2. Illinois is Midwestern state of the USA. The name "Illinois" comes from a Native American word meaning "tribe of superior men.“ Illinois was the 21 st state to enter the Union. Illinois M I D W E S T

3. Illinois is in the north-central U.S. and borders on Lake Michigan. Surrounding states are Wisconsin to the north, Iowa and Missouri to the west, Kentucky to the south, and Indiana to the east. Illinois also borders Michigan, but only via a water boundary in Lake Michigan. Nearly the entire western boundary is the Mississippi River, except for a few areas where the river has changed course. Lake Michigan

4. French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet explored the Illinois River in 1673. In 1680, other French explorers constructed a fort at the site of the nowadays city of Peoria, in 1682 a fort atop Starved Rock in nowadays 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 British. Father J. Marquette

5. The Illinois Territory was created on February 3, 1809, with its capital at Kaskaskia. In 1818, Illinois became the 21 st U.S. state. It was one of 5 states on Northwest Territory. Old State House

6. Significant episodes in the state's early history include the influx of settlers following the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825; the Black Hawk War in 1832, which virtually ended the Indian troubles in the area; and the rise of Abraham Lincoln from farm laborer to president. Erie Canal Chief Black Hawk Abraham Lincoln

7. 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 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.

8. Today Illinois is the most populous and demographically diverse Midwestern state and the 5 th most populous in the nation. Illinois has a broad economic base; it is an important transportation hub. An Associated Press analysis of 21 demographic factors found Illinois the "most average state“.

9. Nicknames: Land of Lincoln; The Prairie StateNicknames: Land of Lincoln; The Prairie State Motto: State sovereignty, national unionMotto: State sovereignty, national union Admission to Union: December 3, 1818 (21 st )Admission to Union: December 3, 1818 (21 st ) Capital: Springfield (after Kaskaskia and Vandalia)Capital: Springfield (after Kaskaskia and Vandalia) Largest city: ChicagoLargest city: Chicago Area: 140,998 km² (ranked 25 th in US)Area: 140,998 km² (ranked 25 th in US) Population: 12,852,548 people (ranked 5 th in US)Population: 12,852,548 people (ranked 5 th in US) Name for Residents: IllinoisanName for Residents: Illinoisan Highest point: Mound Charles (376 m)Highest point: Mound Charles (376 m) Longest river: Illinois (432 m)Longest river: Illinois (432 m) Highest structure: Sears Tower, Chicago (527 m)Highest structure: Sears Tower, Chicago (527 m) Major Industries: agriculture (corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, barley, rye, sorghum), cattle, manufacturing, miningMajor Industries: agriculture (corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, barley, rye, sorghum), cattle, manufacturing, mining

10. Illinois is a leading producer of soybeans, corn, and hogs. Other agricultural commodities include cattle, wheat, oats, sorghum, and hay. Today, Illinois stands high in manufacturing, coal mining, agriculture, and oil production. The state's manufactures include food and agricultural products, transportation equipment, chemicals, industrial machinery, and computer equipment.

11. The Great Seal of Illinois features a bald eagle pitched on a rock carrying a shield in its talons and a banner with the state motto "State Sovereignty, National Union" in its beak. Illinois's original state flag has a white background and depicts the Great Seal of Illinois.

12. There are about 500 rivers and 950 lakes in the State. The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, about 439 km long. The state's largest inland water system is Carlyle Lake, which covers 26,000 acres in Southern Illinois. In extreme northwestern Illinois, the 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 point 377 m. Illinois River Carlyle Lake

13. Illinois has a continental climate, with large temperature extremes not moderated by either mountains or oceans. Illinois is vulnerable to tornadoes with an average of 35 occurring annually. 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. Tri-State Tornado Damage

14. The 16 th President of the USA Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky, in 1809. Lincoln served as a congressman from Illinois before being elected President in 1861. Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40 th President of the United States of America, was born in Tampico, Illinois. Before being elected President, Barack Obama, the 44 th President of the USA, served as legislator from Illinois. The 18 th President of the USA General Ulysses S. Grant was born in Ohio. Lived in Galena, Illinois.

15. Springfield is the capital of Illinois with a population of 116,482. The city was originally called "Calhoun" after Vice President John C. Calhoun; as public sentiment turned against Calhoun the city was renamed Springfield. Springfield became the capital in 1837. It is the 3 rd capital after Kalkaska and Vandalia.

16. The city of Springfield is dotted with sites centered around U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, who started his political career in Springfield. These include: the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, a National Historical Park that includes the preserved surrounding neighborhood, the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site, the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, the Old State Capitol State Historic Site, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Lincoln Home Lincoln Tomb Lincoln Museum

17. The horseshoe sandwich, also originated in Springfield. The city is also known for its chili or “chilli”. In 1993 the Illinois state legislature adopted a resolution proclaiming Springfield the “Chilli Capital of the Civilized World”. Cozy Dog Springfield has long had an affiliation with food. The corn dog on a stick was invented in the city under the name “Cozy Dog”, although there is some debate to the actual origin of the popular snack. Horseshoe sandwich

18. Common tourist attractions various food-related attractions such as the Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop. The alleged first U.S. drive-thru window is still in operation in Springfield at the Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop.

19. Chicago is the largest city in the state of Illinois. It is the nation's third largest city. Its population is nearly 3 million people. The name Chicago is thought to come from an Algonquian word meaning “onion” or “skunk.” Chicago is called the "Windy City", "Chi-Town", "Second City“, and the "City of Big Shoulders".

20. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed a third of the city, including the entire central business district, Chicago experienced rapid rebuilding and growth. Ever since the city was rebuilt, it became known as the Second City, since the first city was largely destroyed in the Fire. 1871 Nowadays Chicago

21. The first skyscraper in the world was the 10- storied Home Insurance Building in Chicago. It was built in 1884- 1885, using steel- skeleton construction Today Chicago is the home of the tallest building in North America The Sears Tower which has 110 stories.

22. Chicago is a major centre of higher education, with numerous colleges and universities. The prestigious University of Chicago founded in 1890 was the site of the world’s first man-made self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. Affiliated with 82 Nobel Prize laureates, the University of Chicago is widely regarded as one of the world's foremost universities. On December 2, 1942, physicist Enrico Fermi conducted the world’s first controlled nuclear reaction at the University of Chicago as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project.

23. Among Chicago's attractions are the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History, the Jane Addams–Hull House Museum, Navy Pier, Chicago Historical Museum, Jackson Park and numerous architectural landmarks such as the Sears Tower and Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House. Navy PierJackson Park Historical Museum

24. Aurora Rockford Peoria

25. Walt Disney Dick Van Dyke Ernest Hemingway T. Dreiser Louis Armstrong Ray Bradbury F.L.Wright

26. Amphibian: Eastern Tiger SalamanderAmphibian: Eastern Tiger Salamander Animal: White-tailed DeerAnimal: White-tailed Deer Insect: Monarch ButterflyInsect: Monarch Butterfly Fish: BluegillFish: Bluegill Flower: Purple VioletFlower: Purple Violet Tree: White OakTree: White Oak Reptile: Painted TurtleReptile: Painted Turtle Bird: CardinalBird: Cardinal Prairie Grass: Big BluestemPrairie Grass: Big Bluestem Dance: Square DanceDance: Square Dance Fruit: AppleFruit: Apple Fossil: Tully MonsterFossil: Tully Monster Mineral: FluoriteMineral: Fluorite Seal: The Great SealSeal: The Great Seal