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
MAZON
Mazon is a Village in Grundy county with -1 000 inhabitants.
WINNEBAGO
Winnebago is a Village in Winnebago county with -3 000 inhabitants.
DIVERNON
Divernon is a Village in Sangamon county with -1 500 inhabitants.
O'FALLON
O'Fallon is a City in St. Clair county with -30 000 inhabitants.
GRANITE CITY
Granite City is a City in Madison county with -40 000 inhabitants.
PONTIAC
Pontiac is a City in Livingston county with -15 000 inhabitants.
BUSHNELL
Bushnell is a City in McDonough county with -4 000 inhabitants.
WASHBURN
Washburn is a Village in Woodford county with -1 500 inhabitants.
LOVINGTON
Lovington is a Village in Moultrie county with -1 500 inhabitants.
BREESE
Breese is a City in Clinton county with -5 000 inhabitants.
MOUNT PULASKI
Mount Pulaski is a City in Logan county with -2 000 inhabitants.
ALORTON
Alorton is a Village in St. Clair county with -3 000 inhabitants.
CHATHAM
Chatham is a Village in Sangamon county with -10 000 inhabitants.
COLCHESTER
Colchester is a City in McDonough county with -1 500 inhabitants.
CLIFTON
Clifton is a Village in Iroquois county with -1 500 inhabitants.
ST. ELMO
St. Elmo is a City in Fayette county with -1 500 inhabitants.
SIDNEY
Sidney is a Village in Champaign county with -1 500 inhabitants.
MONTICELLO
Monticello is a City in Piatt county with -10 000 inhabitants.
ARROWSMITH
Arrowsmith is a Village in McLean county with -500 inhabitants.
EARLVILLE
Earlville is a City in LaSalle county with -2 000 inhabitants.
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE
South Jacksonville is a Village in Morgan county with -4 000 inhabitants.
GENESEO
Geneseo is a City in Henry county with -10 000 inhabitants.
MILLEDGEVILLE
Milledgeville is a Village in Carroll county with -1 500 inhabitants.
MENDOTA
Mendota is a City in LaSalle county with -10 000 inhabitants.
BEAVERVILLE
Beaverville is a Village in Iroquois county with -500 inhabitants.
VARNA
Varna is a Village in Marshall county with -500 inhabitants.
GARRETT
Garrett is a Village in Douglas county with -500 inhabitants.
GRANVILLE
Granville is a Village in Putnam county with -1 500 inhabitants.
WINCHESTER
Winchester is a City in Scott county with -2 000 inhabitants.
ANNA
Anna is a City in Union county with -10 000 inhabitants.