The Illinois State Fair is an annual festival, centuring on the theme of agriculture, hosted by the State of Illinois in the state capital, Springfield. The fair has been celebrated almost every year since 1853. Currently, it is held annually over an 11-day period in mid-August of each year. In 2006, the State Fair was scheduled to be held on August 10-20. Official language(s) English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 25th 149,998 km² 340 km 629 km 4. ... Springfield is a common name and known, in part, for being a common place-name in the United States. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Note: as an adjective (stressed on the second syllable instead of the first), august means honorable. ...

History

The first Illinois State Fair was celebrated in 1853 in Springfield. The 1850s were a golden age of agricultural journalism, with a wide variety of editors offering many suggestions, well-founded or not, to increase farm productivity. The first State Fairs, in Illinois and other states, were created and organized by farmers in order to compare notes with their colleagues and distinguish between good and bad advice. Journalism is a discipline of collecting, verifying, analyzing and presenting information gathered regarding current events, including trends, issues and people. ... Bales of hay on a farm near Ames, Iowa A farm is the basic unit in agriculture. ...

During the years after the Civil War, the rules of agricultural judging became standardized, and more and more farmers began to show their farm products. Increasing knowledge of genetics inspired the breeding and showing of purebred farm animals at both county fairs and the Illinois State Fair. A civil war is a war in which the competing parties within the same country or empire struggle for national control of state power. ... Purebreds, also called purebreeds or pedigreed, are cultivated varieties or cultivars of a species, achieved through the process of selective breeding. ... For other uses of the word fair see Fair (disambiguation) Fair is the name for the gathering together of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or fairground entertainment. ...

In the first half of the 20th Century, the internal combustion engine revolutionized life on the American farm, with manufacturers of agricultural machinery eagerly taking advantage of occasions like the Illinois State Fair to demonstrate their new products. It has been suggested that Car engine be merged into this article or section. ... Agricultural machinery is one of the most revolutionary and impactful applications of modern technology. ...

The Illinois State Fair was held almost every summer during this more than 150-year-long period. On a few occasions it was suspended. In 1893, for example, the organizers of the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago prepared to offer a larger lineup of agricultural products and machinery, so the Illinois State Fair cancelled itself for one year. 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... One-third scale replica of The Republic, which once stood in the great basin at the exposition, Chicago, 2004 The Worlds Columbian Exposition (also called The Chicago Worlds Fair), a Worlds fair, was held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbuss...

The Illinois State Fair, like many state fairs, moved during the first 40 years of its life, 1853-92, from place to place. It was celebrated as far north as Freeport and as far south as DuQuoin. In 1894, the State of Illinois began to use a 366-acre parcel of land on the northern boundary of Springfield, which became the permanent Illinois State Fairgrounds. Freeport is the name of several localities. ... 1894 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Present

Starting with the end of World War II, the growth of productivity in agriculture began to reduce the number of jobs in American farming, both as a percentage of total population and in absolute numbers. State fairs began to transition themselves from agricultural trade shows to entertainment operations.

In Illinois, the State Fair Grandstand, originally built as a place to watch harness racing (and still used for that purpose as of 2005) became a venue for concerts and recitals. The "state fair circuit" became a recognized part of the overall live-music industry for many performers, especially but not exclusively in country-western music. Country music, once known as Country and Western music, is a popular musical form developed in the southern United States, with roots in traditional folk music, spirituals, and the blues. ...

Agricultural show operations, competitions, and judging continued in Springfield, but many State Fairgoers in 2005 were attending the fair to watch parades and spectacles, enjoy the festival rides, listen to music, or attend one of numerous "beer tents."

The Illinois State Fairgrounds now contains more than 100 permanent buildings. In addition, participants sent up countless pavilions and trailers during the period the State Fair is in operation. The Illinois State Fair is operated by the state's Department of Agriculture, which states in the state's official "Illinois Blue Book" that the purpose of the State Fair is to "showcase Illinois agriculture and offer wholesome family entertainment."