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
LINCOLNWOOD
Lincolnwood is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
LINCOLNSHIRE
Lincolnshire is a Village in Lake county with inhabitants.
MAYWOOD
Maywood is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
LILY LAKE
Lily Lake is a Village in Kane county with inhabitants.
LIBERTYVILLE
Libertyville is a Village in Lake county with inhabitants.
LOMBARD
Lombard is a Village in DuPage county with inhabitants.
MARKHAM
Markham is a City in Morgan county with inhabitants.
JOHNSBURG
Johnsburg is a Village in McHenry county with inhabitants.
LONG GROVE
Long Grove is a Village in Lake county with inhabitants.
MATTESON
Matteson is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
JOLIET
Joliet is a City in Will county with inhabitants.
LEMONT
Lemont is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
LYNWOOD
Lynwood is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
LANSING
Lansing is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
LYONS
Lyons is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
JUSTICE
Justice is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
LAKE ZURICH
Lake Zurich is a Village in Lake county with inhabitants.
LAKEWOOD
Lakewood is a Village in Shelby county with inhabitants.
LAKE VILLA
Lake Villa is a Village in Lake county with inhabitants.
LAKEMOOR
Lakemoor is a Village in McHenry county with inhabitants.
LAKE IN THE HILLS
Lake in the Hills is a Village in McHenry county with inhabitants.
LAKE FOREST
Lake Forest is a City in Lake county with inhabitants.
LAKE BLUFF
Lake Bluff is a Village in Lake county with inhabitants.
LAKE BARRINGTON
Lake Barrington is a Village in Lake county with inhabitants.
MCCOOK
McCook is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
LA GRANGE PARK
La Grange Park is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
LA GRANGE
La Grange is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
MCCULLOM LAKE
McCullom Lake is a Village in McHenry county with inhabitants.
KENILWORTH
Kenilworth is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
MCHENRY
McHenry is a City in McHenry county with inhabitants.