All About Illinois
Illinois is a constituent state of the United States of America. It encompasses 56,345 square miles (145,934 square kilometres) and stretches 385 miles (620 kilometres) from Wisconsin in the north to Cairo in the area that is known as ''Little Egypt,'' which lies farther south than Richmond, Va. In addition to Wisconsin, the state borders Lake Michigan on the northeast, Indiana on the east, Kentucky on the southeast, and Missouri and Iowa on the west. Illinois was named for the Illinois Indians. The capital is Springfield.
Admitted as the 21st member of the Union on Dec. 3, 1818, Illinois has throughout the 20th century been profoundly divided. It lies within both the so-called old industrial belt and the fertile agricultural heart of the nation. The presence of Chicago, the nation's third largest city, creates sharp distinctions between the state's largely urban northeast and the more evenly balanced urban–rural population downstate. Because of its great length, Illinois exhibits both Northern and Southern regional characteristics. Still further contrasts derive from the racial and ethnic complexity of the population.
These internal divisions, while not unique to Illinois, perhaps became magnified through the state's critical role in the economic and political life of the nation. Rich in coal and oil reserves and ideally located for the acquisition of raw materials and distribution of finished goods, Illinois ranks among the top states in value of exports, agricultural income, and value added by manufacturing. Chicago is a railroad hub of the nation; its O'Hare International Airport is among the world's busiest, and Illinois highways and waterways are thick with commercial traffic. Politically, Illinois has continued to be a swing state, its votes often mirroring fluctuating social tensions that underlie the growing, but unevenly distributed, economic prosperity.
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. The Ohio River joins the Mississippi at the state's southern tip. Flat prairies cover much of Illinois, with irregular plains in the western, northern, and southern sections. The unglaciated southernmost part of the state is in many ways out of character with the rest of Illinois. Shawnee National Forest, the only federal forest in Illinois, covers a great part of this region. Southern Illinois consists of gently sloping, open hills. Rolling hills in the northwest include the state's highest point, 1,235 feet (376 metres) above sea level. The statewide average elevation is about 600 feet. Water lies under all of Illinois in natural underground reservoirs.
The diversified nature of its economy - strength in manufacturing, agriculture, finance, mining, transportation, government, and services - makes Illinois a microcosm of the national economy. This diversity generally provides greater stability at times when other states with more narrowly based industries suffer. The state and private business organizations give considerable attention to expanding Illinois's balanced economy. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs has offices in foreign cities to stimulate the importation of Illinois products. The state offers services for the development of business enterprises by blacks and other ethnic minorities and disseminates information to private enterprises on new technological developments. Private organizations have played a significant part in attracting industry, in the development or rehabilitation of downtown areas, and in technological advancement.
Among Illinois's finest recreational offerings are the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan, from Chicago to the Wisconsin border, and the forest preserves. Although Illinois has virtually no wilderness areas, many camping sites are located throughout the state, and boating and fishing are avidly pursued on the state's many lakes and streams. Points of historical importance dot the state. Among old cities on the Mississippi are Galena, which preserves the home of President Ulysses S. Grant. New Salem, near Springfield, is a preservation of the community of log cabins in which Abraham Lincoln spent much of his young manhood. Throughout central Illinois the Lincoln Trail joins places associated with the president, including his home in Springfield and the sites of his debates with Senator Stephen A. Douglas. Scenic areas include the Mississippi Palisades State Park and Apple River Canyon State Park in the northwest, Starved Rock State Park in north central Illinois, and the forests of the south. Oak Park, home of the pioneer modern architect Frank Lloyd Wright, contains much of his early work.
Illinois is known as the transportation centre of the United States. Few comparable areas are served by so many means of transportation. The state's rail network, radiating from Chicago, is among the most extensive in the nation. Chicago is a major centre for Amtrak service and also maintains an extensive commuter rail service. Chicago is also one of the principal hubs of the national road system, and nearly all of the state's major urban areas are served by at least one interstate highway. Water transportation became more efficient when Lake Michigan was connected to the Mississippi River in 1848 by means of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, linking the Chicago and Illinois rivers. The St. Lawrence Seaway stimulated the expansion of the Port of Chicago. Oceangoing freighters dock at Calumet Harbor in South Chicago. Chicago has two major airports, O'Hare International and Midway. More than 700 airports are located throughout the state.
