City of Chicago incorporated

Background. Between 1833 and 1837, Chicago was incorporated as a town and headed by town presidents. The modern city was incorporated in 1837 by Northern businessmen, who benefited from the settlement's commanding position in the emerging inland transportation network, controlling access from the Great Lakes and the eastern states into the Mississippi River basin; the city subsequently grew rapidly from real estate speculation and that transportation position.

Incorporation. The State of Illinois granted Chicago a city charter on March 4, 1837. This event marked the formal transition from a town to a city, with the new entity becoming part of the larger Cook County. The incorporation established the city's governance structure, headed by mayors rather than town presidents.

Governance. Upon incorporation, Chicago held its first mayoral election in 1837. The city adopted the motto 'Urbs in Horto,' meaning 'City in a Garden.' The mayoral term was one year from 1837 through 1863, when it was changed to two years.