Illinois

Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. It is the most populous state in the Midwest region, however with 65% of its residents concentrated in the Chicago metropolitan area, most of the state has either a rural or a small town character. 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.

 

Also known as : Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State, Corn State
Capital : Springfield
Largest city : Chicago
Population : 12 831 970
Abbreviation : IL
Main cities : Chicago, Springfield, Rockford, Peoria, Decatur, Rock Island/Moline, Bloomington/Normal, Joliet