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Known as the Prairie State, Illinois is located in the Midwestern United States. It was admitted as the 21st state on December 3, 1818. Illinois has a population of over 12 million residents, making it the sixth most populous state in the country.

History

The word "Illinois" comes from the native Algonquin word meaning "tribe of superior men". French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet were likely the first Europeans to encounter Illinois when they explored the Mississippi River in 1673. The area was ceded to Britain after the French and Indian War in 1763. It became part of the Northwest Territory under the ordinance of 1787 and part of Indiana Territory in 1800. Illinois became a separate territory in 1809. Statehood followed in 1818. In the 1800s, Illinois emerged as one of the most populous and economically important states in the union. Its fertile prairies made it an important agricultural center. The coming of the railroad in the 1850s further stimulated economic growth. Chicago became a major transportation hub. By 1900, Illinois was one of the leading manufacturing states. Some key moments in Illinois history include:

1804 - Fort Dearborn constructed in Chicago
1818 - Illinois becomes 21st state
1837 - Chicago incorporates as a city
1847 - Chicago Board of Trade founded
1871 - Great Chicago Fire
1893 - World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago
1922 - Wrigley Field opens in Chicago
1933-1934 - Century of Progress World's Fair held in Chicago

To learn more about the history of Illinois, visit the state government website.

Geography and Climate

Illinois covers 57,914 square miles, making it the 25th largest state. It stretches 390 miles from north to south and 210 miles from east to west. Illinois shares a border with Wisconsin to the north, Iowa and Missouri to the west, Kentucky to the south, and Indiana to the east. The Mississippi River forms the western border of the state. Northern Illinois has a humid continental climate with cold winters and hot, humid summers. Central and southern Illinois have a humid subtropical climate characterized by more moderate temperatures. The average high in Chicago ranges from 31°F in January to 84°F in July. Southern Illinois averages highs of 40°F in January to 89°F in July. Chicago, in northeast Illinois along Lake Michigan, is the largest city and metropolitan area in the state. Other major cities include Aurora, Rockford, Joliet, Naperville, Springfield (the state capital), and Peoria.

Economy

Illinois has a diversified economy with strengths in manufacturing, agriculture, technology, and financial services. Some of the state's largest employers include:

Advocate Health Care (Headquarters: Downers Grove, IL) - 37,000 employees
Boeing (Chicago) - 15,000 employees
Caterpillar Inc. (Deerfield) - 10,400 employees
Walgreens (Deerfield) - 9,900 employees
State Farm (Bloomington) - 16,400 employees
United Airlines (Chicago) - 9,100 employees

Major companies headquartered in Illinois include McDonald's, Boeing, Caterpillar, Abbott Laboratories, and Mondelez International. The state's largest exports are chemicals, machinery, food products, and computer equipment. Agriculture also remains an important economic activity with corn, soybeans, pork, and dairy making up the largest share of agricultural production. The finance and insurance sector is strong in Illinois. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade are among the largest futures exchanges in the world. Chicago is also home to major financial companies like Citadel, Morningstar, and Nuveen Investments. In recent years, Illinois has seen slower economic growth and deficits in the state budget. The unemployment rate was 4.5% as of December 2022. However, the state still boasts substantial economic assets and diversity across sectors. For more on the Illinois economy, visit the Illinois Department of Commerce.

Tourism

Popular tourist attractions in Illinois include:

Navy Pier - Located on Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago, Navy Pier features shops, restaurants, museums, exhibition halls and amusement rides. Website
Lincoln Park Zoo - A free zoo located in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood and home to over 200 animal species. Website
Art Institute of Chicago - One of the oldest and largest art museums in the U.S., known for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works. Website
Starved Rock State Park - A state park southwest of Chicago known for its scenic canyons, waterfalls, and 13-mile trail system. Website
Shawnee National Forest - Located in southern Illinois, this national forest offers hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, and boating. Website
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site - The site of an ancient Mississippian city and UNESCO World Heritage Site with 80 prehistoric earthwork mounds. Website

The city of Chicago is a major tourist hub, drawing over 50 million visitors annually to its museums, sports teams, theater scene, dining, and more. Other parts of Illinois like Galena in the northwest are popular for their quaint downtowns, shops, and B&Bs. For more on tourism in Illinois, visit Enjoy Illinois.

Sports

Illinois is home to many professional and collegiate sports teams. Chicago's major professional teams include:

Chicago Bears (NFL) - The Bears have won 9 NFL championships including Super Bowl XX. They play at Soldier Field. Website
Chicago Bulls (NBA) - Led by Michael Jordan in the 1990s, the Bulls won 6 NBA championships. They play at United Center. Website
Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) - The Blackhawks have won 6 Stanley Cups including recent wins in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Home ice is United Center. Website
Chicago Cubs (MLB) - The 2016 World Series champion Cubs play at historic Wrigley Field. Website
Chicago White Sox (MLB) - The 2005 World Series champion White Sox play at Guaranteed Rate Field. Website

Other professional teams include the Chicago Fire soccer club, Chicago Sky WNBA team, and Chicago Wolves minor league hockey team. In college athletics, the state is home to several powerhouse teams including the Illinois Fighting Illini, Northwestern Wildcats, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Education

Illinois public schools are administered by the Illinois State Board of Education. There are 852 public school districts and over 4,000 schools in the state. Some of the largest school districts include:

City of Chicago SD 299 - 372,000 students. Website
Community CUSD 300 - Serves Kane county with 18,500 students. Website
Indian Prairie CUSD 204 - Serves Will and DuPage counties with 29,000 students. Website
Rockford SD 205 - 27,000 students. Website
Joliet PSD 86 - 17,000 students. Website

Popular colleges and universities in Illinois include the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois system, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University Chicago, and DePaul University.

Famous Landmarks

Here are some famous Illinois landmarks and their geographic coordinates:

Willis Tower (Chicago) - 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606. 41.878603, -87.635761
Wrigley Field (Chicago) - 1060 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613. 41.94858, -87.655296
Navy Pier (Chicago) - 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611. 41.892498, -87.608543

Local Resources

Looking for more local info? Here are some handy links:

State of Illinois government website
Illinois Department of Commerce - Resources for business & industry
Illinois Department of Natural Resources - State parks & recreation
Illinois Department of Agriculture - Farming & food programs
Illinois Department of Employment Security - Workforce & unemployment resources
Illinois Secretary of State - Vehicle registration, licensing & records
List of Illinois counties

Illinois is located within the jurisdiction of the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The state's Department of Public Health oversees public health initiatives like health equity, prevention, and emergency preparedness. See the IDPH website. Major highways running through Illinois include I-55, I-57, I-70, I-74, I-80, I-88, I-90, and I-94. Amtrak provides rail service to the state. Chicago's Union Station is a major transportation hub. O'Hare and Midway International Airports are located in Chicago.

Top 10 Most Populated Cities in Illinois

Chicago

With a population of 2,693,976, Chicago is the most populated city in Illinois. Chicago is the third most populous city in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles. Located in northeastern Illinois along the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago is an international hub for finance, culture, commerce, industry, education, and transportation. The city is famous for its bold architecture, robust arts and cultural scene, diverse culinary offerings, professional sports teams, and influential jazz music heritage. Chicago City Government Website: https://www.chicago.gov/ Chicago Tourism Website: https://www.choosechicago.com/ Chicago Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Chicago

Aurora

Aurora is the second most populated city in Illinois, with a population of 200,965. Located in DuPage and Kane counties, Aurora is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Aurora was founded in 1834 and is a diverse city with a robust economy centered around manufacturing, warehousing, transportation, and food processing industries. The city has an extensive park system along the Fox River and many historic structures and landmarks. Aurora City Government Website: https://www.aurora-il.org/ Aurora Tourism Website: https://www.enjoyaurora.com/ Aurora Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofAuroraIL/

Joliet

With a population of 150,633, Joliet is the third largest city in Illinois. Located just 40 miles southwest of Chicago, Joliet was named after French Canadian explorer Louis Jolliet. Historically a heavy industrial city, Joliet remains a prominent transportation hub and center for manufacturing, retail, and entertainment. Popular attractions include Chicagoland Speedway, Rialto Square Theatre, Hollywood Casino Joliet, and the Route 66 Raceway. Joliet City Government Website: https://www.joliet.gov/ Joliet Tourism Website: https://www.visitjoliet.org/ Joliet Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JolietIllinois

Naperville

Naperville is the fourth largest city in Illinois, with a population of 148,449. This western Chicago suburb is located in DuPage and Will counties and is part of the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor. Naperville boasts a vibrant downtown, an extensive riverwalk, many historic sites, and award winning public schools. Key attractions include the Naper Settlement living history museum and the Knoch Knolls Nature Center. Naperville City Government Website: https://www.naperville.il.us/ Naperville Tourism Website: https://www.naperville.net/ Naperville Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofNaperville/

Elgin

With 112,456 residents, Elgin is the 5th largest city in Illinois. Located along the Fox River in Cook, DeKalb, and Kane counties, Elgin forms part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Elgin is perhaps best known for its historic Grand Victoria riverboat casino, festivals, recreational opportunities, cultural institutions, and architecture. The city also has a robust business environment centered around manufacturing, back office, distribution, and technology. Elgin City Government Website: https://www.cityofelgin.org/ Elgin Tourism Website: https://exploreelginarea.com/ Elgin Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofElginIllinois

Waukegan

Waukegan has a population of 86,901, making it the 6th most populated city in Illinois. This Lake County city is located on the shores of Lake Michigan, just north of Chicago. Waukegan Harbor and its lakefront attractions draw many visitors. Major employers include Vista Medical Center East, Uline, and Medline Industries. Waukegan has a rich history dating back to the 1700s. Waukegan City Government Website: https://www.waukeganil.gov/ Waukegan Tourism Website: https://www.visitwaukegan.com/ Waukegan Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CityOfWaukegan

Rockford

With a population of 147,781, Rockford is the 7th largest city in Illinois. Located along the Rock River in Winnebago and Ogle counties, Rockford is the largest city in northern Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area. Once known for its manufacturing, today Rockford is home to aerospace and aviation technology centers. Cultural sites include the Anderson Japanese Gardens, Burpee Museum of Natural History, Discovery Center Museum, and Midway Village Museum Center. Rockford City Government Website: https://rockfordil.gov/ Rockford Tourism Website: https://gorockford.com/ Rockford Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/rockford.org

Springfield

Springfield has a population of 115,715, making it the 8th largest city in Illinois. Springfield is the state capital and county seat of Sangamon County. Major employers include the State of Illinois, the medical field, local universities, and retail/food businesses. Popular attractions include the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Dana-Thomas House, and the Old State Capitol State Historic Site. Springfield City Government Website: https://www.springfield.il.us/ Springfield Tourism Website: https://www.visitspringfieldillinois.com/ Springfield Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SpringfieldIL

Peoria

With 114,189 residents, Peoria is the 9th largest city in Illinois. Located in Peoria County, Peoria forms the largest metropolitan area outside the Chicago metropolitan area. Peoria is known for Caterpillar Inc. headquarters and its many medical facilities. The Peoria Riverfront Museum, Caterpillar Visitors Center, recreation along the Illinois River, and the city's arts and culture scene attract many visitors. Peoria City Government Website: https://www.peoriagov.org/ Peoria Tourism Website: https://www.peoria.org/ Peoria Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thecityofpeoria/