Illinois is a state in the United States named after the Illiniwek Indian tribe, which used to live there. The capital of Illinois is Springfield and the U.S. postal abbreviation for the state is IL.
Illinois | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | United States |
| Admitted to the Union | December 3, 1818 (21st) |
| Capital | Springfield |
| Largest city | Chicago |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Rod Blagojevich |
| • Upper house | {{{Upperhouse}}} |
| • Lower house | {{{Lowerhouse}}} |
| U.S. senators | {{{Senators}}} |
| Population | |
• Total | 12,419,293 |
| • Density | 223.4/sq mi (86.27/km2) |
| Language | |
| Latitude | 87°30'W to 91°30'W |
| Longitude | 36°58'N to 42°30'N |
The USS Illinois was named in honor of this state.
History
Named for the Illiniwek tribe of Native Americans, this state is known as the "Land of Lincoln," because it is where the 16th President spent his formative years. Illinois became the 21st state in 1818. Illinois Territory was created on February 3, 1809 out of the Northwest Territory. Previous to that, its lands were claimed by the Illinois-Wabash Company.
Law and Government
The capital of the state is Springfield.
The current Governor of Illinois is Rod Blagojevich (Democrat) and the U.S. Senators are Richard J. Durbin (Democrat) and Peter G. Fitzgerald (Republican). Fitzgerald has retired. Currently on the ballet to replace him are Barack Obama (Democrat), Alan Keyes (Republican), and Jerry Kohn (Libertarian). Keyes was selected for the Republican ticket to replace Jack Ryan (Republican), who had withdrawn from the race.
Geography
It is in the north central U.S. and borders on Lake Michigan. Surrounding states are Wisconsin to the north, Iowa and Missouri to the west, Kentucky to the south, and Indiana to the east. Illinois also borders Michigan, but only via a water boundary in Lake Michigan.
Economy
The 1999 total gross state product for Illinois was $446 billion, placing it 4th in the nation. The per capita income was $32,259.
Illinois' agricultural outputs are corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, dairy products and wheat. Its industrial outputs are machinery, food processing, electrical equipment, chemical products, publishing, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, petroleum and coal.
Demographics
The 2000 population of Illinois was 12,419,293. At the northern edge of the state on Lake Michigan lies Chicago, the nation's third largest city. More than half of the population lives in and around Chicago, the leading industrial and transportation center in the region. The rest of the population lives in the smaller cities and on the farms that dot the state's gently rolling plains.
Important cities and towns
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Population > 1,000,000 Population > 100,000
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Important Suburbs of Chicago
of St. Louis of Rockford of Peoria |
Other cities > 10,000 population
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Education
Colleges and universities
Professional sports teams
State symbols
Miscellaneous information
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, lived in Illinois from a young age, and eventually served four terms in the Illinois State Legislature. Ronald Reagan, the 40th President, was born in Tampico, Illinois.
