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
BUSH
Bush is a Village in Williamson county with -500 inhabitants.
OWANECO
Owaneco is a Village in Christian county with -500 inhabitants.
GIFFORD
Gifford is a Village in Champaign county with -1 000 inhabitants.
STONINGTON
Stonington is a Village in Christian county with -1 000 inhabitants.
ILLIOPOLIS
Illiopolis is a Village in Sangamon county with -1 000 inhabitants.
INDUSTRY
Industry is a Village in McDonough county with -1 000 inhabitants.
RUSSELLVILLE
Russellville is a Village in Lawrence county with -500 inhabitants.
SMITHFIELD
Smithfield is a Village in Fulton county with -500 inhabitants.
GRAND RIDGE
Grand Ridge is a Village in LaSalle county with -1 000 inhabitants.
NILWOOD
Nilwood is a Town in Macoupin county with -500 inhabitants.
BAYLIS
Baylis is a Village in Pike county with -500 inhabitants.
DANFORTH
Danforth is a Village in Iroquois county with -1 000 inhabitants.
CUTLER
Cutler is a Village in Perry county with -1 000 inhabitants.
COLETA
Coleta is a Village in Whiteside county with -500 inhabitants.
ALEXIS
Alexis is a Village in Warren county with -1 000 inhabitants.
HOMETOWN
Hometown is a City in Cook county with -1 000 inhabitants.
SHANNON
Shannon is a Village in Carroll county with -1 000 inhabitants.
FRANKLIN GROVE
Franklin Grove is a Village in Lee county with -1 500 inhabitants.
GERMAN VALLEY
German Valley is a Village in Stephenson county with -500 inhabitants.
ELLIOTT
Elliott is a Village in Ford county with -500 inhabitants.
POTOMAC
Potomac is a Village in Vermilion county with -1 000 inhabitants.
ROBERTS
Roberts is a Village in Ford county with -500 inhabitants.
MURRAYVILLE
Murrayville is a Village in Morgan county with -1 000 inhabitants.
ELLIS GROVE
Ellis Grove is a Village in Randolph county with -500 inhabitants.
OREANA
Oreana is a Village in Macon county with -1 000 inhabitants.
SAN JOSE
San Jose is a Village in Mason county with -1 000 inhabitants.
SEATONVILLE
Seatonville is a Village in Bureau county with -500 inhabitants.
SOUTH PEKIN
South Pekin is a Village in Tazewell county with -1 500 inhabitants.
ELIZABETH
Elizabeth is a Village in Jo Daviess county with -1 000 inhabitants.
HOFFMAN
Hoffman is a Village in Clinton county with -500 inhabitants.