Cicero

City in Cook County, northeast Illinois; population (1990) 67,400. It is located 11 km/7 mi west of Chicago, and is an important industrial and residential suburb. One-fourth of Cicero's area contains one of the world's largest concentrations of industrial activity, with over 150 factories in an area of 4.5 sq km/1.75 sq mi. Communications and electronic equipment are the most important products, followed by malleable and steel castings, tool and die makers' supplies, forgings, and rubber goods. It also has large paper plants and some printing presses. Cicero is home to Morton College (1924).

Settled in the 1830s, Cicero grew slowly until the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad arrived in 1864. A population boom ensued, and the Hawthorne works of the Westinghouse Electric Company were established here in 1902, soon becoming the largest local employer. During the 1920s, Cicero served as Al Capone's headquarters for his gambling enterprise. Two horse racing tracks, Hawthorne Racecourse-Suburban Downs and Sportsman's Park Racetrack, are in the city.