Illinois

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

State of Illinois
Flag of Illinois State seal of Illinois
Flag of Illinois Seal of Illinois
Nickname(s): Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State
Motto(s): State sovereignty, national union
Map of the United States with Illinois highlighted
Official language(s) English
Capital Springfield
Largest city Chicago
Area  Ranked 25th
 - Total 57,918 sq mi
(149,998 km²)
 - Width 210 miles (340 km)
 - Length 390 miles (629 km)
 - % water 4.0
 - Latitude 36°58'N to 42°30'N
 - Longitude 87°30'W to 91°30'W
Population  Ranked 5th
 - Total (2000) 12,419,293
 - Density 223.4/sq mi 
86.27/km² (11th)
 - Median income  $45,787[1] (18th)
Elevation  
 - Highest point Charles Mound[2]
1,235 ft  (377 m)
 - Mean 600 ft  (182 m)
 - Lowest point Mississippi River[2]
279 ft  (85 m)
Admission to Union  December 3 1818 (21st)
Governor Rod Blagojevich (D)
U.S. Senators Richard Durbin (D)
Barack Obama (D)
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Abbreviations IL US-IL
Web site www.illinois.gov

Illinois is a state in the United States. Its capital is Springfield and its largest city is Chicago. It is bordered to the north by Wisconsin, to the west by Iowa and below that, by Missouri (both borders are along the Mississippi River). To the south-east, Illinois is bordered along the Ohio River by Kentucky and to the east by Indiana. Illinois' northeasternmost boundary is to Lake Michigan.

Illinois became a state in 1818. Its state insect is the Monarch Butterfly, its state tree is the White Oak, its state flower is the violet, its state bird is the cardinal, and its state animal is the white-tailed deer.

[edit] People from Illinois

Famous Illinoisans include: