Chicago: Largest Irish Population in the Midwest

Chicago, Illinois holds the distinction of having the largest Irish-American population in the Midwest. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the Chicago metropolitan area was home to 535,582 people of Irish descent.

This makes Chicago not only the Midwest leader but also the second-largest Irish population of any U.S. metro area nationwide, behind only the New York City region. The city's Irish heritage is celebrated annually with one of the world's largest St. Patrick's Day parades and the iconic dyeing of the Chicago River green.