Windy City Meaning (Chicago: live in, radio, cities)

[Milwaukee City]

Blow Hard was the term from back in the 20's and 30's when people used to call Chicago politicians "blowhards" this is what is meant by "windy City" it's not the wind, in fact Milwaukee is windier than Chicago.

Windy City= Full of blow hard Politicians, all you have to do is blow hard and they fall over(ie: corruption).

The term was actually coined by a journalist/media from Chicago.

I wish more people knew this and I can't believe why 90% of the people I met from Chicago don't know this, even in the national media. "well it's a windy day today bob!, that's why they call it the windy city" If I hear that again I might slap someone. That's like saying Milwaukee is the Brew City b/c their sports team is the Brewers!

In general I think which ever city you live in, you should be taught the history of your city.

Moderator cut: copyright

[jdiddy]

Thanks for the history lesson, Milwaukee Village.

[eskercurve]

Ummm ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windy_City,_Origin_of_Name_(Chicago)

Another explanation I've heard is also political related, but in how Chicago and Illinois politicians lobbied congress for funds to reverse the Chicago river, calling them "windbags" and saying that they must come from a "Windy City" though that could just be coincidence, as the Colombian Exposition occurred in 1893 and the term had already been in use.

So to me the origin is still mysterious. Such phrases are typically poorly documented or lost over time, but if you have more information, please cite your source(s), I'm sure a whole 2 people will care.

[Milwaukee City]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

Thanks for the history lesson, Milwaukee Village.

Ha, lmao!!! I'm not ripping Chicago or the people, I'm just amazed on how many people all over the us don't know the meaning behind the windy city.

[Milwaukee City]

So to me the origin is still mysterious. Please cite your source(s).

A while back I took a walking tour of Chicago and the guide mentioned the version I told and I also heard it a bunch of times on the history channel, wgn radio had a Chicago historian who said the exact story I relayed here, I also have heard it from a lot of long time old Chicagoans.

Yeah in the end it's all still here say thought but I usually take a city historian over most other people or sources.

[hank0604]

I don't know a single person here in Chicago that does not know the basic aspects of story, so you're preaching to the choir. Maybe if you are that passionate about correcting people you should go make that post in other cities' forums.

By the way, it's "hearsay" not "here say."

[Costa Rica Chica]

Well, I'm from Chicago and I didn't know that. I thought it was because of the wind. So sue me.

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by Costa Rica Chica

Well, I'm from Chicago and I didn't know that. I thought it was because of the wind. So sue me.

You lived in Costa Rica for a while, so we will forgive you.

This time.

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

Ha, lmao!!! I'm not ripping Chicago or the people, I'm just amazed on how many people all over the us don't know the meaning behind the windy city.

You should tell people from the US though, not people from Chicago.

Everyone in Chicago knows the real meaning. Every time the word "windy" comes out of someone's mouth, people leap right in to tell the real definition.

[Lookout Kid]

If you think Chicago is actually windy, you are kind of an idiot.