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
FOREST PARK
Forest Park is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
BELLWOOD
Bellwood is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
RIVER GROVE
River Grove is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
THOMSON
Thomson is a Village in Carroll county with -1 000 inhabitants.
WORTH
Worth is a Village in Cook county with -1 000 inhabitants.
THORNTON
Thornton is a Village in Cook county with -1 000 inhabitants.
ALEDO
Aledo is a City in Mercer county with -4 000 inhabitants.
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE
South Jacksonville is a Village in Morgan county with -4 000 inhabitants.
LE ROY
Le Roy is a City in McLean county with -4 000 inhabitants.
MAPLE PARK
Maple Park is a Village in Kane county with -4 000 inhabitants.
FULTON
Fulton is a City in Whiteside county with -4 000 inhabitants.
TAMMS
Tamms is a Village in Alexander county with -1 000 inhabitants.
KNOXVILLE
Knoxville is a City in Knox county with -4 000 inhabitants.
THEBES
Thebes is a Village in Alexander county with -500 inhabitants.
PORT BYRON
Port Byron is a Village in Rock Island county with -2 000 inhabitants.
PAXTON
Paxton is a City in Ford county with -5 000 inhabitants.
HARDIN
Hardin is a Village in Calhoun county with -1 000 inhabitants.
ROUND LAKE PARK
Round Lake Park is a Village in Lake county with -1 000 inhabitants.
PLATTVILLE
Plattville is a Village in Kendall county with -1 000 inhabitants.
SUMMIT
Summit is a Village in Cook county with -1 000 inhabitants.
CHICAGO RIDGE
Chicago Ridge is a Village in Cook county with -1 000 inhabitants.
GILMAN
Gilman is a City in Iroquois county with -2 000 inhabitants.
TOLONO
Tolono is a Village in Champaign county with -3 000 inhabitants.
LA GRANGE PARK
La Grange Park is a Village in Cook county with -3 000 inhabitants.
LYONS
Lyons is a Village in Cook county with -3 000 inhabitants.
NORTH CITY
North City is a Village in Franklin county with -1 000 inhabitants.
RIVERTON
Riverton is a Village in Sangamon county with -4 000 inhabitants.
ALBION
Albion is a City in Edwards county with -2 000 inhabitants.
LAWRENCEVILLE
Lawrenceville is a City in Lawrence county with -5 000 inhabitants.
LIMESTONE
Limestone is a Village in Kankakee county with -2 000 inhabitants.