Popcorn is thought to be an ancient snack that originated in the Americas; coastal regions.
There are some indications that people in the coastal regions of Peru consumed popcorn 6,700 years ago. Corn was domesticated from a wild grass in Mexico nearly 9,000 years ago and spread throughout Central and South America.
However, the first popcorn is often linked to Charles Cretors of Chicago. Cretors, who invented the mobile popcorn cart in 1885, is widely regarded as the modern-day inventor of popcorn. Charles Cretors obtained a vendors license and began selling popcorn outside his Chicago shop in December 1885.
In 1893, he came up with the first popcorn machine capable of popping corn in oil. Soon after, Cretors patented his invention. Then, he took it to the Worlds Columbian Exposition, where he introduced the popcorn machine to the public.
