Explore the cities, localities, and regional context that make up Illinois.
Illinois is a state of the United States.
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Regional answer
Where does Illinois fit?
Illinois is a state of the United States. This directory lists 853 cities and localities in Illinois.
Country
United States
Administrative type
State
Listed localities
853
About Illinois
Illinois is a state in the Midwestern United States anchored by Chicago, the third-largest city in the country and a global hub of finance, transport and culture. Its capital is Springfield, long associated with Abraham Lincoln. Nicknamed the Prairie State, it combines a major metropolis with vast farmland.
Most of Illinois is flat, fertile prairie ideal for corn and soybeans, drained by the Mississippi, Illinois and Ohio rivers, with Lake Michigan along its northeastern edge. Chicago sprawls along the lakefront. The climate is humid continental, with cold winters and hot summers.
Illinois culture is defined by Chicago, a center of blues and jazz, architecture, deep-dish pizza and major-league sports, set against a strong agricultural heartland. The state has a rich political history and a diverse, urban-rural mix.
Home to the Illinois Confederacy and other peoples, the area became the 21st state in 1818. Chicago grew explosively as a rail and industrial hub, and Illinois is closely tied to Abraham Lincoln, who lived in Springfield before the presidency.
Key facts
The capital is Springfield; Chicago is the largest city.
It is nicknamed the Prairie State.
It became the 21st US state in 1818.
Chicago is the third-most populous city in the US.
This overview is AI-assisted and grounded with available atlas facts and reference material. Treat linked primary data as authoritative. Read the methodology.
Illinois is a state in the Midwestern United States anchored by Chicago, the third-largest city in the country and a global hub of finance, transport and culture. Its capital is Springfield, long associated with Abraham Lincoln. Nicknamed the Prairie State, it combines a major metropolis with vast farmland.
