Union Stock Yards

Union Stock Yards, located in Chicago, was once the largest livestock market in the United States, functioning as a central hub for buying and selling cattle, pigs, and other animals. Farmers and ranchers brought their animals here, where they were assembled, sorted, and sold to meatpackers. The yards streamlined the livestock trade by providing a centralized location, which helped facilitate efficient transportation and processing of meat. Opened in the late 1800s, Union Stock Yards played a crucial role in shaping the U.S. meat industry and urban development, though it eventually closed in the 1960s due to industry changes and urban shift.