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Chicago is a large midwestern American city located in the state of Illinois. It is associated with the development of the Oz books as L. Frank Baum briefly lived there.

In Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, it is noted that Jim the horse pulled a cab in Chicago for most of his life.

Background[]

Previously Baum was active in the theater there and it is where he met W. W. Denslow. It was the location of his publishers George M. Hill Company which released The Wonderful Wizard of Oz before it went out of business along with Reilly & Lee for the remaining books. He then produced The Wizard of Oz (stage) and The Woggle-Bug which both opened there.

As his books became financially successful he moved west and settled in California.

His time there is explored in the non-fiction book 1899: L. Frank Baum's OZ-Inspiring Macatawa Park.

There is an area of the city called the "Oz Park" per the official description: Located in the Lincoln Park community, parents gather with their preschoolers at Oz Park to enjoy the park which celebrates "The Wizard of Oz" theme. “Dorothy’s Playlot” is filled with play equipment for the little ones to climb, swing, and run. In the "Emerald Garden", families can enjoy a leisurely afternoon among the beautiful flowers. Take a stroll through the park and you’ll be greeted by statues of the Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and everyone’s favorite, Dorothy Gale & Toto. They are based on the MGM likenesses of the characters.

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