Why Is Chicago Called the Windy City?

While the wind might blow off Lake Michigan, the nickname “Windy City” is rooted in Chicago’s reputation for verbose political speeches. In the late 19th century, the city was known for its blustering politicians—New York City’s The Sun newspaper accused them of being “full of hot air”—and they often boasted about Chicago. This penchant for self-promotion also contributed to the windy moniker. Notably, in the 1890s Chicago was in fierce competition with New York and St. Louis to host the World’s Columbian Exposition. Chicago’s aggressive—and successful—campaign to secure the event was seen as braggadocious, further cementing its “Windy City” reputation.

The nickname has stuck around, becoming an integral part of Chicago’s identity. It is a testament to the city’s colorful history and its residents’ pride. While the term might have started as an insult, it has since been embraced by Chicagoans as a badge of honor. The same is true of the city’s other notable nickname, The Second City. That moniker derived from the title of a 1952 collection of essays by A.J. Liebling, who wrote about the many ways that he believed Chicago fell short of his hometown of New York.