Travel & Geography > The States & Territories
Travel to the United States | The States & Territories
The Regions of the United States | Facts & StatisticsIllinois, the "Land of Lincoln" "Prairie State"
Abbreviation: IL
State Flag
State SealNamed for the Illinois Indians, this state is known as the "Land of Lincoln," because it's where the 16th president was raised. Illinois became the 21st state in 1818. Illinois is the most populous state in the Midwest. 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. Chicago, with its central location and its many cultural attractions and sports events, is a major tourist attraction. Sandy beaches, wooded parks, and yacht harbors border most of Chicago's 50-kilometer shoreline along Lake Michigan.
Benannt nach den Illinois Indianern, ist der Bundesstaat auch als "Land of Lincoln" bekannt. Hier wuchs der 16. Präsident auf. 1818 wurde Illinois der 21. Bundesstaat. In Illinois leben mehr Menschen als in den anderen Bundesstaaten des Mittleren Westens. Über die Hälfte der Bevölkerung lebt in und um Chicago, dem führenden Industrie- und Verkehrszentrum der Region. Die restliche Bevölkerung verteilt sich auf die kleineren Städte und die Farmen, die über die sanften Tiefebenen des Bundesstaates verstreut sind. Chicago ist mit seiner zentralen Lage und seinen vielfältigen kulturellen Angeboten und Sportereignissen, ein Hauptanziehungspunkt für Touristen. Mit Sandstränden, bewaldeten Parklandschaften sowie Yachthäfen nimmt Chicago 50 Kilometer des Ufers des Michigansees ein.
GOVERNMENT
STATISTICS
Capital: Springfield
Governor: Rod Blagojevich, D (to Jan. 2011)
Senators: Richard J. Durbin, D (to Jan. 2015); Barack Obama, D (to Jan. 2011)
House of Representatives: 19 districts | Search by zip code
Population (July 2003): 12,763,000; National Rank: 5; Percent change since April 2000: 2.8%
Land Area: 55,593 sq mi. (143,987 sq km); National Rank: 25
10 largest cities (2005 est): Chicago, 2,842,518; Aurora, 168,181; Rockford, 152,916; Naperville, 141,579; Joliet, 136,208; Springfield, 115,668; Peoria, 112,685; Elgin, 98,645; Waukegan, 91,396; Cicero, 82,741ECONOMY
Total Gross State Product 2005 prel. (billions of current dollars): 560.2
Per Capita Personal Income 2005: $36,120; National Rank: 14
State Exports 2005 (millions of dollars): 35,868; National Rank: 6
Agriculture: Corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, dairy products, wheat.
Industry: Machinery, food processing, electric equipment, chemical products, printing and publishing, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, petroleum, coal.
Government
· State of Illinois: Official State Homepage
· Project VoteSmart
· State and Local Government on the Internet
Statistics
· Illinois Profile - Fedstats
· U.S. Census Bureau: 2000 Data for the State of Illinois
· U.S. Census Bureau: State Data Centers: Illinois
Economy
· Illinois - Regional Accounts Data
Background
· Factmoster.com: State Profiles
· 50States.com
· Illinois Facts
· InfoPlease
· Wikipedia.de: Illinois
Travel
· State of Illinois: State Tourist Office
· Illinois State Parks & Recreation Areas
· Map (MapQuest)
For High School Students
· Explore the States (Library of Congress)
· Stately Knowledge (The Internet Public Library)
· State Report: Illinois
Teacher Resources
· ProTeacher: Lessons by State: Illinois
Link Lists
· Illinois (Google)
· Illinois (Yahoo)
· GovEngine.com: Federal, State & Local Government Site Texts are abridged from U.S. State Department IIP publications and other U.S. government materials. What kind of information materials are available?
CD: These documents are available in fulltext format on the About the USA CD-ROM. Teachers: Request a copy for classroom use.
L: Selected documents are available in German as well as other languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Persian and Turkish.
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Updated: January 2009