Illinois

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Illinois

Illinois ( IL-ih-NOY) is a state in the Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash and Ohio rivers to its south. Of the fifty U.S. states, Illinois has the fifth-largest gross domestic product (GDP), the sixth-largest population, and the 25th-most land area. Its capital city is Springfield in the center of the state, and the state's largest city is Chicago, located in northeastern Illinois. Present-day Illinois was inhabited by Indigenous cultures for thousands of years. The French were the first Europeans to arrive, settling near the Mississippi and Illinois rivers in the 17th-century Illinois Country, as part of their sprawling colony of New France. A century later, the revolutionary war Illinois campaign prefigured American involvement in the region. Following U.S. independence in 1783, which made the Mississippi River the national boundary, American settlers began arriving from Kentucky via the Ohio River. Illinois was soon part of the United States' oldest territory, the Northwest Territory, and in 1818, it achieved statehood. The Erie Canal brought increased commercial activity in the Great Lakes, and the invention of the self-scouring steel plow by Illinoisan John Deere turned the state's rich prairie into some of the world's most productive and valuable farmland, attracting immigrant farmers from Germany, Sweden, Hungary, and elsewhere. In the mid-19th century, the Illinois and Michigan Canal and a sprawling railroad network facilitated trade, commerce, and settlement, making the state a transportation hub for the nation, especially in Chicago, which became the world's fastest growing city by the late 19th century. By 1900, the growth of industrial jobs in the northern cities and coal mining in the central and southern areas attracted immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe. Illinois became one of America's most industrialized states and remains a major manufacturing center. The Great Migration from the South established a large black community, particularly in Chicago, which became a leading cultural, economic, and population center; the Chicago metropolitan area holds about 65% of the state's 12.8 million residents. Illinois, alongside Texas, is one of the most tornadically active states in the U.S; in 2023 alone, Illinois produced 136 tornadoes, the highest state by a significant margin. Two World Heritage Sites are in Illinois: the ancient Cahokia Mounds, and part of the Wright architecture site. A wide variety of protected areas seek to conserve Illinois' natural and cultural resources. Major centers of learning include the University of Chicago, University of Illinois, and Northwestern University. Three U.S. presidents have been elected while residents of Illinois: Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Barack Obama; additionally, Ronald Reagan was born and raised in the state, though he served for California. Illinois honors Lincoln with its official state slogan Land of Lincoln. The state is the site of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield and the home of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. The economy of Illinois is highly diversified, with the global city of Chicago in the northeast, major industrial and agricultural hubs in the north and center, and natural resources such as coal, timber, and petroleum in the south. Owing to its central location and favorable geography, the state is a major transportation hub: the Port of Chicago has access to the Atlantic Ocean through the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway and to the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River via the Illinois Waterway. Chicago has been the nation's railroad hub since the 1860s, and its O'Hare International Airport has been among the world's busiest airports for decades. Illinois has long been considered a microcosm of the United States and a bellwether in American culture, exemplified by the phrase Will it play in Peoria?.

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• Illinois - Wikipedia

  Route marker Illinois quarter dollar coin Illinois (/ˌɪlɪˈnɔɪ/ ⓘ IL-ih-NOY) is a state in the Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash and Ohio rivers to its south. Of the fifty U.S. states, Illinois has the fifth-largest gross domestic product (GDP), the sixth-largest population, and the 25th-most land area. Its capital city is Springfield in the center of the state, and the state's largest city is Chicago, located in northeastern Illinois. [...] American scholars previously thought the name Illinois meant 'man' or 'men' in the Miami-Illinois language, with the original iliniwek transformed via French into Illinois. This etymology is not supported by the Illinois language, as the word for "man" is ireniwa, and plural of "man" is ireniwaki. The name Illiniwek has also been said to mean 'tribe of superior men', which is a false etymology. The name Illinois derives from the Miami-Illinois verb irenwe·wa 'he speaks the regular way'. This was taken into the Ojibwe language, perhaps in the Ottawa dialect, and modified into ilinwe· (pluralized as ilinwe·k). The French borrowed these forms, spelling the /we/ ending as -ois, a transliteration of that sound in the French of that time. The current spelling form, Illinois, began to appear in [...] | Illinois | | --- | | State | | | Flag of Illinois Flag Official seal of Illinois Seal | | | Nicknames: Land of Lincoln, Prairie State, The Inland Empire State | | | Motto(s): State Sovereignty, National Union | | | Anthem: "Illinois "Illinois (song)")" | | | Location of Illinois within the United States Location of Illinois within the United States | | | Country | United States | | Before statehood | Illinois Territory | | Admitted to the Union | December 3, 1818 (21st) | | Capital | Springfield | | Largest city | Chicago | | Largest county or equivalent | Cook | | Largest metro "Statistical area (United States)") and urban areas | Chicagoland | | Government | | | • Governor | JB Pritzker (D "Democratic Party (United States)")) | | • Lieutenant Governor | Juliana Stratton (D) |

• Illinois | History, Geography, Cities, Capital, & Facts

  Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Illinois state map # Illinois Britannica AI Icon Illinois is a constituent state of the United States of America. It stretches southward 385 miles (620 km) from the Wisconsin border in the north to Cairo in the south. In addition to Wisconsin, the state borders Lake Michigan to the northeast, Indiana to the east, Kentucky to the southeast, Missouri to the west, and Iowa to the northwest. Illinois was admitted as the 21st member of the union on December 3, 1818. The capital of Illinois is Springfield. [...] Illinois has a diversified economy with strengths in manufacturing, agriculture, finance, mining, transportation, government, technology, and services, including tourism. It ranks high among states in the manufacture of food products, chemicals, fabricated metals, computer and electronic products, and rubber products, and in the number of printing and publishing establishments. Illinois is a national transportation hub with extensive freight and passenger rail networks. The state is also a major insurance center and home to the Chicago Stock Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade. Illinois's rich soil supports significant soybean and corn production, as well as pork, dairy, grains, and livestock. [...] Illinois is known for Chicago, its largest city and the third most populous in the United States. Chicago is a major transportation hub with extensive freight and passenger rail networks. The city boasts two major airports, including O'Hare International, one of the busiest in the country. Chicago's architecture is world-renowned, featuring innovative designs and towering skyscrapers. The city also serves as a cultural center, offering a wide array of museums and premier musical organizations.

• Fun Facts

  Largest county by population and area: Cook, 5,194,675 (2010); McLean, 1,184 sq mi. Population density in 2010: 85.5 people per square kilometer (221.5 per square mile) Distribution in 2009 (estimate): 87% Urban, 13% Rural Illinois is the fifth most populous state in the country. Resident: Illinoisan Public use areas: 186 (275,000 ac.), including state parks, memorials, forests and conservation areas Geographic center: In Logan County, 28 miles northeast of Springfield. Highest point: Charles Mound, 1,235 feet Lowest point: Mississippi River, 279 feet Land Area: 57,918 square miles. Chicago's Mercy Hospital was the first hospital opened in Illinois. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is the busiest airport in the world. A plane takes off or lands there every 23 seconds. [...] Illinois.gov Government Business Employment Education Residents Visiting # Fun Facts Capital – Springfield State abbreviation / Postal code – Ill. / IL U.S. Senators: 2 U.S. Representatives: 18 Illinois has 20 electoral votes. The Illinois General Assembly consists of a Senate with 59 members and a House of Representatives with 118 members. Organized as a territory: Feb. 3, 1809 Entered Union (rank): Dec. 3, 1818 (21) Present constitution adopted: 1970 The Illinois State Motto: State Sovereignty, National Union The 2020 population of Illinois is 12,671,821. Illinois State Song: Illinois. The words were written by C.H. Chamberlain. The music was composed by Archibald Johnston. Illinois is known as the Prairie State. Illinois State Slogan – Land of Lincoln [...] Illinois State Fruit – goldrush apple Illinois State Tartan – Illinois Saint Andrew Society Tartan Illinois State Vegetable – sweet corn Illinois State Pie – pumpkin pie Illinois State Exercise – cycling Illinois State Pet – shelter dogs and shelter cats Illinois State Microbe – Penicillium rubens Illinois State Grain – corn State Artifact – pirogue Illinois State Theatre – The Great American People Show Origin of name: Algonquin for “tribe of superior men.” Official Language – English Number of counties: 102 10 largest cities (2010): Chicago, 2,695,598; Aurora, 197,899; Rockford, 152,817; Joliet, 147,433; Naperville, 141,853; Springfield, 116,250; Peoria, 115,007; Elgin, 108,188; Waukegan, 89,078; Cicero, 83,891

• Illinois | Facebook

  Log In Log In Forgot Account? Image 1 # Illinois Region · Unofficial Page Home About More HomeAbout Illinois ## About See all Illinois is a state in the midwestern region of the United States. It is the 5th most populous state and 25th largest state in terms of land area, and… See more 0 people follow this 884,811 people checked in here Region ## Page transparency See all Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a Page. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. Page created - March 27, 2010 Privacy · Terms · Advertising · Ad Choices · Cookies · More ## Posts about Illinois Online status indicator Active ## Aires del Sur created an event. August 29 at 2:19 PM ·

• Illinois Pictures and Facts | National Geographic Kids

  ### WHY’S IT CALLED THAT? The name Illinois comes from the Native American tribe living on the land when the area was first explored by Europeans. Much of Illinois was once covered in prairie grass, earning the state its nickname. ### GEOGRAPHY AND LANDFORMS Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Illinois is bordered by Wisconsin in the north; Lake Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky in the east; Kentucky and Missouri in the south; and Missouri and Iowa in the west. The state can be divided into three regions. [...] ### WILDLIFE Black bears, bobcats, and white-tailed deer are a few of this state’s common mammals. Birdwatchers can look for quails, orioles, meadowlarks, bluebirds, and northern cardinals (the state bird). Scarlet snakes, snapping turtles, and five-lined skinks are among the state’s reptiles. Illinois’ amphibians include tiger salamanders, western chorus frogs, and American toads. Box elder, red maple, pawpaw, and sweet gum trees grow throughout the state. Illinois bundleflower, Illinois rose, and leopard lily are some of this state’s colorful wildflowers. ### NATURAL RESOURCES One of Illinois’ best known natural resources is its fertile soil. Some of Illinois’ top crops are corn, soybeans, and apples. ### FUN STUFF [...] ### FUN STUFF —The state’s official snack food is popcorn, which can be served Chicago-style—that’s a mixture of cheese-covered and caramel-covered popcorn! —Famous folks from Illinois include Hillary Clinton, U.S. representative and civil rights activist Carol Moseley Braun, First Lady Michelle Obama, and women’s rights activist Betty Friedan. —Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry contains the world’s largest pinball machine and a miniature castle. —Illinois’ slogan is the Land of Lincoln because Abraham Lincoln lived there for 31 years. Today visitors can see Lincoln’s home and his tomb in Springfield. --- ## Explore more ## U.S. states and territories facts and photos Get facts and photos of the U.S. states and territories, and the District of Columbia.

• Instance Of

  Q215380

• Inception Date

  1/1/2006