===Disasters===
[[File:Chicago fire.jpg|thumb|left|The great Chicago Fire, October, 1871.]]
The Great Chicago Fire occurred in October 1871. On 7 December 7, 1903 , the "absolutely fireproof," five-week-old Iroquois Theater was destroyed by fire in Chicago. The fire lasted less than thirty minutes; however, 602 people died as a result of being burned, asphyxiated, or trampled.<ref> Anthony P. Hatch, "Inferno at the Iroquois." ''Chicago History'' 2003 32(2): 4-31. Issn: 0272-8540 </ref>
The cruise ship ''Eastland'' capsized at its pier on a calm day, July 24, 1915, killing over 800 passengers. It was top-heavy because of new federal laws (passed in response to the Titanic) requiring lifeboats.<ref> George W. Hilton, ''Eastland: Legacy of the Titanic.'' (1995). </ref>
Our Lady of the Angels School fire occurred on December 1, 1958. There occurred 95 deaths, mostly of children.
A major environmental disaster came in July 1995, with 739 heat-related deaths after one week of record high heat and humidity.<ref> Christopher R. Browning; Wallace, Danielle; Feinberg, Seth L.; and Cagney, Kathleen A.; Klinenberg, Eric (Reply). "Neighborhood Social Processes, Physical Conditions, and Disaster-related Mortality: the Case of the 1995 Chicago Heat Wave." ''American Sociological Review'' 2006 71(4): 661-678. Issn: 0003-1224 </ref>