As Ben says, lots of American cities generally suffered in the 60s and 70s due to the rise of the suburbs, the corresponding pre-eminence of the automobile, and the decline of manufacturing industries. Some cities, like Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Boston, managed to turn things around. Others weren’t so lucky.

Detroit’s particular problem is that it was a city built around one industry: the automobile. As the American market became inundated with foreign-made cars, and as more Americans felt that these foreign-owned cars were cheaper and more reliable, the market share of domestic cars declined considerably. And even though the federal government subsidizes Big Auto and taxes gas less than in other countries, Detroit hasn’t been able to reverse its decline.

Chicago and Detroit are similar in many ways. Both cities are heavily industrial, and lost significant population numbers after peaks in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The difference is that while Chicago began rebounding in the 1980’s, Detroit has continued in a tailspin, which has ruined the city’s economy, and thus has caused Detroit to become one of the poorest, most crime-ridden cities in the US.

Like Detroit, Chicago also has many poor, (and crime-ridden) areas, mainly on the South and West side, but today Chicago is booming, unlike Detroit which is essentially a dying city. So there are also many areas which do not suffer from the same problems as Detroit. Chicagoans often refer to the city as a checkerboard, meaning some spots are very safe, but in other areas it’s a matter of crossing a few streets where you are suddenly in a more dangerous neighborhood.

Chicago is a blast in the summer and there are many venues which are inexpensive or free. Millenium Park has some great free concerts, and there are enough festivals to keep your liver busy. Enjoy Chicago for us.