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
HEBRON
Hebron is a Village in McHenry county with inhabitants.
BURNHAM
Burnham is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
WINNEBAGO
Winnebago is a Village in Winnebago county with -3 000 inhabitants.
GIBSON CITY
Gibson City is a City in Ford county with -4 000 inhabitants.
BRIGHTON
Brighton is a Village in Macoupin county with -2 500 inhabitants.
ELMWOOD PARK
Elmwood Park is a Village in Cook county with -2 500 inhabitants.
CARROLLTON
Carrollton is a City in Greene county with -3 000 inhabitants.
FOX RIVER GROVE
Fox River Grove is a Village in McHenry county with -3 000 inhabitants.
GRAYVILLE
Grayville is a City in White county with -2 000 inhabitants.
DIAMOND
Diamond is a Village in Grundy county with -2 000 inhabitants.
HEYWORTH
Heyworth is a Village in McLean county with -2 500 inhabitants.
PEOTONE
Peotone is a Village in Will county with -2 500 inhabitants.
NEW ATHENS
New Athens is a Village in St. Clair county with -2 000 inhabitants.
METAMORA
Metamora is a Village in Woodford county with -3 000 inhabitants.
BATCHTOWN
Batchtown is a Village in Calhoun county with -500 inhabitants.
OQUAWKA
Oquawka is a Village in Henderson county with -2 000 inhabitants.
GREENWOOD
Greenwood is a Village in McHenry county with -2 000 inhabitants.
HULL
Hull is a Village in Pike county with -500 inhabitants.
LEWISTOWN
Lewistown is a City in Fulton county with -3 000 inhabitants.
HARRISTOWN
Harristown is a Village in Macon county with -1 500 inhabitants.
NEWTON
Newton is a City in Jasper county with -4 000 inhabitants.
ANNAWAN
Annawan is a Town in Henry county with -1 000 inhabitants.
ALORTON
Alorton is a Village in St. Clair county with -3 000 inhabitants.
MENOMINEE
Menominee is a Village in Jo Daviess county with -500 inhabitants.
VENICE
Venice is a City in Madison county with -3 000 inhabitants.
SAMMONS POINT
Sammons Point is a Village in Kankakee county with -500 inhabitants.
FORD HEIGHTS
Ford Heights is a Village in Cook county with -500 inhabitants.
HAINESVILLE
Hainesville is a Village in Lake county with -500 inhabitants.
JONESBORO
Jonesboro is a City in Union county with -2 000 inhabitants.
KARNAK
Karnak is a Village in Pulaski county with -1 000 inhabitants.