Toughest U.S. Cities To Live In

Cicero, Illinois

Cicero was once called Al Capone's "private playground." Naturally, that type of criminal activity did not breed very successful growth in the area. After the crime boom of the 1920s, the city has endlessly tried to retake its name.

Officials desparately wanted the city to lose it's notoriety. In 1999, they even voted to force known gang members to leave the city or face a daily $500 fine. Nothing much has changed since then.

The More You Know

War pigs were used in ancient warfare to counter against war elephants, which feared the pigs (and their squeals) and would bolt. War pigs were sometimes lit on fire to enhance this effect.
Virginia is the only state that has the same state flower and state tree, the Dogwood.
The television was invented only two years after the invention of sliced bread.
Stephen Hawking is 73 years old and has outlived his shortened life expectancy due to ALS by over 50 years.

Post originally appeared on Upbeat News.