See Also

Illinois

Illinois is the 21st U.S. state U.S. state

A state of the United States is any one of the fifty subnational entities referred to as a state [i] ... 

 and is located in the Midwest Midwestern United States

The Midwestern United States is a region of the north-central and northeastern United States of America [i] ... 

 region of the United States of America United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

. 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 Suburb

Suburbs are inhabited districts located either inside a town or city [i]'s outer rim or just outside its ... 

 and a great metropolis Metropolis

A metropolis is a major city [i], in most cases with a population of at least one million inside its ur ... 

; 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 nation.

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Timeline

1818   Illinois is admitted as the 21st U.S. state U.S. state

A state of the United States is any one of the fifty subnational entities referred to as a state [i] ... 

.

1847   Donner Party Donner Party

The Donner Party was a group of California [i]-bound American [i] settlers caught up in th ... 

, a caravan of settlers from Illinois to California California

California is a state [i] spanning the southern half of the west coast [i] ... 

, is stuck near what is now Donner Lake Donner Lake

Donner Lake is a freshwater lake [i] that is much smaller than nearby Lake Tahoe [i]. ... 

 due to heavy snowstorm. They will be rescued February 19 1848

1873   Henry Rose exhibits barbed wire Barbed wire

Barbed wire is a type of fencing wire [i] constructed with sharp edges or points arranged at intervals a ... 

 at an Illinois county fair, which is taken up by Joseph Glidden Joseph Glidden

Joseph Farwell Glidden was an American [i] farmer [i] who patented barbed wire [i], a prod ... 

 and Jacob Haish, who invent a machine to mass-produce it.

1894   Pullman Strike Pullman Strike

The Pullman Strike occurred when 50,000 Pullman Palace Car Company [i] workers went on a ... 

: Three thousand Pullman Palace Car Company Pullman Company

The Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman [i], manufactured railroad car [i]s in the mid ... 

 workers go on a "wildcat" (without union Trade union

"A Trade Union , ... is a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of maintaining or imp... 

 approval) strike in Illinois.

1917   Tornado Tornado

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air which is in contact with both a cumulonimbus [i] ... 

 strikes Mattoon, Illinois causing devastation and killing 101 people.

1925   The Tri-State Tornado Tri-State Tornado

The Great Tri-State Tornado of Wednesday, March 18 [i], 1925 [i], crossed from southeastern Missouri [i] ... 

 raked through Missouri Missouri

Missouri named after the Missouri Siouan [i] Indian tribe meaning "town of the large canoes", is a cent ... 

, Illinois, and Indiana Indiana

Indiana, meaning the "Land of the Indians [i]," is a state i ... 

 and killed 695 people.

1969   The "Chicago Eight" trial begins in Chicago Chicago

Chicago is the largest city [i] in the U.S. state [i] of Illinois [i], as well as the third-most populous [i] ... 

, Illinois.

1994   Illinois executes serial killer John Wayne Gacy John Wayne Gacy

John Wayne Gacy, Jr., was an American [i] serial killer [i]. ... 

 by lethal injection for the murder of 33 young men and boys.

2000   Joseph Piscopo of Chicago Chicago

Chicago is the largest city [i] in the U.S. state [i] of Illinois [i], as well as the third-most populous [i] ... 

, Illinois marries Peangjai Onsee of Udon Thani, Thailand Thailand

The Kingdom of Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia [i], bordering Laos [i] and Cambodia [i] to the e ... 

, in Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the state of Nevada [i], United States [i], and a major vacation [i] ... 

, Nevada Nevada

Nevada is a state [i] located in the western [i] United States [i], bes ... 

.

2003   Meigs Field Meigs Field

Merrill C. Meigs Field Airport [previously ] was a single strip airport [i] built on Northerly Island, ... 

 Airport in Chicago Chicago

Chicago is the largest city [i] in the U.S. state [i] of Illinois [i], as well as the third-most populous [i] ... 

, Illinois is demolished overnight. is toppled by Iraqis as the American forces capture Baghdad Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital [i] of Iraq [i] and of Baghdad Governorate [i]. ... 

.]]

   More Events >>



Encyclopedia

Illinois is the 21st U.S. state U.S. state

A state of the United States is any one of the fifty subnational entities referred to as a state [i] ... 

 and is located in the Midwest Midwestern United States

The Midwestern United States is a region of the north-central and northeastern United States of America [i] ... 

 region of the United States of America United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

. 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 Suburb

Suburbs are inhabited districts located either inside a town or city [i]'s outer rim or just outside its ... 

 and a great metropolis Metropolis

A metropolis is a major city [i], in most cases with a population of at least one million inside its ur ... 

; 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 nation.

About 2000 Native American Native Americans in the United States

American Indian and Alaskan NativesU.S. state [i]s and several of the inhabited insular areas [i] that a ... 

 hunters inhabited the area at the time of the American Revolution American Revolution

The American Revolution was a political movement that ended British [i] control ... 

, and a small number of French Habitants

Habitants is the name used to referred to both the French [i] settlers and the America... 

 villagers. American settlers began arriving from Kentucky Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a U.S. state [i] located in the Southern [i] United States [i] ... 

 in the 1810s; they achieved statehood in 1818. Yankee Yankee

The term Yankee has a variety of meanings.... 

s arrived a little later and dominated the north, creating the metropolis of Chicago in the 1830s. The coming of the railroads Rail transport

Rail transport is the transport [i] of passenger [i]s and goods [i] along railways or ... 

 in the 1850s made highly profitable the rich prairie Prairie

Prairie refers to an area of land of low topographic relief that historically supported grasses and herb... 

 farmlands in central Illinois, attracting large numbers of immigrant farmers from Germany German American

German Americans are citizens of the United States [i] of German [i] ancestry. ... 

 and Sweden Swedish American

Swedish-Americans are the Americans [i] with Swedish heritage, most often related to the l ... 

. Northern Illinois, strongly Republican History of the United States Republican Party

The Republican Party [i] of the United States [i] was established in 1854 and is one of the t... 

, provided major support for Illinoisans Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln , sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitte... 

 and Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant was an American [i] soldier and politician who was elected the 18th President of the United States [i] ... 

 during the Civil War American Civil War

The American Civil War was a sectional conflict in the United States of America [i] between the federal ... 

. 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 Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe is the east [i]ern region [i] of Europe [i] variably defined. ... 

 and Southern Europe Southern Europe

Southern Europe is a region [i] of the Europe [i]an continent [i]. ... 

. Illinois was a major arsenal in both world war World war

A world war is a military conflict [i] affecting the majority of the world's major nations. ... 

s; large numbers of blacks left the cotton fields of the South to come to Chicago, where they developed a famous jazz Jazz

Jazz is an original American music [i]al art form originating around the start of the 20th century [i] ... 

 culture.

The state is named for the Illinois River Illinois River

The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River [i], approximately 273 miles long, ... 

 which was named by French explorers Habitants

Habitants is the name used to referred to both the French [i] settlers and the America... 

 after the indigenous Illiniwek people, a consortium of Algonquian Algonquian languages

The Algonquian languages are a subfamily of Native American languages [i] that includes most of the lan ... 

 tribes that thrived in the area. The word Illiniwek means "tribe of superior men."

Geography


The northeastern border of Illinois is Lake Michigan Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes [i] of North America [i], and the only one in the group loc ... 

. Its eastern border with Indiana Indiana

Indiana, meaning the "Land of the Indians [i]," is a state i ... 

 is all of the land west of the Wabash River Wabash River

The Wabash River is a 475 mi long river [i] in the eastern United States [i] that flows southwest from... 

, and a north-south line above Post Vincennes Vincennes, Indiana

The city of Vincennes is the county seat [i] of Knox County, Indiana [i]. ... 

, or 87° 30' west longitude. Its northern border with Wisconsin Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a state [i] in the United States [i], located in the Midwest [i].... 

 is fixed at 42° 30' latitude. Its western border with Missouri Missouri

Missouri named after the Missouri Siouan [i] Indian tribe meaning "town of the large canoes", is a cent... 

 and Iowa Iowa

Iowa is a Midwest [i] state [i] of the United States [i]. ... 

 is the Mississippi River Mississippi River

The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe [i] word misi-ziibi meaning 'grea ... 

. Its southern border with Kentucky Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a U.S. state [i] located in the Southern [i] United States [i] ... 

 is the Ohio River Ohio River

The Ohio River is a principal tributary [i] of the Mississippi River [i]. ... 

. Illinois also borders Michigan Michigan

Michigan is a Midwestern [i] state [i] of the United States [i], located in the east north central [i] ... 

, but only via a water boundary in Lake Michigan. [Nelson 1978]

Though Illinois lies entirely in the Interior Plains Interior Plains

The Interior Plains is a vast region [i] that spreads across the le ... 

, it has three major geographical divisions. The first is Chicagoland Chicagoland

Chicagoland is an informal name for the Chicago [i] metropolitan area [i], used by local residents, busi ... 

, including the city of Chicago Chicago

Chicago is the largest city [i] in the U.S. state [i] of Illinois [i], as well as the third-most populous [i] ... 

, its suburbs, and the adjoining exurban area into which the metropolis is expanding. 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 Interstate 80

Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway [i] in the United States [i]. ... 

 and 90 Interstate 90

Interstate 90 is the longest interstate highway [i] in the United States at ne ... 

. This region is cosmopolitan, densely populated, industrialized, and settled by a variety of ethnic groups. Cook County Cook County, Illinois

Cook County is a county [i] located in the U.S. state [i] of Illinois [i]. ... 

 is the most populous county in the state, with over 5.3 million residents in 2004.

Southward and westward, the second major division is central Illinois, an area of mostly flat prairie Prairie

Prairie refers to an area of land of low topographic relief that historically supported grasses and herb... 

. The western section was originally part of the Military Tract of 1812 Military Tract of 1812

In May 1812, an act of Congress [i] was passed which set aside bounty lands as payment ... 

 and forms the distinctive western bulge of state. Known as the Land of Lincoln Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln , sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitte... 

 or the Heart of Illinois, it is characterized by small towns and mid-sized cities. Agriculture, particularly corn Maize

Maize , also known as corn, is a cereal [i] grain [i] that was domesticated in Mesoamerica [i]. ... 

 and soybean Soybean

The soybean or soya bean is a species of legume [i] native to eastern Asia [i].... 

s, as well as educational institutions and manufacturing centers, figures prominently. Major cities include Peoria Peoria, Illinois

PeoriaIllinois USA is the largest city on the Illinois River [i] and the county seat [i] of Peoria County [i] ... 

–the third largest metropolitan area in Illinois at 370,000, Springfield Springfield, Illinois

Springfield is the capital of the U.S. state [i] of Illinois [i] and the county seat [i] of Sangamon County [i] ... 

–the state capital Capital

In politics [i], a capital is the principal city [i] or town [i] associated with a country's government [i] ... 

, Decatur Decatur, Illinois

Decatur, Illinois USA was founded in 1836, is the county seat [i] as well as the business and employment ... 

, Bloomington-Normal and Champaign Champaign, Illinois

Champaign is a city in Champaign County [i], Illinois [i], in the United States [i] ... 

-Urbana Urbana, Illinois

Urbana is a city in Champaign County [i], Illinois [i], United States [i]. ... 

. [Nelson 1978]


The third division is southern Illinois, comprising the area south of U.S. Route 50 U.S. Route 50

article_route=50
|alternate_name=
... 

, and including Little Egypt, near the juncture of the Mississippi River Mississippi River

The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe [i] word misi-ziibi meaning 'grea ... 

 and Ohio River Ohio River

The Ohio River is a principal tributary [i] of the Mississippi River [i]. ... 

. This region can be distinguished from the other two by its warmer climate, different mix of crops , more rugged topography , as well as small-scale oil deposits and coal Coal

Coal is a fossil fuel [i] extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining . ... 

 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 Marion, Illinois

[i]
... 

, West Frankfort, Herrin, Murphysboro area, is home to around 200,000 residents. [Nelson 1978]

Collectively, all of Illinois outside the Chicago Metropolitan area is called "downstate Illinois".

In extreme northwestern Illinois, the Driftless Zone Coulee Region

The Coulee Region, as it is colloquially known is an area of about 20,000 square miles in western Wisconsin [i] ... 

, 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 Sea level

Mean sea level is the average height of the sea [i], with reference to a suitable reference surface. ... 

 at 1,235 feet . The highest true elevation in Illinois is the Sears Tower Sears Tower

The Sears Tower is a skyscraper [i] in Chicago [i], Illinois [i], and the tallest building in the United States [i] ... 

 with an elevation at the top of its roof of approximately 2,030 feet .

The floodplain on the Mississippi River from Alton Alton, Illinois

Alton is a city in Madison County [i], Illinois [i], United States [i]. ... 

 to the Kaskaskia River is the American Bottom American Bottom

The American Bottom is a flood plain [i] of the Mississippi River [i] in southwestern Illinois [i], exte ... 

, and is the site of the ancient city of Cahokia Cahokia

Cahokia is the site of an ancient Native American [i] city near Collinsville [i] ... 

. 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 ; Horsley ]

See also List of Illinois counties List of counties in Illinois

Listed are the 102 counties [i] in the state [i] of Illinois [i]. ... 

, List of Illinois county name etymologies

Climate

Because of its nearly 400 mile length, 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 Lake effect snow

Lake effect snow [i] is produced in the winter when cold winds move across long expanses of warmer lake ... 

, while the south normally receives less than 14 inches. 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. [Nelson ; Horsley ]

Recreation

Illinois has numerous museums. For example, the Burpee Museum of Natural History Burpee Museum of Natural History

The Burpee Museum of Natural History is located along the Rock River [i] in downtown Rockford [i], Illin ... 

 in Rockford Rockford, Illinois

Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois [i], USA [i]. ... 

 which features the dinosaur fossil Jane the Rockford T-Rex Jane (dinosaur)

Jane is a renowned juvenile Tyrannosaurus Rex [i] fossil [i] discovered in the Hell Creek Formation [i] ... 

.

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.

Areas under the protection and control of the National Park Service National Park Service

The National Park Service is the United States [i] federal agency that manages all National Parks [i] ... 

 include:

History


Pre-Columbian

Cahokia Cahokia

Cahokia is the site of an ancient Native American [i] city near Collinsville [i] ... 

, the urban center of the pre-Columbian Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus Italian [i] Cristoforo Colombo; Spanish [i]: ... 

 Mississippian culture Mississippian culture

The Mississippian culture was a Chalcolithic [i] mound-building [i] Native American [i] ... 

, was located near present-day Collinsville, Illinois Collinsville, Illinois

Collinsville is a city in Madison County [i], Illinois [i] and partially in St. Clair [i] ... 

. 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 Iroquois

The Confederacy is a group of First Nations [i]/Native Americans [i] ... 

 expansion forced them to compete with several tribes for land. The Illini were replaced by the Potawatomi Potawatomi

The Potawatomi are an Native American [i] people of the upper Mississippi River [i] ... 

, Miami, Sauk, and other tribes. [Nelson 1978]

European exploration

French France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

 explorers Jacques Marquette Jacques Marquette

Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet [i] were the first European [i]s to see and map the Mississippi River [i] ... 

 and Louis Joliet Louis Jolliet

Louis Jolliet, also known Louis Joliet, was a Canadian [i] explorer [i] b ... 

 explored the Illinois River Illinois River

The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River [i], approximately 273 miles long, ... 

 in 1673. As a result of their exploration, Illinois was part of the French empire until 1763, when it passed to the British United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

 as a result of the French and Indian War French and Indian War

The French and Indian War was the nine-year North American chapter of the Seven Years' War [i]. ... 

. George Rogers Clark George Rogers Clark

George Rogers Clark was the preeminent American [i] military leader on the northwestern frontier dur ... 

 claimed the Illinois Country Illinois Country

The Illinois Country was the name used in the 17th century and afterwards to refer to an undefined regio... 

 for the Commonwealth of Virginia Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia is one of the original thirteen colonies [i] of the United States [i] ... 

 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 Northwest Territory

The Northwest Territory, also known as the Old Northwest and the Territory North West of the Oh... 

. [Biles ]

19th century

The Illinois-Wabash Company Illinois-Wabash Company

The Illinois-Wabash Company, formally known as the United Illinois and Wabash Land Company, was a ... 

 was an early claimant to much of Illinois. The Illinois Territory Illinois Territory

Illinois Territory was a historic, organized territory [i] of the United States [i] established on March 1 [i] ... 

 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 Vandalia, Illinois

Vandalia is a city in Fayette County [i], Illinois [i], 69 miles northeast of St. Louis [i] ... 

. 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 Black Hawk War

The Black Hawk War was fought in 1832 in the Midwestern United States [i]. ... 

, the last native tribes were driven out of northern Illinois.

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 Bible

The Bible , is the name used by Jews [i] and Christians [i] for their differing canons [i]... 

 story of Joseph in Egypt supplying grain to his brothers.

Illinois is known as the "Land of Lincoln Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln , sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitte... 

" because it is here that the 16th President President of the United States

The President of the United States of America is the head of state [i] of the United States [i]. ... 

 spent most of his life, practicing law and living in Springfield Springfield, Illinois

Springfield is the capital of the U.S. state [i] of Illinois [i] and the county seat [i] of Sangamon County [i] ... 

. 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 John A. Logan

John Alexander Logan, was an American [i] soldier and political leader [i]. ... 

, the legislature passed a Black Code designed to keep free blacks out of the state.

Chicago Chicago

Chicago is the largest city [i] in the U.S. state [i] of Illinois [i], as well as the third-most populous [i] ... 

 gained prominence as a Great Lakes Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are a group of five large lake [i]s in North America [i] on or near the Canada [i]-United States [i] ... 

 port and then as an Illinois and Michigan Canal Illinois and Michigan Canal

The Illinois and Michigan Canal ran 96 miles from the Bridgeport [i] neighborhood i ... 

 port after 1848, and as a rail hub soon afterward. By 1857, Chicago was Illinois' largest city. [Biles ]

Civil War


During the Civil War American Civil War

The American Civil War was a sectional conflict in the United States of America [i] between the federal ... 

, over 250,000 Illinois men served in the Union Army Union Army

The Union Army refers to the United States Army [i] during the American Civil War [i].... 

, more than any other northern state except New York New York

New York is a state [i] in the northeastern [i] United States [i]. ... 

, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a state [i] in the northeastern [i] ... 

 and Ohio Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern [i] state [i] of the United States [i].... 

. 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.

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 Century of Progress

The Century of Progress Exposition was a World's Fair [i] held in Chicago [i], Illinois [i] ... 

 world's fair was held at Chicago in 1933. Oil strikes in Marion County Marion County, Illinois

ntralia, Illinois|Centralia]] [i]
... 

 lead to a boom in 1937, and by 1939 Illinois ranked 4th in U.S. oil production.

Following World War II, Argonne National Laboratory Argonne National Laboratory

Argonne National Laboratory is one of the United States government [i]'s oldest and largest science and ... 

, 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 Saint Lawrence Seaway

The St Lawrence Seaway is the common name for a system of canal [i]s that permits ocean-going vessels to ... 

, in 1959. The seaway and the Illinois Waterway connected Chicago to both the Mississippi River and the Atlantic Ocean. In 1960, Ray Kroc Ray Kroc

Ray Arthur Kroc was an American [i] entrepreneur [i], most famous for founding the McDonald's Corporation [i]... 

 opened the first McDonald's McDonald's

McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of fast-food restaurant [i]s, selling variations on ... 

 franchise in Des Plaines.

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 Upper Mississippi River

The Upper Mississippi River is the portion of the Mississippi River [i] upstream of Cairo [i] ... 

 flood of the century, the Great Flood of 1993 Great Flood of 1993

[i] [[Midwest]... 

, inundated many towns and thousands of acres of farmland. [Biles ]

Demographics


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 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. As of 2004 there were 1,682,900 foreign-born .

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 Chicagoland

Chicagoland is an informal name for the Chicago [i] metropolitan area [i], used by local residents, busi ... 

, 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 in Grundy County Grundy County, Illinois

al City, Illinois|Coal City]] [i]
... 

 northeast of Mazon.
[Biles ; Nelson ; Horsley ]



Religious affiliation
Christian Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic [i] religion [i] centered on Jesus of Nazareth [i] ... 

:
80%
Protestant:49%
Baptist Baptist

A Baptist is a member of a Baptist church or a person who believes in the practice of baptism by immersi... 

:
12%
Lutheran Lutheranism

Lutheranism is a movement within Christianity [i] that began with the theological [i] insights ... 

:
7%
Methodist Methodism

Methodism or the Methodist movement is a group of historically related denomination [i] ... 

:
7%
Presbyterian Presbyterianism

Presbyterianism is a form of Protestant [i] Christianity, primarily in the Reformed branch of Christendo... 

:
3%
Other/general Protestant:20%
Roman Catholic:30%
Other Christian:1%
Other religions:4%
Non-religious:16%

The top five ancestry groups in Illinois are: German American German American

German Americans are citizens of the United States [i] of German [i] ancestry. ... 

 , African American African American

An African American is a member of an ethnic group [i] in the United States [i] whose ancestors, usual... 

 , Irish American Irish American

Irish Americans are residents of the United States [i] who acknowledge Irish [i] ancestry. ... 

 , Mexican American Mexican American

The ethnonym [i] Mexican American is the usual term of self description for people with strong ties to b... 

 , and Polish-American Polish American

A Polish American is an American [i] citizen of Polish [i] descent. ... 

 . 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.

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.
[Horsley ]

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 ]

Economy



The 2004 total gross state product for Illinois was nearly US$ United States dollar

For details of current paper money [i] and coins, see Federal Reserve Note [i] and United States coinage [i] ... 

522 billion, placing it 5th in the nation. The 2004 per capita income was US$ United States dollar

For details of current paper money [i] and coins, see Federal Reserve Note [i] and United States coinage [i] ... 

34,721.

Illinois' agricultural outputs are corn Maize

Maize , also known as corn, is a cereal [i] grain [i] that was domesticated in Mesoamerica [i]. ... 

, soybean Soybean

The soybean or soya bean is a species of legume [i] native to eastern Asia [i].... 

s, hogs, cattle Cattle

Cattle are domesticated [i] ungulate [i]s, a member of the subfamily [i] Bovinae [i] of t ... 

, dairy products, and wheat Wheat

Wheat is a grass [i] that is cultivated worldwide. ... 

. 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 Petroleum

Petroleum or crude oil is a black, dark brown or greenish liquid [i] found in porous rock formati ... 

 and coal Coal

Coal is a fossil fuel [i] extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining . ... 

.

Illinois' state income tax Income tax

An income tax is a tax [i] levied on the financial income [i] of persons, corporations or other legal en... 

 is calculated by multiplying net income by a flat rate, currently 3 percent. There are two rates for state sales tax: 6.25 percent for general merchandise and 1 percent for qualifying food, drugs and medical appliances. 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 ; Nelson ; Horsley ]

Energy


It could be said that nuclear power Nuclear power

Nuclear power is the controlled use of nuclear reactions [i] to release energy for work including propulsion [i] ... 

 began in Illinois with the Chicago Pile-1, the world's first artificial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction Nuclear chain reaction

A nuclear chain reaction occurs when on average more than one nuclear reaction [i] is caused by another ... 

 in the world's first nuclear reactor Nuclear reactor

A nuclear reactor is a device in which nuclear chain reaction [i]s are initiated, controlled, and sustai ... 

, built on a squash court under the abandoned west stands of the Alonzo Stagg Field stadium on the University of Chicago University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is a private university [i] located principally in the Hyde Park [i]... 

 campus Campus

Campus is Latin [i] for "field" or "open space". ... 

. As of 2006 2006

2006 is a common year starting on Sunday [i] of the Gregorian calendar [i].
... 

, Illinois has 6 Nuclear power plant Nuclear power plant

A nuclear power plant is a thermal [i] power station [i] in which the heat source is one or more nuclear reactor [i] ... 

s which contain 11 electricity producing reactors. As of 2005

2005 was a common year starting on Saturday [i] of the Gregorian calendar [i].
... 

 January 1 2005 Illinois ranked 1st among the 31 States with nuclear capacity.

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 percent of U.S. crude oil proved reserves. Residential heating is 81 percent natural gas Natural gas

Natural gas, commonly referred to as gas, is a gas [i]eous fossil fuel [i] consisting primarily of ... 

 compared to less than 1 percent heating oil.

About 68% of Illinois has coal Coal

Coal is a fossil fuel [i] extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining . ... 

-bearing strata of the Pennsylvanian Pennsylvanian

The Pennsylvanian is an epoch [i] of the Carboniferous [i] period [i] lasting ... 

 geologic period. According to the Illinois State Geological Survey, 211 billion tons of bituminous coal Bituminous coal

Bituminous coal is a relatively hard coal [i] containing a tar-like substance called bitumen [i]. ... 

 are estimated to lie under the surface, having a total heating value greater than the estimated oil deposits in the Arabian Peninsula Arabian Peninsula

The Arabian Peninsula is a peninsula [i] in Southwest Asia [i] at the junction of Africa [i] and Asia [i] ... 

. However, this coal has a high sulfur Sulfur

Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol S' ... 

 content, which requires special equipment to reduce air pollution. [Biles ; Nelson ; Horsley ]

Transportation



Because of its central location and its proximity to the Rust Belt Rust Belt

The Rust Belt, a term coined from the Manufacturing Belt, is an area in the northeastern United States [i] ... 

 and Grain Belt Grain Belt

Grain Belt
The Grain Belt is composed of the US's prairie [i]-region states across the northern Midwest [i] ... 

, Illinois is a national crossroads and transportation hub, with Chicago Chicago

Chicago is the largest city [i] in the U.S. state [i] of Illinois [i], as well as the third-most populous [i] ... 

 being the economic center of it all .

AIR - O'Hare International Airport O'Hare International Airport

O'Hare International Airport is an airport [i] located in Chicago, Illinois [i], 17 miles northwest of ... 

  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 United Airlines

irline=United Airlines|
logo=United Airlines Logo.svg|
... 

 and American Airlines American Airlines

American Airlines is the largest airline [i] in the world in terms of total passengers transported and f ... 

, and a major airport expansion project is currently underway. Midway Airport Midway Airport

Chicago Midway International Airport , also known simply as Midway Airport is an airport [i] in Chicago, Illinois [i]... 

  is the secondary airport serving metro Chicago. Bellville Mid-America Airport  serves the St Louis St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis , sometimes written Saint Louis, encompasses an independent city [i] in the U.S. state [i] ... 

 metro area .

RAIL - Illinois has an extensive rail network transporting both passengers and freight. Chicago is a national Amtrak Amtrak

Amtrak is the brand name [i] of the United States [i]' intercity [i] passenger train [i] system created ... 

 hub and in-state passengers are served by Amtrak's Illinois Service featuring the Chicago to Carbondale Illini and Chicago to Quincy Illinois Zephyr.

ROAD - Major U.S. Interstate highways crossing the state include:
I-24 Interstate 24

Interstate 24 is an interstate highway [i] in the eastern United States [i]. ... 

, I-39 Interstate 39

Interstate 39 is an interstate highway in the midwest [i]ern United States [i]. ... 

, I-55 Interstate 55