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
LINCOLN
Lincoln is a City in Logan county with -20 000 inhabitants.
ROCKFORD
Rockford is a City in Winnebago county with -200 000 inhabitants.
BLOOMINGTON
Bloomington is a City in McLean county with -75 000 inhabitants.
GIRARD
Girard is a City in Macoupin county with -2 500 inhabitants.
GREEN VALLEY
Green Valley is a Village in Tazewell county with -1 000 inhabitants.
IRWIN
Irwin is a Village in Kankakee county with -100 inhabitants.
GILLESPIE
Gillespie is a City in Macoupin county with -4 000 inhabitants.
CENTRAL CITY
Central City is a Village in Grundy county with -1 500 inhabitants.
HINCKLEY
Hinckley is a Village in DeKalb county with -2 000 inhabitants.
HANNA CITY
Hanna City is a Village in Peoria county with -1 500 inhabitants.
STREATOR
Streator is a City in LaSalle county with -15 000 inhabitants.
MONMOUTH
Monmouth is a City in Warren county with -10 000 inhabitants.
SOUTH PEKIN
South Pekin is a Village in Tazewell county with -1 500 inhabitants.
BENSON
Benson is a Village in Woodford county with -500 inhabitants.
OAK GROVE
Oak Grove is a Village in Cass county with -1 500 inhabitants.
EAST BROOKLYN
East Brooklyn is a Village in Grundy county with -500 inhabitants.
PEKIN
Pekin is a City in Tazewell county with -40 000 inhabitants.
ALPHA
Alpha is a Village in Henry county with -1 000 inhabitants.
FAIRBURY
Fairbury is a City in Livingston county with -4 000 inhabitants.
PEORIA
Peoria is a City in Peoria county with -150 000 inhabitants.
GEORGETOWN
Georgetown is a City in Carroll county with -4 000 inhabitants.
FREEPORT
Freeport is a City in Stephenson county with -30 000 inhabitants.
ROCK ISLAND
Rock Island is a City in Rock Island county with -40 000 inhabitants.
CLINTON
Clinton is a City in De Witt county with -10 000 inhabitants.
BEMENT
Bement is a Village in Piatt county with -2 000 inhabitants.
EAST ST. LOUIS
East St. Louis is a City in St. Clair county with -40 000 inhabitants.
COULTERVILLE
Coulterville is a Village in Randolph county with -1 500 inhabitants.
CHARLESTON
Charleston is a City in Coles county with -30 000 inhabitants.
EMDEN
Emden is a Village in Logan county with -1 000 inhabitants.
FRANKLIN GROVE
Franklin Grove is a Village in Lee county with -1 500 inhabitants.