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
OLYMPIA FIELDS
Olympia Fields is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
ORLAND HILLS
Orland Hills is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
ORLAND PARK
Orland Park is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
OSWEGO
Oswego is a Village in Kendall county with inhabitants.
PALATINE
Palatine is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
PALOS HEIGHTS
Palos Heights is a City in Cook county with inhabitants.
PALOS HILLS
Palos Hills is a City in Cook county with inhabitants.
PALOS PARK
Palos Park is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
PARK CITY
Park City is a City in Lake county with inhabitants.
PARK FOREST
Park Forest is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
PARK RIDGE
Park Ridge is a City in Cook county with inhabitants.
PEOTONE
Peotone is a Village in Will county with inhabitants.
WENONAH
Wenonah is a Village in Montgomery county with -100 inhabitants.
HANAFORD
Hanaford is a Village in Franklin county with -100 inhabitants.
SAUGET
Sauget is a Village in St. Clair county with -500 inhabitants.
TIME
Time is a Village in Pike county with -100 inhabitants.
VALLEY CITY
Valley City is a Village in Pike county with -100 inhabitants.
MEDIA
Media is a Village in Henderson county with -500 inhabitants.
PONTOOSUC
Pontoosuc is a Village in Hancock county with -500 inhabitants.
KASKASKIA
Kaskaskia is a Village in Randolph county with -100 inhabitants.
FERRIS
Ferris is a Village in Hancock county with -500 inhabitants.
GULFPORT
Gulfport is a Village in Henderson county with -500 inhabitants.
OLMSTED
Olmsted is a Village in Pulaski county with -500 inhabitants.
EL DARA
El Dara is a Village in Pike county with -100 inhabitants.
BROUGHTON
Broughton is a Village in Hamilton county with -500 inhabitants.
MAKANDA
Makanda is a Village in Jackson county with -500 inhabitants.
EXETER
Exeter is a Village in Scott county with -100 inhabitants.
SIMPSON
Simpson is a Village in Johnson county with -100 inhabitants.
PHILLIPSTOWN
Phillipstown is a Village in White county with -100 inhabitants.
CURRAN
Curran is a Village in Sangamon county with -500 inhabitants.