> All of this to say that I think Chicagoans find some odd reasons to put themselves high up in importance.
This comment doesn't ring true in general.
My experience is that most Chicagoans usually correctly rate their city. Chicago has been historically perceived as one of the great American cities, with indisputably great achievements (Chicago architecture, economics, transportation, mercantilism, etc.). And today, people love living in Chicago because it's a major cultural center that has many things to offer over smaller U.S. metropolitan areas, while still being much more affordable than coastal cities.
But unless they are very young, immature and non-world-savvy, most Chicagoans usually also confess there are problems with crime, crooked politicians and (ever increasing Cook County) taxes. Chicago today feels like NYC in the late 80s, but with modern infrastructure.
Not that many Chicagoans will gush unreservedly about their city. Chicago is not the kind of city that invites unexamined boosterism.
I absolutely agree it's had more importance historically, but many of the things you listed don't have much relevance for what people define as an "important" city today. The central location of Chicago I think plays a lot into many of those factors re transportation and mercantilism in particular which aren't as relevant as travel became easier and the internet arose.
In terms of cost, in my experience, it's in line with coastal cities overall besides SF/NYC, maybe a bit lower than Boston.
> Not that many Chicagoans will gush unreservedly about their city. Chicago is not the kind of city that invites unexamined boosterism.
I wouldn't say they gush, but I know a good deal of people from the Chicago area at this point and it's very much in my experience an underlying assumption set they hold.
This comment doesn't ring true in general.
My experience is that most Chicagoans usually correctly rate their city. Chicago has been historically perceived as one of the great American cities, with indisputably great achievements (Chicago architecture, economics, transportation, mercantilism, etc.). And today, people love living in Chicago because it's a major cultural center that has many things to offer over smaller U.S. metropolitan areas, while still being much more affordable than coastal cities.
But unless they are very young, immature and non-world-savvy, most Chicagoans usually also confess there are problems with crime, crooked politicians and (ever increasing Cook County) taxes. Chicago today feels like NYC in the late 80s, but with modern infrastructure.
Not that many Chicagoans will gush unreservedly about their city. Chicago is not the kind of city that invites unexamined boosterism.