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
VERNON HILLS
Vernon Hills is a Village in Lake county with inhabitants.
STREAMWOOD
Streamwood is a Village in Cook county with inhabitants.
DIXON
Dixon is a City in Lee county with -20 000 inhabitants.
PONTIAC
Pontiac is a City in Livingston county with -15 000 inhabitants.
EVANSTON
Evanston is a City in Cook county with -15 000 inhabitants.
HAWTHORN WOODS
Hawthorn Woods is a Village in Lake county with -15 000 inhabitants.
PLANO
Plano is a City in Kendall county with -15 000 inhabitants.
SOUTH BARRINGTON
South Barrington is a Village in Cook county with -15 000 inhabitants.
JOHNSBURG
Johnsburg is a Village in McHenry county with -15 000 inhabitants.
BETHALTO
Bethalto is a Village in Madison county with -10 000 inhabitants.
HIGHLAND
Highland is a City in Madison county with -10 000 inhabitants.
WATERLOO
Waterloo is a City in Monroe county with -10 000 inhabitants.
PRINCETON
Princeton is a City in Bureau county with -10 000 inhabitants.
SPRING VALLEY
Spring Valley is a City in Bureau county with -10 000 inhabitants.
WARSAW
Warsaw is a City in Hancock county with -2 000 inhabitants.
ROXANA
Roxana is a Village in Madison county with -2 000 inhabitants.
NORTH AURORA
North Aurora is a Village in Kane county with -2 000 inhabitants.
CALUMET CITY
Calumet City is a City in Cook county with -2 000 inhabitants.
SOUTH HOLLAND
South Holland is a Village in Cook county with -2 000 inhabitants.
BRADLEY
Bradley is a Village in Kankakee county with -15 000 inhabitants.
LAKE ZURICH
Lake Zurich is a Village in Lake county with -15 000 inhabitants.
CASEYVILLE
Caseyville is a Village in St. Clair county with -5 000 inhabitants.
BURLINGTON
Burlington is a Village in Kane county with -5 000 inhabitants.
SOUTH ELGIN
South Elgin is a Village in Kane county with -5 000 inhabitants.
PARK RIDGE
Park Ridge is a City in Cook county with -5 000 inhabitants.
BURR RIDGE
Burr Ridge is a Village in DuPage county with -5 000 inhabitants.
WOOD RIVER
Wood River is a City in Madison county with -15 000 inhabitants.
BEACH PARK
Beach Park is a Village in Lake county with -15 000 inhabitants.
SALEM
Salem is a City in Marion county with -10 000 inhabitants.
DU QUOIN
Du Quoin is a City in Perry county with -10 000 inhabitants.