Historically, the greater Chicagoland area has always been a massive transportation hub. The Chicago Stockyards were one of the largest providers of meat throughout the country, and the invention of the refrigerated rail car allowed for further development of the region as a shipping titan. Even exceptional tragedies like the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 seemed unable to derail this economic powerhouse. For over 150 years, Chicago acted as the middle man between the coasts, ensuring that valuable goods made it to their desired locations.

Today, the region leads in logistics distribution. The massive CenterPoint Intermodal Center in Joliet focuses on moving international traffic to and from the West Coast. The center acts as an “inland port,” strategically located near major expressways and waterways.

Learn more:
Read more about the current rankings for shipping distribution logistics in the U.S.
See some amazing historical photographs documenting Chicago’s history as a transit hub