Which came first? · Counterintuitive

Which came first: Aluminium or Chicago?

Aluminium came first, in 1825 (discovered). Chicago followed 12 years later, in 1837 (incorporated as a city).

Older Than You ThinkOlder Than You ThinkWhich came first? Sixteen pairs, from obvious to "wait, really?"Quiz11 seconds a pairMobile & desktop
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  1. First1825

    Aluminium

    element · discovered

    Aluminium was first made in 1825 and was once more precious than gold.

    Checked against Wikipedia and Wikidata

  2. Second1837

    Chicago

    city · incorporated as a city

    When Chicago became a city in 1837, it chose the motto Urbs in Horto, Latin for City in a Garden.

    Checked against Wikipedia and Wikidata

All which-came-first pairs · About Older Than You Think · Quiz games

Years from Wikidata, each checked against the item’s English Wikipedia article on 2026-10-18. A year stands for what its label says: a founding, a first patent, a premiere.