ILLINOIS THE PRAIRIE STATE Illinois Illinois is a state with its feet planted firmly in the soil of America's Midwest In the south fields of corn and soybeans stretch to the horizon lending the state its nickname The Prairie State In the north bustling cities are home to millions Chicago is the busiest city of all More than half of all Illinois residents live in the Windy City or its suburbs drawn to its skyscrapers blues and jazz clubs Lake Michigan and deep dish pizza Illinois is a state on the go It is a center of transportation Much of what the Midwest region produces passes through Illinois either on railroads trucks ships or airplanes The Illinois state capital is Springfield It was here that the state's most famous resident President Abraham Lincoln made his home That is why Illinois is often called the Land of Lincoln Vast fields of corn and soybeans spread across Illinois ILLINOIS
An early morning view of the Chicago skyline from Lake Michigan MAMARAAAPAAQACRALLA
ILLINOIS UNION QUICK Facts ILLINOIS Name Illinois got its name from the French spelling of a Native American group of tribes called the Illiniwek State Capital Springfield population 116 809 Date of Statehood December 3 1818 21 state OFIL NO TVIS Population 12 880 580 5th most populous state Area Total Land and Water 57 914 square miles 149 997 sq km 25h largest state Largest City Chicago population 2 722 389 Nicknames The Prairie State Land of Lincoln Motto State Sovereignty National Union State Bird Cardinal ILLINOIS
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA State Flower Violet State Mineral Fluorite State Tree White Oak State Song Illinois Highest Point Charles Mound 1 235 feet 376 m Lowest Point 279 feet 85 m on the Mississippi River Average July High Temperature 86°F 30°C Record High Temperature 117°F 47°C in East St Louis on July 14 1954 Average January Low Temperature 18°F 8°C Record Low Temperature 36°F 38°C in Congerville on January 5 1999 Average Annual Precipitation 40 inches 102 cm Number of U S Senators 2 Ronald Reagan Number of U S Representatives 18 GREETINGS FROM U S Presidents Born in Illinois Ronald Reagan U S Postal Service Abbreviation IL QUICK FACTS N
