Why Does Chicago Have So Many Alleys?

Source Chicago Magazine
Original Load Date July 2, 2026, 7:01 a.m.
Last Updated July 2, 2026, 7:01 a.m.
Original URL https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/june-july-2026/why-does-chicago-have-so-many-alleys/

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In the early 19th century, as America moved west, settlers had a mess on their hands: What to do with horse dung? Their solution: alleys. While older cities, such as New York and Boston, were too dense to accommodate alleys, there was plenty of room in the old Northwest Territory. In 1830, the Illi...