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
WELLINGTON
Wellington is a Village in Iroquois county with -500 inhabitants.
WELDON
Weldon is a Village in De Witt county with -500 inhabitants.
WAYNESVILLE
Waynesville is a Village in De Witt county with -500 inhabitants.
WAYNE CITY
Wayne City is a Village in Wayne county with -1 500 inhabitants.
WAYNE
Wayne is a Village in Kane county with -1 500 inhabitants.
WAVERLY
Waverly is a City in Morgan county with -1 500 inhabitants.
WAUKEGAN
Waukegan is a City in Lake county with -1 500 inhabitants.
WAUCONDA
Wauconda is a Village in Lake county with -1 500 inhabitants.
WATSON
Watson is a Village in Effingham county with -1 000 inhabitants.
WATSEKA
Watseka is a City in Iroquois county with -10 000 inhabitants.
WATERMAN
Waterman is a Village in DeKalb county with -1 500 inhabitants.
WATERLOO
Waterloo is a City in Monroe county with -10 000 inhabitants.
WATAGA
Wataga is a Village in Knox county with -1 000 inhabitants.
WASHINGTON PARK
Washington Park is a Village in St. Clair county with -10 000 inhabitants.
WASHINGTON
Washington is a City in Tazewell county with -15 000 inhabitants.
WASHBURN
Washburn is a Village in Woodford county with -1 500 inhabitants.
WARSAW
Warsaw is a City in Hancock county with -2 000 inhabitants.
WARRENVILLE
Warrenville is a City in DuPage county with -2 000 inhabitants.
WARRENSBURG
Warrensburg is a Village in Macon county with -1 500 inhabitants.
WARREN
Warren is a Village in Jo Daviess county with -1 500 inhabitants.
WAPELLA
Wapella is a Village in De Witt county with -1 000 inhabitants.
WAMAC
Wamac is a City in Washington county with -1 500 inhabitants.
WALTONVILLE
Waltonville is a Village in Jefferson county with -500 inhabitants.
WALSHVILLE
Walshville is a Village in Montgomery county with -100 inhabitants.
WALNUT HILL
Walnut Hill is a Village in Marion county with -500 inhabitants.
WALNUT
Walnut is a Village in Bureau county with -1 500 inhabitants.
WAGGONER
Waggoner is a Village in Montgomery county with -500 inhabitants.
WADSWORTH
Wadsworth is a Village in Lake county with -500 inhabitants.
VOLO
Volo is a Village in Lake county with -500 inhabitants.
VIRGINIA
Virginia is a City in Cass county with -2 000 inhabitants.