Illinois 14849 226058132 2008-07-16T17:16:21Z MJDTed 5804160 {{Otheruses1|the U.S. State}} {{US state | Name = Illinois | Fullname = State of Illinois | Flag = Flag of Illinois.svg | Flaglink = [[Flag of Illinois]] | Seal = Seal of Illinois.svg | Map = Map_of_USA_IL.svg | Nickname = [[Land of Lincoln]]; The [[Prairie]] State | Motto = State sovereignty, national union | Capital = [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]] | LargestCity = [[Chicago]] | LargestMetro = [[Chicagoland]]| Demonym = Illinoisan | Governor = [[Rod Blagojevich]] (D)| Lieutenant Governor = [[Pat Quinn (politician)|Pat Quinn]] (D) | Senators = [[Richard Durbin]] (D)<br />[[Barack Obama]] (D) | PostalAbbreviation = IL | BorderingStates = [[Indiana]], [[Iowa]], [[Kentucky]], </br> [[Missouri]], [[Wisconsin]]| OfficialLang = [[English language|English]]<ref>[http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=132&ChapAct=5%26nbsp%3BILCS%26nbsp%3B460%2F&ChapterID=2&ChapterName=GENERAL+PROVISIONS&ActName=State+Designations+Act%2E 5 ILCS 460/20 (from Ch. 1, par. 2901‑20) - Sec. 20]. "Official language. The official language of the State of Illinois is English." </ref>| AreaRank = 25<sup>th</sup> | TotalAreaUS = 57,918 | TotalArea = 140,998 | LandAreaUS = 55,593 | LandArea = 143,968 | WaterAreaUS = 2,325 | WaterArea = 61,030 | PCWater = 4.0/ Negligible | PopRank = 5<sup>th</sup> | 2000Pop = 12,831,970<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=04000US17&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US17&_street=&_county=&_cityTown=&_state=04000US17&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=040&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2006_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=] U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights</ref> | DensityRank = 11 | 2000DensityUS = 223.4 | 2000Density = 86.27 | MedianHouseholdIncome = $45,787<ref name="US Census Bureau, median household income by state 2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/income04/statemhi.html|title=US Census Bureau, median household income by state 2004|accessdate=2006-07-01}}</ref> | IncomeRank = 18 | AdmittanceOrder = 21<sup>st</sup> | AdmittanceDate = [[December 3]] [[1818]] | TimeZone = [[Central Standard Time Zone|Central]]: [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]-6/[[Daylight saving time|-5]] | Latitude = 36°&#8202;58′ N to 42°&#8202;30′ N | Longitude = 87°&#8202;30′ W to 91°&#8202;31′ W | WidthUS = 210 | Width = 340 | LengthUS = 395 | Length = 629 | HighestPoint = [[Charles Mound]]<ref name="usgs">{{cite web| date =[[29 April]] [[2005]] | url =http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest| title =Elevations and Distances in the United States| publisher =U.S Geological Survey| accessmonthday = November 6 | accessyear = 2006}}</ref> | HighestElevUS = 1,235 | HighestElev = 377 | MeanElevUS = 600 | MeanElev = 182 | LowestPoint = [[Mississippi River]]<ref name="usgs" /> | LowestElevUS = 279 | LowestElev = 85 | ISOCode = US-IL | Website = www.illinois.gov }} The '''State of Illinois''' ({{pronEng|ˌɪlɨˈnɔɪ}}|Ill-i-NOY) is a [[U.S. state|state]] of the [[United States|United States of America]], the 21st to be admitted to the [[United States|Union]]. Illinois is the most populous and demographically diverse<ref>{{cite news|title=Analysis ranks Illinois most average state |author=Stephen Ohlemacher |publisher=Associated Press |date= [[May 17]], [[2007]] |url=http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2007/05/17/top/20300809.txt}}</ref> [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] state and the fifth most populous in the nation. With [[Chicago]] in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and western Illinois, and natural resources like coal, timber, and petroleum in the south, Illinois has a broad economic base. Illinois is an important transportation hub; the [[Port of Chicago]] connects the [[Great Lakes]] to the [[Mississippi River]] via the [[Illinois River]]. Illinois is often viewed as a [[Macrocosm and microcosm|microcosm]] of the United States; an [[Associated Press]] analysis of 21 demographic factors found Illinois the "most average state,"<ref>{{cite news|title=Analysis ranks Illinois most average state |author=Stephen Ohlemacher |publisher=Associated Press |date= [[May 17]], [[2007]] |url=http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2007/05/17/top/20300809.txt}}</ref> while [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]] has long been a [[Will it play in Peoria?|proverbial social and cultural]] [[bellwether]]. Nearly 66% of the population resides in the northeastern corner of the state comprising the [[Chicago metropolitan area]]. 1 in 4 residents of the state live within the city of [[Chicago]] itself. With a population near 40,000 between 1300 and 1400 AD, the [[Mississippian culture|Mississippian]] city of [[Cahokia]], in what is now southern Illinois, was the largest city within the future United States until it was surpassed by [[New York City]] between 1790 and 1800. About 2,000 Native American hunters and a small number of [[Habitants|French]] villagers inhabited the Illinois area at the time of the [[American Revolution]].<ref> Biles (2005) ch 1</ref> American settlers began arriving from [[Kentucky]] in the 1810s; they achieved statehood in 1818. The future metropolis of [[Chicago]] was founded in the 1830s on the banks of the [[Chicago River]], one of the only natural harbors on southern [[Lake Michigan]].<ref>"Chicago's Front Door: Chicago Harbor." A digital exhibit published online by the [[Chicago Public Library]]. [http://www.chipublib.org/digital/lake/CFDHarbor.html] Accessed October 20, 2007.</ref> [[Rail transport|Railroads]] and [[John Deere]]'s invention of the self-scouring [[steel plow]] made central Illinois' rich [[prairie]] into some of the world's most productive and valuable farmlands, attracting [[immigrant]] farmers from [[German American|Germany]] and [[Swedish Americans|Sweden]]. Northern Illinois provided major support for Illinoisans [[Abraham Lincoln]] and [[Ulysses S. Grant]] during the [[American Civil War]]. By 1900, the growth of industry in northern cities and coal mining in central and southern areas attracted immigrants from [[Eastern Europe|Eastern]] and [[Southern Europe]], and made the state a major arsenal in both [[world war]]s. [[African-American]]s [[Great Migration (African American)|migrating to Chicago from the rural South]] formed a [[History of African Americans in Chicago|large and important community]], which created the city's famous [[jazz]] and [[Blues (music)|blues]] cultures. ==Etymology== {{See also|List of Illinois counties|List of Illinois county name etymologies}} The state is named for the [[French language|French]] adaptation of an [[Algonquian]] language (perhaps [[Miami-Illinois language|Miami]]) word apparently meaning "s/he speaks normally" (Miami ''ilenweewa'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.krysstal.com/feedback/display_feedback.php?ftype=Borrow&fblock=4 |title=Comments by Michael McCafferty on "Readers' Feedback (page 4)" |accessdate=2007-02-23 |publisher=The KryssTal}}</ref><ref>Costa, David J. 2000. "Miami-Illinois Tribe Names". In the Papers of the 31st Algonquian Conference, University of Manitoba Press, pp. 146-7</ref> [[Proto-Algonquian language|Proto-Algonquian]] ''*elen-'', "ordinary" and ''-we·'', "to speak").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Illinois |title=Illinois |accessdate=2007-02-23 |publisher=[[Dictionary.com]]}}</ref> Alternately, the name is often associated with the indigenous [[Illiniwek]] people, a [[consortium]] of [[Algonquian]] tribes that thrived in the area. The name ''Illiniwek'' is frequently (incorrectly) said to mean "tribe of superior men";<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.illinois.gov/facts/symbols.cfm |title=Illinois Symbols |accessdate=2006-04-20 |publisher=State of Illinois}}</ref> or "men". Both etymologies are unworkable. ==Geography== [[Image:Chicago Skyline.png|thumb|270px|[[Chicago]], the largest city in Illinois and the [[Midwest]], as viewed from the [[John Hancock Center]]]] {{main|Geography of Illinois}} The northeastern border of Illinois is [[Lake Michigan]]. Its eastern border with [[Indiana]] is all of the land west of the [[Wabash River]], and a north-south line above [[Vincennes, Indiana|Post Vincennes]], or 87°{{Unicode| }}31′{{Unicode| }}30″ west longitude. Its northern border with [[Wisconsin]] is fixed at 42°{{Unicode| }}30' north latitude. Its western border with [[Missouri]] and [[Iowa]] is the [[Mississippi River]]. Its southern border with [[Kentucky]] is the [[Ohio River]].<ref name="Constitution_1818">[[Wikisource]]. [[s:Illinois Constitution of 1818|Illinois Constitution of 1818]].</ref> Illinois also borders [[Michigan]], but only via a water boundary in Lake Michigan.<ref name="Nelson">{{cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |editor=Nelson, Ronald E. (ed.) |others= |title=Illinois: Land and Life in the Prairie State|origdate= |origyear= |origmonth= |url= |format= |accessdate= |accessyear= |accessmonth= |edition= |date= |year=1978|month= |publisher= |location= |language= |isbn=0-8403-1831-6|oclc= |doi= |id= |pages= |chapter= |chapterurl= |quote= }}</ref> Though Illinois lies entirely in the [[Interior Plains]], it has three major geographical divisions. The first is [[Northern Illinois]], dominated by the [[Chicago metropolitan area]], including the city of [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], its suburbs, and the adjoining exurban area into which the metropolis is expanding. As defined by the federal government, the Chicago metro area includes a few counties in [[Indiana]] and [[Wisconsin]] and stretches across much of northeastern Illinois. It is a cosmopolitan city, densely populated, industrialized, and settled by a wide variety of ethnic groups. The city of [[Rockford, Illinois|Rockford]] generally sits along Interstates [[Interstate 39|39]] and [[Interstate 90|90]] and is the state's third largest city. Southward and westward, the second major division is [[Central Illinois]], an area of mostly flat [[prairie]]. Known as the Heart of Illinois, it is characterized by small towns and mid-sized cities. The western section (west of the Illinois River) was originally part of the [[Military Tract of 1812]] and forms the distinctive western bulge of the state. Agriculture, particularly [[maize|corn]] and [[soybean]]s, as well as educational institutions and manufacturing centers, figure prominently. Cities include [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]]—the third largest metropolitan area in Illinois at 370,000—[[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]]—the state [[capital]]—[[Quincy, Illinois|Quincy]], [[Decatur, Illinois|Decatur]], [[Bloomington-Normal]] and [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]]-[[Urbana, Illinois|Urbana]].<ref name="Nelson" /> [[Image:National-atlas-illinois.png|thumb|270px|left|Illinois, showing major cities and roads]] The third division is [[Southern Illinois]], comprising the area south of [[U.S. Route 50]], and including [[Little Egypt (region)|Little Egypt]], near the juncture of the [[Mississippi River]] and [[Ohio River]]. This region can be distinguished from the other two by its warmer climate, different mix of crops (including some [[cotton]] farming in the past), more rugged topography (the southern tip is unglaciated with the remainder glaciated during the [[Wolstonian glaciation|Illinoian Age]] and earlier ages), as well as small-scale oil deposits and [[coal]] mining. The area is a little more populated than the central part of the state with the population centered in two areas. First, the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis comprise the second most populous metropolitan area in Illinois with nearly 600,000 inhabitants, and are known collectively as the [[Metro-East]]. The second area is [[Williamson County, Illinois|Williamson County]], [[Jackson County, Illinois|Jackson County]], [[Franklin County, Illinois|Franklin County]], [[Saline County, Illinois|Saline County]] and [[Perry County, Illinois|Perry County]]. It is home to around 210,000 residents.<ref name="Nelson" /> The region outside of the Chicago Metropolitan area is often described as "downstate Illinois". However, residents of central and southern Illinois view their regions as geographically and culturally distinct, and do not necessarily use this term. In extreme northwestern Illinois, the [[Coulee Region|Driftless Zone]], a region of unglaciated and therefore higher and more rugged topography, occupies a small part of the state. [[Charles Mound]], located in this region, has the state's highest elevation above [[sea level]] at 1,235 feet (376&nbsp;m). The highest structure in Illinois is the [[Sears Tower]] with a roof elevation of approximately {{convert|2030|ft|m|0}} above sea level. [Chicago elevation (580 ft) + tower height (1450) = 2030.] The floodplain on the Mississippi River from [[Alton, Illinois|Alton]] to the [[Kaskaskia River]] is the [[American Bottom]], and is the site of the ancient city of [[Cahokia]]. It was a region of early German settlement, as well as the site of the first state capital, at [[Kaskaskia, Illinois|Kaskaskia]] which is separated from the rest of the state by the Mississippi River.<ref name="Horsley">{{cite book |last=Horsley |first=A. Doyne |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Illinois: A Geography |year=1986 |publisher= |location= |isbn=0-86531-522-1 }}</ref><ref name="Nelson" /> A portion of Southeastern Illinois is part of the extended [[Evansville, Indiana]] Metro Area, commonly referred to as the Tri-State with Indiana and Kentucky. Seven Illinois Counties are in the area. ===Climate=== {{Main article|Climate of Illinois}} Because of its nearly 400 mile (640 km) length and mid-continental situation, Illinois has a widely varying climate. Most of Illinois has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Koppen climate classification]] ''Dfa'') with hot, humid summers and cool to cold winters. The southernmost part of the state, from about [[Carbondale, Illinois|Carbondale]] southward, borders on a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Koppen ''Cfa'') with more moderate winters. Average yearly precipitation for Illinois varies from just over 48 inches (1,220 mm) at the southern tip to around 35 inches (890 mm) in the northern portion of the state. Normal annual snowfall exceeds 38 inches (96 cm) in the Chicago area, while the southern portion of the state normally receives less than 14 inches (35 cm).<ref name="Climate_Maps">[http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/atmos/statecli/index.htm Illinois State Climatologist Office]. [http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/atmos/statecli/Mapsv2/mapsv2.htm Climate Maps for Illinois]. Accessed [[April 22]] [[2006]].</ref> The highest temperature recorded in Illinois was 117 °F (47 °C), recorded on [[July 14]] [[1954]], at East St. Louis, while the lowest temperature was -36 °F (-38 °C), recorded on [[January 5]] [[1999]], at [[Congerville, Illinois|Congerville]].<ref>[http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/index.jsp Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC)]. [http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/climate_midwest/extremes/il.extremetemps.txt Illinois Extreme Temperature list]. Accessed [[April 22]] [[2006]].</ref><ref name="Horsley" /><ref name="Nelson" /> Illinois averages around 50 days of [[thunderstorm]] activity a year which put it somewhat above average for number of thunderstorm days for the United States. Illinois is vulnerable to tornadoes with an average of 35 occurring annually, which puts much of the state at around 5 tornadoes per {{convert|10000|sqmi|km2|-4}} annually.<ref name="Annual average number of tornadoes"> "[http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/small/avgt5304.gif Annual average number of tornadoes, 1953-2004]", NOAA National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved on [[October 24]] [[2006]]. </ref> The deadliest tornado on record in the nation occurred largely in Illinois. The [[Tri-State Tornado]] of 1925 killed 695 people in three states; 613 of the victims lived in Illinois.<ref name="paducah_nws">{{cite web |url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pah/1925/gi_body.php |author=PAH Webmaster |title=NWS Paducah, KY: NOAA/NWS 1925 Tri-State Tornado Web Site -- General Information |date=2005-11-02 |accessdate=2006-11-16}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" "text-align:center;font-size:90%;"| | colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:120%;background:#E8EAFA;"|Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various Illinois Cities |- ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color: #000000" height="17" | City ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jan ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Feb ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Mar ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Apr ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | May ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jun ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jul ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Aug ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Sep ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Oct ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Nov ! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Dec |- ! style="background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Cairo<ref>"[http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0168 Average Weather for Cairo, IL]",weather.com</ref> | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 41/25 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 47/29 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 57/39 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 69/50 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 77/58 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 86/67 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 90/71 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 88/69 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 81/61 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 71/49 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 57/39 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 46/30 |- ! style="background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Chicago<ref>"[http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/chicago-weather.asp Chicago Weather]", ustravelweather.com</ref> | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 30/14 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 35/19 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 46/28 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 58/38 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 70/48 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 79/57 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 84/63 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 81/62 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 74/54 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 62/42 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 47/32 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 34/20 |- ! style="background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Moline<ref>"[http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/moline-weather.asp Moline Weather]", ustravelweather.com</ref> | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 30/12 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 36/18 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 48/29 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 62/39 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 73/50 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 83/60 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 86/64 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 84/62 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 76/53 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 64/42 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 48/30 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 34/18 |- ! style="background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Peoria<ref>"[http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/peoria-weather.asp Peoria Weather]", ustravelweather.com</ref> | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 31/14 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 37/20 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 49/30 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 62/40 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 73/51 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 82/60 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 86/65 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 84/63 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 77/54 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 64/42 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 49/31 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 36/20 |- ! style="background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Rockford<ref>"[http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/rockford-weather.asp Rockford Weather]", ustravelweather.com</ref> | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 27/11 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 33/16 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 46/27 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 59/37 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 71/48 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 80/58 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 83/63 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 81/61 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 74/52 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 62/40 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 46/29 | style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 32/17 |- ! style="background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Springfield<ref>"[http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/springfield-weather.asp Springfield Weather]", ustravelweather.com</ref> | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 33/17 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 39/22 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 51/32 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 63/42 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 74/53 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 83/62 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 86/66 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 84/64 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 78/55 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 67/44 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 51/34 | style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 38/23 |- |} ===Recreation=== {{See also|List of protected areas of Illinois}} Illinois has numerous museums. The state of the art [[Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum]] in Springfield is the largest presidential library in the country. And numerous museums in the city of Chicago are considered some of the best in the world. These include the [[John G. Shedd Aquarium]], the [[Field Museum of Natural History]], the [[Art Institute of Chicago]], and the [[Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)|Museum of Science and Industry]]. The Museum of Science and Industry is the only building remaining from the 1893 [[Columbian Exposition]] held in Chicago to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of the new world. The [[Illinois state parks|Illinois state park]] system began in 1908 with what is now [[Fort Massac]] State Park becoming the first park in a system encompassing over 60 parks and about the same number of recreational and wildlife areas. Areas under the protection and control of the [[National Park Service]] include the [[Illinois and Michigan Canal|Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor]] near [[Lockport, Illinois|Lockport]],<ref>{{cite web | title = Illinois & Michigan Canal | publisher = National Park Service | accessdate = 2008-07-15 | url = http://www.nps.gov/ilmi}}</ref> the [[Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail]], the [[Lincoln Home National Historic Site]] in Springfield, the [[Mormon Trail|Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail]], and the [[Trail of Tears|Trail of Tears National Historic Trail]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Illinois | publisher = National Park Service | accessdate = 2008-07-15 | url = http://www.nps.gov/state/il}}</ref> ==History== {{main|History of Illinois}} ===Pre-European=== [[Image:Coloredcopperplatesillinoismoundbuilders.png|thumb|left|200 px|Copper plates found at pre-Columbian burial sites in Illinois.]] [[Cahokia]], the urban center of the pre-[[Christopher Columbus|Columbian]] [[Mississippian culture]], was located near present-day [[Collinsville, Illinois]]. That civilization vanished in the 15th century for unknown reasons. The next major power in the region was the [[Illiniwek]] Confederation, or Illini, a political alliance among several tribes. There were about 25,000 Illinois Indians in 1700, but systematic attacks and genocide by the [[Iroquois]] reduced their numbers by 90%.<ref> Frederick E. Hoxie, ''Encyclopedia of North American Indians'' (1996) 266-7, 506</ref> Members of the [[Potawatomi]], [[Miami tribe|Miami]], [[Sauk]], and other tribes came in from the east and north.<ref name="Nelson" /> In the American Revolution, the Illinois and Potawatomi supported the American cause. ===European exploration=== [[France|French]] explorers [[Jacques Marquette]] and [[Louis Jolliet]] explored the [[Illinois River]] in 1673. In 1680, other French explorers constructed a fort at he site of the nowaday’s city of [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]], in 1682 a fort atop [[Starved Rock]] in nowaday’s [[Starved Rock State Park]]. As a result of this French exploration, Illinois was part of the French empire until 1763, when it passed to the [[United Kingdom|British]]. The small French settlements continued; a few British soldiers were posted in Illinois but there were no British or American settlers. In 1778 [[George Rogers Clark]] claimed the [[Illinois Country]] for [[Virginia]]. The area was ceded by Virginia to the new United States in 1783 and became part of the [[Northwest Territory]].<ref name="Biles">{{cite book |last=Biles |first=Roger |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Illinois: A History of the Land and its People|year= 2005|publisher= |location= |isbn=0-87580-349-0 }}</ref> ===19th century=== {{USCensusPop |1800 = 2458 |1810 = 12282 |1820 = 55211 |1830 = 157445 |1840 = 476183 |1850 = 851470 |1860 = 1711951 |1870 = 2539891 |1880 = 3077871 |1890 = 3826352 |1900 = 4821550 |1910 = 5638591 |1920 = 6485280 |1930 = 7630654 |1940 = 7897241 |1950 = 8712176 |1960 = 10081158 |1970 = 11113976 |1980 = 11426518 |1990 = 11430602 |2000 = 12419293 |estyear=2006 |estimate= 12831970 }} The [[Illinois-Wabash Company]] was an early claimant to much of Illinois. The [[Illinois Territory]] was created on [[February 3]] [[1809]], with its capital at [[Kaskaskia, Illinois|Kaskaskia]]. In 1818, Illinois became the 21st U.S. state. The new state debated slavery then rejected it, as settlers poured into southern Illinois from Kentucky. Thanks to [[Nathaniel Pope]], the delegate from Illinois, Congress shifted the northern border {{convert|41|mi|km}} north to 42° 30' north, which added {{convert|8500|sqmi|km2|-2}} to the state, including Chicago, [[Galena, Illinois|Galena]] and the lead mining region. The capital remained at Kaskaskia, but in 1819 it was moved to [[Vandalia, Illinois|Vandalia]]. In 1832 the [[Black Hawk War]] is fought in Illinois and nowaday's [[Wisconsin]] between the United States and several Indian tribes. Indians removed to Iowa, attempted to return, but were defeated by the U.S. militia and forced back to Iowa. The winter of 1830-1831 is called the "Winter of the Deep Snow". A sudden, deep snowfall blanketed the state, making travel impossible for the rest of the winter. Many travelers perished. Several severe winters followed, including the "Winter of the Sudden Freeze". On [[December 20]] [[1836]], a fast-moving cold front passed through, freezing puddles in minutes and killing many travelers who could not reach shelter. The adverse weather resulted in crop failures in the northern part of the state. The southern part of the state shipped food north and this may have contributed to its name: "[[Little Egypt (region)|Little Egypt]]", after the [[Bible|Biblical]] story of Joseph in Egypt supplying grain to his brothers.<ref>Duff, Judge Andrew D. [http://www.springhousemagazine.com/egypt2.htm Egypt]. Republished, Springhouse Magazine. Accessed [[May 1]] [[2006]].</ref> By 1839 the [[Mormon]] utopian city of [[Nauvoo]], located on the Mississippi River, was created, settled, and flourished. In 1844 the Mormon leader [[Joseph Smith, Jr.|Joseph Smith]] was killed in the [[Carthage, Illinois]] jail. After close to six years of rapid development the Mormon city of Nauvoo, which rivaled Chicago as Illinois' largest city, saw a rapid decline. In 1846 the Mormons had left Illinois for the West in a mass exodus. The state has a varied history in relation to [[Slavery]] and the treatment of [[African-Americans]] in general. Some slave labor was used before it became a territory, but Slavery was banned by the time Illinois became a state in 1818. The Southern part of the state, known as "Little Egypt", was largely settled by immigrants from the South, and the section was sympathetic to the South and slave labor. For a while the section continued to allow some slave labor on a migratory basis, but citizens were opposed to allowing Blacks as permanent residents. In the Illinois Constitution of 1848, reacting to such concerns, a provision was made for exclusionary laws to be passed. In 1853 [[John A. Logan]], later a Union General in the [[American Civil War]], introduced such bills and laws were passed to prohibit all African-Americans, including [[Freedmen]], from settling in the state. <ref>James Pickett Jones, ''Black Jack: John A. Logan and Southern Illinois in the Civil War Era'' 1967 ISBN 0-8093-2002-9 </ref> [[Chicago]] gained prominence as a [[Great Lakes]] port and then as an [[Illinois and Michigan Canal]] port after 1848, and as a rail hub soon afterward. By 1857, Chicago was Illinois' largest city.<ref name="Biles" /> With the tremendous growth of mines and factories in Illinois in the 19th century, Illinois played an important role in the formation of [[labor unions in the United States]]. The [[Pullman Strike]] and [[Haymarket Riot]] in particular greatly influenced the development of the American [[labor movement]]. {{further|[[History of Chicago]]}} ===American Civil War=== {{main|Illinois in the Civil War}} During the [[American Civil War]], over 250,000 Illinois men served in the [[Union Army]], more than any other northern state except [[New York]], [[Pennsylvania]], and [[Ohio]]. Beginning with [[Abraham Lincoln|President Lincoln]]'s first call for troops and continuing throughout the war, Illinois mustered 150 infantry regiments, which were numbered from the 7th to the 156th regiments. Seventeen cavalry regiments were also gathered, as well as two light artillery regiments.<ref>Illinois in the Civil War. [http://www.illinoiscivilwar.org/units_num.html Illinois Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery Units]. Accessed [[November 26]] [[2006]].</ref> ===Twentieth century=== In the 20th century, Illinois emerged as one of the most important states in the union with a population of nearly 5 million. By the end of the century, the population would reach 12.4 million. The [[Century of Progress]] [[World's Fair]] was held at Chicago in 1933. Oil strikes in [[Marion County, Illinois|Marion County]] and [[Crawford County, Illinois|Crawford County]] lead to a boom in 1937, and, by 1939, Illinois ranked 4th in U.S. oil production. Following World War II, [[Argonne National Laboratory]], near Chicago, activated the first experimental nuclear power generating system in the United States in 1957. By 1960, the first privately financed nuclear plant in United States, Dresden 1, was dedicated near Morris. Chicago became an ocean port with the opening of the [[Saint Lawrence Seaway]] in 1959. The seaway and the [[Illinois Waterway]] connected Chicago to both the Mississippi River and the Atlantic Ocean. In 1960, [[Ray Kroc]] opened the first [[McDonald's]] franchise in [[Des Plaines, Illinois|Des Plaines]] (which still exists today as a museum, with a working McDonald's across the street). In 1970, the state's sixth constitutional convention authored a new constitution to replace the 1870 version. It was ratified in December. The first [[Farm Aid]] concert was held in Champaign to benefit American farmers, in 1985. The worst [[upper Mississippi River]] flood of the century, the [[Great Flood of 1993]], inundated many towns and thousands of acres of farmland. It also flooded many homes and streets slowing transportational services.<ref name="Biles" /> ==Demographics== [[Image:Illinois population map.png|thumb|right|215px|Illinois Population Density Map]] {{US Demographics}} As of 2006, Illinois has an estimated population of 12,831,970, which is an increase of 65,200 from the prior year and an increase of 412,323, or 3.3%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 481,799 people (that is 1,138,398 births minus 656,599 deaths) and a decrease due to net migration of 71,456 people out of the state. [[Immigration to the United States|Immigration]] from outside the United States resulted in an increase of 402,257 people, and migration within the country produced a loss of 473,713 people.<ref>[[United States Census Bureau]][http://www.census.gov/popest/states/tables/NST-EST2006-04.xls Population Estimates Program]</ref> As of 2004 there were 1,682,900 foreign-born (13.3%).<ref>[[United States Census Bureau]]. [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-qr_name=ACS_2004_EST_G00_DP2&-geo_id=04000US17&-ds_name=ACS_2004_EST_G00_&-redoLog=false 2004 American Community Survey].</ref> At the northern edge of the state on Lake Michigan lies Chicago, the nation's third largest city. In 2000, 23.3% of the population lived in the city of Chicago, 43.3% in Cook County and 65.6% the counties of the [[Chicago metro area]]; Will, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and McHenry Counties as well as Cook County. The rest of the population lives in the smaller cities and in the rural areas that dot the state's plains. According to the 2000 census, the state [[Center of population|population center]] was {{coor d|41.278216|N|88.380238|W|region:US_type:landmark}} in [[Grundy County, Illinois|Grundy County]] northeast of [[Mazon, Illinois|Mazon]].<ref>American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. [http://www.acsm.net/statecenters.html State Centers of Population]. Accessed [[April 20]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name="Biles" /><ref name="Horsley" /><ref name="Nelson" /> {| class="toccolours" align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin:0 0 1em 1em; font-size: 75%; clear:right;" |- | colspan="2" bgcolor="#ccccff" align="center" | '''''Religious affiliation'''''<ref name="ARIS">[[Demographics of the United States#Religious affiliation|American Religious Identification Survey]] (ARIS). [http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_briefs/aris/key_findings.htm CUNY Key Findings]. 2001.</ref> |- |[[Christianity|Christian]]: |80% |- |align=left style="text-indent:8px" |[[Protestantism|Protestant]]: |49% |- |align=left style="text-indent:16px" |[[Baptist]]: |12% |- |align=left style="text-indent:16px" |[[Lutheranism|Lutheran]]: |7% |- |align=left style="text-indent:16px" |[[Methodism|Methodist]]: |7% |- |align=left style="text-indent:16px" |[[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]]: |3% |- |align=left style="text-indent:16px" |Other/general Protestant: |20% |- |align=left style="text-indent:8px" |[[Roman Catholicism in the United States|Roman Catholic]]: |30% |- |Other Christian: |1% |- |Other religions: |4% |- |Non-religious: |16% |} According to 2005 census, the racial distributions are as follows: 65.6% [[White|White American]], 15.1% [[African-American]], 3.9% are [[Asian]], 2% other, and the remaining 13.2% are [[Hispanic]]s or Latino of any race. Nearly three in ten whites in Illinois claimed at least partial German ancestry on the Census. African-Americans are present in large numbers in the city of Chicago, East St. Louis, and the southern tip of the state. Residents citing American and British ancestry are especially concentrated in the southeastern part of the state. Metropolitan Chicago has the greatest numbers of people of [[Irish American|Irish]], [[Mexican American|Mexican]], and [[Polish American|Polish]] ancestry. 7.1% of Illinois' population was reported as under age 5, 26.1% under age 18, and 12.1% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 51% of the population.<ref name="2000 Census">[[United States Census Bureau]]. [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17000.html Illinois Quick Facts, 2004]. Accessed [[August 28]] [[2006]].</ref><ref name="Horsley" /> According to the [[2000 U.S. Census]], 10.85% of the population aged 5 and older speak [[Spanish language|Spanish]] at home, while 1.60% speak [[Polish language|Polish]].<ref>"[http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=17&mode=state_tops Most Spoken Languages In Illinois]", [[Modern Language Association]].</ref> ====Religion==== Catholics and Protestants are the largest religious groups in Illinois. However, Illinois is not as heavily Protestant as are neighboring states. [[Roman Catholics]], who are heavily concentrated in and around Chicago, account for 30% of the population.<ref>See [http://www.statemaster.com/red/graph/peo_rom_cat_per_of_cat-people-roman-catholicism-percentage-catholics&int=-1&id=IL Statemaster]. Retrieved 29 July 2007.</ref> Chicago and its suburbs are also home to a large and growing population of [[Hindu]]s, [[Jewish American|Jews]], [[Muslim]]s, and [[Sikh]]s. ==Economy== [[Image:2003 IL Proof.png|thumb|left|150px|Illinois [[50 state quarters|State Quarter]]]] {{main|Economy of Illinois}} The 2006 total [[gross state product]] for Illinois was nearly $589 billion [[USD]],<ref>[[Bureau of Economic Analysis]]. [http://www.bea.gov/bea/newsrel/gspnewsrelease.htm Gross State Products]. [[October 26]] [[2005]].</ref> placing it 5th in the nation. The 2004 per capita income was $34,721 [[USD]].<ref>[[Bureau of Economic Analysis]]. [http://www.bea.gov/bea/newsrelarchive/2006/spi0306.htm State Per Capita Personal Income]. [[March 28]] [[2006]].</ref> Illinois's state [[income tax]] is calculated by multiplying [[net income]] by a [[flat rate]], currently 3%.<ref>Illinois Department of Revenue. [http://www.revenue.state.il.us/Businesses/TaxInformation/Income/individual.htm Individual Income Tax]. Accessed [[May 27]] [[2006]].</ref> There are two rates for state [[sales tax]]: 6.25% for general merchandise and 1% for qualifying food, drugs and medical appliances.<ref>Illinois Department of Revenue. [http://www.revenue.state.il.us/Publications/Sales/strrm/04012008/ST-25.pdf Illinois Sales Tax Reference Manual (PDF)]. p133. [[January 1]], [[2006]].</ref> The [[property tax]] is the largest single tax in Illinois, and is the major source of tax revenue for local government taxing districts. The property tax is a local&mdash;not state&mdash;tax, imposed by local government taxing districts which include counties, [[civil township|township]]s, municipalities, [[school district]]s, and special taxing districts. The property tax in Illinois is imposed only on [[real property]].<ref name="Biles" /><ref name="Horsley" /><ref name="Nelson" /> ==Agricultural and industry== Illinois's agricultural outputs are [[maize|corn]], [[soybean]]s, [[Hog (swine)|hog]]s, [[cattle]], dairy products, and [[wheat]]. In most years Illinois is the leading state for the production of soybeans,<ref>"[http://www.soystats.com/2005/page_15.htm State Soy Crop Statistics]", Soy Stats, The American Soybean Association.</ref> with a harvest of 500 million bushels (14 million [[metric ton]]s) in 2004. Illinois is ranked second in total corn production.<ref>"[http://www.ilcorn.org/Ethanol/EthanolFact/ethanolfact.html Ethanol Fact Sheet]", Illinois Corn Growers Association.</ref> Illinois' universities are actively researching alternative agricultural products as alternative crops. As of 2003, the leading manufacturing industries in Illinois, based upon value-added, were chemical manufacturing ($16.6 billion), food manufacturing ($14.4 billion), machinery manufacturing ($13.6 billion), fabricated metal products ($10.5 billion), plastics and rubber products ($6.8 billion), transportation equipment ($6.7 billion), and computer and electronic products ($6.4 billion).<ref>"[http://www.commerce.state.il.us/NR/rdonlyres/CA702D14-2D58-4762-A240-BDB2044485A4/0/Manufacturing2006.pdf Manufacturing in Illinois]", Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.</ref> Important non-manufacturing industries include financial services, publishing, [[petroleum]], and [[coal]]. ==Energy== Illinois is a net importer of fuels for energy, despite large coal resources and some minor oil production. Illinois exports electricity, ranking fifth among states in electricity production and seventh in electricity consumption.<ref name="finley">"[http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/maps-data-pub/publications/energy01/globalm.shtml Illinois in the Global Energy Marketplace]", [[Robert Finley]], 2001. Illinois State Geological Survey publication.</ref> ===Coal=== About 68% of Illinois has [[coal]]-bearing strata of the [[Pennsylvanian]] geologic period. According to the Illinois State Geological Survey, 211 billion tons of [[bituminous coal]] are estimated to lie under the surface, having a total heating value greater than the estimated oil deposits in the [[Arabian Peninsula]].<ref>[http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/ Illinois State Geological Survey]. [http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/isgshome/coal.htm Coal in Illinois]. Accessed [[April 20]] [[2006]].</ref> However, this coal has a high [[sulfur]] content, which causes [[acid rain]] unless special equipment is used to reduce [[sulfur dioxide]] [[air pollution|emissions]].<ref name="Biles" /><ref name="Horsley" /><ref name="Nelson" /> Many Illinois power plants are not equipped to burn high-sulfur coal. In 1999, Illinois produced 40.4 million tons of coal, but only 17 million tons (42%) of Illinois coal was consumed in Illinois. Most of the coal produced in Illinois is exported to other states, while much of the coal burned for power in Illinois (21 million tons in 1998) is mined in the [[Powder River Basin]] of [[Wyoming]].<ref name="finley" /> [[Mattoon, Illinois|Mattoon]] was recently chosen as the site for the [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]]'s [[FutureGen]] project, a 275 megawatt experimental [[zero emission]] coal-burning power plant; however, the DOE has pulled out of the project. === Petroleum === Illinois is a leading refiner of petroleum in the American Midwest, with a combined crude oil distillation capacity of nearly {{convert|900000|oilbbl/d|m3/d}}. However, Illinois has very limited crude oil proved reserves that account for less than 1% of U.S. crude oil proved reserves. Residential heating is 81% [[natural gas]] compared to less than 1% [[heating oil]]. Illinois is ranked 14th in [[List of oil-producing states#North America|oil production]] among states, with a daily output of approximately {{convert|28000|oilbbl|m3}} in 2005.<ref name="EIA_petro">[[United States Department of Energy]]. [http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/state/il.html Petroleum Profile: Illinois]. Accessed [[April 4]] [[2006]].</ref> === Nuclear power === [[Image:Byron Nuclear Generating Station.jpg|thumb|right|220px|[[Byron Nuclear Generating Station]], in [[Ogle County, Illinois|Ogle County]].]] [[Nuclear power]] arguably began in Illinois with the [[Chicago Pile-1]], the world's first artificial self-sustaining [[nuclear chain reaction]] in the world's first [[nuclear reactor]], built on the [[University of Chicago]] [[campus]]. With six major [[nuclear power plant]]s ([[Braidwood Nuclear Generating Station|Braidwood]], [[Byron Nuclear Generating Station|Byron]], [[Clinton Nuclear Generating Station|Clinton]], [[Dresden Nuclear Power Plant|Dresden]], [[LaSalle County Nuclear Generating Station|LaSalle]], and [[Quad Cities Nuclear Generating Station|Quad Cities]]) housing eleven reactors, Illinois is ranked first in nuclear generating capacity among the 31 states with nuclear plants.<ref name="EIA_glance">[[United States Department of Energy]]. [http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/page/at_a_glance/states/statesil.html Illinois Nuclear Industry]. Accessed [[April 4]], [[2006]].</ref> In 2005, 48% of Illinois' electricity was generated using nuclear power.<ref name="EIA_glance">[[United States Department of Energy]]. [http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/page/at_a_glance/states/statesil.html Illinois Nuclear Industry]. Accessed [[April 4]], [[2006]].</ref> ===Wind power=== Illinois has seen growing interest in the use of [[wind power]] for electrical generation.<ref>"Illinois Wind." Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, [[Western Illinois University]] [http://www.illinoiswind.org/index.asp Illinoiswind.com]</ref> Most of Illinois is rated "fair" for wind energy production by the [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]], with some western sections rated "good" and parts of the south rated "poor".<ref>"[http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/where_is_wind_illinois.asp Wind Powering America: Illinois Wind Maps]", 2001. United States Department of Energy.</ref> Currently, there are four major [[wind farms]] in Illinois; the two largest farms each have a production capacity over 50 [[megawatt]]s. A number of larger projects have also been proposed.<ref>"[http://www.awea.org/projects/illinois.html Illinois Wind Energy Development]", Wind Project Data Base, American Wind Energy Association.</ref> Although it currently represents only a negligible part of Illinois' energy production, it is estimated that wind power could provide 5-10% of the state's energy needs.<ref>"[http://environmentalalmanac.blogspot.com/2006/09/wind-power-on-illinois-horizon.html Wind Power on the Illinois Horizon]", [[Rob Kanter]], [[September 14]], [[2006]]. [[University of Illinois Environmental Council]].</ref> ===Biofuels=== Illinois is ranked second in [[maize|corn]] production among U.S. states, and Illinois corn is used to produce 40% of the ethanol consumed in the United States.<ref>"[http://www.ilcorn.org/Ethanol/EthanolFact/ethanolfact.html Ethanol Fact Sheet]", Illinois Corn Growers Association.</ref> The [[Archer Daniels Midland]] corporation in [[Decatur, Illinois]] is the world's leading producer of ethanol from corn. [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]] is one of the partners in the [[Energy Biosciences Institute]] (EBI), a $500 million biofuels research project funded by petroleum giant [[BP]].<ref>"[http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7018719 BP Pledges $500 Million for Energy Biosciences Institute and Plans New Business to Exploit Research]", BP.com, [[June 14]], [[2006]]. </ref><ref>"[http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=2&RecNum=5690 Gov. Blagojevich joins Gov. Schwarzenegger, top BP executives to celebrate launch of $500 million biosciences energy research partnership with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UC-Berkeley]". Press release, Illinois.gov. [[February 1]], [[2007]].</ref> ==Transportation== [[Image:CurrentIllinoisPlate.gif|thumb|right|The sample version of the current Illinois passenger [[Vehicle registration plate|license plate]] introduced in 2001.]] {{seealso|List of airports in Illinois|List of Illinois Routes|List of Illinois railroads|Category:Illinois waterways}} Because of its central location and its proximity to the [[Rust Belt]] and [[Grain Belt]], Illinois is a national crossroads for rail, auto and truck traffic. Chicago's [[O'Hare International Airport]] (ORD) is one of the busiest airports in the world, with 62 million domestic passengers annually along with 12 million international passengers.<ref>"[http://www.flychicago.com/statistics/airportstatistics.shtm Airport Statistics]", Fly Chicago.com.</ref> It is a [[airline hub|hub]] for [[United Airlines]] and [[American Airlines]], and a major airport expansion project is currently underway. [[Chicago Midway International Airport]] (MDW) is the secondary airport serving metro Chicago, with 19 million passengers in 2006. Illinois has an extensive rail network transporting both passengers and freight. Chicago is a national [[Amtrak]] hub and in-state passengers are served by Amtrak's [[Illinois Service]] featuring the Chicago to Carbondale [[Illini (Amtrak)|Illini]] and Chicago to Quincy [[Illinois Zephyr]] and Chicago to St. Louis [lincoln service]. Currently there is trackwork on the Chicago-St. Louis line to bring the maximum speed up to {{convert|110|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} which would reduce the trip time by an hour and a half. Nearly every North American railway meets at Chicago, making it one of the largest and most active rail hubs in the world. Extensive commuter rail is provided in the city proper and immediate northern suburbs by the [[Chicago Transit Authority]]'s [[Chicago 'L'|'L']] system. The largest suburban commuter rail system in the United States, operated by [[Metra]], uses existing rail lines to provide direct commuter rail access for hundreds of suburbs to the city and beyond. Major U.S. Interstate highways crossing the state include: [[Interstate 24|I-24]], [[Interstate 39|I-39]], [[Interstate 55|I-55]], [[Interstate 57|I-57]], [[Interstate 64|I-64]], [[Interstate 70|I-70]], [[Interstate 72|I-72]], [[Interstate 74|I-74]], [[Interstate 80|I-80]], [[Interstate 88 (west)|I-88]], [[Interstate 90|I-90]], and [[Interstate 94|I-94]]. Illinois carries the distinction of having the most primary (2-digit) Interstates pass through it among the 50 states. In 2005, there were 1,355 traffic deaths on Illinois roadways, the lowest in more than 60 years.<ref name="Nelson" /><ref name="Horsley" /><ref name="Biles" /><ref>[[Governor of Illinois]]. [http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=3&RecNum=4746 Press release]. Accessed [[April 20]], [[2006]].</ref> In addition to the states rail lines, the [[Mississippi River]] and [[Illinois River]] provide major routes for the states agricultural interests. [[Lake Michigan]] connects Illinois to all waterways east. ==Law and government== {{main|Government of Illinois}} {{See also|Illinois state elections, 2006}} Under its constitution, Illinois has three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. Legislative functions are granted to the [[Illinois General Assembly]], composed of the 118-member [[Illinois House of Representatives]] and the 59-member [[Illinois Senate]]. The executive branch is led by the [[Governor of Illinois]], but four other executive officials are separately elected by the people. The judiciary is composed of the [[Supreme Court of Illinois]] and the lower [[court of appeals|appellate]] and [[circuit court]]s.<ref name="Constitution_1818">[[Wikisource]]. [[s:Illinois Constitution of 1818|Illinois Constitution of 1818]].</ref> [[Image:Illinoiscapitol.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The dome on the [[Illinois State Capitol]] in Springfield is taller than the dome on the [[United States Capitol]].]] ===Politics=== {{Illinois Government}} Historically, Illinois was a major battleground state between the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] and the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. In recent elections, it has gradually shifted more Democratic at the national and state level and has become the most Democratic state in the Midwest. Democratic dominance in Illinois is due in part to the control of Chicago. In addition, Democrats have made inroads in the traditionally Republican "collar counties" (i.e., the suburbs surrounding Chicago's [[Cook County, Illinois]]), which are becoming increasingly diverse. Republicans usually prevail in rural northern and central Illinois, and Democrats usually win in southern Illinois and in the [[Quad Cities]] and [[East St. Louis, Illinois|East St. Louis]] metropolitan areas. Illinois voted for Democratic presidential candidates in the last four elections. John Kerry easily won the state's 21 electoral votes in 2004 by a margin of 11 percentage points with 54.8% of the vote despite winning outright in only 15 of 102 counties. Politics in the state, particularly [[Chicago machine]] politics, have been famous for highly visible corruption cases, as well as for crusading reformers such as governors [[Adlai Stevenson]] (D) and [[James R. Thompson]] (R). In 2006, former Governor [[George Ryan]] (R) was convicted of racketeering and bribery. In the late 20th century Congressman [[Dan Rostenkowski]] (Dem) was imprisoned for mail fraud; former governor and federal judge [[Otto Kerner, Jr.]] (D) was imprisoned for bribery; and State Auditor of Public Accounts (Comptroller) [[Orville Hodge]] (R) was imprisoned for embezzlement. In 1912 William Lorimer, the GOP boss of Chicago, was expelled from the U.S. Senate for bribery, and in 1921 Governor Len Small (R) was found to have defrauded the state of a million dollars.<ref>James L. Merriner, ''Grafters and Goo Goos: Corruption and Reform in Chicago, 1833-2003'' (2004)</ref><ref name="Biles" /><ref name="Horsley" /> Illinois has the unique distinction of having popularly elected two of the five [[African Americans]] who have served in the U.S. Senate: [[Carol Moseley-Braun]] and [[Barack Obama]].<ref>[http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/Photo_Exhibit_African_American_Senators.htm U.S. Senate: Art & History Home]</ref> The first Governor was [[Shadrach Bond]], who served from 1818 to 1822. Two presidents have claimed Illinois as their political base, former Representative of [[Illinois' 7th congressional district]] [[Abraham Lincoln]] (born in Kentucky) and General [[Ulysses S. Grant]] (born in Ohio). President [[Ronald Reagan]] was born in [[Tampico, Illinois]], but ran from his political home state of California, where he served as Governor. Former Illinois Governor [[Adlai Stevenson]] was the Democratic nominee for president in 1952 and 1956. Current Illinois Senator [[Barack Obama]] (born in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]]) received enough delegates to clinch the Presidential nomination of the Democratic Party in the [[2008 United States Presidential election]], and if successful in the general election, would be the third president from Illinois. His main opponent for the nomination, [[New York]] Senator [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] (born in Chicago and raised in [[Park Ridge, Illinois]]) would have been the second president born in Illinois, although she is running from New York. <br clear=all/> == Largest cities == {{See also|List of cities in Illinois|List of towns and villages in Illinois}} [[Chicago]] is the largest city in the state and the [[List of United States cities by population|third most populous]] city in the [[United States]]. The [[United States Census Bureau|US Bureau of the Census]] currently lists seven other cities with populations of over 100,000 within Illinois. Based upon the Bureau's official 2006 scientific estimates,<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US17&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-T1-R&-ds_name=PEP_2006_EST&-_lang=en&-format=ST-9S&-_sse=on American Fact Finder], [[United States Census Bureau]].</ref> they are: [[Aurora, Illinois|Aurora]], a Chicago [[outlier]] which at 170,617 has recently (2006) eclipsed [[Rockford, Illinois|Rockford]] for the title of "Second City" of Illinois. However, at 155,138, Rockford is not only the number three city, but also remains the largest city in the state not located within the Chicago metropolitan area. [[Naperville, Illinois|Naperville]], another suburb located west of Chicago, is the fourth largest city in the state, with a population of 142,901. [[Joliet, Illinois|Joliet]], a city southwest of Chicago, is fifth with 142,702. [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]], the state capital of Illinois, comes in sixth with 116,482. [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]], which decades ago was the second largest city in the state, comes in seventh with 113,107. The final city in the 100,000 club is [[Elgin, Illinois|Elgin]], an outlying northwest suburb of Chicago with a 2006 population of 101,903. Other major urban areas include the Illinois portion of the [[Greater St. Louis]] area (often called the [[Metro-East]] area) which has a population of over 600,000 people, the Illinois portion the [[Quad Cities]] area which has a population of 215,000, the [[Champaign-Urbana]] area which has a combined population of 210,000, and [[Bloomington-Normal]] with a combined population of over 125,000. [[Image:Chicago Skyline at Sunset.png|650px|thumb|center|Chicago's skyline]] ==Education== [[Image:Rockefeller Chapel.jpg|thumb|210px|left|[[Rockefeller Chapel]], constructed in 1928, is the tallest structure on the [[University of Chicago]] campus.]] ===Illinois State Board of Education=== {{main|Illinois State Board of Education}} The Illinois State Board of Education or ISBE, autonomous of the governor and the state legislature, administers [[public education]] in the state. Local municipalities and their respective [[school district]]s operate individual public schools but the ISBE audits performance of public schools with the [[Illinois School Report Card]]. The ISBE also makes recommendations to state leaders concerning education spending and policies. ===Primary and secondary schools=== {{see also|List of school districts in Illinois|List of high schools in Illinois}} Education is compulsory from kindergarten through the twelfth grade in Illinois, commonly but not exclusively divided into three tiers of [[primary education|primary]] and [[secondary education]]: [[elementary school]], [[middle school]] or [[junior high school]] and [[high school]]. District territories are often complex in structure. In some cases, elementary, middle and junior high schools of a single district feed into high schools in another district. ===Colleges and universities=== {{see also|List of colleges and universities in Illinois}} ====Major universities==== Using the criterion established by the [[Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching]], there are nine "National Universities" in the state. Four of these rank among the top 100 National Universities in United States, as determined by the prestigious [[US News and World Report]] rankings: the [[University of Chicago]] (9), [[Northwestern University]] (14), the [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]] (38), and the [[Illinois Institute of Technology]] (96)<ref>[http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/t1natudoc_brief.php].</ref> The other five major schools are: (alphabetically) [[DePaul University]], [[Illinois State University]], [[Loyola University Chicago]], [[Northern Illinois University]], and [[Southern Illinois University Carbondale]]. ====Other post-secondary schools==== Besides the "National Universities", Illinois has [[List of colleges and universities in Illinois|several other universities]], both public and private. There are also literally dozens of small [[liberal arts college]]s across the state. Additionally, Illinois supports 49 public [[community college]]s in the [[Illinois Community College System]]. ==Sports== [[Image:SoliderFieldAug2004.jpg|right|thumb|Soldier Field following renovation.]] {{see also|List of professional sports teams in Illinois}} Because of its large population, Chicago is the focus of most professional sports in Illinois though outside of the Chicago area professional teams in St. Louis and Indianapolis are also supported. Chicago is the home to 15 different professional sports teams. The [[Chicago Cubs]] of the [[National League]] play in the second-oldest major league stadium ([[Wrigley Field]]) and are famous for not winning the World Series since 1908. The [[Chicago White Sox]] of the [[American League]] won the [[World Series]] championship in 2005, their first since 1917. The [[Chicago Bears]] football team has won 9 total [[List of NFL champions|NFL Championships]], the last occurring in [[Super Bowl XX]]. Coincidentally, the city's [[Arena Football League]] team, the [[Chicago Rush]], won [[ArenaBowl XX]]. The [[Chicago Bulls]] of the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] are one of the most recognized basketball teams in the world, thanks to the heroics of a player often cited as the best ever, [[Michael Jordan]], who led the team to six NBA championships in eight seasons in the 1990s. The [[Chicago Blackhawks]] of the [[NHL]] began playing in 1926 as a member of the [[Original Six]] and have won three Stanley Cups. The [[Chicago Fire (soccer)|Chicago Fire]] soccer club are members of [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] and are one of the league's most successful and best-supported since its founding in 1997, winning one league and four [[Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup|US Open Cup]]s in that timespan. The [[Chicago Wolves]] are an [[AHL]] minor league team that is also very popular and has been a winning team since it's first season. The city was formerly home to other teams, such as the Chicago Rockers of the CBA, Chicago Skyliners of the IBL, the [[Chicago Bruisers]] of Arena Football and the [[Chicago Blitz]] of the [[USFL]]. Before the Fire, the [[Chicago Sting]] of [[Major League Soccer]] and the [[Chicago Power]] of the [[MISL]] both spent time as the state's premiere soccer team. The city is not the only place where sports played professionally. The [[Rockford Lightning]] is one of the oldest [[CBA]] teams in the league, and the [[Peoria Chiefs]] and [[Kane County Cougars]] are minor league baseball teams affiliated with [[MLB]]. The [[Schaumburg Flyers]] are a prominent independent league baseball team. ==See also== *[[List of Illinois-related topics]] {{portal|Illinois|Seal of Illinois.svg|left=yes}} {{clear}} <!-- Please place links to all topics directly related to the State of Illinois in the [[List of Illinois-related topics]] --> ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==Bibliography== *Biles, Roger. ''Illinois: A History of the Land and Its People'' (2005) *Bridges, Roger D. and Davis, Rodney O., ''Illinois : Its History and Legacy'' (1984) (ISBN 0933150865) *Cole, Arthur Charles. ''The Era of the Civil War, 1848-1870'' (1919). ISBN 0-8369-5646-X. narrative history *Costa, David J. ''Illinois''. (2007). Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas Newsletter XXV: 4, 9-12. *Davis, James E. ''Frontier Illinois'' (1998). ISBN 0-253-33423-3. analytic history *Gove, Samuel K. and James D. Nowlan. ''Illinois Politics & Government: The Expanding Metropolitan Frontier'' (1996). ISBN 0-8032-7014-3. Government text with guide to further sources. *Grossman, James R., Ann Durkin Keating, and Janice L. Reiff, eds. ''[http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/ The Encyclopedia of Chicago]'' (2004). ISBN 0-226-31015-9. online version; major scholarly guide to the metro area's history, geography, and culture *Hallwas, John E. ed., ''Illinois Literature: The Nineteenth Century'' (1986). OCLC 14228886. *Howard, Robert P. ''Illinois: A History of the Prairie State'' (1972). ISBN 0-8028-7025-2. textbook *Jensen, Richard. ''Illinois: A History'' (2001). ISBN 0-252-07021-6. interpretation using a traditional-modern-postmodern model. *Keiser, John H. ''Building for the Centuries: Illinois 1865-1898'' (1977). ISBN 0-252-00617-8, narrative history *Meyer, Douglas K. ''Making the Heartland Quilt: A Geographical History of Settlement and Migration in Early-Nineteenth-Century Illinois'' (2000). ISBN 0-8093-2289-7. *Kilduff, Pygman. ''Illinois: History Government Geography'' (1962) school text *Kleppner, Paul. Political Atlas of Illinois (1988). ISBN 0-87580-136-6. Maps for 1980s. *[http://history.alliancelibrarysystem.com/IllinoisAlive/files/bp/htm7/bp000182.cfm Peck, J. M. A Gazetteer of Illinois (1837)]. ISBN 1-55613-782-6. *Sutton, Robert P. ed. ''The Prairie State: A Documentary History of Illinois'' (1977). ISBN 0-8028-1651-7. 2 vol of primary sources *Walton, C. Clyde. ed. ''An Illinois Reader'' (1970), primary sources *[[Works Progress Administration]]. ''Illinois: A Descriptive and Historical Guide'' (1939). ISBN 0-394-72195-0. A famous survey covering every town and city and much more. == External links == {{sisterlinks|Illinois}} * [http://www.illinois.gov State of Illinois Web Site] *[http://wikis.ala.org/godort/index.php/Illinois Illinois State Databases] - Annotated list of searchable databases produced by Illinois state agencies and compiled by the Government Documents Roundtable of the American Library Association. * [http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=IL Energy Data & Statistics for Illinois- From the U.S. Department of Energy] * [http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=IL USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Illinois] * [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17000.html U.S. Census Bureau] * [http://www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/Il.htm Illinois State Facts] * [http://history.rays-place.com/governors/il/index.htm Biographies of Illinois Governors 1818 to 1885] * [http://history.rays-place.com/il/1837/index.htm 1837 Gazetteer of Illinois] * [http://www.n9jig.com Illinois Highways Page, Compendium of all numbered highways in Illinois] *{{dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Illinois}} * [http://thephoenix.com/Supplements/2008/50States/Illinois/ Boston Phoenix article] naming Big Black the All-Time Best Band, Miles Davis the All-Time Best Solo Artist, and the Chadeliers the Best New Band from Illinois {{-}} {{Illinois|expand}} {{United States}} {{US Midwest}} {{coor title d|40|N|89|W|region:US-IL_type:state}} [[Category:Illinois| ]] [[Category:States of the United States]] [[Category:1818 establishments]] {{Link FA|es}} [[af:Illinois]] [[ang:Illinois]] [[ar:إلينوي]] [[frp:Illinois]] [[az:İllinoys]] [[bn:ইলিনয়]] [[zh-min-nan:Illinois]] [[be-x-old:Ілінойс (штат)]] [[bar:Illinois]] [[bs:Illinois]] [[br:Illinois]] [[bg:Илинойс]] [[ca:Illinois]] [[cv:Иллинойс (штат)]] [[cs:Illinois]] [[cy:Illinois]] [[da:Illinois]] [[de:Illinois]] [[et:Illinois]] [[es:Illinois]] [[eo:Ilinojo]] [[eu:Illinois]] [[fa:ایلینوی]] [[fo:Illinois]] [[fr:Illinois]] [[fy:Illinois]] [[ga:Illinois]] [[gd:Illinois]] [[gl:Illinois]] [[ko:일리노이 주]] [[hy:Իլինոյս]] [[hi:इलिनॉय]] [[hr:Illinois]] [[io:Illinois]] [[ig:Illinois]] [[bpy:ইলিনয়স]] [[id:Illinois]] [[iu:ᐄᓚᓄᐃᔅ/iilanuis]] [[ik:Illinois]] [[os:Иллинойс]] [[is:Illinois]] [[it:Illinois]] [[he:אילינוי]] [[pam:Illinois]] [[ka:ილინოისი (შტატი)]] [[kw:Illinois]] [[sw:Illinois]] [[ht:Ilinwa]] [[ku:Illinois]] [[lad:Illinois]] [[la:Illinoesia]] [[lv:Ilinoisa]] [[lt:Ilinojus]] [[lij:Illinois]] [[hu:Illinois]] [[mk:Илиноис]] [[ml:ഇല്ലിനോയി]] [[mi:Illinois]] [[mr:इलिनॉय]] [[ms:Illinois]] [[nl:Illinois (staat)]] [[ja:イリノイ州]] [[no:Illinois]] [[nn:Illinois]] [[oc:Illinois]] [[uz:Illinoys]] [[pms:Illinois]] [[nds:Illinois]] [[pl:Illinois]] [[pt:Illinois]] [[ro:Illinois (stat SUA)]] [[ru:Иллинойс (штат)]] [[sq:Illinois]] [[scn:Illinois]] [[simple:Illinois]] [[sk:Illinois]] [[sl:Illinois]] [[sr:Илиноис]] [[sh:Illinois]] [[fi:Illinois]] [[sv:Illinois]] [[ta:இலினொய்]] [[th:มลรัฐอิลลินอยส์]] [[vi:Illinois]] [[tr:Illinois]] [[uk:Іллінойс]] [[ur:الینوائے]] [[vo:Illinois]] [[yi:אילינויס]] [[diq:İllinois]] [[bat-smg:Ėlėnojos]] [[zh:伊利诺伊州]]