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
COULTERVILLE
Coulterville is a Village in Randolph county with -1 500 inhabitants.
DAMIANSVILLE
Damiansville is a Village in Clinton county with -500 inhabitants.
BRUSSELS
Brussels is a Village in Calhoun county with -500 inhabitants.
MANSFIELD
Mansfield is a Village in Piatt county with -1 000 inhabitants.
SOUTH WILMINGTON
South Wilmington is a Village in Grundy county with -1 000 inhabitants.
PIPER CITY
Piper City is a Village in Ford county with -1 000 inhabitants.
COLFAX
Colfax is a Village in McLean county with -1 000 inhabitants.
CUBA
Cuba is a City in Fulton county with -1 500 inhabitants.
PESOTUM
Pesotum is a Village in Champaign county with -1 000 inhabitants.
STILLMAN VALLEY
Stillman Valley is a Village in Ogle county with -1 500 inhabitants.
HILLCREST
Hillcrest is a Village in Douglas county with -1 500 inhabitants.
KANE
Kane is a Village in Greene county with -500 inhabitants.
CHESTERFIELD
Chesterfield is a Village in Macoupin county with -500 inhabitants.
HUME
Hume is a Village in Edgar county with -500 inhabitants.
XENIA
Xenia is a Village in Clay county with -500 inhabitants.
LELAND
Leland is a Village in LaSalle county with -1 000 inhabitants.
STRASBURG
Strasburg is a Village in Shelby county with -1 000 inhabitants.
TALLULA
Tallula is a Village in Menard county with -1 000 inhabitants.
BISHOP HILL
Bishop Hill is a Village in Henry county with -500 inhabitants.
OLD SHAWNEETOWN
Old Shawneetown is a Village in Gallatin county with -500 inhabitants.
FLANAGAN
Flanagan is a Village in Livingston county with -1 500 inhabitants.
CHERRY
Cherry is a Village in Bureau county with -1 000 inhabitants.
COALTON
Coalton is a Village in Montgomery county with -500 inhabitants.
DUNLAP
Dunlap is a Village in Peoria county with -1 000 inhabitants.
WAPELLA
Wapella is a Village in De Witt county with -1 000 inhabitants.
SIMPSON
Simpson is a Village in Johnson county with -100 inhabitants.
SORENTO
Sorento is a Village in Bond county with -1 000 inhabitants.
SIBLEY
Sibley is a Village in Ford county with -500 inhabitants.
GOLCONDA
Golconda is a City in Pope county with -1 000 inhabitants.
FOREST CITY
Forest City is a Village in Mason county with -500 inhabitants.