Demographics Chicago metropolitan area

airborne view of dense southern part of chicago, running alongside lake michigan. downtown chicago @ far left lake in photo.

as of 2010 census, metropolitan area had population of 9,729,825. population density 1,318 per square mile. racial makeup 52.8% non-latino white, 22.1% latino, 16.7% non-latino african americans, , 6.4% asian. other ethnic groups such native americans , pacific islanders made 2.0% of population. suburbs, surrounded annexed flat ground, have been expanding @ tremendous rate since 1960s. aurora, elgin, joliet, , naperville noteworthy being 4 of few boomburbs outside sun belt, west coast , mountain states regions, , exurban kendall county ranked fastest-growing county (among counties population greater 10,000) in united states between years 2000 , 2007.

settlement patterns in chicago metropolitan area tend follow in city proper: northern suburbs along shore of lake michigan comparatively affluent, while southern suburbs (sometimes known chicago southland) less so, lower median incomes , lower cost of living. however, there major exception this. while chicago s west side poorest section of city, western , northwestern suburbs contain many affluent areas. according 2000 census, dupage county had highest median household income of county in midwestern united states.

according 2000 u.s. census, poverty rates of largest counties least poverty follows: mchenry 3.70%, dupage 5.9%, 6.7%, lake 6.9%, kane 7.4%, cook 14.5%.

in in-depth historical analysis, keating (2004, 2005) examined origins of 233 settlements 1900 had become suburbs or city neighborhoods of chicago metropolitan area. settlements began farm centers (41%), industrial towns (30%), residential railroad suburbs (15%), , recreational/institutional centers (13%). although relations between different settlement types @ times contentious, there cooperation in such undertakings construction of high schools.