(General catch-all thread)
I noticed that my trip took me up Indiana Avenue, then quickly ended up on Vermont Avenue. Michigan Avenue is nearby - Google labels the area as "West Pullman." Are there other state-named streets, in this area or elsewhere around the city? In other words, is this a pattern?
I don't think there's any rhyme or reason to the state-named streets in Chicago. I know there is an Ohio Street (600N I believe) and an Iowa Street (900N) that are perpendicular to Michigan. They're roughly parallel to Vermont, but about 15 miles north of it.
Nearby Gary, though, has all of the north-south streets east of Broadway named after states, and I think it's pretty close to the order of statehood.
In addition to the ones already mentioned:
There is a California Ave on the west side.
There is a Delaware Pl off the Mag mile.
There is an Illinois St also off the Mag mile.
There is a (very short) Kentucky Ave on the NW side near Elston/Lawrence.
There is a (also very short) Maryland Ave on the S side near Hyde Park.
There is a Montana St that is a block north of Fullerton in several spots.
There is a New Hampshire Ave on the NW side near Harlem/Kennedy.
There is a Virginia Ave on the north side near Montrose/Fullerton
There is a Washington Blvd that runs the entire width of the city one block north of Madison (of course it was likely named for the man before the state even existed).
There is a Wisconsin St in Lincoln park one block south of Armitage.
However, Michigan Avenue is named for the lake, not the state. Michigan Avenue, up by the Loop and Near North used to be the old shoreline. Most everything east of there, north of Cermak or so, is fill.
Then there's all the Great Lakes in Streeterville/River North/Mag Mile areas of downtown
Michigan
Ontario
Erie
Superior
Huron
Also Ohio St. It parallels Ontario St, as in the 'Ohio-Ontario Feeder' on the city's near north side.
Mike