Population of Chicago

1830: 100
1840: 4,470
1850: 29,963
1860: 112,172

1890: 1,099,850

2000: 2,896,016

* 1833: Chicago incorporated as a twon with population: 350
* 1837: City of Chicago incorporated with population: 4,170
* With the completion of Illinois and Michigan Canal, the population of Chicago tripled in the next three years.

Reference: "Population of Chicago by decades", click here.