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
VILLA GROVE
Villa Grove is a City in Douglas county with -3 000 inhabitants.
HENRY
Henry is a City in Marshall county with -3 000 inhabitants.
VENICE
Venice is a City in Madison county with -3 000 inhabitants.
LEWISTOWN
Lewistown is a City in Fulton county with -3 000 inhabitants.
IRVING
Irving is a Village in Montgomery county with -2 500 inhabitants.
POLO
Polo is a City in Ogle county with -2 500 inhabitants.
INA
Ina is a Village in Jefferson county with -2 500 inhabitants.
FAIRMONT CITY
Fairmont City is a Village in St. Clair county with -2 500 inhabitants.
FORSYTH
Forsyth is a Village in Macon county with -2 500 inhabitants.
HEYWORTH
Heyworth is a Village in McLean county with -2 500 inhabitants.
SHERIDAN
Sheridan is a Village in LaSalle county with -2 500 inhabitants.
NOKOMIS
Nokomis is a City in Montgomery county with -2 500 inhabitants.
PETERSBURG
Petersburg is a City in Menard county with -2 500 inhabitants.
ALTAMONT
Altamont is a City in Effingham county with -2 500 inhabitants.
SMITHTON
Smithton is a Village in St. Clair county with -2 500 inhabitants.
GIRARD
Girard is a City in Macoupin county with -2 500 inhabitants.
ROODHOUSE
Roodhouse is a City in Greene county with -2 500 inhabitants.
ARTHUR
Arthur is a Village in Douglas county with -2 500 inhabitants.
BRIGHTON
Brighton is a Village in Macoupin county with -2 500 inhabitants.
CHERRY VALLEY
Cherry Valley is a Village in Winnebago county with -2 500 inhabitants.
CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge is a Village in Henry county with -2 500 inhabitants.
BRIDGEPORT
Bridgeport is a City in Lawrence county with -2 500 inhabitants.
MINONK
Minonk is a City in Woodford county with -2 500 inhabitants.
MOUNT OLIVE
Mount Olive is a City in Macoupin county with -2 500 inhabitants.
MARISSA
Marissa is a Village in St. Clair county with -2 500 inhabitants.
SESSER
Sesser is a City in Franklin county with -2 500 inhabitants.
GERMANTOWN HILLS
Germantown Hills is a Village in Woodford county with -2 500 inhabitants.
CATLIN
Catlin is a Village in Vermilion county with -2 500 inhabitants.
STEELEVILLE
Steeleville is a Village in Randolph county with -2 500 inhabitants.
MOUNT STERLING
Mount Sterling is a City in Brown county with -2 500 inhabitants.