Fulton-Randolph Market District, Landmark district in Near West Side, Chicago, United States
The Fulton-Randolph Market District covers about 74 acres on Chicago's Near West Side, bounded by Randolph Street and Lake Street running east-west and Halsted Street as the main north-south artery. A horizontal metal sign of open-frame block letters spelling "FULTON NO MA RKET DISTRICT" in orange-red, yellow and white hangs above the street. The landmarked portion, designated by the City of Chicago in 2015, sits across the expressway from the Fulton River District.
The area began as a market zone around 1850, when traders started buying and selling meat and farm products for the wider region. Over time, warehouses and distribution operations expanded, turning it into the Midwest's main food trading center.
The name honours Robert Fulton, the American inventor, and the district lies just across the expressway from the Fulton River District. Since the 2010s it has drawn headquarters for McDonald's, Google, Kimberly Clark, Dyson, Herman Miller and Mondelez. The metal sign over the street spells FULTON MARKET DISTRICT in open-frame letters of orange-red, yellow and white.
The district is served by the CTA Green and Pink Lines at the Morgan 'L' station, plus several bus routes. Randolph Street and Lake Street run east-west and Halsted Street is the main north-south artery, so orientation is straightforward. The landmarked portion covers about 74 acres.
The district received landmark status in 2015, protecting its older buildings from demolition and requiring preservation of their architectural character. This recognition helped safeguard the area's industrial heritage while allowing modern business growth.
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