Everybody Loves State Street

State Street is celebrated in song—Frank Sinatra croons, “State Street, that great street” in the song "Chicago." Blues master Jimmy Yancey performed the "State Street Special."

Although unnamed on the original plat map, State Street formed the eastern boundary of Chicago when the town was incorporated in 1833. The street originally was an Indian trail going 240 miles south to Vincennes, Indiana. Fur traders called it Vincennes Trace, or Hubbard’s Trace.

According to Chicago's Highways, Old and New, “In 1834, the legislature caused a state road to be laid out between Vincennes and Chicago. …It was marked with milestones, and was commonly known as the State Road. …within the City of Chicago its name still survives in that of the modern State Street.”

Today State Street is so named for 35 miles from Chicago’s North Avenue (1600 N.) to south suburban Will County. Much of the street’s fame stems from the many department stores that lined the downtown portion of State Street in the late 19th and the 20th centuries. These included Marshal Field's, Carson's, Sears and Montgomery Ward. None of these lasted into the second decade of the 21st century. North Michigan Avenue is now Chicago’s retail center, but retailers still line State Street downtown.

State Street has many other claims to fame. State and Madison is the zero point for Chicago’s street grid. On the Near North Side, State is one of the tonier streets of the Gold Coast. The Near South Side portion was once famed as a vice district.

Farther south, the second half of the 20th century saw the Chicago Housing Authority build a five-mile wall of high-rise housing projects. By 2005, these were largely demolished. "11^th and State" was a common euphemism for Chicago Police Headquarters until 2000, when people started referring to 35^th and State.

Many colleges, universities and professional schools are located on or near State Street. Notable and landmark buildings are common on State. Examples include Holy Name Cathedral, Marina City, the Chicago Theater and department stores.

Of course the most important building is the Harold Washington Library Center at 400 S. State St., where you can find over a hundred more documents about State Street.