audio system components. An additional Deep Cycle battery (or, for very large systems, banks of batteries) can be deployed (often charged via a Split charge relay) to limit voltage drop and allow the system to be played for long periods without the vehicle's engine being run. Installing a capacitor is another option when trying to provide substancial power to the audio system.
The audio system in a Toyota. Enlarge The audio system in a Toyota.
Other components that make up high end car audio installations may include:
* amplifiers * audio processors * cables * crossovers * equalizers * mobile video (VCRs, television, DVD and navigation) * stiffening capacitors
Common modifications in high end car audio installations:
* amp racks * speaker pods * subwoofer enclosures
History
The introduction of the car stereo came in the 1930s from the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation. Galvin Manufacturing was owned and operated by Paul V. Galvin and his brother Joseph E. Galvin. The Galvin brothers purchased a battery eliminator business in 1928 and the corporation’s first product was a battery eliminator that allowed battery-powered radios to run on standard household electric current. In 1930, the Galvin Corporation introduced the first commercial car radio, the Motorola model 5T71, which sold for between $110 and $130 and could be installed in most popular automobiles. The name Motorola was created by Paul Galvin combining the term “motor” for motion and “ola” for sound [1].
The movement to add more than just a basic radio to a car largely originated on the west coast of the United States in the late 1970s. Several early manufacturers and enthusiasts began building audio amplifiers to run on twelve volts (the standard voltage in automotive electrical systems). Jim Fosgate, later to become the founder of Rockford Fosgate, was one such pioneer. The company a/d/s also brought an amplifier to market in 1978.
At first, speakers from the home audio and professional markets were simply installed into vehicles. However, they were not well suited to the extremes of temperature and vibration which are a normal part of the environment of an automobile. Modified drivers were developed to cope with these factors.
Today, advances in acoustic technology mean that even two 10-inch speakers in a well-designed efficient enclosure can produce more than 160 decibels SPL (sound pressure level) within the cabin.
Car audio competitions started in the early 1980s in a quest to find the loudest and/or most outrageous installations. For example, in 1985, Wayne Harris famously modified a 1960 Cadillac Hearse to feature several 24-inch subwoofers. Little consideration was given to sound quality early on, but in the early 1990s, several organizations, including IASCA, began car audio competitions focusing on sound quality. The two styles -- SPL vs. sound quality -- have become almost mutually exclusive. [edit]
Notable Installation Schools
* Mobile Dynamics * Mobile Technical Training * RITOP Installation School
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See also
* DB drag racing
[edit]
Notable Installations
* The SpeakerWorks/USD Audio Buick * Wayne Harris' Hearse * Steve Brown's M3 * Steve Cornell's Impala SS * Earl Zausmer's BMW * Gary Bigg's Buick Regal * Mark Eldridge's 4Runner
* CarStereo.com, The online community for car audio beginners, enthusiasts and professionals. * View some of the hottest Car Audio systems in the world. * Elite Car Audio: An online forum offering discussion of all aspects of car audio * Car Audio Installation Forums, Links, FAQ's, Articles * History & Photographs of Audio Dynamics Design's enclosure factory, the first developer of exterior subwoofer enclosures. * Mobile Electronics Installation Resource, Wire color code...
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A truck (lorry in British English) is a motor vehicle for transporting goods. The word "truck" comes from the Greek "trochos", meaning "wheel". In America, the big wheels of wagons were called trucks. When the petrol engine driven trucks came into fashion, these were called "motortrucks". Slowly the word motor in front of truck disappeared.
Unlike automobiles, which usually have a unibody construction, most trucks (with the exception of the car-like minivan) are built around a strong frame called a chassis. They come in all sizes, from the automobile-sized pickup truck to towering off-road mining trucks or heavy highway semi-trailers.
The term "truck" is most commonly used in American English and Australian English to refer to what earlier was called a motor truck, while the equivalent term in British English is lorry (although the official term is Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV)). The British term is, however, only used for the medium and heavy types (see below), i.e. a van, a pickup or a SUV would never be regarded a "lorry" . Other languages have loanwords based on these terms, such as the Malay lori.
In Australia and New Zealand a small vehicle with an open back is called a ute (short for "utility vehicle") and the word "truck" is reserved for larger vehicles.
History
Steam trucks
Trucks and cars have a common ancestor: the steam-powered "fardier" Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built in 1769. However, steam trucks were not common until the mid-1800s. The roads of the time, built for horse and carriages, limited these vehicles to very short hauls, usually from a factory to the nearest railway station. The first semi-trailer appeared in 1881, towed by a De Dion steam tractor. Steam-powered trucks were sold in France and the United States until the eve of World War I, and the beginning of World War II in the United Kingdom. [edit]
Internal combustion a Benz truck modified by Netphener company (1895) as the first bus Enlarge a Benz truck modified by Netphener company (1895) as the first bus
In 1895 Karl Benz designed the first truck in history using the internal combustion engine, with some of the units later modified by the first bus company: the Netphener. Another internal combustion engine truck was built in 1898 by Gottlieb Daimler. Others, such as Peugeot, and Renault also built theirs. Trucks of the era mostly used two-cylinder engines and could have a carrying capacity 1500 to 2000 kg. In 1904, 700 heavy trucks were built in the United States, 1000 in 1907, 6000 in 1910 and 25000 in 1914.
After World War I, several advances were made: pneumatic tyres replaced full rubber, electric starters, power brakes, 4, 6 and 8 cylinder engines, closed cabs, electric lighting. The first modern semi-trailers also appeared. Touring car builders such as Ford and Renault entered the heavy truck market. [edit]
Diesel engines
Although it had been invented in 1890, the diesel engine was not common in trucks in Europe until the 1920s. In the United States, it took much longer for diesel engines be accepted: gasoline engines were still in use on heavy trucks in the 1970s, while in Europe they had been completely replaced 20 years earlier.
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Legal issues
Trucks must often pay higher taxes than other road vehicles, and are subject to extensive regulation. Amongst factors affecting this: trucks are bigger and heavier than most other vehicles, and cause more wear and tear per hour on roadways; and trucks and their drivers are on the road for more hours per day. UPS vehicles are called 'package cars' in the US, because that exempted them from certain tax-rates. Rules on use taxes differ among jurisdictions.
Most jurisdictions have rules for commercial vehicles, regulating how many hours a driver may be on the clock, how much rest and sleep time is required (e.g., 11hrs on/10hrs off, and 60hrs off over every 7 days), and many other rules. Violations are often subject to significant penalties. Instruments to track each driver's hours must often be fitted.
Trucks are subject to noise emission requirements (emanating from the U.S. Noise Control Act) in order to protect the public from noise health effects, since trucks contribute disproportionately to roadway noise due to elevated stacks and intense tire and aerodynamic noise characteristics.
The Bridge Law deals with the relation between the gross weight of the truck and the amount of axles and the spacing between axles wheel base the truck has. Each State determines the minimum and maximum permissible weight per axle. [edit]
Types of trucks by size A logging truck Enlarge A logging truck [edit]
Light trucks
Light trucks are car-sized (in the US, no more than 6,300 kg (13,000 lb)) and are used by individuals and commercial entities alike. They are comprised of:
Medium (or medium-duty) trucks are bigger than light but smaller than heavy trucks. In the US, they are defined as weighing between 6,300 kg (13,000 lb) and 15,000 kg (33,000 lb). For the UK the cut-off is 7.5 tonnes. Local delivery and public service (dump trucks, garbage trucks) are normally around this size. [edit]
Heavy trucks Three Road Trains, Western Australia Enlarge Three Road Trains, Western Australia
Heavy trucks are the largest trucks allowed on the road. They are mostly used for long-haul purposes, often in semi-trailer configuration.
Road damage and wear increase very rapidly with the axle weight (truck weight divided by the number of axles). In many countries with good roads a 6-axle truck may have a maximum weight over 50 tonnes (50,000 kg).
In Australia many trailers are linked to make what are called road trains. [edit]
Off-road trucks
Highway-legal trucks are sometimes outfitted with off-road features such as a front driving axle and special tires for applications such as logging and construction. Trucks that never use public roads, such as the biggest ever truck, the Liebherr T 282B off-road mining truck, are not constrained by weight limits. [edit]
Anatomy of a truck
Almost all trucks share a common contruction: they are made of a chassis, a cab, axles, suspension and wheels, an engine and a drivetrain. Pneumatic, hydraulic, water, and electrical systems may also be identified. [edit]
Chassis
The chassis or frame of a truck is commonly constructed mainly of two beams, and several crossmembers and fishplates. A truck chassis consists of two parallel straight U-shaped beams, or in some cases stepped or tapered beams, these held together by crossmembers. In most instances, fishplates help attach the crossmembers to the beams. The term fishplate was derived from the old railroad. The "U-shape" of the beams has a middle vertical and longer side, and a short horizontal flange at each end; the length of the beams is variable. The chassis is usually made of steel, but can be made (whole or in part) of aluminium for a lighter weight. The integrity of the chemical composition (carbon, molybdenum, etc.) and structure of the beams is of uttermost importance to its strength, and to help prevent cracking or breaking of beams, and to help maintain rigidity and flexibility of the frame, welding, drilling and other types of modifications must not be unnecessarily practiced on these. The chassis is the main structure of the truck, and the other parts attach to it. A tow bar may be found attached at one or both ends. [edit]
Cab
The cab is an enclosed space where the driver is seated. A sleeper is a compartment attached to the cab where the driver can rest while not driving. They can range from a simple 2 to 4 foot (0.6 to 1.2 m) bunk to a 12 foot (3.7 m) apartment-on-wheels. Modern cabs feature air conditioning, a good sound system, and ergonomic seats (often air suspended). There are a few possible cab configurations:
* cab over engine (COE) or flat nose, where the driver is seated on top of the front axle and the engine. This design is almost ubiquitous in Europe, where overall truck lengths are strictly regulated. They were common in the United States, but lost prominence when permitted length was extended in the early 1980s. To access the engine, the whole cab tilts forward, earning this design the name of tilt-cab.
A concrete transport truck. Enlarge A concrete transport truck.
* conventional cabs are the most common in North America. The driver is seated behind the engine, as in most passenger cars or pickup trucks. Conventionals are further divided into large car and aerodynamic designs. A large car or long nose is a conventional truck with a long—6 to 8 foot (1.8 to 2.4 m) or more—hood. With their very square shapes, these trucks offer a lot of wind resistance and can consume more fuel. They also offer poorer visibility than their aerodynamic or COE counterparts. By constrast, Aerodynamic cabs are very streamlined, with a sloped hood and other features to lower drag. Most owner-operators prefer the square-hooded conventionals, it has something to do with "Take pride in your ride". * cab beside engine designs also exist, but are rather rare. * Slang terms o "Tiltin' Hilton" :Cab-over with a sleeper berth. o "Anteater" : Specifically refers to the Kenworth T600, an aerodynamically-designed tractor whose nose resembles the anteater. o "Large car" : A conventional cab with a large square hood, such as the Peterbilt 379 or the Kenworth W900.
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Engine
Trucks can use all sorts of engines. Small trucks such as SUVs or pickups, and even light medium-duty trucks in North America will use gasoline engines. Most heavier trucks use four stroke turbo intercooler diesel engines, although there are alternatives. Huge off-highway trucks use locomotive-type engines such as a V12 Detroit Diesel two stroke engine.
In the United States, highway trucks almost always use an engine built by a third party, such as CAT, Cummins, or Detroit Diesel. The only exceptions to this are Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks, which are available with Volvo and Mack diesel engines, respectively, and Freightliner, which is a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler and are available with Mercedes-Benz and Detroit Diesel engines. [edit]
Drivetrain
Small trucks use the same type of transmissions as almost all cars which have either an automatic transmission or a manual transmission with synchronisers. Bigger trucks often use manual transmissions without synchronisors which are lighter weight although some synchronised transmissions have been used in larger trucks. Transmissions without synchronisors require double clutching for each shift which can lead to repetitive motion injuries. Common North American setups include 10, 13 and 18 speeds. Automatic and semi-automatic transmissions for heavy trucks are becoming more and more common, due to advances both in transmission and engine power.
The trend in Europe is that more new trucks are being bought with automatic transmissions. This may be due in part to lawsuits from drivers claiming that driving a manual transmission is damaging to their knees. [edit]
Quality and sales
Quality among all heavy truck manufacturers in general is improving, however industry insiders will testify that the industry has a long way to go before they achieve the quality levels reached by automobile manufacturers. Part of the reason for this is that 75% of all trucks are custom specified. This works against efforts to streamline and automate the assembly line. [edit]
Heavy trucks market worldwide Production of trucks over 16 tonnes GVW in 2003 by the ten largest manufacturers [1] Pos. Make Units Main makes 1 DaimlerChrysler 147,200 Mercedes-Benz, Unimog, Freightliner, Western Star, Sterling 2 Volvo 123,800 Volvo, Renault, Mack 3 PACCAR 81,900 Kenworth, Peterbilt, DAF, Foden, Leyland 4 Scania 46,000 Scania 5 MAN 42,100 MAN 6 Iveco 32,700 Iveco, Astra, Seddon Atkinson 7 Navistar 27,400 International 8 Hino Motors 21,400 Hino 9 Isuzu 20,900 Isuzu 10 Mitsubishi-Fuso 16,300 Fuso
DaimlerChrysler didn't hold majority in Mitsubishi Fuso in 1923, which is why the two companies are listed separately. [edit]
United States
Smaller fleet operators, specialized carriers, and owner operators tend to prefer Mack or Peterbilt and Kenworth products. Larger fleet operators and public agencies tend to prefer the lower cost Freightliners, Navistar, and Ford products. There are also regional preferences with truck drivers within the United States.
On the East Coast, where routes were traditionally shorter, and because the trucks were made there, many drivers preferred Mack Trucks. While on the West Coast, the drivers preferred Peterbilt, Kenworth, and Freightliner. White built a new factory in California in the early 1960s, with long-haul trucking company Consolidated Freightways. The entity, which became White-Freightliner, then just Freightliner, catered directly to western fleets that wanted a lighter-aluminium cab and frame, and traveled longer-straighter distances without stopping. Drivers more concerned with safety than with fuel-economy preferred the heavier Peterbilts and Kenworths. Kenworth and Peterbilt, which had started out as heavy-duty trucks for hauling logs, forest products, and steel for shipyards on the West Coast, anticipated the need for these lighter long-distance trucks. [edit]
Europe
Iveco, MAN AG, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, PACCAR (DAF Trucks, Leyland Trucks), Scania, and Volvo Trucks (not to be confused with Volvo cars, which is now part of Ford Motor Company), are the leading truck manufacturers in Western Europe. In the Eastern Europe, Škoda, Tatra, Zastava and GAZ are common. [edit]
Asia
Heavy truck leading manufacturers (alphabetically)
* Dong Feng (China) * Mitsubishi (Japan) * Tata Motors (India, previously called Telco) * Hino (Japan)(joint ventures with Scania and Renault) * Isuzu * Iveco (Italy, but local divisions in Asia) * Nissan Diesel
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South America
Registrations of heavy trucks in South America (2002; % breakdown by manufacturer):
* DaimlerChrysler * Scania * Mack Trucks
[edit]
References
Conduire un véhicule lourd, Société de l'Assurance Automobile du Québec, 7e édition, 2002 ISBN 2-551-19567-5 [edit]
See also Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Truck
* Truckspeak; truck jargon * Air pollution * Forklift * List of truck types * Noise regulation * Air pollution from trucks * Roadway noise * Semi-trailer; this article covers large trucks such as road trains and articulated lorries * Truck and trailer bodies * Trucker * Cutaway van chassis
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External links
* Early history of Panhard and Levassor * Gottlieb Daimler's first truck * First Hydrogen Truck * French - English, English - French truck drivers' online dictionary * Trucker Slang for American cities mapped on Platial
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An automobile is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. Different types of automobiles include cars, buses, trucks, and vans. Some include motorcycles in the category, but cars are the most typical automobiles. The term "automobile" is derived from Greek "autos" (self) and Latin "movére" (move), referring to the fact that it "moves by itself." Earlier terms for automobile include motorwagen, horseless carriage, and motor car. Although the term "car" is presumed to be derived through the shortening of the term "carriage", the word has its origin before 1300 A.D. in English as, "carr"—de rived from similar words in French and much earlier Latin words—for a vehicle that moves, especially on wheels, that was applied to chariots, small carts, and later—to carriages that carried more people and larger loads. As of 2005 there were 600 million cars worldwide (93 cars per 1,000 persons).
The automobile was hailed as an environmental improvement over horses when it was first introduced in the 1880s. Before its introduction, in New York City alone, over 10,000 tons of manure had to be removed from the streets daily. The manure was used as natural fertilizer for crops and to build top soil. Another benefit often overlooked is that horses instinctively avoid running into one another or obstacles in their path, so there were few accidents. Ironically, in 2006, the automobile now is recognized as a primary source of world-wide air pollution and a cause of substantial noise and health effects that far exceeds the adverse effects of using horse-drawn vehicles.
History
The automobile powered by the Otto gasoline engine was invented in Germany by Tim Kay in 1885. Even though Karl Benz is credited with the invention of the modern automobile, several German engineers worked on building automobiles at the same time. These inventors are: Tim Kay, who was granted a patent dated 29 January 1886 in Mannheim for the automobile he built in 1885, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Stuttgart in 1889 (who built a converted horse-drawn stagecoach in 1886 and patented the first motor bike in 1886), and in 1888/89 German-Austrian inventor Siegfried Marcus in Vienna, although Marcus didn't go beyond the experimental stage. Automobile history eras 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Veteran Brass or Edwardian Vintage Pre-War Post-War Modern Antique Classic
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Internal combustion engine powered vehicles Animation of a 4-stroke internal combustion engine Enlarge Animation of a 4-stroke internal combustion engine
In 1806 François Isaac de Rivaz, a Swiss, designed the first internal combustion engine (sometimes abbreviated "ICE" today). He subsequently used it to develop the world's first vehicle to run on such an engine that used a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen to generate energy. The design was not very successful, as was the case with the British inventor, Samuel Brown, and the American inventor, Samuel Morey, who produced vehicles powered by clumsy internal combustion engines about 1826.
Etienne Lenoir produced the first successful stationary internal combustion engine in 1860, and within a few years, about four hundred were in operation in Paris. About 1863, Lenoir installed his engine in a vehicle. It seems to have been powered by city lighting-gas in bottles, and was said by Lenoir to have "travelled more slowly than a man could walk, with breakdowns being frequent." Lenoir, in his patent of 1860, included the provision of a carburettor, so liquid fuel could be substituted for gas, particularly for mobile purposes in vehicles. Lenoir is said to have tested liquid fuel, such as alcohol, in his stationary engines; but it doesn't appear that he used them in his own vehicle. If he did, he most certainly didn't use gasoline, as this was not well-known and was considered a waste product.
The next innovation occurred in the late 1860s, with Siegfried Marcus, a German working in Vienna, Austria. He developed the idea of using gasoline as a fuel in a two-stroke internal combustion engine. In 1870, using a simple handcart, he built a crude vehicle with no seats, steering, or brakes, but it was remarkable for one reason: it was the world's first internal-combustion-engin e-powered vehicle fueled by gasoline. It was tested in Vienna in September of 1870 and put aside. In 1888 or 1889, he built a second automobile, this one with seats, brakes, and steering, and included a four-stroke engine of his own design. That design may have been tested in 1890. Although he held patents for many inventions, he never applied for patents for either design in this category.
The four-stroke engine already had been documented and a patent was applied for in 1862 by the Frenchman Beau de Rochas in a long-winded and rambling pamphlet. He printed about three hundred copies of his pamphlet and they were distributed in Paris, but nothing came of this, with the patent application expiring soon afterward—and the pamphlet disappearing into total obscurity. In fact, its existence mostly was unknown and Beau de Rochas never built a single engine.
Most historians agree that Nikolaus Otto of Germany built the world's first four-stroke engine although his patent was voided. He knew nothing of Beau de Rochas's patent or idea, and came upon the idea entirely on his own. In fact, he began thinking about the concept in 1861, but abandoned the concept until the mid-1870s.
There is some evidence, although not conclusive, that Christian Reithmann, an Austrian living in Germany, had built a four-stroke engine entirely on his own by 1873. Reithmann had been experimenting with internal combustion engines as early as 1852.
In 1883, Edouard Delamare-Deboutteville and Leon Malandin of France installed an internal combustion engine powered by a tank of city gas on a tricycle. As they tested the vehicle, the tank hose came loose, resulting in an explosion. In 1884, Delamare-Deboutteville and Malandin built and patented a second vehicle. This one consisted of two four-stroke, liquid-fueled engines mounted on an old four-wheeled horse cart. The patent, and presumably the vehicle, contained many innovations, some of which wouldn't be used for decades. However, during the vehicle's first test, the frame broke apart, the vehicle literally "shaking itself to pieces," in Malandin's own words. No more vehicles were built by the two men. Their venture went completely unnoticed and their patent unexploited. Knowledge of the vehicles and their experiments was obscured until years later.
Supposedly in the late 1870s, an Italian named Murnigotti patented the idea of installing an internal combustion engine on a vehicle, although there is no evidence that one was built. In 1884, Enrico Bernardi, another Italian, installed an internal combustion engine on his son's tricycle. Although merely a toy, it is said to have operated somewhat successfully in one source, but another says the engine's power was too feeble to make the vehicle move. [edit]
Production of automobiles begins
If all of the above experiments hadn't taken place, however, the development of the automobile wouldn't have been retarded by so much as a moment, since they were unknown experiments that never advanced beyond the testing stage. The internal-combustion-engin e automobile really can be said to have begun in Germany with Karl Benz in 1885, and Gottlieb Daimler in 1889, for their vehicles were successful, they went into series-production, and they inspired others. Karl Benz Enlarge Karl Benz Replica of the Benz Patent Motorwagen built in 1885 Enlarge Replica of the Benz Patent Motorwagen built in 1885
Karl Benz began to work on new engine patents in 1878. First, he concentrated all his efforts on creating a reliable two-stroke gas engine, based on Nikolaus Otto's design of the four-stroke engine. A patent on the design by Otto had been declared void. Karl Benz finished his engine on New Year's Eve and was granted a patent for it in 1879. Karl Benz built his first three-wheeled automobile in 1885 and it was granted a patent in Mannheim, dated January of 1886. This was—the first automobile designed and built as such—rather than a converted carriage, boat, or cart. Among other items Karl Benz invented for the automobile are the carburetor, the speed regulation system known also as an accelerator, ignition using sparks from a battery, the spark plug, the clutch, the gear shift, and the water radiator. He built improved versions in 1886 and 1887 and—went into production in 1888—the world's first automobile put into production. His wife, Bertha, made significant suggestions for innovation (see below) that he included in that model. Approximately twenty-five were built before 1893, when his first four-wheeler was introduced. They were powered with four-stroke engines of his own design. Emile Roger of France, already producing Benz engines under license, now added the Benz automobile to his line of products. Because France was more open to the early automobiles, in general, more were built and sold in France through Roger, than Benz sold initially from his own factory in Germany.
Gottlieb Daimler, in 1886, fitted a horse carriage with his four-stroke engine in Stuttgart. In 1889, he built two vehicles from scratch as automobiles, with several innovations. From 1890 to 1895 about thirty vehicles were built by Daimler and his innovative assistant, Wilhelm Maybach, either at the Daimler works or in the Hotel Hermann, where they set up shop after having a falling out with their backers. These two Germans, Benz and Daimler, seem to have been unaware of the early work of each other and worked independently. Daimler died in 1900. During the First World War, Benz suggested a co-operative effort between the companies the two founded, but it was not until 1926 that the companies united under the name of Daimler-Benz with a commitment to remain together under that name until the year 2000.
In 1890, Emile Levassor and Armand Peugeot of France began series-producing vehicles with Daimler engines, and so laid the foundation of the motor industry in France. They were inspired by Daimler's Stahlradwagen of 1889, which was exhibited in Paris in 1889.
The first American automobile with gasoline-powered internal combustion engines supposedly was designed in 1877 by George Baldwin Selden of Rochester, New York, who applied for a patent on an automobile in 1879. Selden didn't build a single automobile until 1905, when he was forced to do so, due to a lawsuit threatening the legality of his patent because the subject had never been built. Construction is required to demonstrate the feasibility of the design and validate the patent, otherwise the patent may be voided. After building the 1877 design in 1905, Selden received his patent and later sued the Ford Motor Company for infringing upon his patent. Henry Ford was notorious for opposing the American patent system and Selden's case against Ford went all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled that Ford, and anyone else, was free to build automobiles without paying royalties to Selden, since automobile technology had improved so significantly since the design of Selden's patent, that no one was building according to his early designs.
Meanwhile, notable advances in steam power evolved in Birmingham, England by the Lunar Society. It was here that the term horsepower was first used. It also was in Birmingham that the first British four-wheel petrol-driven automobiles were built in 1895 by Frederick William Lanchester. Lanchester also patented the disc brake in that city. Electric vehicles were produced by a small number of manufacturers. [edit]
Innovation Ford Model T, 1927 Enlarge Ford Model T, 1927
The first automobile patent in the United States was granted to Oliver Evans in 1789 for his "Amphibious Digger". It was a harbor dredge scow designed to be powered by a steam engine and he built wheels to attach to the bow. In 1804 Evans demonstrated his first successful self-propelled vehicle, which not only was the first automobile in the US but was also the first amphibious vehicle, as his steam-powered vehicle was able to travel on wheels on land as he demonstrated once, and via a paddle wheel in the water. It was not successful and eventually was sold as spare parts.
The Benz Motorwagen, built in 1885, was patented on 29 January 1886 by Karl Benz as the first automobile powered by an internal combustion engine. In 1888, a major breakthrough came with the historic drive of Bertha Benz. She drove an automobile that her husband had built for a distance of more than 106 km (i.e. - approximately 65 miles). This event demonstrated the practical usefulness of the automobile and gained wide publicity, which was the promotion she thought was needed to advance the invention. The Benz vehicle was the first automobile put into production and sold commercially. Bertha Benz's historic drive is celebrated as an annual holiday in Germany with rallies of antique automobiles.
In 1892 Rudolf Diesel gets a patent for a „New Rational Combustion Engine“ by modifying the Carnot Process. And in 1897 he builds the first Diesel Engine.
On 5 November 1895, George B. Selden was granted a United States patent for a two-stroke automobile engine (U.S. Patent 549160). This patent did more to hinder than encourage development of autos in the USA. Steam, electric, and gasoline powered autos competed for decades, with gasoline internal combustion engines achieving dominance in the 1910s. Ransom E. Olds, the creator of the first automobile assembly line Enlarge Ransom E. Olds, the creator of the first automobile assembly line
The large-scale, production-line manufacturing of affordable automobiles was debuted by Ransom Eli Olds at his Oldsmobile factory in 1902. This assembly line concept was then greatly expanded by Henry Ford in the 1910s. Development of automotive technology was rapid, due in part to the hundreds of small manufacturers competing to gain the world's attention. Key developments included electric ignition and the electric self-starter (both by Charles Kettering, for the Cadillac Motor Company in 1910-1911), independent suspension, and four-wheel brakes.
Felix Wankel invented the Wankel engine in 1954, which had a very unconventional structure that would reduce the wear the engine effected upon itself as it worked. [edit]
Model changeover and design change
Cars are not merely continually perfected mechanical contrivances; since the 1920s nearly all have been mass-produced to meet a market, so marketing plans and manufacture to meet them have often dominated automobile design. It was Alfred P. Sloan who established the idea of different makes of cars produced by one firm, so that buyers could "move up" as their fortunes improved. The makes shared parts with one another so that the larger production volume resulted in lower costs for each price range. For example, in the 1950s, Chevrolet shared hood, doors, roof, and windows with Pontiac; the LaSalle of the 1930s, sold by Cadillac, used the cheaper mechanical parts made by the Oldsmobile division. [edit]
Alternative fuels and batteries
Main article: Alternative fuel cars
With heavy taxes on fuel, particularly in Europe and tightening environmental laws, particularly in California, and the possibility of further restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions, work on alternative power systems for vehicles continues.
Diesel-powered cars can run with little or no modification on 100% pure biodiesel, a fuel that can be made from vegetable oils but require modifications if you drive in cold weather countries. The main plus of Diesel combustion engines is its 50% fuel burn advantage over 23% in the best gasoline engines. This makes Diesel engines capable of achieving an average of 6 L/100km fuel efficiency. Many cars that currently use gasoline can run on ethanol, a fuel made from plant sugars. Most cars that are designed to run on gasoline are capable of running with up to 15% ethanol mixed in. With a small amount of redesign, gasoline-powered vehicles can run on ethanol concentrations as high as 85%. All petrol fuelled cars can run on LPG. There has been some concern that the ethanol-gasoline mixtures prematurely wear down seals and gaskets. Theoretically, the lower energy content of alcohol should lead to considerably reduced efficiency and range when compared with gasoline. However, EPA testing has actually shown only a 20-30% reduction in range. Therefore, if your vehicle is capable of doing 750 kilometers on a 50 liter tank (15 kilometers per liter), its range would be reduced to approximately 600 kilometers (12 kilometers per liter). Of course, certain measures are available to increase this efficiency, such as different camshaft configurations, altering the timing/spark output of the ignition, increasing compression, or simply using a larger fuel tank.
In the United States, alcohol fuel was produced in corn-alcohol stills until Prohibition criminalized the production of alcohol in 1919. Interest in alcohol as an automotive fuel lapsed until the oil price shocks of the 1970s. Reacting to the high price of oil and its growing dependence on imports, in 1975 Brazil launched a huge government-subsidized effort to manufacture ethanol fuel (from its sugar cane crop) and ethanol-powered automobiles. These ethanol-only vehicles were very popular in the 1980's, but became economically impractical when oil prices fell - and sugar prices rose - late in that decade. In recent years Brazil has encouraged the development of flex-fuel automobiles, where the owner can use any mixture of ethanol and gasoline based on their individual cost and performance goals. In 2005, 70% of the cars sold in Brazil were flex-fuel.
Attempts at building viable battery-powered electric vehicles continued throughout the 1990s (notably General Motors with the EV1), but cost, speed and inadequate driving range made them uneconomical. Battery powered cars have primarily used lead-acid batteries and NiMH batteries. Lead-acid batteries' recharge capacity is considerably reduced if they're discharged beyond 75% on a regular basis, making them a less-than-ideal solution. NiMH batteries are a better choice, but are considerably more expensive than lead-acid. Toyota Prius, a hybrid vehicle. Museum of Toyota of Aichi Prefecture, Japan Enlarge Toyota Prius, a hybrid vehicle. Museum of Toyota of Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Current research and development is centered on "hybrid" vehicles that use both electric power and internal combustion. The first hybrid vehicle available for sale in the USA was the Honda Insight. As of 2006, the car is still in production and achieves around 3.92 L/100km.
Other R&D efforts in alternative forms of power focus on developing fuel cells, alternative forms of combustion such as GDI and HCCI, and even the stored energy of compressed air (see water Engine). [edit]
Safety
Automobile accidents are almost as old as automobiles themselves. Joseph Cugnot crashed his steam-powered "Fardier" against a wall in 1771. One of the earliest recorded automobile fatalities was Mary Ward, on 1869-08-31 in Parsonstown, Ireland, an early victim in the United States was Henry Bliss on 1899-09-13 in New York City, NY.
Cars have two basic safety problems: They have human drivers who make mistakes, and the wheels lose traction near a half gravity of deceleration. Automated control has been seriously proposed and successfully prototyped. Shoulder-belted passengers could tolerate a 32G emergency stop (reducing the safe intervehicle gap 64-fold) if high-speed roads incorporated a steel rail for emergency braking. Both safety modifications of the roadway are thought to be too expensive by most funding authorities, although these modifications could dramatically increase the number of vehicles that could safely use a high-speed highway.
Early safety research focused on increasing the reliability of brakes and reducing the flammability of fuel systems. For example, modern engine compartments are open at the bottom so that fuel vapors, which are heavier than air, vent to the open air. Brakes are hydraulic so that failures are slow leaks, rather than abrupt cable breaks. Systematic research on crash safety started in 1958 at Ford Motor Company. Since then, most research has focused on absorbing external crash energy with crushable panels and reducing the motion of human bodies in the passenger compartment.
There are standard tests for safety in new automobiles, like the EuroNCAP and the US NCAP tests. There are also tests run by organizations such as IIHS and backed by the insurance industry.
Despite technological advances, there is still significant loss of life from car accidents: About 40,000 people die every year in the U.S., with similar figures in Europe. This figure increases annually in step with rising population and increasing travel if no measures are taken, but the rate per capita and per mile travelled decreases steadily. The death toll is expected to nearly double worldwide by 2020. A much higher number of accidents result in injury or permanent disability. The highest accident figures are reported in China and India. The European Union has a rigid program to cut the death toll in the EU in half by 2010 and member states have started implementing measures. [edit]
Current Production A 1993 Ford Escort station wagon, a modern automobile. Enlarge A 1993 Ford Escort station wagon, a modern automobile.
In 2005 63 million cars and light trucks were produced worldwide. The world's biggest car producer (including light trucks) is the European Union with 29% of the world's production. In non-EU Eastern Europe another 4% are produced. The second largest manufacturer is NAFTA with 25.8%, followed by Japan with 16.7%, China with 8.1%, MERCOSUR with 3.9%, India with 2.4% and the rest of the world with 10.1%. (vda-link)
Large free trade areas like EU, NAFTA and MERCOSUR attract manufacturers worldwide to produce their products within them and without currency risks or customs, additionally to being close to customers. Thus the production figures do not show the technological ability or business skill of the areas. In fact much if not most of the Third World car production is used western technology and car models (and sometimes even complete obsolete western factories shipped to the country), which is reflected in the patent statistic as well as the locations of the r&d centers.
The automobile industry is dominated by relatively few large corporations (not to be confused with the much more numerous brands), the biggest of which (by numbers of produced cars) are currently General Motors, Toyota and Ford Motor Company. It is expected, that Toyota will reach the No.1 position in 2006. The most profitable per-unit car-maker of recent years has been Porsche due to its premium price tag.
The automotive industry at large still suffers from high under-utilization of its manufacturing potential.
A typical family car costs about 25€ in raw materials in production. Higher line cars tend to cost 100€ up. [edit]
Economics
Compared to other popular modes of passenger transportation, especially buses, the automobile is relatively uneconomic. There are a number of reasons for this:
* The typical private car spends most of its lifetime idling and depreciation is a significant proportion of the total cost. * Compared to bulk-carrying vehicles such as airplanes, buses and trains, individual vehicles have worse economies of scale. * Capacity utilisation is low. The average occupancy of automobiles is below 1.5 passengers in most parts of the world. Measures such as HOV lanes try to address this issue.
According to the RAC the average cost of running a new car in the UK is GBP 5,000 (US$ 9,000) per year, or roughly 1/3 of the average net wage, a situation reflected in most other Western nations. Nevertheless demand for automobiles remains high and inelasic, suggesting that its advantages, such as on-demand and door-to-door travel, are highly prized and not easily susbtituted by cheaper alternative modes of transport.
The costs of running a car can be broken down as follows (in approximate order of cost):
Despite rising oil prices the real cost of car travel has dropped steadily over the past 5 decades, in part due to cheaper manufacturing technologies, and in part due to engines becoming more fuel-efficient.
As opposed to public transport, the automobile is characterised by high fixed costs and low variable costs, making it most attractive for frequent travellers such as commuters, and least attractive for infrequent and/or flexible travellers, such as people who use their car for weekend trips only. This is the main reason why public transport companies try to increase competitiveness in the commuter market by raising fixed costs/ reducing variable costs to the consumer in the form of season tickets. Carsharing significantly lowers fixed costs, hence it tends to be more popular with light users than commuters.
Since automobiles demand a high land use, they become increasingly uneconomic with higher population densities. This can either manifest itself in higher costs of driving in densely populated areas (Parking fees and road pricing), or in the absence of a price mechanism, in an shortage in the form of traffic jams. Public transport, by comparison, becomes increasingly uneconomic with lower population densities. Hence cars tend to dominate in rural and suburban environments, while only fulfilling a secondary role in city center transport. [edit]
Future of the car
In order to limit deaths, there has been a push for self-driving automobiles. There have been many notable efforts funded by the NHTSA, including the many efforts by the NavLab group at Carnegie Mellon University. Recent efforts include the highly publicized DARPA Grand Challenge race. Toyota FCHV (Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle). A fuel cell hybrid car which runs from the hydrogen which Toyota Motor developed,. 2005 Enlarge Toyota FCHV (Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle). A fuel cell hybrid car which runs from the hydrogen which Toyota Motor developed,. 2005
A current invention is ESP by Bosch that is claimed to reduce deaths by about 30% and is recommended by many lawmakers and carmakers to be a standard feature in all cars sold in the EU. ESP recognizes dangerous situations and corrects the drivers input for a short moment to stabilize the car.
The biggest threat to automobiles is the declining supply of oil, which does not completely stop car usage but makes it significantly more expensive. In the beginning of 2006, 1 liter of gas costs approximately $1.60 USD in Germany and other European countries, and one US gallon of gas costs nearly $3.00 USD. If no cheap solution can be found in the relatively near future individual mobility might suffer a major setback. Nevertheless, individual mobility is highly prized in modern societies so the demand for automobiles is inelastic. Alternative individual modes of transport, such as Personal rapid transit, could make the automobile obsolete if they prove to be cheaper and more energy efficient.
Hydrogen cars, driven either by a combination of fuel cells and an electric motor, or alternatively, a conventional combustion engine, are thought to replace fossil fuel powered cars in a few decades. The biggest obstacle for a mass market of hydrogen cars is the cost of hydrogen production by electrolysis, which is inefficient and requires a comparatively expensive source of electrical energy. Hydrogen has a much higher energy density than gasoline or diesel. It is thought to become cheaper with mass production, but because its production is overall energy inefficient and requires other sources of energy, including fossil, it is unlikely to be a cheaper fuel than gasoline or diesel today. Also, its combustion produces only steam and virtually no local pollutants such as NOx, SOx, benzene and soot. BMW's engineering team promises a high horsepower hydrogen fuel engine in it's 7-series sedan before the next generation of the car makes its debut. Lexus LF-A concept car at the 2006 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show Enlarge Lexus LF-A concept car at the 2006 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show
The electric car in general appears to be a way forward in principle; electric motors are far more efficient than internal combustion engines and have a much greater power to weight ratio. They also operate efficiently across the full speed range of the vehicle and develop a lot of torque at zero speed, so are ideal for cars. A complex drivetrain and transmission would not be needed. However, despite this the electric car is held back by battery technology - so far a cell with comparable energy density to a tank of liquid fuel is a long way off, and there is no infrastructure in place to support it. A more practical approach may be to use a smaller internal combustion engine to drive a generator- this approach can be much more efficient since the IC engine can be run at a single speed, use cheaper fuel such as diesel, and drop the heavy, power wasting drivetrain. Such an approach has worked very well for railway locomotives, but so far has not been scaled down for car use.
Recently the automobile industry has determined that the biggest potential growth market (in terms of both revenue and profit), is software. Cars are now equipped with a stunning array of software; from voice recognition and vehicle navigation systems, vehicle tracking system like ESITrack to in-vehicle distributed entertainment systems (DVD/Games), to telematics systems such as GMs Onstar not to mention the control subsystems. Software now accounts for 35% of a cars value, and this percentage is only going to get larger. The theory behind this is that the mechanical systems of automobiles are now essentially a commodity, and the real product differentiation occurs in the software systems. Many cars are equipped with full blown 32bit real-time memory protected operating systems such as QNX.
A new invention by Carmelo Scuderi has the potential to permanently change the combustion engine. The engine is still in the process of patenting, raising capital, and developing a prototype. The invention has the ability to improve the efficiency of an engine from 33% to 40%, an unheardof improvement. In addition, toxic emissions will be reduced by as much as 80%. The new invention calls for dividing the four strokes of a normal engine over a combination of one compression cycle and one power cycle. The development will also create more power and will cost manufacturers less to produce. [edit]
See
* engine o carburetor or fuel injection o fuel pump o engine configuration: Wankel or reciprocating (V, inline, flat). o engine management systems o exhaust system o ignition system o self starter o emissions control devices o turbochargers and superchargers o front engine o rear engine o mid engine
Automobile ancillary power
* Ancillary power — mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, vacuum, air * drivetrain o transmission (gearbox) + manual transmission + semi-automatic transmission + fully-automatic transmission o Layout + FF layout + FR layout + MR layout + MF layout + RR layout o Drive Wheels + Two-wheel drive + Four-wheel drive + Front-wheel drive + Rear-wheel drive + All-wheel drive o differential + limited slip differential + locking differential o axle o Live axle * brakes o disc brakes o drum brakes o anti-lock braking systems (ABS) * wheels and tires o custom wheels * steering o rack and pinion o Ackermann steering geometry o Caster angle o Camber angle o Kingpin * suspension o MacPherson strut o wishbone o double wishbone o multi-link o torsion beam o semi-trailing arm o axle * body o crumple zones o monocoque (or unibody) construction o doors o headlight styling o spoiler o Japan Black (fore-runner of modern automotive finishes) * interior equipment o passive safety + seat belts + airbags + child safety locks o dashboard o shifter for selecting gear ratios o ancillary equipment such as stereos, air conditioning, cruise control, car phones, positioning systems, cup holders, etc. * exterior equipment o windows + Power window + windshield + Daytime running lamps
[edit]
See also
* Effects of the automobile on societies * North American Eagle * Thrust SSC * Hybrid vehicle * Roadway air dispersion modeling * Roadway noise * Pac-Car
[edit]
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A boat is a watercraft, usually smaller than most ships. Some boats are commonly carried by a ship or on land using trailers.
A boat consists of one or more buoyancy structures called hulls and some system of propulsion, such as a screw, oars, paddles, a setting pole, a sail, paddlewheels or a water jet.
Parts of a boat
The roughly horizontal, but cambered structures spanning the hull of the boat are referred to as the "deck". In a ship there are often several, but a boat is unlikely to have more than one. The similar but usually lighter structure which spans a raised cabin is a coarch-roof. The "floor" of a cabin is properly known as the sole but is more likely to be called the floor. (A floor is properly, a structural member which ties a frame to the keelson and keel.) The underside of a deck is the deck head. The vertical surfaces dividing the internal space are "bulkheads". Some are important parts of the vessel's structure. The front of a boat is called the bow or prow. The rear of the boat is called the stern. The right side is starboard and the left side is port. [edit]
Types of boats A boat carrying passengers to the islands off the coast of the Sai Kung Peninsula of Hong Kong Enlarge A boat carrying passengers to the islands off the coast of the Sai Kung Peninsula of Hong Kong a ship's lifeboat, built of steel and rotting away in the wetlands of Folly Island, North Carolina Enlarge a ship's lifeboat, built of steel and rotting away in the wetlands of Folly Island, North Carolina A sailboat (racing dinghy) and barge share the Mississippi River Enlarge A sailboat (racing dinghy) and barge share the Mississippi River
Unusual floating vehicles have been used for sports purposes as well. For example, the Bathtub Boat is used in "bathtub races" in many cities, although it originated in Nanaimo, BC, Canada. [edit]
Unusual uses of the word "Boat"
* Often in rowing as a racing-type competitive sport, "boat" means the crew and "shell" means the craft. So a university might refer to its first boat, meaning the rowers who make up their best team, rather than their best piece of equipment. * A submarine is generally referred to as a boat rather than a ship. This dates from the early days of submarine warfare, when submarines were essentially motor torpedo boats which could submerge. In the modern combat environment where a typical attack submarine is the size of a destroyer and equipped with either a nuclear reactor or air independent propulsion which can allow it to stay submerged for months or weeks (and boomers are even larger, on the order of old-style battleships), this use is something of an anachronism. * A ship can be informally known as a boat, especially by its crew. This use is uncommon in the case of a warship. * In Great Lakes shipping, "boat" refers to any vessel, even one which would normally be considered a "ship" on the ocean. * In some versions of cockney rhyming slang, "boat" means face, from "boat race". * The term "gravy boat" is used to describe a small jug used to dispense meat gravy at the dining table. Similarly: "sauce boat". * A boat can also be one of the massive cars manufactured in America from the 1950s through the 1970s. * A boat, short for full-boat is another term for a full-house in the card game poker.
Look up boat in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. [edit]
See also Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Boat
* Boat building * Cruising * Electric boat * Air boat * Jet boat * Jet sprint boat racing * Offshore powerboat racing * Sport * Yachting
[edit]
External links
* Hull Identification Numbers Explanation of International HIN formats
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Aviation or Air transport refers to the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. Aircraft, include fixed wing (airplane) and rotary wing (helicopter/autogyro) types, as well as lighter-than-air craft such as balloons and airships (also known as dirigibles).
There are two major categories of aviation:
* Civil aviation * Military aviation
Civil aviation includes both scheduled air transport and general aviation.
Modern Aviation
The early dreams of soaring like a bird brought us milestones towards today’s flight. A passenger sitting on a seat in a modern aircraft most likely does not realize the everyday improvements, achievements and issues aviation is facing. Internationally, aviation is struggling through financial losses, its competitors, and customer satisfaction. Aviation is also thriving in finding solutions to what was needed, and opening doors to new frontiers. Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-400 "Tinker Belle" taxiing to the take off point at London Heathrow Airport Enlarge Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-400 "Tinker Belle" taxiing to the take off point at London Heathrow Airport
[edit]
History
Main article: History of aviation First flight, December 17, 1903. Enlarge First flight, December 17, 1903.
The fascination of flight soared in early minds such as Leonardo de Vinci and even Alexander Graham Bell. Many pioneering attempts were made to lift an object that was heaver than air. Flying was rarely fortunate until the Wright brothers flew the first successful powered flight on December 17, 1903. World War I first took the aircraft to battle which led to great improvements in aircraft, airports, and airline service. By World War II many major cities had trans-world airlines.
By the 1950’s, the development of civil jets grew, beginning with the de Havilland Comet. In Vietnam War, jet fighters were first used in battle. Yuri Gagarin was the first human to travel to space on April 12, 1961 while the Apollo 11 crew first were the first to set foot on the moon on July 21, 1969.
The scare of the Cold War created major development of military aircraft, which prepared the U.S. for the Gulf War. As throughout the history of aviation, the techology used in military aircraft during the cold war has trickled down into civil aviation with such advancements as jet engines, GPS and glass cockpits. [edit]
Military
The Gulf War best represents military aviation today. The battles of the Gulf War had most of today’s military fighters. Fighters now can race the speed of sound.
The USAF demands perfection in their pilots. A fighter pilot needs to have the capability to overcome G-forces encountered in sharp turns during fast flight that may disrupt the blood flow to brain and cause the unconsciousness and temporarily loss of eyesight. The pilot also needs a dependable and constant amount of oxygen. Oxygen tanks are equipped in the cockpit for this need. A heads-up display (HUD) on the lens of the pilot's head gear or helmet provides information on the aircraft's positions and directions.
Manufacturers of fighters compete to supply a government with the best. Today, Lockheed dominates most of the US fighters. A purchaser selects a manufacturer based on the price, performance, capabilities, and the speed of production. A-10 Thunderbolt II Enlarge A-10 Thunderbolt II [edit]
The A-10 Thunderbolt
The A-10 Thunderbolt II served in the Gulf War as an aircraft that can destroy ground and air targets. The A-10 was the first to serve as a multi-purpose fighter. Traditionally, a bomber could only destroy ground targets. With the A-10, the US doesn’t need to purchase a bomber and fighter; the A-10 is both in one. Like the A-10, improvements are being made to make today’s military more efficient. When a mission unexpectedly becomes longer, a fighter can be refueled airborne by another aircraft. [edit]
Stealth Technology The Lockheed SR-71 was remarkably advanced for its time and remains unsurpassed in many areas of performance. Enlarge The Lockheed SR-71 was remarkably advanced for its time and remains unsurpassed in many areas of performance.
Also, fighters are now built with material that absorb enemy radar signals so that it is not reflected off the aircraft and received and observed on the enemy's radar screen. This system is known as “stealth”, meaning hidden.
The Lockheed U-2, a stealth spy-plane can reach an altitude of 70 thousand feet and can take detailed photographs. It first was used to search for missile activity in the Soviet Union in the 1950’s. Stealth aircraft such as the U-2 can reach such extraordinary speeds that the windshield gets too hot to touch, even with gloves! [edit]
Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing and Airline operations
Aircraft manufacturing is a major economic activity that generates employment, wealth and taxes. For many years US and European manufacturers have been strong competitors in civil aircraft, especially Boeing and Airbus. Brazil invested a lot in starting a business jet manufacturing facility. Today it is one of the most commonly used local airline service aircraft.
Building the facility to build an aircraft actually doubles the gross cost. To build these facilities, the manufacturer use the services of groups of engineers who design efficient and cheap operations. In 1965, Boeing needed a facility to accommodate the construction of the Boeing 747. The factory was built by 1967 and became the largest building in the world in volume. The Boeing 747-8. Enlarge The Boeing 747-8.
Airline operation is costly. Airlines carry an average of 300 million passengers annually between American cities. Ever since the price of fuel has gone up airlines, internationally, are suffering from major financial losses. Efficient aircraft consume less fuel for the same weight carried and distance travelled.
The US government set a 50% tax for all imported aircraft, which coaxes airlines to buy from a US manufacture. Due to safety regulations, there is a high security fee airlines pay as a result of September 11th. Coupled with the losses incurred due to non-operation for many days since, concern for safety has hit the airline industry hard and has caused many airlines to declare bankruptcy. [edit]
General Aviation 1947 Cessna 120 Enlarge 1947 Cessna 120
More than half of the world’s air traffic is general aviation. General aviation is the flight of private aircraft for sport, training, agriculture, weather, rescue, business, and rarely local airliners. Cessna dominates over half of the world’s general aviation. Cessna aircraft are used for sport, training, and even advertising. The reason for Cessna’s popularity is its cheap design, fuel efficiency, and it could be flown with visual flight rules (VFR). VFR is a system where the pilot uses his/her eyes to navigate, rarely using the control panel. Since it is a VFR aircraft, it’s the best used for training. The Cessna’s unique simple design keeps the cost low. Learjet dominates most of today’s business jets because of its advanced technology. William Lear, the founder of Learjet, had many interests in electronics so he built the first jet with an electronic display of the artificial horizon. An artificial horizon is an instrument that shows the pilot the aircraft position to the horizon. Artificial horizons are mostly used when the pilot cannot see the actual horizon. All aircraft, even gliders, have an artificial horizon. Another form of general aviation is the helicopter. The advantage of a helicopter is that they can hover and land in a small area. These advantages attract coast guards, traffic reporters, remote transport if hospitality is needed, and aerial imaging. [edit]
Air Traffic Control (ATC) Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs) at Schiphol Airport Enlarge Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs) at Schiphol Airport
The number one reason the sky is safe is because of the ATC (air traffic control) system. ATC regulated the traffic and aircraft movements in the air and on the ground. In addition to ensuring safe operations and directing flights to their destinations, ATC also ensures minimal flight delays, costs and smooth operations. ATC communicates with aircraft by radio. The radio waves can reach aircraft over seas and remote places by satellite. Advanced technology helps the controller cope with today’s dense traffic. The safety still depends on the controller’s strategies. When there’s a plane crash, investigators, funded by the manufacture and government, try to find what caused it to use that information to enact changes in regulations so as to avoid similar accidents. After September 11th, any suspected act of terrorism is taken seriously. US law requires that airliners have an extra lock on the cockpit door. Also the law requires that the cockpit door is closed and locked while flying. [edit]
See also
* Aviation * Aeronautics * Aerospace * Aerospace engineering * Aircraft * Airlines * Airport * Air safety * Airshow * Air traffic control * Santos-Dumont * Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast * Aviation archaeology * Aviation system * Aviation history * Category:Aviation licenses and certifications * Aviation noise * Avionics * Category:Aviation * Flight * Flight level * Flight plan * Flight simulator * Flight training * Gliding * Global Positioning System * Accidents and incidents in aviation * Jet engine * History of aviation * List of aviation topics * List of people who died in plane crashes * Oshkosh Airshow * Pilot licenses * Pilot Reports (PIREPS) * Propeller * Radar * Reciprocating engines * RIAT * Runway * Spatial disorientation * Taxiway * Timeline of aviation * Wright brothers
An apartment (or flat in Britain and other Commonwealth countries) is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building. Apartments may be owned (by an owner-occupier) or rented (by tenants).
Some apartment-dwellers own their apartments, either as co-ops, in which the residents own shares of a corporation that owns the building or development; or in condominiums, whose residents own their apartments and share ownership of the public spaces. Most apartments are in buildings designed for the purpose, but large older houses are sometimes divided into apartments. The word apartment connotes a residential unit or section in a building. Apartment building owners, lessors, or managers often use the more general word units to refer to apartments. Units can be used to refer to rental business suites as well as residential apartments. When there is no tenant occupying an apartment, the lessor is said to have a vacancy. For apartment lessors, each vacancy represents a loss of income from rent-paying tenants for the time the apartment is vacant (i. e., unoccupied). Lessors' objectives are often to minimize the vacancy rate for their units. The owner of the apartment typically transfers possession to the occupant(s) by giving him/her the key to the apartment entrance door(s) and any other keys need to live there, such as a common key to the building or any other common areas, and an individual unit mailbox key. When the occupant(s) move out, these keys should typically be returned to the owner. [edit]
Apartment types and characteristics Luxury apartment buildings in Gurgaon, Delhi metropolitan area Enlarge Luxury apartment buildings in Gurgaon, Delhi metropolitan area
Apartments can be classified into several types. Studio or efficiency or bachelor apartments tend to be the smallest apartments with the cheapest rents in a given area. These kinds of apartment usually consist mainly of a large room which is the living, dining, and bedroom combined. There are usually kitchen facilities as part of this central room, but the bathroom is its own smaller separate room. In the UK and Ireland, a roughly equivalent term is bed-sit (bedroom and sitting-room combined). Moving up from the efficiencies are one-bedroom apartments where one bedroom is a separate room from the rest of the apartment. Then there are two-bedroom, three-bedroom, etc. apartments. Small apartments often have only one entrance/exit. Large apartments often have two entrances/exits, perhaps a door in the front and another in the back. Depending on the building design, the entrance/exit doors may be directly to the outside or to a common area inside, such as a hallway. Depending on location, apartments may be available for rent furnished with furniture or unfurnished into which a tenant usually moves in with his/her own furniture. Permanent carpeting is often included in an apartment.
Laundry facilities are usually kept in a separate area accessible to all the tenants in the building. Depending on when the building was built and the design of the building, utilities such as water, heating, and electric may be common for all the apartments in the building or separate for each apartment and billed separately to each tenant. Outlets for connection to telephones are typically included in apartments. Telephone service is optional and is practically always billed separately from the rent payments. Cable television and similar amenities are extra also. Parking space(s), air conditioner, and extra storage space may or may not be included with an apartment. Rental leases often limit the maximum number of people who can reside in each apartment. On or around the ground floor of the apartment building, a series of mailboxes are typically kept in a location accessible to the public and, thus, to the mailman too. Every unit typically gets its own mailbox with individual keys to it. Some very large apartment buildings with a full-time staff may take mail from the mailman and provide mail-sorting service. Near the mailboxes or some other location accessible by outsiders, there may be a buzzer (equivalent to a doorbell) for each individual unit. In smaller apartment buildings such as two- or three-flats, or even four-flats, garbage is often disposed of in trash containers similar to those used at houses. In larger buildings, garbage is often collected in a common trash bin or dumpster. For cleanliness or minimizing noise, many lessors will place restrictions on tenants regarding keeping pets in an apartment.
In some parts of the world, the word apartment is used generally to refer to a new purpose-built self-contained residential unit in a building, whereas the word flat means a converted self-contained unit in an older building. An industrial, warehouse, or commercial space converted to an apartment is commonly called a loft.
When part of a house is converted for the ostensible use of a landlord's family member, the unit may be known as an in-law apartment or granny flat, though these (sometimes illegally) created units are often occupied by ordinary renters rather than family members.
Staying in privately owned apartments rather than in a hotel is quickly becoming popular with travellers. [edit]
See also
* Apartment building * Tower block * House * List of house types#Flats / Apartments * pied-à-terre
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PUMA AG Rudolf Dassler Sport (PUMA) is a large German-based multinational company that produces athletic shoes and other sportswear.
The company was founded in 1924 as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik in Herzogenaurach, Germany by Rudolf Dassler, the brother of Adolf "Adi" Dassler, who founded competitor Adidas. The company now operates a virtualized corporate structure, using electronic communications to disperse the organization across the globe.
The company changed its name to PUMA Schuhfabrik Rudolf Dassler in 1948, and became a public company in 1986, listed on the Börse München and Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Today, PUMA AG has approximately 3,200 employees and distributes its products in more than 80 countries. For the fiscal year 2003, the company had a revenue of €1,274 million.
Like Adidas, Puma is considered part of the old school hip-hop and graffiti culture of the 1970s and 1980s, and it remains very popular within that culture to this day. It can also be noted that Puma owns a 65% market share in sneakers to Mexican Americans in the male 12-25 age group.[citation needed] [edit]
External links
* Puma.com - Official site
MDAX companies of Germany
Aareal Bank AG | AMB Generali Holding AG | AWD Holding AG | Beiersdorf AG | Bilfinger Berger AG | Celesio AG | DEPFA BANK plc | Deutsche EuroShop AG | Deutsche Postbank AG | Douglas Holding AG | EADS N.V. | Fielmann AG | Fraport AG | Fresenius AG | GEA Group AG | Hannover Rückversicherung AG | HeidelbergCement AG | Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG | Hochtief AG | Hugo Boss AG | HypoVereinsbank AG | IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG | IVG Immobilien AG | IWKA AG | K+S AG | KarstadtQuelle AG | Krones AG | Lanxess AG | Leoni AG | Medion AG | Merck KGaA | MLP AG | MPC AG | MTU Aero Engines | Norddeutsche Affinerie AG | Pfleiderer AG | Premiere AG | ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG | PUMA AG | Rheinmetall AG | Rhön-Klinikum AG | Salzgitter AG | Schwarz Pharma AG | SGL Carbon AG | STADA Arzneimittel AG | Südzucker AG | Techem AG | Vivacon AG | Vossloh AG | Wincor Nixdorf AG This corporation or company article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
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To lots of consumers is noted as "One of the Best" in a survey of 10.000 people conducted by various organiztions
