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Learn about Illinois, a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, with a rich and diverse history, geography, and culture. Find out about its capital, population, economy, symbols, and more from this comprehensive encyclopedia article.
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- Relief and drainage
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
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Illinois, constituent state of the United States of America. It stretches southward 385 miles (620 km) from the Wisconsin border in the north to Cairo in the south. In addition to Wisconsin, the state borders Lake Michigan to the northeast, Indiana to the east, Kentucky to the southeast, Missouri to the west, and Iowa to the northwest. Illinois was named for the Illinois Indians. The capital is Springfield, in the west-central part of the state.
Admitted as the 21st member of the union on December 3, 1818, Illinois lies within both the so-called old industrial belt and the fertile agricultural heart of the country. The presence of Chicago, one of the country’s most prominent cities, creates sharp distinctions between the state’s largely urban and suburban northeast and the more evenly balanced urban-rural population downstate. In political life, Illinois is divided between Cook county (which contains much of the Chicago metropolitan area) and “downstate”—that is, all the other counties, even those north of Cook, such as Lake county. although its northern portion touches the Upper Midwest, its southern point is actually farther south than Richmond, Virginia, and has great affinities with neighbouring Kentucky and Missouri. Further contrasts derive from the racial and ethnic complexity of the population.
Much of Illinois’s land is flat, with irregular plains in the western, northern, and southern sections. This area once constituted a vast tallgrass prairie, virtually all of which was converted to farmland or urban sprawl. The unglaciated southernmost part of the state is in many ways out of character with the rest of Illinois. Shawnee National Forest, the only large tract of federally administered land in Illinois, covers a great part of this region. Southern Illinois consists of gently sloping, open hills. Rolling hills in the northwestern corner include the state’s highest point, Charles Mound, which is 1,235 feet (376 metres) above sea level. The statewide average elevation is about 600 feet (180 metres).
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The deep black soil of much of northern and central Illinois has unusual richness, and its quality for agriculture is among the finest in the world. The soils of the southern third of the state are far less suited for farming.
Illinois is drained by as many as 900 streams emptying mostly into the Mississippi River system. The Chicago and Calumet rivers—originally flowing into the St. Lawrence by way of Lake Michigan—have been altered through the construction of canals to drain into the Mississippi by way of the Illinois River, which roughly bisects the northern portion of the state from northeast to southwest. The Ohio River joins the Mississippi at the state’s southern tip near Cairo, an area known as “Little Egypt.”
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Because of its geographic position and its long north-south axis, Illinois experiences wide regional variations in temperature. Across the state, seasonal temperature variation also tends to be great, with typically cold, snowy winters and hot summers; extremes are somewhat ameliorated around Lake Michigan. Mean winter temperatures are about 22 °F ...
Illinois vegetational regions are separated into the tallgrass prairie of northern and central Illinois and the oak-hickory forest of the western and southern regions. Only tiny fragments of the original tallgrass prairie have been preserved, and some small areas have been reconstructed; the largest restored prairie in the state is Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, near Joliet. Before European settlers—first the French and then the English—moved in beginning in the 17th century, oak-hickory forests also prevailed in the north. The settlers, needing wood for fuel and construction material and the lumbering industry, stripped most of the trees, which left only 10 percent forest cover in Illinois. More than 6,200 square miles (16,000 square km) of forests remain, some 1,100 square miles (2,800 square km) of them in Shawnee National Forest. The state’s length gives it an unusual variety of Northern and Southern plant life. Both Northern and Southern wildflowers grow in Illinois, as do a variety of trees, such as white pines, tamaracks, walnuts, cypresses, and tupelos.
Before 1800 abundant wildlife roamed the prairies and forests, but bison, bears, wolves, mountain lions (pumas), porcupines, and elk have disappeared. Deer became extinct in 1910, but in 1933 the state department of conservation placed small herds that established a growing deer population. By the early 21st century the number of white-tailed deer in the state had reached into the hundreds of thousands. Coyotes and foxes can be found in woodlands and other natural areas and, increasingly, in and around urban areas. Game birds such as quail and pheasant are not as plentiful as in previous times, but waterfowl are abundant during the spring and fall migrations. Pollution has nearly wiped out many species of fish, but bullheads, carp, catfish, white and yellow bass, and walleye still abound.
Learn about Illinois, the 21st state of the United States, with diverse regions, cities, and industries. Explore its land, climate, water, and natural resources, as well as its political and cultural features.
Jan 18, 2024 · Learn about the geography, history, and culture of Illinois, a state in the Midwestern United States. Explore maps of its counties, cities, regions, and major bodies of water.
Aug 16, 2023 · Discover the diverse and fascinating aspects of Illinois, from its iconic city of Chicago to its historical figures like Lincoln and Al Capone. Learn about its culture, cuisine, architecture, sports, and more in this comprehensive list.
- Chicago. One of the USA’s most iconic cities, Chicago is the perfect spot to launch your itinerary through Illinois. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, The Windy City is famed for its historic architecture, world-class museums & galleries, and cultural scene.
- Springfield. Embarking on a classic Route 66 road trip? Prepare to roll into Springfield. Located about three hours from Chicago, Illinois’s capital city is a popular stop on the “Mother Road,” thanks to its classic American diners and roadside attractions.
- Rockford. Only 90 minutes northwest of Chicago, Rockford is the perfect base for exploring the heart of northern Illinois. Home to just shy of 150,000 people, the city is famed for its gardens and park, featuring over 4,000 hectares of green spaces.
- Starved Rock State Park. If you’ve only got time for one outdoor adventure in Illinois, beeline for Starved Rock State Park. Located on the Illinois River, just 93 miles from Chicago, this popular state park showcases everything from craggy cliffs and canyons to waterfalls and streams.
Learn about the 21st state, its nickname, capital, and largest city. Discover its history, from Native American tribes to the Civil War, and its natural resources, from corn to popcorn.
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Explore Illinois' diverse regions, from urban excitement and outdoor adventures to delicious food and fascinating history. Find travel tips, itineraries, events, stories and more to plan your perfect trip.
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