Geography and Climate of Illinois
Bounded primarily by rivers, Illinois shares a northeast border with Lake Michigan, an eastern border with Indiana, a northern border with Wisconsin, a western border with Iowa and Missouri and the Mississippi River and a southern border with Kentucky and the Ohio River. The Illinois River bisects the state.
Illinois is comprised of three major geographical regions: Northern Illinois and the Chicago metropolitan area, Central Illinois, which consists mostly of flat prairie, and Southern Illinois, near the convergence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Some of southeastern Illinois is part of the Evansville, Indiana metro area, known as the Tri-State with Kentucky and Indiana.
The Driftless Zone, located in the extreme northwestern area of Illinois, has a higher, more mountainous topography, with the highest elevation at Charles Mound at 1,235 feet. The Kaskaskia River to the floodplain on the Mississippi River is the site of Cahokia, an ancient city of early German settlers.
The climate in Illinois varies depending on the area. Overall, it has a humid continental weather pattern characterized by hot, humid summers and cold winters.
Average annual rainfall ranges between 35 to 48 inches. Snowfall every year is over 38 inches in the Chicago area and less than 14 inches in the southern part of Illinois. Illinois is susceptible to thunderstorms and tornadoes, as well as severe snowstorms.
History of Illinois
The Illiniwek Confederation was the largest alliance of several Native American tribes in the region, including the Iroquois, Potawatomi and Sauk, at the time of European discovery. Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet of France explored the Illinois River in 1673, later establishing a fort at what is now Peoria.
Until 1763, Illinois was under French control. After being handed over to Britain, few settlers moved into the area. In 1783, Illinois became part of the Northwest Territory.
Originally, the capital of Illinois was located at Kaskaskia, where Kentucky settlers moved northward into the southern region of the state. Eventually, the border shifted so that Chicago and several mining regions were within state boundaries. During the 1830s, several severe snowstorms and harsh winters ruined crops and killed settlers.
In 1818, Illinois abolished slavery. However, some parts of southern Illinois, which had stronger ties to the South, used slave labor before becoming part of a territory. In such cases, legislation during that time kept African-Americans from settling permanently in the state.
Throughout the Civil War, more than 250,000 soldiers from Illinois served in the Union Army. Significant political and military minds like John Buford, John A. Logan, John Pope, Ulysses S. Grant and President Abraham Lincoln all came from Illinois.
During the mid-1800s, Chicago grew into a major port due to its location next to the Great Lakes. Soon after, it became a major railroad hub. By 1857, Chicago was the largest city in Illinois and one of the largest cities in the nation.
Mining and factories led to the formation of important guidelines for U.S. labor unions, such as the Pullman Strike and the Haymarket Riot, which lobbied for an eight-hour workday. Throughout the rest of the 1800s and into the 20th century, immigrant laborers and thousands of African-Americans migrated to Chicago. The migration led to social tensions, especially in South Side Chicago, resulting in the 1919 Chicago Race Riot.
The entire city nearly burned down in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, killing 300 people and engulfing 18,000 buildings. Close to 300,000 Chicagoans were left homeless. As a result, rebuilding the city led to the use of steel frames that could withstand some of the marshy ground and the invention of the skyscraper, making Chicago a world leader in architecture.
The 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago put the city on the map, while subsequent oil strikes in 1937 and 1939 dramatically increased oil production. Ray Kroc opened the first chain of McDonald’s in Des Plaines in 1960, sparking the fast-food revolution.
Demographics of Illinois
As of 2006, the estimated population in Illinois is 12,831,970. Chicago and its metro area are home to 65 percent of the state population.
During the 2005 Census, around three in ten whites claimed some kind of German ancestry, making it the largest European ancestral group, followed by those of Irish and Polish descent. The state has a large number of African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics, notably Mexican populations.
Protestants and Catholics, most of who reside in the Chicago area, comprise most of the religious makeup in Illinois. Sixteen percent do not have any particular religious affiliation. However, given the sheer size of Chicago, there are a growing number of Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs.
Economy of Illinois
The total gross state product of Illinois in 2006 was around $589 billion, with a per capita income of $34,721.
Illinois’ proximity to major rivers gives it fertile soil and a large agricultural business, including the production of corn, soybeans, dairy, wheat, cattle and hogs. The state is the biggest producer of soybeans and is second in corn production, creating 40 percent of ethanol in the U.S.
Although there are massive deposits of oil and coal beneath the earth’s surface, the coal has high sulfur content, which can potentially cause acid rain. Illinois is able to use nuclear power to generate electricity. It's incidentally the home of the world’s first self-sustaining artificial nuclear chain reaction in the first nuclear reactor built on the University of Chicago.
Other manufacturing industries in Illinois include food, machinery, chemicals, plastics, transportation equipment, fabricated metals and electronic products. Financial services, publishing and petroleum also play a key role in the state’s economy.
Illinois Law and Government
The current governor of Illinois is Democrat Rod Blagojevich, with Democrats Barack Obama and Richard J. Durbin serving in the U.S. Senate. There are 118 members in the Illinois House of Representatives, while 59 members serve in the Senate. The state has a long history of politics and is the home of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and General Ulysses S. Grant
While Illinois is a Democratic state, historically it was the site of many political battles between the Democratic Party and Republican Party. Chicago is heavily Democratic, while some of the suburbs and downstate Illinois lean toward Republican. Chicago machine politics gained attention in past years for their corruption scandals. Former governors Adlai Stevenson and James R. Thompson helped revitalize and renovate many urban and rural areas of the state, including infrastructure and education reform.
Illinois Transportation
Illinois is centrally located between southern and Midwestern states, making it a national crossroads. The state has an extensive rail network, with Chicago as the national hub for Amtrak.
Commuter rails in Chicago proper and the suburbs are run by the Chicago Transit Authority L system. Metra runs the largest commuter rail system for suburbs.
The Mississippi and Illinois rivers are major water routes for shipping. Lake Michigan connects the state to waterways to the east. After the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1959, Chicago became an ocean port, bringing in even more business.
O’Hare International Airport in Chicago is one of the world’s busiest airports, serving 62 million domestic and 12 million international passengers every year. Chicago Midway International Airport is another smaller airport serving the Chicago metro area. Other regional airports spread across the state.
Again, because of its location, Illinois has the most Interstates in the country. I-39 goes from the middle of the state to Wisconsin, while I-55 and I-57 run north to south to Chicago. I-64 travels east to west, along with I-70, I-72, I-88 and I-90.
Major Cities and Towns of Illinois
Chicago is the most populated city in the state, third in the nation. As an economic and cultural influence on the Midwest, Chicago’s reputation as a transportation and commerce hub has grown immensely since the 1800s. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange on LaSalle Street represents finances for the Midwest, while skyscrapers soar into the sky around downtown, particularly the Sears Tower and the Chicago Spire.
The Magnificent Mile offers shops and entertainment. The Art Institute of Chicago houses several renowned fine works of art. Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain and Wrigley Field are just a few of the Chicago's many famous landmarks.
Illinois Educational System
The University of Chicago and Northwestern University are among the nation’s top universities, along with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Illinois Institute of Technology. There are also several other major universities, along with dozens of liberal arts colleges and 49 public community colleges in the Illinois Community College system.
Find out more at the Illinois State Board of Education.
Illinois Sports Teams and Recreational Activities
Chicago’s huge population makes it the center for most professional sports franchises in Illinois. Many people also support teams in Indianapolis and St. Louis. At Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs play baseball and have yet to win a World Series since 1908. The Chicago White Sox also play baseball. In 2005, they won the World Series.
The Chicago bears play for the NFL, while the Chicago Bulls of the NBA were the home of one of basketball’s greatest stars, Michael Jordan. The Chicago Blackhawks play ice hockey and the Chicago Fire is a soccer team. There are several other minor league teams playing arena football, soccer, hockey and baseball.
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