The Chicago City Council assumed its modern form on April 16, 1923, with fifty wards each electing one alderman. Here is a list of the people who have served as an alderman since that time. Since its incorporation as a city in 1837 Chicago had been divided into wards whose number varied but which were almost always entitled to two aldermen. In the early 20th century it was decided that reducing the number of aldermen to a ward to one would be a cost-saving measure, and an ordinance to that effect was passed in 1920, taking effect in 1923.