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
CHICAGO
Chicago is a City in Cook county with inhabitants.
SPRINGFIELD
Springfield is a City in Sangamon county with -150 000 inhabitants.
ROCKFORD
Rockford is a City in Winnebago county with -200 000 inhabitants.
JOLIET
Joliet is a City in Will county with -200 000 inhabitants.
PEORIA
Peoria is a City in Peoria county with -150 000 inhabitants.
DECATUR
Decatur is a City in Macon county with -100 000 inhabitants.
AURORA
Aurora is a City in Kane county with -100 000 inhabitants.
NAPERVILLE
Naperville is a City in Will county with -100 000 inhabitants.
ELGIN
Elgin is a City in Kane county with -100 000 inhabitants.
GODFREY
Godfrey is a Village in Madison county with -20 000 inhabitants.
BARRINGTON HILLS
Barrington Hills is a Village in Cook county with -20 000 inhabitants.
BLOOMINGTON
Bloomington is a City in McLean county with -75 000 inhabitants.
PLAINFIELD
Plainfield is a Village in Will county with -75 000 inhabitants.
BOLINGBROOK
Bolingbrook is a Village in Will county with -75 000 inhabitants.
WAUKEGAN
Waukegan is a City in Lake county with -75 000 inhabitants.
BELLEVILLE
Belleville is a City in St. Clair county with -50 000 inhabitants.
CHAMPAIGN
Champaign is a City in Champaign county with -75 000 inhabitants.
HOMER GLEN
Homer Glen is a Village in Will county with -75 000 inhabitants.
EAST PEORIA
East Peoria is a City in Tazewell county with -30 000 inhabitants.
ORLAND PARK
Orland Park is a Village in Cook county with -30 000 inhabitants.
GRANITE CITY
Granite City is a City in Madison county with -40 000 inhabitants.
HOFFMAN ESTATES
Hoffman Estates is a Village in Cook county with -40 000 inhabitants.
YORKVILLE
Yorkville is a City in Kendall county with -40 000 inhabitants.
EDWARDSVILLE
Edwardsville is a City in Madison county with -30 000 inhabitants.
SCHAUMBURG
Schaumburg is a Village in Cook county with -30 000 inhabitants.
CRYSTAL LAKE
Crystal Lake is a City in McHenry county with -30 000 inhabitants.
ROMEOVILLE
Romeoville is a Village in Will county with -30 000 inhabitants.
DANVILLE
Danville is a City in Vermilion county with -40 000 inhabitants.
GALESBURG
Galesburg is a City in Knox county with -40 000 inhabitants.
NORMAL
Normal is a Town in McLean county with -50 000 inhabitants.