Cicero

Cicero is a town in Cook County west of Chicago that spans roughly 6 square miles (15 square kilometers) and consists of factory buildings mixed with residential neighborhoods. Streets run in a regular grid pattern, crossed by several rail lines and a main thoroughfare connecting the center to surrounding districts.

The town emerged in 1867 named after Roman statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero and originally covered territory six times larger than today. The area shrank over decades through secessions and boundary changes, while industrial growth from the early 20th century onward attracted factories and workers.

The name honors a Roman orator and statesman whose Latin form still appears on municipal signs and public buildings today. Visitors encounter a community where Spanish-language shops, restaurants and markets shape the streetscape and define everyday life for residents.

The town is reachable by several public transit options, including commuter trains and bus lines directly linked to Chicago. Many streets are walkable, but the industrial character often makes having a vehicle more practical for longer distances within the community.

The town's airfield opened in 1911 and served for five years as a launch point for early aviation pioneers who practiced takeoffs and landings there. Today little remains to recall that era, but the community's role in early civilian flight remains a noteworthy chapter in regional history.

Location: Cook County

Inception: 1867

Elevation above the sea: 274 m

Part of: Western Suburbs

Shares border with: Austin

Website: http://thetownofcicero.com

GPS coordinates: 41.84556,-87.75389

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:02