The municipal device of Chicago as it appears in the background of the marquee of theChicago Theatre.A Y-shaped symbol is also featured on the revisedCook County Flag, adopted September 22, 2022.[1]
Themunicipal device of Chicago is a symbol used officially by the city ofChicago, Illinois, as well as unofficially by various agencies and companies associated with the city. As defined by city code, it consists of a Y shape inscribed inside of a circle.[2] The symbol represents the north, south, and main branches of theChicago River, and their confluence atWolf Point. It was designed by Danish-born architect and civil engineerAlfred J. Råvad (Roewad).[3] Its earliest known appearance was in 1892 for a contest to design thecity's flag held by theChicago Tribune.[4] While this was ultimately not used for the flag, in 1917 it was officially adopted along with the flag andseal as symbols of the city of Chicago.[5]
The municipal device appearing on a traffic control box in the city. Note that the device is used upside-down.Sketches for the Chicago flag for a contest held by the Chicago Tribune in 1892. The Y-shaped mark ultimately became used for the municipal device in 1917.Flag proposed by Francis Davis Millet in 1892, based on Alfred Jensen Råvad's winning design for theChicago Tribune contest. Despite never being approved by the city council, it became widely used as an unofficial city flag during theWorld's Columbian Exposition (1893) in particular. It was ultimately superseded by Chicago's first official flag in 1917.Burgee of the Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club.[6]
The municipal device was widely used in the early twentieth century on civic vehicles and buildings but fell out of favor in the latter half of the century. The exact reasons for its decreased use are unknown, but was possibly motivated by concerns it would be confused with thepeace sign, especially as some agencies purposefully flipped the device to celebrate the reversal of the Chicago River.[7] In addition, as affordable vinyl printing made detailed signage more accessible, the device lost popularity on city vehicles in favor of printing the full seal.[5] It is still used prominently in the seal of theChicago Public Library and can be found on buildings throughout the city such as theChicago Theatre.
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