Central Time (Chicago)

Central Time (CT) covers the central United States, stretching from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. It is the second most-used timezone in the US by population, serving major metropolitan areas across Texas, Illinois, and the Midwest. CST (Central Standard Time) is UTC-6, while CDT (Central Daylight Time) is UTC-5 during summer months. The timezone was established alongside Eastern Time in 1883 by the General Time Convention of railroad companies. Central Time is critical for the agricultural heartland, the energy industry in Texas, and major logistics hubs like Chicago and Memphis. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange, one of the world's largest derivatives marketplaces, operates on Central Time. Many national call centers and corporate headquarters are located in the Central timezone due to its proximity to both coasts. The timezone includes parts of 20 US states and the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan (which does not observe DST), and parts of Ontario and Nunavut.