Illinois

State Info back to top	Our motto is State Sovereignty National Union Flower: Native Violet, Tree: White Oak Bird; Cardinal Size: 57,918 Population: 11,430,602 Region : Middle West Song: Illinois Capital: Springfield Nickname: Land of Lincoln Statehood: December 3,1818, the 21 state Rank in population, nationwide: 6 Rank in area, nationwide: 25 5 states that border Illinois are: Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana Average January temp .is, 26 f (-3 c) Average July temp. is:76 f (24 c) State Fish: Bluegill, State Animal: White-Tailed Deer Places to Visit Abraham Lincoln's home, Bishop Hill, Black Hawk statue, Brookfield Zoo, Cahokia Mounds, Chicago, Illinois and Michigan National Heritage Corridor, Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, Morton Arboretum Nauvoo, Ulysses S. Grant home, State Parks.
Important City back to top	Some major cities are Chicago ( 2,783,726) Rockford ( 139,426) Springfield ( 105,227) Peoria (113,504) Aurora (99,581) Bloomington, Pekin, Decatur, Kankakee, Galesburg, Burlington, Naperville,
State History back to top	1673, Marquette and Jolliet were probably the first white people to enter the Illinois region 1699, French priests founded a settlement at Cahokia, the oldest town in Illinois 1783, The Illinois region became part of the U.S under treaty ending the Revolutionary War 1809, Congress made Illinois a territory 1818, Illinois became the 21 state on Dec. 3, 1818 1971,A new state constitution went into effect 1993, Floods caused heavy damage in Illinois
Important People back to top	Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865,started his career as a politician in New Salem, Illinois, and later practiced law in Springfield. He became the U. S president in 1861 and freed the slaves in the Southern states during the Civil War one year later. George Ferris, 1859-1896, of Galesburg, Illinois, built the world's largest "pleasure wheel" in 1893. It was 250 feet high. The pleasure wheels became known as Ferris wheel in honor of Ferris. Shel Silverstein, ( born 1932 ) is an author, cartoonist, and composer from Chicago. His writings and drawings are featured in his popular books. Jane addams, ( 1860-1935 ), born in Cedarville, ill., founded Hull House with a friend in 1889. the house provided child care, classes for children and adults, and other services for the immigrant families who lived in Chicago's slums. addams also created the first playground in Chicago.
Industry back to top	Some jobs are :farming Manufacturing , Firemen, Baseball, Basketball, Football, Teaching, Sevres's, Government, Construction, ( ect. )