What was the effect of the Chicago Fire on the city's population?

The Chicago Fire of 1871 had a profound impact on the city's population, particularly in how it left many people without homes. The fire, which destroyed a large portion of the city, rendered thousands of residents homeless as entire neighborhoods were engulfed in flames. Immediate shelter became a critical issue, with numerous families displaced and seeking refuge wherever they could find it, whether in temporary shelters, with relatives, or in other parts of the city.

While the fire certainly caused significant population shifts and could have led to increased migration to the suburbs over time, the most immediate and direct effect was the loss of housing for a large number of people. In the aftermath, efforts were made to rebuild the city, and this process sometimes attracted people back, but the initial devastation and homelessness prompted a humanitarian crisis that must be acknowledged as a direct consequence of the fire.

Understanding the historical context of the Chicago Fire helps clarify why many were left without homes, making this option the most relevant in discussing the immediate effects on the city's population.