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
IROQUOIS
Iroquois is a Village in Iroquois county with -500 inhabitants.
ARLINGTON
Arlington is a Village in Bureau county with -500 inhabitants.
ELDRED
Eldred is a Village in Greene county with -500 inhabitants.
CLAREMONT
Claremont is a Village in Richland county with -500 inhabitants.
CURRAN
Curran is a Village in Sangamon county with -500 inhabitants.
COOKSVILLE
Cooksville is a Village in McLean county with -500 inhabitants.
METCALF
Metcalf is a Village in Edgar county with -500 inhabitants.
OAKDALE
Oakdale is a Village in Washington county with -500 inhabitants.
SMITHFIELD
Smithfield is a Village in Fulton county with -500 inhabitants.
SHUMWAY
Shumway is a Village in Effingham county with -500 inhabitants.
ST. JOHNS
St. Johns is a Village in Perry county with -500 inhabitants.
BATCHTOWN
Batchtown is a Village in Calhoun county with -500 inhabitants.
REDDICK
Reddick is a Village in Kankakee county with -500 inhabitants.
SPILLERTOWN
Spillertown is a Village in Williamson county with -500 inhabitants.
WHITE CITY
White City is a Village in Macoupin county with -500 inhabitants.
CALHOUN
Calhoun is a Village in Richland county with -500 inhabitants.
DU BOIS
Du Bois is a Village in Washington county with -500 inhabitants.
CHESTERFIELD
Chesterfield is a Village in Macoupin county with -500 inhabitants.
COLP
Colp is a Village in Williamson county with -500 inhabitants.
COATSBURG
Coatsburg is a Village in Adams county with -500 inhabitants.
LA FAYETTE
La Fayette is a Village in Stark county with -500 inhabitants.
MAPLETON
Mapleton is a Village in Peoria county with -500 inhabitants.
KELL
Kell is a Village in Marion county with -500 inhabitants.
JEWETT
Jewett is a Village in Cumberland county with -500 inhabitants.
NEW GRAND CHAIN
New Grand Chain is a Village in Pulaski county with -500 inhabitants.
NASON
Nason is a City in Jefferson county with -500 inhabitants.
PARKERSBURG
Parkersburg is a Village in Richland county with -500 inhabitants.
EAST GILLESPIE
East Gillespie is a Village in Macoupin county with -500 inhabitants.
TIMBERLANE
Timberlane is a Village in Boone county with -500 inhabitants.
KEMPTON
Kempton is a Village in Ford county with -500 inhabitants.