State of Illinois

Flag of Illinois Seal of Illinois Nickname(s): Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Motto(s): State sovereignty, national union
Official language(s)	English
Capital	Springfield
Largest city	Chicago
Area	Ranked 25th
- Total	57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)
- Width	210 miles (340 km)
- Length	390 miles (629 km)
- % water	4.0
- Latitude	36°58'N to 42°30'N
- Longitude	87°30'W to 91°30'W
Population	Ranked 5th
- Total (2000)	12,419,293
- Density	223.4/sq mi  86.27/km² (11th)
- Median income	$45,787[1] (18th)
Elevation
- Highest point	Charles Mound[2] 1,235 ft  (377 m)
- Mean	600 ft  (182 m)
- Lowest point	Mississippi River[2] 279 ft  (85 m)
Admission to Union	3 December 1818 (21st)
Governor	Rod Blagojevich (D)
U.S. Senators	Richard Durbin (D) Barack Obama (D)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Abbreviations	IL US-IL
Web site	www.illinois.gov

This article is about the U.S. State. For other uses, see Illinois (disambiguation).

Illinois (pronounced [ˌɪ.lɨˈnɔɪ] or "ill-i-NOY") is the 21st U.S. state and is located in the Midwest region of the United States of America. The state is the most populous in the Midwest, and the fifth most populous in the nation. Illinois is known for its large and diverse population; its balance of rural areas, small industrial cities, vast suburbs and a great metropolis; its highly diverse economic base; and its central location that has made it a transportation hub for 150 years. It is this mixture of factory and farm, of urban and rural that makes Illinois a microcosm of the United States. Image File history File links Flag_of_Illinois. ... State seal of Illinois. ... Flag of Illinois The flag of the state of Illinois was designed in 1912 by Lucy Derwent in response to a contest held by the Daughters of the American Revolution. ... The Great Seal of the State of Illinois was first adopted in 1819 by the first Illinois General Assembly. ... This is a list of U.S. state nicknames: (official state nicknames in bold) See also Lists of U.S. state insignia External link Information about U.S. State Nicknames Categories: | ... Prairie refers to an area of land of low topographic relief that historically supported grasses and herbs, with few trees, and having generally a mesic (moderate or temperate) climate. ... Here is a list of state mottos for the states of the United States. ... Public domain map courtesy of The General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin, modified to highlight state boundaries. ... // Although the United States currently has no official language, it is largely monolingual with English being the de facto national language. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, site of first U.S. capital. ... Flag Seal Location Location of Springfield within Illinois Government Country State County United States Illinois Sangamon Founded 1819 Mayor Timothy Davlin Geographical characteristics Area    - City 156. ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... The Flag of The United States of America US states by land area US states by water area This is a list of the states of the United States in order of their total area, land area, and water area. ... This is a list of United States of America states by population as of 2005, according to the 2005 Census estimates taken by the United States Census Bureau. ... 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... Map of states showing population density This is a list of the 50 U.S. states, ordered by population density. ... This graphic shows the distribution of gross annual household income. ... This is a list of United States states by elevation. ... This is a list of United States states by elevation. ... Charles Mound is a gentle, 1,235-foot-high hill in northern Jo Daviess County, near the small town of Scales Mound and 11 miles northeast of Galena. ... This is a list of United States states by elevation. ... This is a list of United States states by elevation. ... The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe word misi-ziibi meaning great river (gichi-ziibi big river at its headwaters), is the second-longest river in the United States; the longest is the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi. ... ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1818 (MDCCCXVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... Are you kidding?, this is solid truth here, nothing escapes the eyes of Gov!!!, not even. ... Milorad Rod R. Blagojevich (pronounced IPA:  , born December 10, 1956) is an American politician from the state of Illinois. ... The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... Richard Joseph Durbin, usually called Dick Durbin, (born November 21, 1944) is currently the senior United States Senator from Illinois and Democratic Whip, the second highest position in the party leadership in the Senate. ... Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. ... Map of U.S. time zones with new CST and EST areas displayed This is a list of United States of America States by time zone. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Standard Time Zone (CST) is a geographic region in the Americas that keeps time by subtracting six hours from UTC (UTC-6). ... Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is a high-precision atomic time standard. ...  Areas that observe daylight saving time  Areas that once observed daylight saving time  Areas that have never observed daylight saving time A 2001 public service announcement for the upcoming turning back of the clocks Daylight saving time (DST), also known as summer time or, daylight savings time, is a widely... The following is a list of abbreviations used by the United States Postal Service. ... U.S. states This is a list of traditional abbreviations for U.S. states and territorries, which were in wide use prior to the U.S. postal abbreviations. ... Illinois can refer to: Illinois, a state in the United States (population 12,419,293). ... This is a concise version of the International Phonetic Alphabet for English sounds. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Minor parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries â€¢ Politics Portal • • A state of the United States is any one of the fifty subnational entities referred to... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... Illustration of the backyards of a surburban neighbourhood Suburbs are inhabited districts located either on the outer rim of a city or outside the official limits of a city (the term varies from country to country), or the outer elements of a conurbation. ... Auckland Berlin Chicago Hong Kong Istanbul Johannesburg London Los Angeles Madrid Melbourne Metropolis Katowice Moscow Mumbai New York City Osaka Paris Santiago de Chile São Paulo Shanghai Singapore Sydney Tokyo Toronto Warsaw A metropolis (in Greek μήτηρ, mÄ“tÄ“r = mother and πόλις, pólis = city/town) is a major city...

About 2,000 Native American hunters inhabited the area at the time of the American Revolution, and a small number of French villagers. American settlers began arriving from Kentucky in the 1810s; they achieved statehood in 1818. Yankees arrived a little later and dominated the north, founding the future metropolis of Chicago in the 1830s. The coming of the railroads in the 1850s made highly profitable the rich prairie farmlands in central Illinois, attracting large numbers of immigrant farmers from Germany and Sweden. Northern Illinois provided major support for Illinoisans Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War. By 1900, factories were being rapidly built in the northern cities, along with coal mines in central and southern areas, attracting large numbers of immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe. Illinois was a major arsenal in both world wars; large numbers of blacks left the cotton fields of the South to come to Chicago, where they developed a famous jazz culture. An Aani (Atsina) named Assiniboin Boy. ... jetrin is gay with men ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... The term Yankee refers to United States Americans, particularly northerners, especially those Americans from the Northeastern United States whose ancestors arrived from Britain before 1700. ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ... A railway yard in Portland, Oregon. ... Prairie refers to an area of land of low topographic relief that historically supported grasses and herbs, with few trees, and having generally a mesic (moderate or temperate) climate. ... Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, was an American politician who served as the 16th President of the United States (1861 to 1865), and the first president from the Republican Party. ... Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant, April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was an American general and politician who was elected as the 18th President of the United States (1869–1877). ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert Edward Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... Eastern Europe is the eastern region of Europe variably defined. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A world war is a military conflict affecting the majority of the worlds major nations. ... Jazz is an original American musical art form that originated around the start of the 20th century in New Orleans, rooted in African American musical styles blended with Western music technique and theory. ...

The state is named for the Illinois River which was named by French explorers after the indigenous Illiniwek people, a consortium of Algonquian tribes that thrived in the area. The word Illiniwek means "tribe of superior men."^[3] This article is about the river in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Habitants by Cornelius Krieghoff (1852) Habitants is the name used to referred to the French settlers who established a colony in the Haudenosaunee First Nations territory along the shores of the St. ... The Illiniwek (also known as the Illini, Illinois, Illinois Confederacy, etc) were a group of sixNative American tribes in the upper Mississippi River valley of North America. ... A consortium is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organisations or governments (or any combination of these entities) with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal. ... The Algonquian (also Algonkian) languages are a subfamily of Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the Algic language family (others are Wiyot and Yurok of northwestern California). ...

Geography

Chicago, the largest city in Illinois

Main article: Geography of Illinois

The northeastern border of Illinois is Lake Michigan. Its eastern border with Indiana is all of the land west of the Wabash River, and a north-south line above Post Vincennes, or 87° 30' west longitude. Its northern border with Wisconsin is fixed at 42° 30' latitude. Its western border with Missouri and Iowa is the Mississippi River. Its southern border with Kentucky is the Ohio River.^[4] Illinois also borders Michigan, but only via a water boundary in Lake Michigan. [Nelson 1978] Image File history File links Chicago_Skyline. ... Image File history File links Chicago_Skyline. ... Illinois is in the north-central U.S. and borders on Lake Michigan. ... Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one in the group located entirely within the United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq mi (94,321 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 270 miles (435 km)  - % water 1. ... The Wabash River is a 475 mi (765 km) long river in the eastern United States that flows southwest from northwest Ohio near St. ... The city of Vincennes is the county seat of Knox County, Indiana. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe word misi-ziibi meaning great river (gichi-ziibi big river at its headwaters), is the second-longest river in the United States; the longest is the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... The Ohio River is the largest tributary by volume of the Mississippi River. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Area  Ranked 11th  - Total 97,990 sq mi (253,793 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 491 miles (790 km)  - % water 41. ...

Though Illinois lies entirely in the Interior Plains, it has three major geographical divisions. The first is Chicagoland, including the city of Chicago, its suburbs, and the adjoining exurban area into which the metropolis is expanding. Two out of three Illinoisans live in this region. This region includes a few counties in Indiana and Wisconsin and stretches across much of northern Illinois toward the Iowa border, generally along Interstates 80 and 90. This region is cosmopolitan, densely populated, industrialized, and settled by a variety of ethnic groups. Cook County is the most populous county in the state, with over 5.3 million residents in 2004. The Interior Plains are highlighted in red. ... Chicagoland is an informal name for the Chicago metropolitan area, used by local residents, businesses, governments, and planning agencies. ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ... Route across the United States Interstate 80 (abbreviated I-80) is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States. ... Interstate 90 (abbreviated I-90) is the longest interstate highway in the United States at nearly 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers). ... Cook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ...

Southward and westward, the second major division is central Illinois, an area of mostly flat prairie. The western section (west of the Illinois River) was originally part of the Military Tract of 1812 and forms the distinctive western bulge of state. Known as the Land of Lincoln or the Heart of Illinois, it is characterized by small towns and mid-sized cities. Agriculture, particularly corn and soybeans, as well as educational institutions and manufacturing centers, figure prominently. Major cities include Peoria–the third largest metropolitan area in Illinois at 370,000, Springfield–the state capital, Decatur, Bloomington-Normal and Champaign-Urbana. [Nelson 1978] Prairie refers to an area of land of low topographic relief that historically supported grasses and herbs, with few trees, and having generally a mesic (moderate or temperate) climate. ... US Atlas of 1810 In May 1812, an act of Congress was passed which set aside bounty lands as payment to volunteer soldiers for the War against the British (War of 1812). ... Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, was an American politician who served as the 16th President of the United States (1861 to 1865), and the first president from the Republican Party. ... Binomial name Zea mays L. Maize (Zea mays ssp. ... Binomial name Glycine max (L.) Merr. ... Location of Peoria Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois Counties Peoria County, Illinois Mayor Jim Ardis Area    - City 46. ... Flag Seal Location Location of Springfield within Illinois Government Country State County United States Illinois Sangamon Founded 1819 Mayor Timothy Davlin Geographical characteristics Area    - City 156. ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has a second meaning based on an alternative sense of capital) is the principal city or town associated with a countrys government. ... The Decatur Transfer House in the background with a newly completed fountain in the foreground. ... This refers to the adjoined cities of Bloomington, Illinois and Normal, Illinois located in the McLean County of Central Illinois. ... A view of Champaign from above ( see wider view). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Illinois, showing major cities and roads

The third division is southern Illinois, comprising the area south of U.S. Route 50, and including Little Egypt, near the juncture of the Mississippi River and Ohio River. This region can be distinguished from the other two by its warmer climate, different mix of crops (including some cotton farming in the past), more rugged topography (the southern tip is unglaciated with the remainder glaciated during the Illinoian Age and earlier ages), as well as small-scale oil deposits and coal mining. The area is a little more populated than the central part of the state with the population centered in two areas. First, the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis comprise the second most populous metropolitan area in Illinois with nearly 600,000 inhabitants, and are known collectively as the Metro-East. Second, the Carbondale, Marion, West Frankfort, Herrin, Murphysboro area, is home to around 200,000 residents. [Nelson 1978] File links The following pages link to this file: Illinois Categories: National Atlas images | Illinois maps ... File links The following pages link to this file: Illinois Categories: National Atlas images | Illinois maps ... This U.S. Highway article needs to be cleaned up to conform to both a higher standard of article quality and accepted design standards outlined in the WikiProject U.S. Highways. ... Egypt is the southern area of the state of Illinois in the United States of America. ... The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe word misi-ziibi meaning great river (gichi-ziibi big river at its headwaters), is the second-longest river in the United States; the longest is the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi. ... The Ohio River is the largest tributary by volume of the Mississippi River. ... Cotton ready for harvest. ... The Wolstonian glaciation is a name for an ice age period which occurred between 200,000 and 125,000 years ago. ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining (surface mining). ... Metro-East is a region in Illinois that comprises the eastern suburbs St. ... Carbondale is a city in Southern Illinois in the midwest United States, about one hour north of Cairo. ... Marion is a city in Williamson County, Illinois, United States. ... West Frankfort is a city located in Franklin County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 12,949. ... Herrin is a city located in Williamson County, Illinois. ... Murphysboro is a city in Jackson County, Illinois, United States. ...

The region outside of the Chicago Metropolitan area is often described as "downstate Illinois". However, residents of central and southern Illinois view their regions as geographically and culturally distinct, and do not necessarily use this term.

In extreme northwestern Illinois, the Driftless Zone, a region of unglaciated and therefore higher and more rugged topography, occupies a small part of the state. Charles Mound, located in this region, is the state's highest natural elevation above sea level at 1,235 feet (376 m). The highest true elevation in Illinois is the Sears Tower with an elevation at the top of its roof of approximately 2,030 feet (the elevation of Chicago is approximately 580 feet and the height of the roof is approximately 1450 feet). // The Coulee Region, as it is colloquially known (officially designated the Driftless Area by the USGS and popularly referred to as the Driftless Zone, or Driftless Region since the 1980s) is an area of about 20,000 square miles (52,000 km²) in western Wisconsin, northeastern Iowa, southeastern Minnesota, and... Charles Mound is a gentle, 1,235-foot-high hill in northern Jo Daviess County, near the small town of Scales Mound and 11 miles northeast of Galena. ... For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ... The Sears Tower is a skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois, and the tallest building in the United States. ...

The floodplain on the Mississippi River from Alton to the Kaskaskia River is the American Bottom, and is the site of the ancient city of Cahokia. It was a region of early French settlement, as well as the site of the first state capital, at Kaskaskia which is separated from the rest of the state by the Mississippi River. [Nelson (1978); Horsley (1986)] Historic Alton Home Alton is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. ... The Kaskaskia River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 320 mi (515 km) long, in central and southern Illinois in the United States. ... The American Bottom is a flood plain of the Mississippi River in southwestern Illinois, extending from Alton, Illinois, to the Kaskaskia River. ... Cahokia is the site of an ancient Native American city near Collinsville, Illinois, across the Mississippi River from St. ... Kaskaskia is a village located in Randolph County, Illinois. ...

See also List of Illinois counties, List of Illinois county name etymologies List of 102 counties in the U.S. state of Illinois: Adams County Alexander County Bond County Boone County Brown County Bureau County Calhoun County Carroll County Cass County Champaign County Christian County Clark County Clay County Clinton County Coles County Cook County Crawford County Cumberland County DeKalb County De... This is a list of Illinois county name etymologies. ...

Climate

Because of its nearly 400 mile length and mid-continental situation, Illinois has a widely varying climate. Monthly average temperatures range from a high of 88 °F in the south during the month of August to a low of 10 °F in the northwest during February. Average yearly precipitation for Illinois varies from just over 48 inches at the southern tip to around 35 inches in the northern portion of the state. Normal annual snowfall exceeds 38 inches in Chicagoland due to lake effect snow, while the south normally receives less than 14 inches.^[5] The highest temperature recorded in Illinois was 117 °F, recorded on July 14, 1954, at East St. Louis, while the lowest temperature was -36 °F, recorded on January 5, 1999, at Congerville.^[6] [Nelson (1978); Horsley (1986)] Streaming lake-effect clouds off Lakes Superior, Michigan, Nipigon, Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Lake St. ... July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Old Farts by the Sometimes-United Nations. ... Congerville is a village located in Woodford County, Illinois. ...

Illinois averages around 50 days of thunderstorm activity a year which put it at near average for number of thunderstorm days for the United States. Illinois is vulnerable to tornadoes with an average of 35 occurring annually, which puts much of the state at around 5 tornadoes per 10,000 square miles annually.^[7] The deadliest tornado on record in the nation occurred largely in Illinois. The Tri-State Tornado of 1925 killed 695 people in three states; 613 of the victims lived in Illinois.^[8] A shelf cloud associated with a heavy or severe thunderstorm over Enschede, The Netherlands. ... 1Time from first tornado to last tornado 2Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale The Great Tri-State Tornado of Wednesday, March 18, 1925, crossed from southeastern Missouri, through southern Illinois, then into southwestern Indiana, and was the deadliest tornado in U.S. history. ...

Recreation

See also: List of Illinois state parks

Illinois has numerous museums. For example, the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford which features the dinosaur fossil Jane the Rockford T-Rex. The state of the art Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield is the largest presidential library in the country. And numerous museums in the city of Chicago are considered some of the best in the world. Illinois has over 54 state parks, along with many other wildlife areas and state forests. ... Burpee Museum of Natural History The Burpee Museum of Natural History is located along the Rock River in downtown Rockford, Illinois at 737 North Main Street. ... Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. Traditionally referred to as The Forest City, Rockford is classified as a mid-sized city as it has 150,115 residents, while the metro area has 320,204 residents (2000 Census). ... Jane is a renowned juvenile Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil discovered in the Hell Creek Formation in southern Montana. ...

The Illinois state park system began in 1908 with what is now Fort Massac State Park becoming the first park in a system encompassing over 60 parks and about the same number of recreational and wildlife areas. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Fort Massac is a colonial era fort on the Ohio River in Massac County, Illinois. ...

Areas under the protection and control of the National Park Service include: The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ...

• Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor near Lockport
• Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
• Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield
• Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
• Trail of Tears National Historic Trail

The location and course of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. ... Lockport is a city in Will County, Illinois, United States. ... In 1804, Meriwether Lewis & William Clark began a voyage of discovery with 45 men, a keelboat, two pirogues,and a dog. ... Lincoln Home National Historic Site Lincoln Home National Historic Site preserves President Abraham Lincolns Springfield, Illinois home and four-block historic district surrounding the home. ... The Mormon Trail or Mormon Pioneer Trail is the 1,300 mile route that members of Latter Day Saint movement traveled from 1846-1857. ... For the Norwegian musical group, see Trail of Tears (band). ...

History

Evening sky over a grain elevator west of Champaign

Main article: History of Illinois

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1958x1380, 356 KB)Picture of a beautiful evening sky featuring the cresent moon next to the planet Venus over a grain elavator. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1958x1380, 356 KB)Picture of a beautiful evening sky featuring the cresent moon next to the planet Venus over a grain elavator. ... Grain elevators are buildings or complexes of buildings for storage and shipment of grain. ... // Pre-Columbian Cahokia, the urban center of the pre-Columbian Mississippian culture, was located near present-day Collinsville, Illinois. ...

Pre-Columbian

Cahokia, the urban center of the pre-Columbian Mississippian culture, was located near present-day Collinsville, Illinois. That civilization vanished circa AD 1400–1500 for unknown reasons. The next major power in the region was the Illiniwek Confederation, or Illini, a political alliance among several tribes. The Illiniwek gave Illinois its name. The Illini suffered in the seventeenth century as Iroquois expansion forced them to compete with several tribes for land. The Illini were replaced by the Potawatomi, Miami, Sauk, and other tribes. [Nelson 1978] Cahokia is the site of an ancient Native American city near Collinsville, Illinois, across the Mississippi River from St. ... Christopher Columbus (Italian: Cristoforo Colombo; Portuguese: Cristóvão Colombo, formerly Christovam Colon; Spanish: Cristóbal Colón; Catalan: Cristòfor Colom; 1451–May 20, 1506) was a navigator and an admiral for the Crown of Castile. ... The Mississippian culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished in the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 900 to 1500 CE, varying regionally. ... The official city logo of Collinsville, Illinois. ... Dionysius Exiguus invented Anno Domini years to date Easter. ... The Illiniwek (also known as the Illini, Illinois, Illinois Confederacy, etc) were a group of sixNative American tribes in the upper Mississippi River valley of North America. ... The Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee, also known as the League of Peace and Power, Five Nations, or Six Nations) is a group of First Nations/Native Americans. ... Rain dance, Kansas, c. ... The Miami are a Native American tribe originally found in Indiana and Ohio. ... For the abbreviation or acronym SAC, please see SAC. The Sauks or Sacs (Asakiwaki in their own language) are a group of Native Americans whose original territory may have been along the St. ...

European exploration

French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet explored the Illinois River in 1673. As a result of their exploration, Illinois was part of the French empire until 1763, when it passed to the British as a result of the French and Indian War. George Rogers Clark claimed the Illinois Country for the Commonwealth of Virginia during his military campaigns there in 1778. The area was ceded to the new United States in 1783 and became part of the Northwest Territory. [Biles (2005)] Father Jacques Marquette (French: Père Jacques Marquette) (June 10, 1637–May 18, 1675) and Louis Jolliet were the first Europeans to see and map the Mississippi River. ... Louis Joliet, also known Louis Jolliet (September 21, 1645–May 1700), was a Canadian explorer born in Quebec who is important for his discoveries in North America. ... This article is about the river in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Oooo BURN! ... Clark as painted by Matthew Harris Jouett in 1825 George Rogers Clark (November 19, 1752 – February 13, 1818) was the preeminent American military leader on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. ... French settlements and forts in the Illinois Country in 1763, showing U.S. current state boundaries. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ... The Northwest Territory, also known as the Old Northwest and the Territory North West of the Ohio, was a governmental region within the early United States. ...

19th century

The Illinois-Wabash Company was an early claimant to much of Illinois. The Illinois Territory was created on February 3, 1809, with its capital at Kaskaskia. In 1818, Illinois became the 21st U.S. state. At the last minute, the state's northern border was controversially moved 50 miles north from the southern tip of Lake Michigan to its current location to include the port of Chicago. The capital remained at Kaskaskia, but in 1819 it was decided to move the capital up the Kaskaskia River to Vandalia. Early U.S. settlement began in the southern part of the state and quickly spread northward, driving out the native residents. With the 1832 Black Hawk War, the last native tribes were driven out of northern Illinois. The United States Census of 1800 was the second Census conducted in the United States. ... The United States Census of 1810 was the third Census conducted in the United States. ... The United States Census of 1820 was the fourth Census conducted in the United States. ... The United States Census of 1830 was the fifth Census conducted in the United States. ... The Sixth Census of the United States, conducted by the Bureau of the Census, determined the resident population of the United States to be 17,069,453 — an increase of 32. ... The Seventh Census of the United States, conducted by the Bureau of the Census, determined the resident population of the United States to be 23,191,876 — an increase of 35. ... The United States Census of 1860 was the eighth Census conducted in the United States. ... The Ninth United States Census was taken in 1870. ... The Tenth United States Census was taken in 1880. ... The Eleventh United States Census was taken June 1, 1890. ... The Twelfth United States Census was taken in 1900. ... The Thirteenth United States Census was taken in 1910. ... The Fourteenth United States Census was taken in 1920. ... The Fifteenth United States Census was taken in 1930. ... The Fifteenth United States Census was taken in 1940. ... The Seventeenth United States Census was taken in 1950. ... The Eighteenth United States Census was taken in 1960. ... The Nineteenth United States Census was taken in 1970. ... The Twetieth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 226,542,199, an increase of 11. ... The Twenty-first United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 248,709,873, an increase of 9. ... 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... Illinois-Wabash Company land holdings included Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. ... Categories: Stub | Illinois history | U.S. historical regions and territories ... February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Kaskaskia is a village located in Randolph County, Illinois. ... The Kaskaskia River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 320 mi (515 km) long, in central and southern Illinois in the United States. ... Madonna of the Trail statue in front of the Vandalia State House. ... Combatants United States Sauk Nation Commanders Henry Atkinson Henry Dodge Adam Snyder Isaiah Stillman Samuel Whiteside Black Hawk Strength 2,000 Miltia 1,500 Regulars volunteers? Indian allies ? 1000 The majority were women and children Casualties 33 killed in action 39 non-combatants killed 450-600 The Black Hawk War...

The winter of 1830-1831 is called the "Winter of the Deep Snow". A sudden, deep snowfall blanketed the state, making travel impossible for the rest of the winter. Travelers lucky enough to find shelter had to stay where they were. Many others perished. Several severe winters followed, including the "Winter of the Sudden Freeze". On December 20, 1836, a fast-moving cold front passed through, freezing puddles in minutes and killing many travelers who could not reach shelter. The adverse weather resulted in crop failures in the northern part of the state. The southern part of the state shipped food north and this may have contributed to its name: "Egypt", after the Biblical story of Joseph in Egypt supplying grain to his brothers.^[9] December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... October 2, Charles Darwin returns from his voyage around the world. ... The word Bible refers to the canonical collections of fairy tales of Judaism and Christianity. ...

Illinois is known as the "Land of Lincoln" because it is here that the 16th President spent most of his life, practicing law and living in Springfield. In 1837, with Lincoln's support and urging, the General Assembly voted to move the capital to Springfield. As early as 1840, Illinois was called the "Sucker State". Illinois was not a strong anti-slavery state. In 1853, led by Democrat John A. Logan, the legislature passed a Black Code designed to keep free blacks out of the state. Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, was an American politician who served as the 16th President of the United States (1861 to 1865), and the first president from the Republican Party. ... The presidential seal was used by President Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1969 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... Flag Seal Location Location of Springfield within Illinois Government Country State County United States Illinois Sangamon Founded 1819 Mayor Timothy Davlin Geographical characteristics Area    - City 156. ... As early as 1840, Illinois, a state in the United States, was called the Sucker State. There are at least three stories behind this name. ... John Alexander Logan (February 8, 1826 – December 26, 1886), American soldier and political leader, was born in what is now Murphysboro, Jackson County, Illinois. ... The Black Codes were laws passed on the state and local level in the United States to restrict the civil rights and civil liberties of African Americans, particularly former slaves. ...

Chicago gained prominence as a Great Lakes port and then as an Illinois and Michigan Canal port after 1848, and as a rail hub soon afterward. By 1857, Chicago was Illinois' largest city. [Biles (2005)] Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ... The Great Lakes from space The Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes in North America on or near the Canada-United States border. ... The location and course of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. ...

Further information: History of Chicago

Chicago, looking North from State and Washington Streets This article is about the history of Chicago, Illinois. ...

Civil War

Main article: Illinois in the Civil War

During the Civil War, over 250,000 Illinois men served in the Union Army, more than any other northern state except New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Beginning with President Lincoln's first call for troops and continuing throughout the war, Illinois mustered 150 infantry regiments, which were numbered from the 7th IL to the 156th IL. Seventeen cavalry regiments were also gathered, as well as two light artillery regiments. Illinois infantry regimental flag (77th IL is shown) ROCHER MEANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNAmerican Civil War, over 250,000 Illinois men served in the Union Army, more than any other northern state except New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. ... The American Civil War was fought in the United States from 1861 until 1865 between the northern states, popularly referred to as the U.S., the Union, the North, or the Yankees; and the seceding southern states, commonly referred to as the Confederate States of America, the CSA, the Confederacy... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 160 miles (255 km)  - Length 280 miles (455 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ...

Twentieth century

In the 20th century, Illinois emerged as one of the most important states in the union with a population of nearly 5 million. By the end of the century, the population would reach 12.4 million. The Century of Progress world's fair was held at Chicago in 1933. Oil strikes in Marion County and Crawford County lead to a boom in 1937, and, by 1939, Illinois ranked 4th in U.S. oil production. A 1933 Century of Progress worlds fair poster The Century of Progress Exposition was a worlds fair held in Chicago, Illinois from 1933-1934 to celebrate Chicagos centennial. ... Marion County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Crawford County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ...

Following World War II, Argonne National Laboratory, near Chicago, activated the first experimental nuclear power generating system in United States in 1957. By 1960, the first privately financed nuclear plant in United States, Dresden 1, was dedicated near Morris. Chicago became an ocean port with the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, in 1959. The seaway and the Illinois Waterway connected Chicago to both the Mississippi River and the Atlantic Ocean. In 1960, Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald's franchise in Des Plaines. Argonne National Laboratory is one of the United States governments oldest and largest science and engineering research national laboratories and is the largest in the Midwest. ... The Eisenhower Locks in Massena, NY. The St Lawrence Seaway is the common name for system of canals that permits ocean-going vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes as far as Lake Superior. ... The Illinois waterway system is consisted of 336 miles of water. ... Ray Kroc: McDonalds Corporation founder. ... McDonalds in Times Square, New York McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is the worlds largest fast food chain, selling primarily hamburgers, chicken, french fries and carbonated drinks and more recently salads, fruit and carrot sticks. ... Incorporated City in 1874. ...

In 1970, the state's sixth constitutional convention authored a new constitution to replace the 1870 version. It was ratified in December. The first Farm Aid concert was held in Champaign to benefit American farmers, in 1985. The worst upper Mississippi River flood of the century, the Great Flood of 1993, inundated many towns and thousands of acres of farmland. [Biles (2005)] Farm Aid started as a benefit concert on September 22, 1985 in Champaign, Illinois, held to raise money for family farmers in the United States. ... See also: Mississippi River The Upper Mississippi River is the portion of the Mississippi River upstream of Cairo, Illinois. ... The Great Flood of 1993 was a major flood that occurred in the American Midwest, along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, and their tributaries, from April to October of 1993. ...

Demographics

Illinois Population Density Map

As of 2005, Illinois has an estimated population of 12,763,371, which is an increase of 343,724, or 2.8%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 406,425 people (that is 959,470 births minus 553,045 deaths) and a decrease due to net migration of 63,011 people out of the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a increase of 328,020 people, and migration within the country produced a loss of 391,031 people.^[10] As of 2004 there were 1,682,900 foreign-born (13.3%).^[11] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (592x640, 35 KB) Summary Illinois population density map based on Census 2000 data. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (592x640, 35 KB) Summary Illinois population density map based on Census 2000 data. ...

At the northern edge of the state on Lake Michigan lies Chicago, the nation's third largest city. In 2000, 23.3% of the population lived in the city of Chicago, 43.3% in Cook County and 65.6% in Illinois's part of Chicagoland, the leading industrial and transportation center in the region, which includes Will, DuPage, Kane, and Lake Counties as well as Cook County. The rest of the population lives in the smaller cities and in the rural areas that dot the state's plains. According to the 2000 census, the state population center was 41.278216° N 88.380238° W in Grundy County northeast of Mazon.^[12] [Biles (2005); Nelson (1978); Horsley (1986)] Chicagoland is an informal name for the Chicago metropolitan area, used by local residents, businesses, governments, and planning agencies. ... Center of population is a subject of study in the field of demographics. ... Grundy County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Mazon is a village located in Grundy County, Illinois. ...

The top five ancestry groups in Illinois are: German American (19.6%), African American (15.1%), Irish American (12.2%), Mexican American (9.2%), and Polish-American (7.5%). Nearly three in ten whites in Illinois claimed at least partial German ancestry on the Census. Blacks are present in large numbers in the city of Chicago, East St. Louis, and the southern tip of the state. Residents citing American and British ancestry are especially concentrated in the southeastern part of the state. Metropolitan Chicago has the greatest numbers of people of Irish, Mexican, and Polish ancestry. Race, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget, is a self-identification data item in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify. ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on Jesus of Nazareth, and on his life, death, resurrection, and teachings as presented in the New Testament. ... Protestantism is one of three main groups currently within Christianity. ... A Baptist is a member of a Baptist church or any follower of Jesus Christ who believes that baptism is administered by the full immersion of a confessing Christian. ... Lutheranism is a movement within Christianity that began with the theological insights of Martin Luther in the 16th century> Luthers writings launched the Protestant Reformation of the Western church. ... Methodism or the Methodist movement is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... Presbyterianism is a form of Protestant Christianity, primarily in the Reformed branch of Western Christendom, as well as a particular form of church government. ... Roman Catholicism in the United States or Catholicism has flourished since its colonial era, previous to the establishment of the nation. ... German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... Irish population density in the United States, 1872. ... The ethnonym Mexican-American describes United States citizens of Mexican ancestry (14 million in 2003) and Mexican citizens who reside in the US (10 million in 2003). ... Kazimierz Pułaski monument in Washington. ...

7.1% of Illinois' population was reported as under age 5, 26.1% under age 18, and 12.1% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 51% of the population.^[14] [Horsley (1986)]

Religion

Protestants are the largest religious group in Illinois. However, Illinois is not as heavily Protestant as neighboring states are. Roman Catholics, who are heavily concentrated in and around Chicago, account for 30% of the population.

Metro Chicago is home to the 3rd largest Jewish population in the United States.[Biles (2005)]

Economy

Main article: Economy of Illinois

The 2004 total gross state product for Illinois was nearly US$522 billion,^[15] placing it 5^th in the nation. The 2004 per capita income was US$34,721.^[16] Illinois quarter from the 50 state quarters series File links The following pages link to this file: Illinois Categories: Public domain images ... The economy of Illinois is highly diverse. ... Gross state product is a measurment of the economic output of a U.S. state or an Australian state. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 3. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 3. ...

Illinois' agricultural outputs are corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, dairy products, and wheat. Illinois' universities are actively researching alternative agricultural products as alternative crops. Its industrial outputs are machinery, food processing, electrical equipment, chemical products, publishing, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, petroleum and coal. Binomial name Zea mays L. Maize (Zea mays ssp. ... Binomial name Glycine max (L.) Merr. ... HOG or hog can mean:- A pig, originally a castrated male pig. ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (often called cows in vernacular and contemporary usage, or kye as the Scots plural of cou) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... Species T. aestivum T. boeoticum T. compactum T. dicoccoides T. dicoccon T. durum T. monococcum T. spelta T. sphaerococcum References:   ITIS 42236 2002-09-22 For the indie rock group see: Wheat (band). ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Ignacy Łukasiewicz - inventor of the refining of kerosene from crude oil. ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining (surface mining). ...

Illinois' state income tax is calculated by multiplying net income by a flat rate, currently 3%.^[17] There are two rates for state sales tax: 6.25% for general merchandise and 1% for qualifying food, drugs and medical appliances.^[18] The property tax is the largest single tax in Illinois, and is the major source of tax revenue for local government taxing districts. The property tax is a local—not state—tax, imposed by local government taxing districts which include counties, townships, municipalities, school districts, and special taxing districts. The property tax in Illinois is imposed only on real property. [Biles (2005); Nelson (1978); Horsley (1986)] An income tax is a tax levied on the financial income of persons, corporations or other legal entities. ... A sales tax is a state or locality imposed percentage tax on the selling or renting of certain property or services. ... // Property tax is an ad valorem tax that an owner of real estate or other property pays on the value of the thing taxed. ... A civil township is a widely-used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to a county. ... School districts are a form of special-purpose district in the United States (amongst some other places) which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools. ... Real property is a legal term encompassing real estate and ownership interests in real estate (immovable property). ...

Energy

Byron Nuclear Generating Station, in Ogle County.

It could be said that nuclear power began in Illinois with the Chicago Pile-1, the world's first artificial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in the world's first nuclear reactor, built on a squash court under the abandoned west stands of the Alonzo Stagg Field stadium on the University of Chicago campus. As of 2006, Illinois has 6 Nuclear power plants which contain 11 electricity producing reactors. As of January 1, 2005 Illinois ranked 1st among the 31 States with nuclear capacity.^[19] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 867 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Byron Nuclear Generating Station ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 867 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Byron Nuclear Generating Station ... The Byron nuclear power plant is located in Ogle County, Illinois. ... Ogle County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... A nuclear power station. ... On December 2, 1942, the worlds first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, Chicago Pile-1, took place on a squash court beneath Stagg Field on the University of Chicago campus. ... Albert Einsteins letter to President Roosevelt in 1939 about his concern, about (Nuclear chain reactions) Click for closeup of letter A nuclear chain reaction occurs when on average more than one nuclear reaction is caused by another nuclear reaction, thus leading to an exponential increase in the number of... Core of a small nuclear reactor used for research. ... Squash racquet and ball Two people playing in a squash court International Squash Singles Court, as specified by the World Squash Federation Squash is an indoor racquet sport which was, formerly, called squash raquets, a reference to the squashable soft ball used in the game (compared with the harder ball... Stagg Field was a stadium in Chicago, Illinois. ... The University of Chicago will crush your soul. ... The Universitätscampus Wien, Austria ( details) Campus (plural: campuses) is derived from the (identical) Latin word for field or open space. English gets the words camp and campus from this origin. ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A nuclear power station. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Illinois is a leading refiner of petroleum in the American Midwest, with a combined crude oil distillation capacity of nearly 0.9 million barrels per day. However, Illinois has very limited crude oil proved reserves that account for less than 1% of U.S. crude oil proved reserves. Residential heating is 81% natural gas compared to less than 1% heating oil.^[20] Natural gas is commonly referred to as gas. ... Heating oil, or burning oil, also known in the United States as No. ...

About 68% of Illinois has coal-bearing strata of the Pennsylvanian geologic period. According to the Illinois State Geological Survey, 211 billion tons of bituminous coal are estimated to lie under the surface, having a total heating value greater than the estimated oil deposits in the Arabian Peninsula.^[21] However, this coal has a high sulfur content, which requires special equipment to reduce air pollution. [Biles (2005); Nelson (1978); Horsley (1986)] Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining (surface mining). ... The Pennsylvanian is a geologic (sub)period lasting from roughly 325 million years before the present (BP) to 286 million years BP. As with most other geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period are well identified, but the exact date of the start and end are uncertain by... Bituminous coal Bituminous coal is a relatively hard coal containing a tar-like substance called bitumen. ... The Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula (in Arabic: شبه الجزيرة العربية, or جزيرة العرب) is a peninsula in Southwest Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia consisting mainly of desert. ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Atomic mass 32. ...

Transportation

The sample version of the current Illinois passenger license plate introduced in 2001.

Because of its central location and its proximity to the Rust Belt and Grain Belt, Illinois is a national crossroads and transportation hub, with Chicago being the economic center of it all (air, road, rail, and water transport). Image File history File links CurrentIllinoisPlate. ... Image File history File links CurrentIllinoisPlate. ... // A vehicle registration plate, usually called license plate or number plate (often referred to simply as a plate, or colloquially tag) is a small metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. ... Manufacturing Belt, highlighted in red The Rust Belt, a term coined from Manufacturing Belt, is an area in parts of the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States of America. ... Categories: US geography stubs | Belt regions of the United States ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ...

AIR - O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is one of the busiest airports in the world and is a major airport serving numerous domestic and international destinations. It is a hub for United Airlines and American Airlines, and a major airport expansion project is currently underway. Midway Airport (MDW) is the secondary airport serving metro Chicago. Bellville Mid-America Airport (BLV) serves the St Louis metro area (metro-east suburbs in Illinois). now. ... An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. ... Uniteds logo as seen at United hub Denver International Airport. ... American Airlines and American Eagle aircraft at San Juan American Airlines is the largest airline in the world in terms of total passengers transported and fleet size, and the second-largest airline in the world (behind Air France-KLM) in terms of total operating revenues. ... This an article about the airport in Chicago. ... The St. ...

RAIL - Illinois has an extensive rail network transporting both passengers and freight. Chicago is a national Amtrak hub and in-state passengers are served by Amtrak's Illinois Service featuring the Chicago to Carbondale Illini and Chicago to Quincy Illinois Zephyr. Acela Express in West Windsor, NJ Amtrak Cascades service with tilting Talgo trainsets in Seattle, Washington Amtrak train in downtown Orlando, Florida For other uses, see Amtrak (disambiguation). ... The Illinois Service consists of four train routes operated by Amtrak to provide frequent daily passenger rail service between Chicago and other cities in the state of Illinois (plus additional cities in neighboring Missouri). ... The Illini is a 310-mile (499 km) passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Carbondale, Illinois. ... The Illinois Zephyr is a 258-mile (415 km) passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Quincy, Illinois. ...

ROAD - Major U.S. Interstate highways crossing the state include: I-24, I-39, I-55, I-57, I-64, I-70, I-72, I-74, I-80, I-88, I-90, and I-94. Illinois carries the distinction of having the most primary (2-digit) Interstates pass through it among the 50 states. In 2005, there were 1,355 traffic deaths on Illinois roadways, the lowest in more than 60 years.^[22] [Biles (2005); Nelson (1978); Horsley (1986)] Interstate 24 (abbreviated I-24) is an interstate highway in the eastern United States. ... INTERSTATE JUNCTIONS JUNCTION EXIT # Legend BROWSE STATE HWYS Prev Next Interstate 39 (abbreviated I-39) is an interstate highway in the midwestern United States. ... Interstate 55 is an interstate highway in the central United States. ... Interstate 57 (abbreviated I-57) is an interstate highway in the midwestern United States. ... Interstate 64 (abbreviated I-64) is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. ... Interstate 70 (abbreviated I-70) is a long interstate highway in the United States. ... Interstate 72 is an interstate highway in the midwestern United States. ... Interstate 74 (abbreviated I-74) is an interstate highway in the Midwestern and southeastern United States. ... Route across the United States Interstate 80 (abbreviated I-80) is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States. ... Interstate 88 (abbreviated I-88) is an interstate highway entirely within the state of Illinois. ... Interstate 90 (abbreviated I-90) is the longest interstate highway in the United States at nearly 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers). ... Interstate 94 (abbreviated I-94) is a long interstate highway connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain region of the United States. ...

WATER - In addition to the states rail lines, the Mississippi River and Illinois River provide major routes for the states agricultural interests. Lake Michigan connects Chicago & the rest of Illinois to all waterways east. The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe word misi-ziibi meaning great river (gichi-ziibi big river at its headwaters), is the second-longest river in the United States; the longest is the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi. ... This article is about the river in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one in the group located entirely within the United States. ...

See also: List of Illinois Routes

The organized system of Illinois Routes (typically abbreviated as ILL), the state highway system for the U.S. state of Illinois, was created in 1918 with the first State Bond Issue (SBI) Routes, 1 thru 46. ...

Law and government

Main article: Government of Illinois

See also: 2006 Election for statewide offices in the State of Illinois

The state government of Illinois is modeled after the United States federal government with adaptations originating from traditions cultivated during the state's frontier era. As codified in the state constitution, there are three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. The executive branch is led by the Governor of Illinois. Legislative functions are given to the Illinois General Assembly, composed of the 118-member Illinois House of Representatives and the 59-member Illinois Senate. The judiciary is comprised of the Supreme Court of Illinois, which oversees the lower appellate and circuit courts.^[4] The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. ... Milorad Rod R. Blagojevich (pronounced IPA:  , born December 10, 1956) is an American politician from the state of Illinois. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... The Lieutenant Governor of Illinois is the secondary chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the lieutenant governor has specific jurisdiction. ... Pat Quinn (born 1948), is a United States politician from the state of Illinois. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... The Illinois Attorney General is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. ... Lisa Madigan (born July 30, 1966 in Chicago) is the current and 41st Attorney General of the U.S. state of Illinois. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... The Secretary of State of Illinois is the keeper of the official records, laws, and Great Seal of the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Jesse White (born June 23, 1934) is a Democratic American politician. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... Daniel W. Hynes (born July 20, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois) is currently the Comptroller of the State of Illinois. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... Judy Baar Topinka. ... GOP redirects here. ... Seal of the U.S. Senate The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the House of Representatives. ... Richard Joseph Durbin (born November 21, 1944) is an American politician. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... Seal of the U.S. Senate The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the House of Representatives. ... Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... The Illinois Capital Building in Springfield, Illinois. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Illinois gubernatorial election, 2006. ... The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. ... The Illinois General Assembly convenes at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. ... The Illinois House of Representatives convenes at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. ... The Illinois Senate convenes at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. ... Supreme Court of Illinois is the apex court of judicature of the state of Illinois, United States of America. ... Court of Appeals is the title of certain appellate courts in various jurisdictions. ... Circuit courts previously were United States federal courts established in each federal judicial district. ...

The dome on the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield is taller than the dome on the United States Capitol.

Illinois has traditionally been a major battleground between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party . Since 1992, it has gradually become more Democratic at the national and state level. It is the most Democratic state in the Midwest. Illinois voted for Democratic presidential candidates in the last four elections. John Kerry easily won the state's 21 electoral votes in 2004 by a margin of 11 percentage points with 54.8% of the vote. Traditionally, the central cities, especially Cook and St. Clair counties, have been Democratic strongholds, while the suburbs of Chicago have been historically Republican. However, the collar counties of Lake and DuPage, while still mostly Republican, have been trending towards the Democrats. Small cities and towns are typically Republican strongholds. Rural districts in the northern third of the state have historically been Libertarian Republican; those in the middle third mixed, and those in Egypt (the southern third of the state)Paleoconservative,Republican. The Capitol Building in Springfield, Illinois. ... The Capitol Building in Springfield, Illinois. ... The Sixth Illinois Capitol The Illinois State Capitol, located in Springfield, Illinois, is the capitol and seat of government of the U.S. state of Illinois. ... The United States Capitol is the capitol building that serves as the location for the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. ... GOP redirects here. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States; the other being the Republican Party. ... The Cook County Democratic Organization was one of the most powerful political machines in American history. ... St. ... A colloquial term describing the five counties in Illinois that surround Cook County. ... Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... DuPage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... See also Libertarianism and Libertarian Party Libertarian,is a term for person who has made a conscious and principled commitment, evidenced by a statement or Pledge, to forswear violating others rights and usually living in voluntary communities: thus in law no longer subject to government supervision. ... The term paleoconservative (sometimes shortened to paleo or paleocon when the context is clear) refers to an American branch of conservative Old Right thought that is frequently at odds with the current of conservative thought as espoused by the Republican Party elite. ...

Politics in the state (and especially in Chicago) has been famous for over a century for high visibility corruption cases, as well as for crusading reformers such as governors Adlai Stevenson (Dem) and James Thompson (GOP). In 2006, former Governor George Ryan (GOP) was convicted of racketeering and bribery. In the late 20th century Congressman Dan Rostenkowski (Dem) was imprisoned for mail fraud; former governor and federal judge Otto Kerner, Jr. (Dem.) was imprisoned for bribery; and State Auditor of Public Accounts (Comptroller) Orville Hodge (GOP) was imprisoned for embezzlement. In 1912 William Lorimer, the GOP boss of Chicago, was expelled from the U.S. Senate for bribery, and in 1921 Governor Len Small (GOP) was found to have defrauded the state of a million dollars.^[23] George Ryan George Homer Ryan (born February 24, 1934 in Maquoketa, Iowa) was the Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1999 until 2003. ... Daniel David Dan Rostenkowski served in the U.S. Congress as a U.S. Representative for Illinois from 1959 to 1995. ... Otto Kerner, Jr. ... Orville Hodge was the Auditor of Public Accounts (predecessor to the office of Comptroller) of the state of Illinois during 1953-1956. ...

Largest cities

Chicago's skyline

See also: List of cities in Illinois and List of towns and villages in Illinois

Chicago is the largest city in the state and the third most populous city in the United States. Cities over 100,000 include: Aurora, the largest suburb of Chicago and second largest city in Illinois. Rockford, the third largest city in Illinois, located in north-central Illinois. Naperville, a Chicago suburb and fourth largest city in the state. Elgin, a suburb northwest of Chicago. Joliet, a city southwest of Chicago. Peoria, the largest city on the Illinois river and Springfield, the state capital of Illinois. Download high resolution version (5510x809, 4311 KB) A picture of the Chicago skyline at sunset. ... Download high resolution version (5510x809, 4311 KB) A picture of the Chicago skyline at sunset. ... List of cities in Illinois, arranged in alphabetical order. ... List of towns and villages in Illinois, arranged in alphabetical order. ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ... This is a list of the 200 largest incorporated places in the United States. ... Nickname: City of Lights Location in Chicagoland Country United States State Illinois Counties Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will Mayor Tom Weisner (D) Area    - City 102. ... Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. Traditionally referred to as The Forest City, Rockford is classified as a mid-sized city as it has 150,115 residents, while the metro area has 320,204 residents (2000 Census). ... Incorporated City in 1890. ... Incorporated City in 1854. ... The city of Joliet is located 40 miles southwest of Chicago. ... Location of Peoria Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois Counties Peoria County, Illinois Mayor Jim Ardis Area    - City 46. ... Flag Seal Location Location of Springfield within Illinois Government Country State County United States Illinois Sangamon Founded 1819 Mayor Timothy Davlin Geographical characteristics Area    - City 156. ...

Education

Rockefeller Chapel, constructed in 1928, is the tallest structure on the University of Chicago campus.

Image File history File links Rockefeller_Chapel. ... Image File history File links Rockefeller_Chapel. ... Rockefeller Chapel is the tallest building on the campus of the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. ... The University of Chicago will crush your soul. ...

Illinois State Board of Education

Main article: Illinois State Board of Education

The Illinois State Board of Education or ISBE, autonomous of the governor and the state legislature, administers public education in the state. Local municipalities and their respective school districts operate individual public schools but the ISBE audits performance of public schools with the Illinois School Report Card. The ISBE also makes recommendations to state leaders concerning education spending and policies. The Illinois State Board of Education or ISBE, autonomous of the governor and the state legislature, administers public education in the state of Illinois. ... // Public education is education mandated for the children of the general public by the government, whether national, regional, or local, provided by an institution of civil government, and paid for, in whole or in part, by taxes. ... School districts are a form of special-purpose district in the United States (amongst some other places) which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools. ... The Illinois School Report Card is a measurement of school performance created by the Illinois State Board of Education. ...

Primary and secondary schools

See also: List of school districts in Illinois and List of high schools in Illinois

Education is compulsory from kindergarten through the twelfth grade in Illinois, commonly but not exclusively divided into three tiers of primary and secondary education: elementary school, middle school or junior high school and high school. District territories are often complex in structure. In some cases, elementary, middle and junior high schools of a single district feed into high schools in another district. // List of school districts in Illinois Central Community Unit School District 3 - District web site Community Unit School District 4 - District web site Liberty Community Unit School District 2 - District web site Payson Community Unit School District 1 - District web site Quincy School District 172 - District web site Cairo Unit... This is a list of high schools in the state of Illinois. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Primary or elementary education consists of the first years of formal, structured education that occurs during childhood. ... Secondary education - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Primary or elementary education is the first years of formal, structured education that occurs during childhood. ... Middle school (also known as intermediate school or junior high school) covers a period of education that straddles primary education and secondary education, serving as a bridge between the two. ... Middle school and junior high school cover a period of education that straddles primary education and secondary education and serve as a bridge between them. ... High school - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

Colleges and universities

The main quad at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

See also: List of colleges and universities in Illinois

While many students enter the military or join the workforce directly from high school, students have the option of applying to colleges and universities in Illinois. Notable Illinois institutions of higher education include Northwestern University,Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and the several branches of the University of Illinois system. Illinois is also home to 49 colleges in the Illinois Community College System.
Download high resolution version (909x682, 232 KB)View of the Main Quad towards the Illini Union File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (909x682, 232 KB)View of the Main Quad towards the Illini Union File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, also known as UIUC and the U of I (the officially preferred abbreviation), is the flagship campus in the University of Illinois system. ... The following is a list of colleges and universities in Illinois. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Representation of a university class, 1350s. ... The University of Cambridge is an institute of higher learning. ... Northwestern University is a private, coeducational, non-sectarian research university, located in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, U.S.. Northwesterns main campus is a 240-acre (970,000 m²) parcel in Evanston, along the shore of Lake Michigan. ... Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois. ... The University of Illinois is a set of three public universities in Illinois. ... The Illinois community college system consists of 40 public community college districts composed of 49 community colleges. ...

Professional sports teams

Soldier Field following renovation.

See also: List of professional sports teams in Illinois

Because of its large and diverse population, Chicago is the focus of most professional sports in Illinois. It is the home to 15 different professional sports teams. Presented here is a photo of Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois, and the home of the Chicago Bears. ... Presented here is a photo of Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois, and the home of the Chicago Bears. ... The following is a List of professional sports teams in Illinois. ...

The Chicago Cubs of the National League play in the second-oldest major league stadium and are famous as "lovable losers" whose fans are nevertheless famously dedicated. The Chicago White Sox of the American League won the World Series championship in 2005, their first since 1917. The Chicago Bears football team has won 9 total league titles, including 8 NFL Championships and Super Bowl XX. The Chicago Bulls of the NBA are one of the most recognized basketball teams in the world, thanks to the heroics of a player often cited as the best ever, Michael Jordan, who led the team to six NBA championships in eight seasons in the 1990s. The Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL began playing in 1926 as a member of the Original Six and have won several Stanley Cups. The Chicago Fire soccer club are members of MLS and are one of the league's most successful and best-supported since its founding in 1997, winning one league and four US Open Cups in that timespan. Major league affiliations National League (1876–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Name Chicago Cubs (1902–present) Chicago Orphans (1898-1901) Chicago Colts (1890-1897) Chicago White Stockings (1870-1889) (a. ... The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, or simply the National League, is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. ... Fans of Janet Jackson, at Much Music in Toronto The word fan refers to someone who has an intense, occasionally overwhelming liking of a person, group of persons, work of art, idea, or trend. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 2,3,4,9,11,16,19,72 Name Chicago White Sox (1904–present) White Stockings <no city in official name, but based in Chicago> (1901-1903) Ballpark U.S. Cellular Field (1991–present) Comiskey... American League The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ... City Chicago, Illinois Other nicknames Da Bears, The Monsters of the Midway Team colors Navy Blue, Orange and White Head Coach Lovie Smith Owner Virginia Halas McCaskey Chairman Michael McCaskey General manager Jerry Angelo Fight song Bear Down, Chicago Bears Mascot Staley Da Bear League/Conference affiliations Independent (1919) National... This is a list of National Football League champions prior to the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger, that is, all the franchises that have won the championship of the National Football League. ... Date January 26, 1986 Stadium Louisiana Superdome City New Orleans, Louisiana MVP Richard Dent, Defensive end Favorite Bears by 10 National anthem Wynton Marsalis Coin toss Bart Starr representing previous Super Bowl MVPs Referee Red Cashion Halftime show Up with People presents Beat of the Future Attendance 73,818 TV... The Chicago Bulls are a professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois. ... The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the worlds premier mens professional basketball league and one of the major professional sports leagues of North America. ... Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. ... The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. ... NHL can also be an abbreviation for National Historic Landmark or Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. ... The Original Six is the term used by fans of ice hockey to refer to the six National Hockey League teams that existed from the 1942-43 season through to before the leagues expansion in 1967. ... Year founded 1997 League Major League Soccer Nickname La Maquina Roja, Men in Red, CF97 Stadium Toyota Park Coach Dave Sarachan, 2003— Owner AEG First Game Miami Fusion 0–2 Chicago Fire (Lockhart Stadium; March 21, 1998) Largest Win Kansas City Wizards 0–7 Chicago Fire (Arrowhead Stadium; July 4... Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top soccer league in the United States in the American Soccer Pyramid. ... The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is an American soccer competition open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams all the way to the professional teams of Major League Soccer. ...

Chicago sports teams, like the Bulls, often carry a national following. However, downstate fans are sometimes loyal to adjacent sports markets, such as St. Louis.

Miscellaneous topics

The USS Illinois was named in honor of this state. A state mammal is the official or representative animal of a U.S. state. ... Binomial name Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann, 1780 The White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), also known as the Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer found throughout most of the continental United States, southern Canada, Mexico, Central America and northern portions of South America as far south as Peru. ... This is a list of official U.S. state amphibians. ... Binomial name Ambystoma tigrinum Green, 1825 Subspecies A. tigrinum tigrinum The Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) is a species of Mole salamander. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Binomial name Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a member of the cardinal family of birds in North America. ... This is a list of United States state capitals: Trivia - Jefferson City (Missouri) has the longest name of the U.S. state capitals - Only two of the U.S. state capitals are named for their state: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Indianapolis, Indiana retard See also List of current and former... Flag Seal Location Location of Springfield within Illinois Government Country State County United States Illinois Sangamon Founded 1819 Mayor Timothy Davlin Geographical characteristics Area    - City 156. ... This is a list of official U.S. state dances:[1] This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... Square dance is often used as a general term for modern Western square dance. ... This is a list of official U.S. state fish: This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... Binomial name Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, 1819 The bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) is a species of freshwater fish. ... This is a list of U.S. state flowers: External links Juelies State Flower Garden of Gifs List of state flowers See also List of U.S. state trees Lists of U.S. state insignia Categories: &#x202a;Lists of flowers&#x202c; | &#x202a;United States state insignia&#x202c; ... Species List of Viola species Violets (Viola) are a genus of flowering plants in the family Violaceae, with around 400-500 species throughout the world, mainly in the temperate Northern Hemisphere but also in Hawaii, Australasia, and the Andes in South America. ... Though every state in the United States has a State Bird and a State Flower, not every state in the United States has a State Fossil. ... The Tully Monster (Tullimonstrum gregarium), so far apparently unique to Illinois, was a soft-bodied invertebrate that lived in shallow tropical coastal waters of muddy estuaries during the Pennsylvanian geological period, about 300 million years ago. ... This is a list of U.S. state insects: See also Lists of U.S. state insignia List of U.S. state butterflies Categories: ... Binomial name Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a well-known North American butterfly. ... Trivia California was the first state to designate an official State Rock. ... Fluorite (also called fluor-spar) is a mineral composed of calcium fluoride, CaF2. ... Here is a list of state mottos for the states of the United States. ... This is a list of U.S. state nicknames: (official state nicknames in bold) See also Lists of U.S. state insignia External link Information about U.S. State Nicknames Categories: | ... This is a list of official U.S. state grass: This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Binomial name Chrysemys picta (Schneider, 1783) Subspecies - Eastern Painted Turtle - Southern Painted Turtle - Midland Painted Turtle - Western Painted Turtle The Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) is a reptile that is common in North America, and is a water turtle related to other water turtles such as sliders and cooters. ... A state slogan is a slogan used by an United States of America state or commonwealth. ... This is a list of official U.S. state foods: This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... Popcorn Popcorn or popping corn is a type of maize which explodes from the kernel and puffs up when it is heated in oil or by dry heat. ... This is a list of official U.S. state soils: This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... Loam is soil composed of a relatively even mixture of three mineral particle size groups: sand, silt, and clay. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Illinois  Listen to Illinois is the official state song of the state of Illinois in the United States. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Floral emblem. ... Binomial name Quercus alba L. The White oak (Quercus alba) is one of the most magnificent of oaks. ... Four ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Illinois in honor of the 21st state. ...

Selected list of notable residents

Main article: List of people from Illinois

• Jane Addams, pioneer social worker, founded Hull House
• John Belushi, early member of The Second City and Jim Belushi, both born in Chicago but grew up in Wheaton
• Joseph Gurney Cannon longtime member of Congress and Speaker in early 20th century
• John Deere, farm machinery pioneer. Founded Deere & Company in Moline
• Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
• Hugh Hefner, creator of Playboy magazine, which he based in Chicago
• Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President, built his career in Springfield
• Richard Durbin, currently the state's senior senator and United States Senate Minority Whip
• Barack Obama, currently the junior Senator
• Ronald Reagan, the 40th President; born in Tampico, attended Eureka College
• Donald Rumsfeld, former U.S. Secretary of Defense; born in Evanston
• Shel Silverstein, children's author; born and raised in Chicago
• Adlai E. Stevenson, elected Vice President, 1892
• Adlai Stevenson II, governor, 1952 and 1956 Presidential candidate
• Oprah Winfrey, talk show host, lives in Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago
• Hillary Rodham Clinton, former First Lady of the United States, current junior senator from New York; born and raised in Park Ridge, outside Chicago
• Richard Marx, pop-rock singer-songwriter

This is a list of people from Illinois. ... Jane Addams Jane Addams (September 6, 1860 – May 21, 1935) was an American social worker, sociologist, philosopher and reformer. ... Hull House community workshop poster, 1938 Hull House, co-founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1889 by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr who were soon joined by other volunteers called residents, was one of the first settlement houses in the U.S. and eventually grew into one of the largest... John Adam Belushi (January 24, 1949 – March 5, 1982) was an American actor, comedian and singer most notable for his work on Saturday Night Live, National Lampoons Animal House, and The Blues Brothers. ... The Second City Logo The Second City is a long-running improvisational comedy troupe based in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago, with offshoot troupes in other cities, most notably Toronto. ... James Gem Belushi (born June 15, 1954) is an American film and television actor, and younger brother of the late John Belushi. ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ... Incorporated City in 1859. ... Joseph Cannon at the 1904 Republican Convention Joseph Gurney Cannon (May 7, 1836 – November 12, 1926) was a United States politician from Illinois and leader of the Republican party; historians consider him one of the most powerful Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1903 through 1911. ... John Deere For information on the John Deere manufacturing company, please see the Deere & Company article. ... Deere & Company (usually known by its brand name John Deere) (NYSE:DE) is an American corporation based in Moline, Illinois, and the leading manufacturer of agricultural machinery in the world. ... Moline is a city in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. ... John Dennis Hastert (born January 2, 1942) is an American politician, and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries â€¢ Politics Portal      The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the lower... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, was an American politician who served as the 16th President of the United States (1861 to 1865), and the first president from the Republican Party. ... Flag Seal Location Location of Springfield within Illinois Government Country State County United States Illinois Sangamon Founded 1819 Mayor Timothy Davlin Geographical characteristics Area    - City 156. ... Richard Joseph Durbin (born November 21, 1944) is an American politician. ... Traditionally the second ranking position in the minority party in the United States Senate. ... Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. ... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975). ... Tampico is a village located in Whiteside County, Illinois. ... Eureka College is a school in Eureka, Illinois founded in 1855. ... Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932, Evanston, Illinois) is the 21st and current United States Secretary of Defense. ... Incorporated City in 1872. ... Sheldon Alan Shel Silverstein (September 25, 1930 – May 10, 1999) was an American poet, songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist, screenwriter, and author of childrens books. ... Adlai Ewing Stevenson I (October 23, 1835 – June 14, 1914) was a Congressman from Illinois and the twenty-third Vice President of the United States. ... Adlai Ewing Stevenson II (February 5, 1900 – July 14, 1965) was an American politician, noted for intellectual demeanor and advocacy of liberal causes in the Democratic party. ... Oprah Winfrey, (born January 29, 1954) is a multiple-Emmy Award winning host of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the highest rated talk show in television history. ... Streeterville is a neighborhood in Chicago north of the Chicago River. ... Hillary Rodham Clinton (born Hillary Diane Rodham on October 26, 1947) is the junior United States Senator from New York, serving her freshman term since January 3, 2001. ... Richard Marx on the cover of his 1994 album Paid Vacation Richard Noel Marx (born September 16, 1963 in Chicago, Illinois) is an adult contemporary singer, songwriter and producer. ...

Lists

• List of people from Illinois
• List of Illinois rivers
• List of newspapers in Illinois
• List of radio stations in Illinois
• List of television stations in Illinois
• List of Registered Historic Places in Illinois
• List of ZIP Codes in Illinois
• Illinois beer and breweries

This is a list of people from Illinois. ... This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of Illinois: Apple River Big Muddy River Bonpas Creek Chicago River Des Plaines River DuPage River Edwards River Embarras River Fox River Green River Henderson Creek Illinois River Iroquois River Kankakee River Kaskaskia River Kishwaukee River La Moine River... The following is a list of newspapers published and circulated in Illinois. ... Insert non-formatted text hereInsert non-formatted text hereThe following is a list of radio stations in the state of Illinois, as of 2005: AM Frequencies are in kilohertz. ... For a list of Illinois television stations by channel number order, see List of television stations in Illinois (by channel number). ... List of Registered Historic Places in Illinois: This list is complete as of December 27, 2005 [1] Adams County Camp Point F. D. Thomas House Clayton John Roy Site Golden# Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Chapel and Cemetery Exchange Bank Mendon Lewis Round Barn Payson Fall Creek Stone Arch Bridge Quincy Coca... This is a list of ZIP Codes for the state of Illinois in the United States. ... // Goose Island Brewery, Chicago, founded in 1988, has national distribution and operates two brewpubs in Chicago. ...

See also

• Watersheds of Illinois
• Scouting in Illinois

The Watersheds of Illinois include the following: Mississippi River watershed: Ohio River Cache River Saline River Wabash River Little Wabash River Embarras River Vermilion River (Wabash River tributary) Big Muddy River Kaskaskia River Illinois River Macoupin Creek La Moine River Sangamon River Spoon River Mackinaw River Vermilion River (Illinois River... Scouting in Illinois has a long and rich tradition, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live. ...

References

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The original Wikisource logo. ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 16 is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 45 days remaining. ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Population of the United States, 1790 to 2000 The demographics of the United States depict a largely urban nation, with 57 percent of its population living in places more than 100 miles away from the ocean (2003). ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides a comprehensive statistical picture of the economy of the United States. ... October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides a comprehensive statistical picture of the economy of the United States. ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government responsible for energy policy and nuclear safety. ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government responsible for energy policy and nuclear safety. ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Bibliography

• Biles, Roger. Illinois: A History Of The Land And Its People (2005). ISBN 0-87580-349-0. survey by leading scholar.
• Cole, Arthur Charles. The Era of the Civil War, 1848-1870 (1919). ISBN 0-8369-5646-X. narrative history
• Davis, James E. Frontier Illinois (1998). ISBN 0-253-33423-3. analytic history
• Gove, Samuel K. and James D. Nowlan. Illinois Politics & Government: The Expanding Metropolitan Frontier (1996). ISBN 0-8032-7014-3. Government text with guide to further sources.
• Grossman, James R., Ann Durkin Keating, and Janice L. Reiff, eds. The Encyclopedia of Chicago (2004). ISBN 0-226-31015-9. online version; major scholarly guide to the metro area's history, geography, and culture
• Hallwas, John E. ed., Illinois Literature: The Nineteenth Century (1986). OCLC 14228886.
• Horsley, A. Doyne. Illinois: A Geography (1986). ISBN 0-86531-522-1, textbook.
• Howard, Robert P. Illinois: A History of the Prairie State (1972). ISBN 0-8028-7025-2. textbook
• Jensen, Richard. Illinois: A History (2001). ISBN 0-252-07021-6. interpretation using a traditional-modern-postmodern model.
• Keiser, John H. Building for the Centuries: Illinois 1865-1898 (1977). ISBN 0-252-00617-8, narrative history
• Meyer, Douglas K. Making the Heartland Quilt: A Geographical History of Settlement and Migration in Early-Nineteenth-Century Illinois (2000). ISBN 0-8093-2289-7.
• Kilduff, Pygman. Illinois History Government Geography (1962) school text
• Kleppner, Paul. Political Atlas of Illinois (1988). ISBN 0-87580-136-6. Maps for 1980s.
• Nelson, Ronald E. ed. Illinois: Land And Life In The Prairie State. (1978) (ISBN 0-8403-1831-6), survey
• Peck, J. M. A Gazetteer of Illinois (1837). ISBN 1-55613-782-6.
• Sutton, Robert P. ed. The Prairie State: A Documentary History of Illinois (1977). ISBN 0-8028-1651-7.
• Works Progress Administration. Illinois: A Descriptive and Historical Guide (1939). ISBN 0-394-72195-0. One of the most famous surveys--covers every town and city and much more.

WPA Graphic The Works Progress Administration (later Works Projects Administration, abbreviated WPA), was created in May 1935 by Presidential order (Congress funded it annually but did not set it up). ...

External links

• Illinois.com
• State of Illinois Web Site
• U.S. Census Bureau
• County Maps Illinois Full color county maps. List of cities, towns and county seats
• Illinois State Facts

	State of Illinois
Topics	History | Government | Economy | Culture
Capital	Springfield
Regions	American Bottom | Champaign-Urbana | Chicagoland | Coulee Region | Forgottonia | Fox Valley | Little Egypt | Metro-East | Northwestern Illinois | Quad Cities | Wabash Valley
Major cities	Alton | Aurora | Batavia | Belleville | Berwyn | Bloomington | Burbank | Calumet City | Carbondale | Champaign | Chicago | Chicago Heights Crystal Lake | Danville | Decatur | DeKalb | Des Plaines | East St. Louis | Elgin | Elmhurst | Evanston | Freeport | Galesburg | Geneva Granite City | Harvey | Highland Park | Joliet | Kankakee | Moline | Naperville | North Chicago | Park Ridge | Peoria | Pekin | Quincy | Rockford Rock Island | Springfield | St. Charles | Urbana | Wheaton | Waukegan | West Chicago
Towns and Villages	Addison | Algonquin | Arlington Heights | Bartlett | Bolingbrook | Buffalo Grove | Carol Stream | Carpentersville | Cicero | Dolton Downers Grove | Elk Grove Village | Glendale Heights | Glen Ellyn | Glenview | Gurnee | Hanover Park | Hoffman Estates | Huntley Lake in the Hills | Lansing | Libertyville | Lombard | Maywood | Mount Prospect | Mundelein | Niles | Normal | Northbrook | Oak Forest Oak Lawn | Oak Park | Orland Park | Oswego | Palatine | Plainfield | Romeoville | Round Lake Beach | Schaumburg | Skokie | Streamwood Tinley Park | Wheeling | Wilmette | Woodridge
Counties	Adams | Alexander | Bond | Boone | Brown | Bureau | Calhoun | Carroll | Cass | Champaign | Christian | Clark | Clay | Clinton | Coles | Cook | Crawford | Cumberland | DeKalb | DeWitt | Douglas | DuPage | Edgar | Edwards | Effingham | Fayette | Ford | Franklin | Fulton | Gallatin | Greene | Grundy | Hamilton | Hancock | Hardin | Henderson | Henry | Iroquois | Jackson | Jasper | Jefferson | Jersey | Jo Daviess | Johnson | Kane | Kankakee | Kendall | Knox | La Salle | Lake | Lawrence | Lee | Livingston | Logan | Macon | Macoupin | Madison | Marion | Marshall | Mason | Massac | McDonough | McHenry | McLean | Menard | Mercer | Monroe | Montgomery | Morgan | Moultrie | Ogle | Peoria | Perry | Piatt | Pike | Pope | Pulaski | Putnam | Randolph | Richland | Rock Island | Saline | Sangamon | Schuyler | Scott | Shelby | St. Clair | Stark | Stephenson | Tazewell | Union | Vermilion | Wabash | Warren | Washington | Wayne | White | Whiteside | Will | Williamson | Winnebago | Woodford

	Political divisions of the United States
Capital	District of Columbia
States	Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming
Insular areas	American Samoa | Guam | Northern Mariana Islands | Puerto Rico | Virgin Islands
Minor outlying islands	Baker Island | Howland Island | Jarvis Island | Johnston Atoll | Kingman Reef | Midway Atoll | Navassa Island | Palmyra Atoll | Wake Island

Image File history File links Flag_of_Illinois. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Minor parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries â€¢ Politics Portal • • A state of the United States is any one of the fifty subnational entities referred to... // Pre-Columbian Cahokia, the urban center of the pre-Columbian Mississippian culture, was located near present-day Collinsville, Illinois. ... The culture of the State of Illinois varies highly based on location within the state. ... Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, site of first U.S. capital. ... Flag Seal Location Location of Springfield within Illinois Government Country State County United States Illinois Sangamon Founded 1819 Mayor Timothy Davlin Geographical characteristics Area    - City 156. ... This list of regions of the United States includes official (governmental) and non-official areas within the borders of the United States, not including U.S. states, the federal district of Washington, D.C. or standard subentities such as cities or counties. ... The American Bottom is a flood plain of the Mississippi River in southwestern Illinois, extending from Alton, Illinois, to the Kaskaskia River. ... The Champaign-Urbana Metropolitan Area, also known as Chambana, is a region in east central Illinois. ... Chicagoland is an informal name for the Chicago metropolitan area, used by local residents, businesses, governments, and planning agencies. ... // The Coulee Region, as it is colloquially known (officially designated the Driftless Area by the USGS and popularly referred to as the Driftless Zone, or Driftless Region since the 1980s) is an area of about 20,000 square miles (52,000 km²) in western Wisconsin, northeastern Iowa, southeastern Minnesota, and... Illinois Military Tract of 1812 Forgottonia (also spelled Forgotonia) is the name given to a 14 county region in western Illinois in the late 1960s and early 1970s. ... Fox Valley The Fox Valley is a region within Illinois and Wisconsin that borders Chicagoland. ... Egypt is the southern area of the state of Illinois in the United States of America. ... Metro-East is a region in Illinois that comprises the eastern suburbs St. ... Northwestern Illinois is a geographic region of the state of Illinois within the USA. Northwestern Illinois is generally considered to consist of the following area: Jo Daviess County, Carroll County, Whiteside County, Stephenson County, Winnebago County, Ogle County, and Lee County. ... The I-74 Bridge, connecting Bettendorf, Iowa and Moline, Illinois is located near the geographic center of the Quad Cities. ... The Wabash Valley is a region with parts in both Illinois and Indiana. ... List of cities in Illinois, arranged in alphabetical order. ... Historic Alton Home Alton is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. ... Nickname: City of Lights Location in Chicagoland Country United States State Illinois Counties Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will Mayor Tom Weisner (D) Area    - City 102. ... Batavia is a city in Kane County, Illinois. ... Belleville is a city in St. ... Incorporated City in 1902. ... Bloomington is a city located in McLean County, Illinois. ... Incorporated City in 1970. ... Calumet City is a city located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Carbondale is a city in Southern Illinois in the midwest United States, about one hour north of Cairo. ... A view of Champaign from above ( see wider view). ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ... Chicago Heights is a city located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Crystal Lake is a city located in southeastern McHenry County in northeastern Illinois. ... Danville is a city in Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. ... The Decatur Transfer House in the background with a newly completed fountain in the foreground. ... DeKalb is a city located in DeKalb County, Illinois. ... Incorporated City in 1874. ... East St. ... Incorporated City in 1854. ... Incorporated Village in 1982. ... Incorporated City in 1872. ... Lincoln-Douglas debates monument, near downtown Freeport. ... Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. ... Incorporated City in 1887. ... Granite City is a city located in Madison County, Illinois. ... Harvey is a city located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Highland Park is a city located in Lake County, Illinois. ... The city of Joliet is located 40 miles southwest of Chicago. ... Kankakee is a city in Kankakee County, Illinois, in the United States. ... Moline is a city in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. ... Incorporated City in 1890. ... North Chicago is a city located in Lake County, Illinois. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Location of Peoria Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois Counties Peoria County, Illinois Mayor Jim Ardis Area    - City 46. ... Pekin is a city in Tazewell County, Illinois. ... Nickname: Gem City Location in Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois Counties Adams County, Illinois Mayor John A. Spring Area    - City 14. ... Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. Traditionally referred to as The Forest City, Rockford is classified as a mid-sized city as it has 150,115 residents, while the metro area has 320,204 residents (2000 Census). ... Rock Island is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois. ... Flag Seal Location Location of Springfield within Illinois Government Country State County United States Illinois Sangamon Founded 1819 Mayor Timothy Davlin Geographical characteristics Area    - City 156. ... St. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Incorporated City in 1859. ... Waukegan is a city located in Lake County, Illinois, of which it is the county seat. ... West Chicago is a city located in DuPage County, Illinois. ... List of towns and villages in Illinois, arranged in alphabetical order. ... Addison is a village located in DuPage County, Illinois. ... The Historic Algonquin Village Hall, the hallmark symbol of the village and the centerpiece of its downtown Algonquin is a village located in both Kane and McHenry County, Illinois. ... Incorporated Village in 1836. ... Incorporated Village in 1891. ... Incorporated Village in 1965. ... Incorporated Village in 1958. ... Incorporated Village in 1959. ... View of Carpentersville from the cemetery, 1898 Carpentersville is a village in Kane County, Illinois, USA. The population was 30,586 at the 2000 census. ... Incorporated Town in 1869. ... Incorporated Village in 1893. ... Incorporated Village in 1873. ... Incorporated Village in 1956. ... Glendale Heights is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. ... Glen Ellyn is a village located in DuPage County, Illinois. ... Incorporated Village in 1899. ... Gurnee Mills entrance The center of Gurnee, with Gurnee Mills to the northwest and Six Flags to the southeast. ... Hanover Park is a village located in both Cook County and DuPage County, Illinois. ... Hoffman Estates is a village located primarily in Cook County and a small section in Kane County, Illinois. ... Huntley is a rapidly-growing village in McHenry County, Illinois and Kane County, Illinois. ... Lake in the Hills or L.I.T.H is a village in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. ... Incorporated Village in 1893. ... For other places named Libertyville, see Libertyville (disambiguation) Libertyville Village Hall Libertyville is a suburb of Chicago in Lake County, Illinois, United States. ... Lombard The Lilac Village, is a village located in DuPage County, Illinois. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Mount Prospect, part of Elk Grove Township, is a village located in Cook County, Illinois about 22 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, Illinois. ... Mundelein is a village located in Lake County, Illinois, in the United States. ... Niles is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Normal is an incorporated town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. ... Northbrook is a village located at the north border of Cook County, Illinois. ... Oak Forest is a city located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Oak Lawn is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Wrights home in Oak Park, Illinois Lake Theater and shops along Lake Street. ... Incorporated Village in 1892. ... Oswego is a village located in Kendall County, Illinois. ... Palatine is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. ... The Village of Plainfield is a municipality located in Will County, Illinois. ... Romeoville is a village located in Will County, Illinois. ... Round Lake Beach is a village located in Lake County, Illinois. ... Schaumburg is a village in Cook County and DuPage County, Illinois. ... Incorporated Village in 1888. ... Streamwood (sometimes known as S-Wood) is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Incorporated Village in 1892. ... Wheeling is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Wilmette is a village in New Trier Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. ... Woodridge is a village located predominantly in DuPage County, but also has portions in Will County and a very small parcel in Cook County, Illinois. ... List of 102 counties in the U.S. state of Illinois: Adams County Alexander County Bond County Boone County Brown County Bureau County Calhoun County Carroll County Cass County Champaign County Christian County Clark County Clay County Clinton County Coles County Cook County Crawford County Cumberland County DeKalb County De... Adams County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Alexander County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Bond County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Boone County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Brown County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Bureau County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Calhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Carroll County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Cass County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Champaign County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Christian County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Clark County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois, and determined by the U.S. Census Bureau to include the mean center of U.S. population in 1950. ... Clinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois, and determined by the U.S. Census Bureau to include the mean center of U.S. population in 1960. ... Coles County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Cook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Crawford County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Cumberland County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Location in the state of Illinois Formed 1836 Seat Sycamore Area  - Total  - Water 1,645 km² (634 mi²) 2 km² (1 mi²) 0. ... DeWitt County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Douglas County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... DuPage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Founded 1823 County Seat Paris Area  â€¢ Total  â€¢ Water 1,617 km² (624 mi²) 2 km² (1 mi²) = 0. ... Edwards County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Effingham County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Fayette County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Ford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Franklin County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Gallatin County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Greene County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Grundy County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Hamilton County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Hancock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Hardin County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Henderson County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Henry County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Iroquois County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Jackson County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Jasper County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Jo Daviess County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Johnson County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Location in the state of Illinois Formed January 16, 1836 Seat Geneva Area  - Total  - Water 1,357 km² (524 mi²) 9 km² (4 mi²) 0. ... Kankakee County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Kendall County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Knox County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... La Salle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Lawrence County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Lee County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Livingston County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Logan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Macon County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Macoupin County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Madison County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Marion County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Marshall County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Mason County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Massac County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... McDonough County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... McHenry County is located in the state of Illinois. ... McLean County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Menard County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Mercer County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Monroe County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Montgomery County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Morgan County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Moultrie County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Ogle County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Peoria County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Perry County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Piatt County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Pike County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Pope County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Pulaski County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Putnam County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Randolph County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Richland County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Rock Island County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Saline County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Sangamon County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Schuyler County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Scott County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Shelby County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... St. ... Stark County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Stephenson County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Tazewell County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Union County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Vermilion County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Wabash County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Warren County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Washington County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Wayne County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... White County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Whiteside County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Will County is a county located in the northern part of the state of Illinois. ... Williamson County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Winnebago County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Woodford County is a county located in the state of Illinois, USA. As of 2000, the population is 35,469. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... The political units and divisions of the United States include: the fifty states, which units are typically divided into counties and townships, and incorporate cities, villages, towns, and other types of municipalities, and other autonomous or subordinate public authorities and institutions; and the federal state, which unit is the United... Federal districts are subdivisions of a federal system of government. ... Nickname: DC, The District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Minor parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries â€¢ Politics Portal • • A state of the United States is any one of the fifty subnational entities referred to... Official language(s) English Capital Montgomery Largest city Birmingham Area  Ranked 30th  - Total 52,419 sq mi (135,765 km²)  - Width 190 miles (306 km)  - Length 330 miles (531 km)  - % water 3. ... Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,854 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... Official language(s) English Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Area  Ranked 6th  - Total 113,998 sq mi (295,254 km²)  - Width 310 miles (500 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,732 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 261 miles (420 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area  Ranked 8th  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) None Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area  Ranked 49th  - Total 2,491 sq mi (6,452 km²)  - Width 30 miles (48 km)  - Length 100 miles (161 km)  - % water 21. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq mi (94,321 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 270 miles (435 km)  - % water 1. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... This Article does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) None (English de facto) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 39th  - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²)  - Width 210 miles (338 km)  - Length 320 miles (515 km)  - % water 13. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 km²)  - Width 183 miles (295 km)  - Length 113 miles (182 km)  - % water 13. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Area  Ranked 11th  - Total 97,990 sq mi (253,793 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 491 miles (790 km)  - % water 41. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area  Ranked 12th  - Total 87,014 sq mi (225,365 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 8. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Area  Ranked 16th  - Total 77,421 sq mi (200,520 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 0. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Area  Ranked 5th  - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 km²)  - Width 342 miles (550 km)  - Length 370 miles (595 km)  - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ... This article is the current U.S. Collaboration of the Week. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ... Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area  Ranked 20th  - Total 69,960 sq mi (181,196 km²)  - Width 230 miles (370 km)  - Length 298 miles (fBlack Mesa Mountain]][2] km)  - % water 1. ... Official language(s) None Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 160 miles (255 km)  - Length 280 miles (455 km)  - % water 2. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston(1670-1789) Columbia(1790-present) Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32°430N to 35... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 268,581 sq mi (695,622 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Official language(s) None[1] Capital Montpelier Largest city Burlington Area  Ranked 45th  - Total 9,620 sq mi (24,923 km²)  - Width 80 miles (130 km)  - Length 160 miles (260 km)  - % water 3. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ... Official language(s) None Capital Olympia Largest city Seattle Area  Ranked 18th  - Total 71,342 sq mi (184,824 km²)  - Width 240 miles (385 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 6. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Area  Ranked 41st  - Total 24,244 sq mi (62,809 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 240 miles (385 km)  - % water 0. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area  Ranked 10th  - Total 97,818 sq mi (253,348 km²)  - Width 280 miles (450 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 0. ... An insular area is United States territory that is neither a part of one of the fifty states nor a part of the District of Columbia, the nations federal district. ... Official languages English, Chamorro, Carolinian. ... Motto: Latin: Joannes Est Nomen Eius; Spanish: Juan es su nombre (English: John is his name) Anthem: La Borinqueña Capital San Juan Largest city San Juan Spanish, English Government Commonwealth  - Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá Independence None (U.S. territory with Commonwealth status)  Area  - Total 9,104 km² (169th... National motto: United in Pride and Hope Official language English Capital Charlotte Amalie Governor Charles Wesley Turnbull Area  - Land  - % water Ranked 202nd 346. ... The flag of the United States is used for all of the United States Minor Outlying Islands The United States Minor Outlying Islands, a statistical designation defined by ISO 3166-1, consists of nine insular United States possessions: All of these islands are in the Pacific Ocean except Navassa Island... Howland Island Howland Island is an uninhabited atoll located just north of the equator in the central Pacific Ocean at 0°48′N 176°38′W, about 3,100 km (1,675 nautical miles) southwest of Honolulu. ... The flag of the US is used on Jarvis Island Map of Jarvis Island Jarvis Island is an uninhabited 4. ... Johnston Atoll is a 130 km² atoll in the North Pacific Ocean at 16°45′N 169°30′W, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands. ... The flag of the US is used for Kingman Reef Kingman Reef Kingman Reef—NASA NLT Landsat 7 (Visible Color) Satellite Image Kingman Reef is a one-square-kilometer tropical coral reef located in the North Pacific Ocean, roughly half way between Hawaiian Islands and American Samoa at 6°24... Orthographic projection centred over Midway. ... Navassa Island map from The World Factbook Navassa Island - NASA NLT Landsat 7 (Visible Color) Satellite Image Navassa Island (La Navase in French, Lanavaz in Haitian Kreyòl) is a small, uninhabited island in the Caribbean Sea. ... Map of Palmyra Atoll Palmyra Atoll, is an incorporated but uninhabited territory with a unique status of being privately owned (by The Nature Conservancy), but administered by the United States government. ... USGS Landsat 7 ETM+ satellite image of Wake Island. ...