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
SHERIDAN
Sheridan is a Village in LaSalle county with -2 500 inhabitants.
VERONA
Verona is a Village in Grundy county with -500 inhabitants.
ARTHUR
Arthur is a Village in Douglas county with -2 500 inhabitants.
NEWTON
Newton is a City in Jasper county with -4 000 inhabitants.
FULTON
Fulton is a City in Whiteside county with -4 000 inhabitants.
COLLINSVILLE
Collinsville is a City in Madison county with -30 000 inhabitants.
KINSMAN
Kinsman is a Village in Grundy county with -500 inhabitants.
BOURBONNAIS
Bourbonnais is a Village in Kankakee county with -20 000 inhabitants.
WINDSOR
Windsor is a Village in Mercer county with -1 000 inhabitants.
OAKWOOD
Oakwood is a Village in Vermilion county with -2 000 inhabitants.
SWANSEA
Swansea is a Village in St. Clair county with -15 000 inhabitants.
SHELDON
Sheldon is a Village in Iroquois county with -1 500 inhabitants.
ST. JOSEPH
St. Joseph is a Village in Champaign county with -3 000 inhabitants.
MACHESNEY PARK
Machesney Park is a Village in Winnebago county with -30 000 inhabitants.
CAHOKIA
Cahokia is a Village in St. Clair county with -20 000 inhabitants.
STAUNTON
Staunton is a City in Macoupin county with -10 000 inhabitants.
MALTA
Malta is a Village in DeKalb county with -1 000 inhabitants.
WELDON
Weldon is a Village in De Witt county with -500 inhabitants.
FORRESTON
Forreston is a Village in Ogle county with -1 500 inhabitants.
OBLONG
Oblong is a Village in Crawford county with -2 000 inhabitants.
MEDORA
Medora is a Village in Macoupin county with -1 000 inhabitants.
TUSCOLA
Tuscola is a City in Douglas county with -5 000 inhabitants.
HOOPESTON
Hoopeston is a City in Vermilion county with -10 000 inhabitants.
SULLIVAN
Sullivan is a City in Moultrie county with -5 000 inhabitants.
RANTOUL
Rantoul is a Village in Champaign county with -15 000 inhabitants.
CHADWICK
Chadwick is a Village in Carroll county with -1 000 inhabitants.
COLP
Colp is a Village in Williamson county with -500 inhabitants.
WEST BROOKLYN
West Brooklyn is a Village in Lee county with -500 inhabitants.
TROY
Troy is a City in Madison county with -10 000 inhabitants.
ALTAMONT
Altamont is a City in Effingham county with -2 500 inhabitants.