Cicero

Cicero, town, Cook county, northeastern Illinois, U.S. A western suburb of Chicago, the town was first settled in the 1830s and founded in 1857. It was named for the Roman statesman (see Cicero). Cicero’s development was stimulated when the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was built through the site (1864) and by the arrival of land speculators and farmers after the American Civil War. Economic growth continued, but Cicero lost territory to Chicago and to the formation (1901) of Berwyn and Oak Park. In the 1920s gangster Al Capone left Chicago for several years and made Cicero his base of operations, taking control of the town’s government and elections and running speakeasies, brothels, and gambling halls. The town developed as a manufacturing centre. Cicero’s economy is based on manufacturing, including appliance and machinery parts, steel, metal products, glass, and packaging. The town is the seat of Morton (junior) College (1924). There is horse racing at Hawthorne Race Course. Inc. 1867. Pop. (2000) 85,616; (2010) 83,891.