Illinois
Illinois is a state in the United States. Its capital is Springfield and its largest city is Chicago. It is bordered to the north by Wisconsin, to the west by Iowa and below that, by Missouri (both borders are along the Mississippi River). To the south-east, Illinois is bordered along the Ohio River by Kentucky and to the east by Indiana. Illinois' northeasternmost boundary is to Lake Michigan.
| State of Illinois | |
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| Anthem: "Illinois" | |
 Map of the United States with Illinois highlighted | |
| Country | United States |
| Before statehood | Illinois Territory |
| Admitted to the Union | December 3, 1818 (21st) |
| Capital | Springfield |
| Largest city | Chicago |
| Largest metro | Chicagoland |
| Government | |
| • Governor | J. B. Pritzker (D) |
| • Lieutenant Governor | Juliana Stratton (D) |
| Legislature | General Assembly |
| • Upper house | Illinois Senate |
| • Lower house | Illinois House of Representatives |
| U.S. senators | Dick Durbin (D) Tammy Duckworth (D) |
| U.S. House delegation | 14 Democrats 3 Republicans (list) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 57,915 sq mi (149,997 km2) |
| • Land | 55,593 sq mi (143,969 km2) |
| • Water | 2,320 sq mi (5,981 km2) 3.99% |
| • Rank | 25th |
| Elevation | 600 ft (180 m) |
| Highest elevation | 1,235 ft (376.4 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 280 ft (85 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 12,812,508[3] |
| • Rank | 6th |
| • Density | 232/sq mi (89.4/km2) |
| • Rank | 12th |
| • Median household income | $65,030[4] |
| • Income rank | 17th |
| Language | |
| • Official language | English[5] |
| • Spoken language | English (80.8%) Spanish (14.9%) Other (5.1%) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−05:00 (CDT) |
| USPS abbreviation | IL |
| ISO 3166 code | US-IL |
| Trad. abbreviation | Ill. |
| Latitude | 36° 58′ N to 42° 30′ N |
| Longitude | 87° 30′ W to 91° 31′ W |
| Website | illinois |
| Illinois state symbols | |
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| Living insignia | |
| Amphibian | Eastern tiger salamander |
| Bird | Northern cardinal |
| Butterfly | Monarch butterfly |
| Fish | Bluegill |
| Flower | Violet |
| Grass | Big bluestem |
| Mammal | White-tailed deer |
| Reptile | Painted turtle |
| Tree | White oak |
| Inanimate insignia | |
| Dance | Square dance |
| Food | Gold Rush Apple, popcorn |
| Fossil | Tully monster |
| Mineral | Fluorite |
| Slogan | "Land of Lincoln" |
| Soil | Drummer silty clay loam |
| State route marker | |
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| State quarter | |
 Released in 2003 | |
| Lists of United States state symbols | |
Politics
Political climate In Illinois today
Most of Illinois outside of Chicago (its most populous city) is heavily conservative. In 2016, for example, nearly 40 counties in Illinois gave Trump 70% or more of the vote there. However, Chicago makes up over half of the state´s population, and Cook County (in which Chicago is located) gave Trump just 21% of the vote there. Therefore, the governor of Illinois is currently a Democrat, as are both its US Senators and over 70% of its representatives. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the state by 17%. In 2012, Barack Obama won the state by 17%. In 2008, Obama won the state by over 25%. Illinois has supported only Democratic candidates for president since 1992.
Historically voting Republican[6]
Illinois used to vote Republican. In all the presidential elections between 1856 and 1892, it supported the Republican candidate.
Former swing state[6]
Illinois was a swing state, but it isn't a swing state anymore. In all the presidential elections in which it has voted, it has supported the winner 82% of the time. Out of the last 5 presidential elections, however, it has supported the winner only 40% of the time.
History
The most prominent tribes in Illinois were the Illinois, Miami, Winnebago, Fox and Sacs (Sauk), Kickapoo, and Pottawatomie tribes. The Illinois Native Americans were composed of five subdivisions including Kaskaskias, Cahokias, Tamaroas, Peorias, and Metchigamis.
Illinois became a state on December 3, 1818. Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which helped abolish slavery in the United States.[7]
Three U.S. presidents have been elected while living in Illinois: Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Barack Obama. Additionally, Ronald Reagan, whose political career was based in California, was the only US president born and raised in Illinois.
Economy
Illinois has a diverse economy. Chicago is a major center for transportation and business. Central and northern Illinois is mostly used for agriculture. The south produces many natural resources such as coal, timber and petroleum.[8]
Government
Illinois was once known to be a swing state (voted for either Democratic Party or the Republican Party). Today, Illinois is known to be a blue state, voting for the Democratic Party. The last time Illinois voted for a Republican president was in 1988 for George H.W. Bush.
J. B. Pritzker (D) is the current Governor of Illinois. It has two senators; Dick Durbin (D) and Tammy Duckworth (D).
Population
Illinois had a population of 12,812,508 people in 2020. Most of the people living in Illinois live near the city of Chicago.
The top countries of origin for Illinois’ immigrants were Mexico (36 percent of immigrants), India (10 percent), Poland (7 percent), the Philippines (5 percent), and China (4 percent).[9]
People from Illinois
Famous Illinoisans include:
- 16th President Abraham Lincoln
- 40th President Ronald Reagan
- 44th President Barack Obama
- Former First Lady Michelle Obama
- Former First Lady, Senator of New York, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
- Architect Frank Lloyd Wright
- Mayor of Chicago Richard M. Daley
- Former First Lady Betty Ford
- Actor Harrison Ford
- Movie critic Roger Ebert
- Animator Walt Disney
- Actress Betty White
- Social Worker Jane Addams
- Scout Wild Bill Hickok
- Comedian Jack Benny
- NBA player Dwyane Wade
State symbols
In Illinois, school children voted to select the state bird, state flower, and state tree. The state bird is the cardinal. The state flower of Illinois is the violet. The state tree is the white oak.
Illinois's seal has an eagle in a prairie. Across a river, behind the eagle is a rising sun. The eagle stands for the United States. The prairie reminds Illinoisans of their land. The two dates on the seal, 1818 and 1868, are the year that Illinois became a state and the year that the state seal was designed. The state flag includes the state seal.
Illinois Media
Mississippian copper plate found at the Saddle Site in Union County, Illinois
Illinois in 1718, approximate modern state area highlighted, from Carte de la Louisiane et du cours du Mississipi by Guillaume de L'Isle
The bell donated by King Louis XV in 1741 to the French mission at Kaskaskia. It was later called the "Liberty Bell of the West", after it was rung to celebrate U.S. victory in the Revolution
In 1818, Illinois became the 21st U.S. state. The southern portion of Illinois Territory was admitted as the state of Illinois, and the rest was joined to Michigan Territory.
Old State Capitol: Abraham Lincoln and other area legislators were instrumental in moving the state capitol to centrally located Springfield in 1839.
Police and protesters at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Rising waters in Alton in 1993.
A COVID-19 safety message in the Chicago Loop
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Related pages
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Elevation adjusted to North American Vertical Datum of 1988.
- ↑ "Charles". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds_mark.prl?PidBox=NJ0855.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Elevations and Distances in the United States". United States Geological Survey. 2001. Archived from the original on November 2, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
- ↑ "2020 Census Apportionment Results". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ↑ Bureau, US Census. "U.S. Median Household Income Up in 2018 From 2017". The United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- ↑ "(5 ILCS 460/20) (from Ch. 1, par. 2901‑20) State Designations Act". Illinois Compiled Statutes. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois General Assembly. September 4, 1991. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
Sec. 20. Official language. The official language of the State of Illinois is English.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "United States presidential elections in Illinois". Wikipedia. 2020-06-11.
- ↑ "Interesting Facts About Illinois". Interesting State Facts.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-26. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ "Illinois – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)". Eia.gov. April 19, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- ↑ Immigrants in Illinois
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