Illinois
Illinois is bordered by Wisconsin in the north; Lake Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky in the east; Kentucky and Missouri in the south; and Missouri and Iowa in the west. With a population of 12,671,821 (January 2020), Illinois is the sixth largest population, and the 25th largest land area of all U.S. states. The capital of Illinois is Springfield, but the biggest city is Chicago. Its governor is J. B. Pritzker, an American businessman, co-founder of the Pritzker Group, and a member of the Pritzker family that owns the Hyatt hotel chain.
The first Europeans to reach the area were French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, who arrived in 1673. In 1717 Illinois became part of the Louisiana territory, a French colony, but in 1763 the French ceded the region to Britain. After the American Revolution, Illinois became a U.S. territory, and in 1818 it was declared the 21st state.
Because of its geographic position and its long north-south axis, Illinois has wide regional variations in temperature. Across the state, seasonal temperature variation also tends to be great, with typically cold, snowy winters and hot summers. Much of Illinois was once covered in prairie grass, earning the state its nickname. The diversified nature of its economy, strength in manufacturing, agriculture, finance, mining, transportation, government, technology, and services (including tourism) makes Illinois a microcosm of the national economy.
The state’s official snack food is popcorn, which can be served Chicago-style: with a mixture of cheese-covered and caramel-covered popcorn.
Illinois’ slogan is "the Land of Lincoln" because Abraham Lincoln lived there for 31 years. Today, visitors can see Lincoln’s home and his tomb in Springfield.
If you want information about your city in Illinois, click on the Illinois city names or Illinois town names below:
Complete List of Cities in Illinois
GURNEE
Gurnee is a Village in Lake county with inhabitants.
WOODSTOCK
Woodstock is a City in McHenry county with inhabitants.
NORTHBROOK
Northbrook is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
MOUNT VERNON
Mount Vernon is a City in Jefferson county with -20 000 inhabitants.
ALGONQUIN
Algonquin is a Village in McHenry county with -20 000 inhabitants.
MORTON
Morton is a Village in Tazewell county with -20 000 inhabitants.
ROCHELLE
Rochelle is a City in Ogle county with -10 000 inhabitants.
OTTAWA
Ottawa is a City in LaSalle county with -20 000 inhabitants.
MACHESNEY PARK
Machesney Park is a Village in Winnebago county with -30 000 inhabitants.
LONG GROVE
Long Grove is a Village in Lake county with -30 000 inhabitants.
BELVIDERE
Belvidere is a City in Boone county with -30 000 inhabitants.
HIGHLAND PARK
Highland Park is a City in Lake county with -30 000 inhabitants.
PONTOON BEACH
Pontoon Beach is a Village in Madison county with -10 000 inhabitants.
TAYLORVILLE
Taylorville is a City in Christian county with -15 000 inhabitants.
LASALLE
LaSalle is a City in LaSalle county with -10 000 inhabitants.
FREEPORT
Freeport is a City in Stephenson county with -30 000 inhabitants.
URBANA
Urbana is a City in Champaign county with -40 000 inhabitants.
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS
Fairview Heights is a City in St. Clair county with -20 000 inhabitants.
SPARTA
Sparta is a City in Randolph county with -5 000 inhabitants.
WHEATON
Wheaton is a City in DuPage county with -5 000 inhabitants.
ELK GROVE VILLAGE
Elk Grove Village is a Village in Cook county with -5 000 inhabitants.
SHILOH
Shiloh is a Village in St. Clair county with -10 000 inhabitants.
UNIVERSITY PARK
University Park is a Village in Will county with -10 000 inhabitants.
EAST MOLINE
East Moline is a City in Rock Island county with -30 000 inhabitants.
MACOMB
Macomb is a City in McDonough county with -20 000 inhabitants.
LOCKPORT
Lockport is a City in Will county with -20 000 inhabitants.
JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville is a City in Morgan county with -20 000 inhabitants.
LAKE IN THE HILLS
Lake in the Hills is a Village in McHenry county with -20 000 inhabitants.
COLUMBIA
Columbia is a City in Monroe county with -10 000 inhabitants.
LOMBARD
Lombard is a Village in DuPage county with -10 000 inhabitants.