Downtown

Chicago, a view from one of its many parking lots.
Known as the "Second City," the "Windy City," the "City of Big Shoulders," and "Chi-town" (along with other nicknames and colloquial nicknames that reflect the city's character), Chicago is located along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. The greater metropolitan area known as ChicagoLand encompasses a population of 9.3 million, making it the third-largest megalopolis in the United States.