IL
Midwest21st state
Illinois
The Prairie State
Capital
Springfield
Population
12,812,508
Area
57,914 sq mi
Founded
December 3, 1818
Highlights
- Chicago, the third-largest city in the US and a global cultural hub
- Birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President
- Chicago-style deep dish pizza and the Chicago Blues music scene
- Millennium Park and the iconic Cloud Gate sculpture
Top Metropolitan Cities
Chicago
2,696,555
The 'Windy City,' a global hub for architecture, jazz, blues, and deep-dish pizza.
Joliet
150,362
A historic city on the Des Plaines River, known for its riverboat casinos.
Naperville
149,540
One of the most affluent cities in the Midwest, consistently ranked among the best places to live.
Rockford
148,278
Known as the 'Forest City,' a manufacturing hub with a growing arts community.