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
CENTRAL CITY
Central City is a Village in Grundy county with -1 500 inhabitants.
GILLESPIE
Gillespie is a City in Macoupin county with -4 000 inhabitants.
IRWIN
Irwin is a Village in Kankakee county with -100 inhabitants.
GREEN VALLEY
Green Valley is a Village in Tazewell county with -1 000 inhabitants.
GIRARD
Girard is a City in Macoupin county with -2 500 inhabitants.
BLOOMINGTON
Bloomington is a City in McLean county with -75 000 inhabitants.
ROCKFORD
Rockford is a City in Winnebago county with -200 000 inhabitants.
LINCOLN
Lincoln is a City in Logan county with -20 000 inhabitants.
CLEAR LAKE
Clear Lake is a Village in Sangamon county with -500 inhabitants.
ABINGDON
Abingdon is a City in Knox county with -4 000 inhabitants.
CATLIN
Catlin is a Village in Vermilion county with -2 500 inhabitants.
TOVEY
Tovey is a Village in Christian county with -1 000 inhabitants.
MASON CITY
Mason City is a City in Mason county with -3 000 inhabitants.
QUINCY
Quincy is a City in Adams county with -50 000 inhabitants.
ROCK FALLS
Rock Falls is a City in Whiteside county with -10 000 inhabitants.
NORMAL
Normal is a Town in McLean county with -50 000 inhabitants.
MURPHYSBORO
Murphysboro is a City in Jackson county with -15 000 inhabitants.
LELAND GROVE
Leland Grove is a City in Sangamon county with -2 000 inhabitants.
HARTSBURG
Hartsburg is a Village in Logan county with -500 inhabitants.
DELAVAN
Delavan is a City in Tazewell county with -2 000 inhabitants.
CUBA
Cuba is a City in Fulton county with -1 500 inhabitants.
MOLINE
Moline is a City in Rock Island county with -50 000 inhabitants.
STERLING
Sterling is a City in Whiteside county with -20 000 inhabitants.
DEKALB
DeKalb is a City in DeKalb county with -40 000 inhabitants.
LERNA
Lerna is a Village in Coles county with -500 inhabitants.
MARQUETTE HEIGHTS
Marquette Heights is a City in Tazewell county with -3 000 inhabitants.
BULPITT
Bulpitt is a Village in Christian county with -500 inhabitants.
CHAMPAIGN
Champaign is a City in Champaign county with -75 000 inhabitants.
IRVING
Irving is a Village in Montgomery county with -2 500 inhabitants.
URBANA
Urbana is a City in Champaign county with -40 000 inhabitants.