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
EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU
East Cape Girardeau is a Village in Alexander county with -500 inhabitants.
HILLVIEW
Hillview is a Village in Greene county with -500 inhabitants.
NEW GRAND CHAIN
New Grand Chain is a Village in Pulaski county with -500 inhabitants.
NAUVOO
Nauvoo is a City in Hancock county with -1 500 inhabitants.
NAPLES
Naples is a Town in Scott county with -500 inhabitants.
ESSEX
Essex is a Village in Kankakee county with -1 000 inhabitants.
KEITHSBURG
Keithsburg is a City in Mercer county with -1 000 inhabitants.
SIMS
Sims is a Village in Wayne county with -500 inhabitants.
KELL
Kell is a Village in Marion county with -500 inhabitants.
NEW BURNSIDE
New Burnside is a Village in Johnson county with -500 inhabitants.
JEWETT
Jewett is a Village in Cumberland county with -500 inhabitants.
THOMSON
Thomson is a Village in Carroll county with -1 000 inhabitants.
BISHOP HILL
Bishop Hill is a Village in Henry county with -500 inhabitants.
DIX
Dix is a Village in Jefferson county with -500 inhabitants.
STE. MARIE
Ste. Marie is a Village in Jasper county with -500 inhabitants.
BIRDS
Birds is a Unincorporated community in Will county with -100 inhabitants.
WARSAW
Warsaw is a City in Hancock county with -2 000 inhabitants.
WILLOW HILL
Willow Hill is a Village in Jasper county with -500 inhabitants.
ST. AUGUSTINE
St. Augustine is a Village in Knox county with -500 inhabitants.
KAMPSVILLE
Kampsville is a Village in Calhoun county with -500 inhabitants.
BUREAU JUNCTION
Bureau Junction is a Village in Bureau county with -500 inhabitants.
MOUND STATION
Mound Station is a Village in Brown county with -500 inhabitants.
PALMER
Palmer is a Village in Christian county with -500 inhabitants.
ADDIEVILLE
Addieville is a Village in Washington county with -500 inhabitants.
CHERRY VALLEY
Cherry Valley is a Village in Winnebago county with -2 500 inhabitants.
BRUSSELS
Brussels is a Village in Calhoun county with -500 inhabitants.
LA PRAIRIE
La Prairie is a Town in Adams county with -100 inhabitants.
HULL
Hull is a Village in Pike county with -500 inhabitants.
MUDDY
Muddy is a Village in Saline county with -100 inhabitants.
ROCKBRIDGE
Rockbridge is a Village in Greene county with -500 inhabitants.