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
IVESDALE
Ivesdale is a Village in Champaign county with -500 inhabitants.
FOREST CITY
Forest City is a Village in Mason county with -500 inhabitants.
KANGLEY
Kangley is a Village in LaSalle county with -500 inhabitants.
GLADSTONE
Gladstone is a Village in Cook county with -500 inhabitants.
NILWOOD
Nilwood is a Town in Macoupin county with -500 inhabitants.
MAGNOLIA
Magnolia is a Village in Putnam county with -500 inhabitants.
ROYAL
Royal is a Village in Champaign county with -500 inhabitants.
SAMMONS POINT
Sammons Point is a Village in Kankakee county with -500 inhabitants.
OLD SHAWNEETOWN
Old Shawneetown is a Village in Gallatin county with -500 inhabitants.
MILTON
Milton is a Village in Pike county with -500 inhabitants.
PULASKI
Pulaski is a Village in Pulaski county with -500 inhabitants.
FREEMAN SPUR
Freeman Spur is a Village in Williamson county with -500 inhabitants.
SIMS
Sims is a Village in Wayne county with -500 inhabitants.
BONE GAP
Bone Gap is a Village in Edwards county with -500 inhabitants.
MINERAL
Mineral is a Village in Bureau county with -500 inhabitants.
CYPRESS
Cypress is a Village in Johnson county with -500 inhabitants.
ELLSWORTH
Ellsworth is a Village in Cook county with -500 inhabitants.
FIELDON
Fieldon is a Village in Jersey county with -500 inhabitants.
STEWARD
Steward is a Village in Lee county with -500 inhabitants.
LITTLE YORK
Little York is a Village in Warren county with -500 inhabitants.
WHITEASH
Whiteash is a Village in Williamson county with -500 inhabitants.
ADDIEVILLE
Addieville is a Village in Washington county with -500 inhabitants.
CLEAR LAKE
Clear Lake is a Village in Sangamon county with -500 inhabitants.
EAST CARONDELET
East Carondelet is a Village in St. Clair county with -500 inhabitants.
BAYLIS
Baylis is a Village in Pike county with -500 inhabitants.
CISCO
Cisco is a Village in Piatt county with -500 inhabitants.
WELLINGTON
Wellington is a Village in Iroquois county with -500 inhabitants.
CABERY
Cabery is a Village in Ford county with -500 inhabitants.
OMAHA
Omaha is a Village in Gallatin county with -500 inhabitants.
CEDAR POINT
Cedar Point is a Village in LaSalle county with -500 inhabitants.