What is so important about the location of the Chicago O'Hare International Airport that makes it such an important transportation hub?

Answer 1

I can think of several reasons... First, it is located about halfway across a very big country. Many modes of transportation like trains, buses or planes, would stop there to take on additional provisions or passengers that couldn't be held for a cross-country trip such as fuel or food. Next, Chicago's local business and leisure-traveling population is very large. So, in addition to accommodating connecting cross country travelers, O'Hare has a big local traveling public that needs air service too. Next, O'Hare has already obtained the necessary land and built the facilities for an international airport. Its presence would put off people from building another large airport nearby. In other words, it got there first. One drawback to O'Hare's location, though, is that it is a snow-airport. Chicago's weather in winter is such that it experiences more delays or cancellations that other midwestern non-snow airports such as Cincinnati or St. Louis. Hope that helps.