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
MCLEAN
McLean is a Village in McLean county with -1 000 inhabitants.
NEW BADEN
New Baden is a Village in Clinton county with -4 000 inhabitants.
MOUNT STERLING
Mount Sterling is a City in Brown county with -2 500 inhabitants.
WARRENSBURG
Warrensburg is a Village in Macon county with -1 500 inhabitants.
POLO
Polo is a City in Ogle county with -2 500 inhabitants.
ELDORADO
Eldorado is a City in Saline county with -5 000 inhabitants.
MOUNT OLIVE
Mount Olive is a City in Macoupin county with -2 500 inhabitants.
WATSEKA
Watseka is a City in Iroquois county with -10 000 inhabitants.
ASHLAND
Ashland is a Village in Cass county with -1 500 inhabitants.
FORREST
Forrest is a Village in Livingston county with -1 500 inhabitants.
NOKOMIS
Nokomis is a City in Montgomery county with -2 500 inhabitants.
COATSBURG
Coatsburg is a Village in Adams county with -500 inhabitants.
ALTON
Alton is a City in Madison county with -40 000 inhabitants.
HOPEDALE
Hopedale is a Village in Tazewell county with -1 000 inhabitants.
HENRY
Henry is a City in Marshall county with -3 000 inhabitants.
WINDSOR
Windsor is a City in Shelby county with -1 500 inhabitants.
LELAND
Leland is a Village in LaSalle county with -1 000 inhabitants.
MORRISON
Morrison is a City in Whiteside county with -5 000 inhabitants.
ALEXIS
Alexis is a Village in Warren county with -1 000 inhabitants.
EDINBURG
Edinburg is a Village in Christian county with -1 500 inhabitants.
MIDDLETOWN
Middletown is a Village in Logan county with -500 inhabitants.
BELLEVILLE
Belleville is a City in St. Clair county with -50 000 inhabitants.
COLFAX
Colfax is a Village in McLean county with -1 000 inhabitants.
FARMINGTON
Farmington is a City in Kane county with -3 000 inhabitants.
BECKEMEYER
Beckemeyer is a Village in Clinton county with -1 500 inhabitants.
CHRISTOPHER
Christopher is a City in Franklin county with -3 000 inhabitants.
CULLOM
Cullom is a Village in Livingston county with -1 000 inhabitants.
OREANA
Oreana is a Village in Macon county with -1 000 inhabitants.
SHANNON
Shannon is a Village in Carroll county with -1 000 inhabitants.
WILLISVILLE
Willisville is a Village in Perry county with -1 000 inhabitants.