State of Illinois
Flag of Illinois Seal Nickname(s): Land of Lincoln; The Prairie State Motto(s): State sovereignty, national union
Official language(s)	English[1]
Demonym	Illinoisan
Capital	Springfield
Largest city	Chicago
Largest metro area	Chicagoland
Area	Ranked 25th in the US
- Total	57,918 sq mi (140,998 km²)
- Width	210 miles (340 km)
- Length	395 miles (629 km)
- % water	4.0/ Negligible
- Latitude	36° 58′ N to 42° 30′ N
- Longitude	87° 30′ W to 91° 31′ W
Population	Ranked 5th in the US
- Total	12,831,970[2]
- Density	223.4/sq mi  86.27/km² (11 in the US)
- Median income	$45,787[3] (18)
Elevation
- Highest point	Charles Mound[4] 1,235 ft  (377 m)
- Mean	600 ft  (182 m)
- Lowest point	Mississippi River[4] 279 ft  (85 m)
Admission to Union	December 3, 1818 (21st)
Governor	Rod Blagojevich (D)
Lieutenant Governor	Pat Quinn (D)
U.S. Senators	Richard Durbin (D) Barack Obama (D)
Congressional Delegation	List
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Abbreviations	IL US-IL
Website	www.illinois.gov

The State of Illinois (pronounced /ˌɪlɨˈnɔɪ/|Ill-i-NOY) is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. Illinois is the most populous and demographically diverse^[5] Midwestern state and the fifth most populous in the nation. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and western Illinois, and natural resources like coal, timber, and petroleum in the south, Illinois has a broad economic base. Illinois is an important transportation hub; the Port of Chicago connects the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River via the Illinois River. Illinois is often viewed as a microcosm of the United States; an Associated Press analysis of 21 demographic factors found Illinois the "most average state,"^[6] while Peoria has long been a proverbial social and cultural bellwether. Illinois can refer to: Illinois, a state in the United States (population 12,419,293). ... Image File history File links Flag_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 -- both official and traditional (official state nicknames are in bold). ... 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. ... For other uses, see Prairie (disambiguation). ... Here is a list of state mottos for the states of the United States. ... Image File history File links Map_of_USA_IL.svg‎ File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Illinois ... The United States does not have an official language, but English is spoken by about 82% of the population as a native language. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, site of first U.S. capital. ... : Home of President Abraham Lincoln United States Illinois Sangamon 60. ... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ... In the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has produced a formal definition of metropolitan areas. ... Chicagoland is an informal name for the Chicago metropolitan area, used primarily by copywriters, advertising agencies, native residents, and traffic reporters. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... This is a complete list of the states of the United States ordered by total area, land area, and water area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... “km” redirects here. ... Map of states populations (2007) This is a list of states of the United States by population (with inhabited non-state jurisdictions included for comparison) as of July 1, 2007, according to the 2007 estimates of the United States Census Bureau. ... Map of states showing population density This is a list of the 50 U.S. states, ordered by population density. ... For information on the income of individuals, see Personal income in the United States. ... 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. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... The order which the original 13 states ratified the constitution, then the order that the others were admitted to the union This is a list of U.S. states by date of statehood, that is, the date when each U.S. state joined the Union. ... is the 337th day of the year (338th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1818 (MDCCCXVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ... Milorad Blagojevich, commonly known as Rod R. Blagojevich (pronounced  , born December 10, 1956) is an American politician from the state of Illinois. ... This is a complete and current List of United States Lieutenant Governors. ... Pat Quinn (born 1948), is a United States politician from the state of Illinois. ... Type Upper House President of the Senate Richard B. Cheney, R since January 20, 2001 President pro tempore Robert C. Byrd, D since January 4, 2007 Members 100 Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party Last elections November 7, 2006 Meeting place Senate Chamber United States Capitol Washington, DC United States... Richard Joseph 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” redirects here. ... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives President of the Senate President pro tempore Dick Cheney, (R) since January 20, 2001 Robert C. Byrd, (D) since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political... These are tables of congressional delegations from Illinois to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. ... 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). ... UTC redirects here. ... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... 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. ... A website (alternatively, web site or Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... This article is about the Midwestern region in the United States. ... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ... General Information Founded June 26, 1959 Coordinates (Iroquois Landing Terminal)  - Latitude  - Longitude 41°440 N 87°3142W Annual cargo tonnage 894,832 short tons (2002) Value of cargo handled Net Income $39. ... The Great Lakes from space The Laurentian Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes in North America on or near the Canada-United States border. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... This article is about the river in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Macrocosm and microcosm is an ancient Greek schema of seeing the same patterns reproduced in all levels of reality. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... : Will it Play in Peoria? United States Illinois Peoria 46. ... The saying, Will it play in Peoria? is traditionally used to ask whether a given concept, product, person or event will appeal to mainstream America, or across a broad range of demographic/psychographic groups. ... This article is about Bellwethers in general. ...

Nearly 66% of the population resides in the northeastern corner of the state comprising the Chicago metropolitan area. 1 in 4 residents of the state live within the city of Chicago itself. Chicagoland redirects here. ... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ...

With a population near 40,000 between 1300 and 1400 AD, the Mississippian city of Cahokia, in what is now southern Illinois, was the largest city within the future United States until it was surpassed by New York City between 1790 and 1800. About 2,000 Native American hunters and a small number of French villagers inhabited the Illinois area at the time of the American Revolution.^[7] American settlers began arriving from Kentucky in the 1810s; they achieved statehood in 1818. The future metropolis of Chicago was founded in the 1830s on the banks of the Chicago River, one of the only natural harbors on southern Lake Michigan.^[8] Railroads and John Deere's invention of the self-scouring steel plow made central Illinois' rich prairie into some of the world's most productive and valuable farmlands, attracting immigrant farmers from Germany and Sweden. Northern Illinois provided major support for Illinoisans Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant during the American Civil War. By 1900, the growth of industry in northern cities and coal mining in central and southern areas attracted immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe, and made the state a major arsenal in both world wars. African-Americans migrating to Chicago from the rural South formed a large and important community, which created the city's famous jazz and blues cultures. The Mississippian culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished in what is now the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 800 to 1500 A.D., varying regionally. ... Cahokia is the site of an ancient Native American city near Collinsville, Illinois, across the Mississippi River from St. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia The American Revolution refers to the period during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen... 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. ... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ... The Chicago River is 156 miles (251 km) long[1], and flows through downtown Chicago. ... Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. ... railroads redirects here. ... John Deere This article is about John Deere, the person. ... John Deere the steel plow was awsome it was invented by John Deere and it was a major invention b/c the plow before would get stuck in the tough sod, so when he came out with the plow it just slid right through the dirt. ... For other uses, see Prairie (disambiguation). ... Immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently. ... Swedish-Americans are the Americans with Swedish heritage, most often related to the large groups of immigrants from Sweden in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. ... For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation). ... Ulysses S. Grant,[2] born Hiram Ulysses Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885), was an American general and the eighteenth 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 E. 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 a concept that lacks one precise definition. ... The southern half of Europe is shown in shades of red. ... A world war is a war affecting the majority of the worlds major nations. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... The states in blue had the ten largest net gains of African-Americans, while the states in red had the ten largest net losses. ... Chicagos Black Belt, April 1941. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... The blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on a pentatonic scale as well as a characteristic twelve-bar chord progression. ...

Etymology

See also: List of Illinois counties and List of Illinois county name etymologies

The state is named for the French adaptation of an Algonquian language (perhaps Miami) word apparently meaning "s/he speaks normally" (Miami ilenweewa,^[9][10] Proto-Algonquian *elen-, "ordinary" and -we·, "to speak").^[11] Alternately, the name is often associated with the indigenous Illiniwek people, a consortium of Algonquian tribes that thrived in the area. The name Illiniwek is frequently (incorrectly) said to mean "tribe of superior men";^[12] or "men". Both etymologies are unworkable. 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. ... 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). ... The Miami-Illinois language is a Native American language formerly spoken in the United States, primarily in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and adjacent areas along the Mississippi River by the tribes of the Inoca or Illinois Confederacy, including the Kaskaskia, Peoria, Tamaroa, Cahokia, and Mitchigamea. ... Proto-Algonquian (commonly abbreviated PA) is the name given to the posited proto-language of the languages of the Algonquian family. ... There was much conflict with a neigboring tribe of aliens!The Illiniwek (also known as the Illini, Illinois, Illinois Confederacy) were a group of six Native 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 and the Midwest, as viewed from the John Hancock Center

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° 31′ 30″ west longitude. Its northern border with Wisconsin is fixed at 42° 30' north latitude. Its western border with Missouri and Iowa is the Mississippi River. Its southern border with Kentucky is the Ohio River.^[13] Illinois also borders Michigan, but only via a water boundary in Lake Michigan.^[14] Image File history File links Chicago_Skyline. ... Image File history File links Chicago_Skyline. ... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ... The Midwest is a common name for a region of the United States of America. ... For the tower in Boston, see John Hancock Tower. ... 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 located entirely within the United States. ... For other uses, see Indiana (disambiguation). ... The Wabash River at Lafayette, Indiana, showing the Main Street bridge, and the Amtrak station. ... This article is about the United States city, Vincennes. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... 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. ... View of Pittsburgh, the largest metropolitan area on the Ohio River, where the Allegheny River (left) and the Monongahela River (right) join at Point State Park to form the Ohio River Cincinnati, Ohio is a well known city along the Ohio River, historically known for its riverboats. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ...

Though Illinois lies entirely in the Interior Plains, it has three major geographical divisions. The first is Northern Illinois, dominated by the Chicago metropolitan area, including the city of Chicago, its suburbs, and the adjoining exurban area into which the metropolis is expanding. As defined by the federal government, the Chicago metro area includes a few counties in Indiana and Wisconsin and stretches across much of northeastern Illinois. It is a cosmopolitan city, densely populated, industrialized, and settled by a wide variety of ethnic groups. The city of Rockford generally sits along Interstates 39 and 90 and is the state's third largest city. The Interior Plains are highlighted in red. ... For the university, see Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois is a region generally covering the northern third of the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Chicagoland redirects here. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... For other uses, see Indiana (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... , Nickname: The Forest City Country State County Township Elevation 715 ft (218 m) Coordinates , Area 56. ... INTERSTATE JUNCTIONS JUNCTION EXIT # Legend BROWSE STATE HWYS Prev Next Interstate 39 (abbreviated I-39) is an interstate highway in the midwestern United States. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Interstate 90 Interstate 90 (abbreviated I-90) is the longest interstate highway in the United States at nearly 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers). ...

Southward and westward, the second major division is Central Illinois, an area of mostly flat prairie. Known as the Heart of Illinois, it is characterized by small towns and mid-sized cities. The western section (west of the Illinois River) was originally part of the Military Tract of 1812 and forms the distinctive western bulge of the state. Agriculture, particularly corn and soybeans, as well as educational institutions and manufacturing centers, figure prominently. Cities include Peoria—the third largest metropolitan area in Illinois at 370,000—Springfield—the state capital—Quincy, Decatur, Bloomington-Normal and Champaign-Urbana.^[14] State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich Official languages English Area 149,998 km² (25th)  - Land 143,968 km²  - Water 6,030 km² (4. ... For other uses, see Prairie (disambiguation). ... 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). ... This article is about the maize plant. ... Soy redirects here. ... : Will it Play in Peoria? United States Illinois Peoria 46. ... : Home of President Abraham Lincoln United States Illinois Sangamon 60. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... : Gem City United States Illinois Adams 14. ... Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... This refers to the adjoined cities of Bloomington, Illinois and Normal, Illinois located in the McLean County of Central Illinois. ... Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. ... Urbana (pronounced ) is the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, United StatesGR6. ...

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. The second area is Williamson County, Jackson County, Franklin County, Saline County and Perry County. It is home to around 210,000 residents.^[14] 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 ... Little Egypt can mean: Little Egypt, a belly dancer. ... U.S. Route 50 is a major east-west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over 3000 miles (4800 km) from West Sacramento, California east to Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean. ... The Little Egypt region of Illinois Little Egypt is the southern area of the state of Illinois in the United States of America. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... View of Pittsburgh, the largest metropolitan area on the Ohio River, where the Allegheny River (left) and the Monongahela River (right) join at Point State Park to form the Ohio River Cincinnati, Ohio is a well known city along the Ohio River, historically known for its riverboats. ... For other uses, see Cotton (disambiguation). ... The Wolstonian glaciation is a name for an ice age period which occurred between 200,000 and 125,000 years ago. ... Coal Example chemical structure of coal Coal is a fossil fuel formed in ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ... Metro-East is a region in Illinois that comprises the eastern suburbs St. ... Williamson County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Jackson County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Saline County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Perry County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ...

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, has the state's highest elevation above sea level at 1,235 feet (376 m). The highest structure in Illinois is the Sears Tower with a roof elevation of approximately 2,030 feet (619 m) above sea level. [Chicago elevation (580 ft) + tower height (1450) = 2030.] // 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. ...

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 German 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.^[15][14] Historic Alton Home Alton is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about 15 miles north of St. ... 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. ...

A portion of Southeastern Illinois is part of the extended Evansville, Indiana Metro Area, commonly referred to as the Tri-State with Indiana and Kentucky. Seven Illinois Counties are in the area. Nickname: Location in the state of Indiana Coordinates: , Country State County Vanderburgh Townships Center, German, Knight, Perry, Pigeon Government  - Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel (D) Area  - City 40. ...

Climate

Main article: Climate of Illinois

Because of its nearly 400 mile (640 km) length and mid-continental situation, Illinois has a widely varying climate. Most of Illinois has a humid continental climate (Koppen climate classification Dfa) with hot, humid summers and cool to cold winters. The southernmost part of the state, from about Carbondale southward, borders on a humid subtropical climate (Koppen Cfa) with more moderate winters. Average yearly precipitation for Illinois varies from just over 48 inches (1,220 mm) at the southern tip to around 35 inches (890 mm) in the northern portion of the state. Normal annual snowfall exceeds 38 inches (96 cm) in the Chicago area, while the southern portion of the state normally receives less than 14 inches (35 cm).^[16] The highest temperature recorded in Illinois was 117 °F (47 °C), recorded on July 14, 1954, at East St. Louis, while the lowest temperature was -36 °F (-38 °C), recorded on January 5, 1999, at Congerville.^[17][15][14] The humid continental climate is a climate found over large areas of land masses in the temperate regions of the mid-latitudes where there is a zone of conflict between polar and tropical air masses. ... The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. ... , Carbondale is a city in Southern Illinois in the midwest United States, about one hour north of Cairo. ... The humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and chilly to mild winters. ... is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... Congerville is a village located in Woodford County, Illinois. ...

Illinois averages around 50 days of thunderstorm activity a year which put it somewhat above 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 (30,000 km²) annually.^[18] 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.^[19] 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 protected areas of Illinois

Illinois has numerous museums. 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. These include the John G. Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum of Natural History, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Science and Industry. The Museum of Science and Industry is the only building remaining from the 1893 Columbian Exposition held in Chicago to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of the new world. Illinois has over 54 state parks, along with many other wildlife areas and state forests. ... Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum looks at the life of the 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln, and the course of the American Civil War. ... John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago in the United States is the largest indoor aquarium in the world. ... Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago The Field Museum of Natural History, in Chicago, Illinois, USA, sits on Lake Shore Drive next to Lake Michigan, part of a scenic complex known as Museum Campus Chicago. ... The Art Institute of Chicago is a fine art museum located in Chicago, Illinois. ... A view from the lagoon behind the Museum of Science and Industry, the only in-place surviving building from the 1893 World Columbian Exposition and a National Historic Landmark. ... One-third scale replica of The Republic, which once stood in the great basin at the exposition, Chicago, 2004 The Worlds Columbian Exposition (also called The Chicago Worlds Fair), a Worlds fair, was held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbuss...

The Illinois state 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 Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor near Lockport, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, and the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. 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. ... 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 miles (2,092 km) route that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traveled from 1846-1857. ... For other uses, see Trail of Tears (disambiguation). ...

History

Main article: History of Illinois

Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest county {{{LargestCounty}}} Largest metro area Chicago Area  Ranked 25th in the US  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ...

Pre-European

Copper plates found at pre-Columbian burial sites in Illinois.

Cahokia, the urban center of the pre-Columbian Mississippian culture, was located near present-day Collinsville, Illinois. That civilization vanished in the 15th century for unknown reasons. The next major power in the region was the Illiniwek Confederation, or Illini, a political alliance among several tribes. There were about 25,000 Illinois Indians in 1700, but systematic attacks and genocide by the Iroquois reduced their numbers by 90%.^[26] Members of the Potawatomi, Miami, Sauk, and other tribes came in from the east and north.^[14] In the American Revolution, the Illinois and Potawatomi supported the American cause. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Cahokia is the site of an ancient Native American city near Collinsville, Illinois, across the Mississippi River from St. ... Christopher Columbus (1451 – May 20, 1506) was a navigator, colonizer, and explorer and one of the first Europeans to explore the Americas after the Vikings. ... The Mississippian culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished in what is now the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 800 to 1500 A.D., varying regionally. ... Collinsville is a city in Madison County, Illinois and partially in St. ... There was much conflict with a neigboring tribe of aliens!The Illiniwek (also known as the Illini, Illinois, Illinois Confederacy) were a group of six Native American tribes in the upper Mississippi River valley of North America. ... For other uses, see Iroquois (disambiguation). ... Rain dance, Kansas, c. ... The Miami are a Native American tribe originally found in Indiana and Ohio, and now living also in Oklahoma. ... 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 Jolliet explored the Illinois River in 1673. In 1680, other French explorers constructed a fort at he site of the nowaday’s city of Peoria, in 1682 a fort atop Starved Rock in nowaday’s Starved Rock State Park. As a result of this French exploration, Illinois was part of the French empire until 1763, when it passed to the British. The small French settlements continued; a few British soldiers were posted in Illinois but there were no British or American settlers. In 1778 George Rogers Clark claimed the Illinois Country for Virginia. The area was ceded by Virginia to the new United States in 1783 and became part of the Northwest Territory.^[27] 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 Jolliet, also known as Louis Joliet (September 21, 1645 – May 22, 1700), was a Canadian explorer born in Quebec City. ... This article is about the river in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... : Will it Play in Peoria? United States Illinois Peoria 46. ... Starved Rock State Park is an Illinois state park located in Utica, Illinois, in rural La Salle County, Illinois, about 75 miles (120 km) west-southwest of downtown Chicago. ... Wildcat Canyon Waterfall Sandstone cliff Starved Rock State Park is an Illinois state park located in Utica, Illinois, in rural LaSalle County, Illinois, about 75 miles (120 km) west-southwest of downtown Chicago. ... Clark as painted by Matthew Harris Jouett in 1825 George Rogers Clark (November 19, 1752 – February 13, 1818) was a soldier from Virginia and the preeminent American military officer 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. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... 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. The new state debated slavery then rejected it, as settlers poured into southern Illinois from Kentucky. 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. ... 1880 US Census The United States Census of 1880 was the tenth United States Census. ... The Eleventh United States Census was taken June 1, 1890. ... 1900 US Census The Twelfth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 76,212,168, an increase of 21. ... 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 Sixteenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 132,164,569, an increase of 7. ... 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 Twentieth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 226,545,805, 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 ... is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calend