View source for Illinois

{{short description|U.S. state}}
{{about|the U.S. state|the river|Illinois River|other uses}}
{{pp-move}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox U.S. state
| image_flag = Flag of Illinois.svg
| name = Illinois
| image_seal = Seal of Illinois.svg
| seal_link = Flag and seal of Illinois
| flag_link = Flag and seal of Illinois
| nicknames = Land of Lincoln, Prairie State, The Inland Empire State
| motto = ''State Sovereignty, National Union''
| anthem = "[[Illinois (song)|Illinois]]"
| image_map = Illinois in United States.svg
| OfficialLang = English<ref>{{cite web |title=(5 ILCS 460/20) (from Ch. 1, par. 2901‑20) State Designations Act |url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=132&ChapAct=5%26nbsp%3BILCS%26nbsp%3B460%2F&ChapterID=2&ChapterName=GENERAL+PROVISIONS&ActName=State+Designations+Act%2E |website=Illinois Compiled Statutes |publisher=Illinois General Assembly |location=Springfield, Illinois |date=September 4, 1991 |access-date=April 10, 2009 |quote=Sec. 20. Official language. The official language of the State of Illinois is English. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305053414/http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=132&ChapAct=5%26nbsp%3BILCS%26nbsp%3B460%2F&ChapterID=2&ChapterName=GENERAL+PROVISIONS&ActName=State+Designations+Act%2E |archive-date=March 5, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| Languages = English (80.8%){{break}}Spanish (14.9%){{break}}Other (5.1%)
| population_demonym = [[List of U.S. state residents names|Illinoisan]]
| LargestCity = [[Chicago]]
| seat = [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]]
| LargestCounty = [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook]]
| LargestMetro = [[Chicago metropolitan area|Chicagoland]]
| area_rank = 25th
| area_total_sq_mi = 57,915
| area_total_km2 = 149,997 
| width_mi = 210
| width_km = 338
| length_mi = 390
| length_km = 628
| area_water_percent = 3.99
| Latitude = 36° 58′ N to 42° 30′ N
| Longitude = 87° 30′ W to 91° 31′ W
| population_rank = 6th
| population_as_of = 2025
| 2020Pop = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 12,719,141<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/IL/PST045224|accessdate=January 27, 2026|title= United States Census Quick Facts Illinois}}</ref>
| 2020DensityUS = 232
| 2020Density = 89.4
| population_density_rank = 12th
| MedianHouseholdIncome = {{Increase}} ${{round|80306|-2}} (2<span>0</span>23)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2024/demo/acsbr-023.pdf|title=Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas: 2023|accessdate=January 12, 2025}}</ref>
| IncomeRank = [[List of U.S. states and territories by income#States and territories ranked by median household income|17th]]
| elevation_max_point = [[Charles Mound]]<ref>{{cite ngs |id=NJ0855 |designation=Charles |access-date=October 20, 2011}}</ref><ref name=USGS>{{cite web |url=http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |title=Elevations and Distances in the United States |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] |year=2001 |access-date=October 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102003514/http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |archive-date=November 2, 2011}}</ref>{{efn|name=NAVD88|Elevation adjusted to [[North American Vertical Datum of 1988]]}}
| elevation_max_ft = 1235
| elevation_max_m = 376.4
| elevation_ft = 600
| elevation_m = 180
| elevation_min_point = Confluence of [[Mississippi River]] and [[Ohio River]]<ref name=USGS/>{{efn|name=NAVD88}}
| elevation_min_m = 85
| elevation_min_ft = 280
| Former = Illinois Territory
| AdmittanceDate = December 3, 1818
| AdmittanceOrder = 21st
| Governor = {{nowrap|[[JB Pritzker]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])}}
| Lieutenant Governor = {{nowrap|[[Juliana Stratton]] (D)}}
| Legislature = [[Illinois General Assembly|General Assembly]]
| Upperhouse = [[Illinois Senate]]
| Lowerhouse = [[Illinois House of Representatives]]
| Judiciary = [[Supreme Court of Illinois]]
| Senators = {{nowrap|[[Dick Durbin]] (D)}}{{break}}{{nowrap|[[Tammy Duckworth]] (D)}}
| Representative = 14 Democrats{{break}}3 [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]]
| timezone1 = [[Central Standard Time|CST]]
| utc_offset1 = −06:00
| timezone1_DST = [[Central Daylight Time|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = −05:00
| iso_code = US-IL
| postal_code = IL
| TradAbbreviation = Ill.
| website = https://illinois.gov
| area_land_sq_mi = 55,593
| area_land_km2 = 143,969
| area_water_sq_mi = 2,320
| area_water_km2 = 5,981
| Capital = 
| Representatives = 
}}
{{Infobox region symbols|country=United States
|state = Illinois
|image_flag = Flag of Illinois.svg
|image_flag_size = 100px
|image_seal = Seal of Illinois.svg
|image_seal_size = 100px
|amphibian = [[Tiger salamander|Eastern tiger salamander]]
|bird = [[Northern cardinal]]
|butterfly = [[Monarch (butterfly)|Monarch butterfly]]
|crustacean =
|fish = [[Bluegill]]
|flower = [[Viola (plant)|Violet]]
|grass = [[Big bluestem]]
|mammal = [[White-tailed deer]]
|reptile = [[Painted turtle]]
|tree = [[Quercus alba|White oak]]
|beverage =
|colors =
|dance = [[Square dance]]
|dinosaur =
|food = [[Apple|Gold Rush Apple]], [[popcorn]]
|fossil = [[Tullimonstrum gregarium|Tully monster]]
|gemstone =
|instrument =
|mineral = [[Fluorite]]
|poem =
|rock = [[Dolomite (rock)|Dolomite]]
|shell =
|ship =
|slogan = "Land of Lincoln"
|soil = [[Loam|Drummer silty clay loam]]
|sport =
|tartan =
|toy =
|image_route = Illinois 64.svg
|image_quarter = 2003 IL Proof.png
|quarter_release_date = 2003
|mushroom=[[Giant puffball]]}}

'''Illinois''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-Illinois.ogg|ˌ|ɪ|l|ɪ|ˈ|n|ɔɪ}} {{respell|IL|ih|NOY|'}}) is a [[U.S. state|state]] in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] region of the United States. It borders on [[Lake Michigan]] to its northeast, the [[Mississippi River]] to its west, and the [[Wabash River|Wabash]] and [[Ohio River|Ohio river]]s to its south.{{efn|Illinois borders the state of [[Wisconsin]] to its north, [[Iowa]] to its northwest, [[Missouri]] to its southwest, [[Kentucky]] to its south, [[Indiana]] to its east, and has a water border with [[Michigan]] to the northeast in [[Lake Michigan]].}} Of the fifty U.S. states, Illinois has the [[List of U.S. states and territories by GDP|fifth-largest gross domestic product]] (GDP), the [[List of U.S. states and territories by population|sixth-largest population]], and the [[List of U.S. states and territories by area|25th-most land area]]. Its capital city is [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]] in the center of the state, and the state's largest city is [[Chicago]] in the northeast.

Present-day Illinois was inhabited by [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas#History|Indigenous cultures]] for thousands of years. The French were the first Europeans to arrive, settling near the Mississippi and [[Illinois River|Illinois]] rivers in the 17th century [[Illinois Country]], as part of their sprawling colony of [[New France]]. A century later, the revolutionary war [[Illinois campaign]] prefigured American involvement in the region. Following [[Treaty of Paris (1783)|U.S. independence in 1783]], which made the Mississippi River the national boundary, American settlers began arriving from [[Kentucky]] via the Ohio River. Illinois was soon part of the United States' oldest territory, the [[Northwest Territory]], and in 1818 it achieved [[List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union|statehood]]. The [[Erie Canal]] brought increased commercial activity in the [[Great Lakes]], and the invention of the self-scouring [[plough|steel plow]] by Illinoisan [[John Deere (inventor)|John Deere]] turned the state's rich [[prairie]] into some of the world's most productive and valuable farmland, attracting [[Immigration to the United States|immigrant]] farmers from [[German American|Germany]], [[Swedish American|Sweden]] and elsewhere.

In the mid-19th century, the [[Illinois and Michigan Canal]] and a sprawling railroad network facilitated trade, commerce, and settlement, making the state a transportation hub for the nation, especially in Chicago, which became the world's fastest growing city by the late 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lib.niu.edu/1999/iht639920.html |title=The Historical Development of Transportation in Illinois |last=Ryburn-LaMonte |first=Terri |date=1999 |website=Illinois Periodicals Online |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010220837/http://www.lib.niu.edu/1999/iht639920.html |archive-date=October 10, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> By 1900, the growth of industrial jobs in the northern cities and [[coal]] mining in the central and southern areas attracted immigrants from [[Eastern Europe|Eastern]] and [[Southern Europe]]. Illinois became one of America's most industrialized states and remains a major manufacturing center.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Illinois Manufacturing Facts |url=https://www.nam.org/state-manufacturing-data/2021-illinois-manufacturing-facts/ |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=NAM |date=April 26, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]] from the South established a large Black community, particularly in Chicago, which became a leading cultural, economic, and population center; the [[Chicago metropolitan area]] holds about 65% of the state's 12.8 million residents.

Two [[World Heritage Site]]s are in Illinois: the ancient [[Cahokia Mounds]], and part of the [[The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright|Wright architecture]] site. A wide variety of [[List of protected areas of Illinois|protected areas]] seek to conserve Illinois' natural and cultural resources. Major centers of learning include the [[University of Chicago]], [[University of Illinois]], and [[Northwestern University]]. Three [[President of the United States|U.S. presidents]] have been elected while residents of Illinois: [[Abraham Lincoln]], [[Ulysses S. Grant]], and [[Barack Obama]]; additionally, [[Ronald Reagan]] was born and raised in the state, though he served for [[California]]. Illinois honors Lincoln with its official state slogan ''Land of Lincoln''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The History of Illinois License Plates |url=http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/special/plate_history/start_history.html |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129174458/http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/special/plate_history/start_history.html |archive-date=January 29, 2012 |access-date=February 15, 2012 |publisher=Cyberdriveillinois.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Slogan |url=http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/symbols/slogan.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515094633/http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/symbols/slogan.html |archive-date=May 15, 2011 |access-date=February 7, 2011 |publisher=Illinois State Museum}}</ref> The state is the site of the [[Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum]] in Springfield and the future home of the [[Barack Obama Presidential Center]] in Chicago.

The [[economy of Illinois]] is highly diverse, with the [[global city]] of Chicago in the northeast, major industrial and [[agricultural productivity|agricultural]] hubs in the north and center, and [[natural resource]]s such as coal, timber, and petroleum in the south. Owing to its central location and favorable geography, the state is a major [[transportation hub]]: the [[Port of Chicago]] has access to the [[Atlantic Ocean]] through the Great Lakes and [[Saint Lawrence Seaway]] and to the [[Gulf of Mexico]] from the Mississippi River via the [[Illinois Waterway]]. Chicago has been the nation's railroad hub since the 1860s,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Freight Railroad Chronology |url=https://www.aar.org/chronology-of-americas-freight-railroads/ |access-date=October 25, 2023 |website=Association of American Railroads |language=en-US |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110181851/https://www.aar.org/chronology-of-americas-freight-railroads/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and its [[O'Hare International Airport]] has been among the world's busiest airports for decades. Illinois has long been considered a [[Macrocosm and microcosm|microcosm]] of the United States and a [[Bellwether (politics)|bellwether]] in American culture, exemplified by the phrase ''[[Will it play in Peoria?]]''.<ref name="so">{{cite news |last=Ohlemacher |first=Stephen |date=May 17, 2007 |title=Analysis ranks Illinois most average state |publisher=The Southern Illinoisan |agency=Associated Press |location=Carbondale, Illinois |url=http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2007/05/17/top/20300809.txt |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114074348/http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2007/05/17/top/20300809.txt |archive-date=January 14, 2009}}</ref>{{TOC limit|limit=3}}

==Etymology==
{{See also|Illinois Confederation|List of counties in Illinois}}

"Illinois" is the modern spelling for the early [[French language|French]] [[Catholicism|Catholic]] [[Missionary|missionaries]] and explorers' name for the [[Illinois Confederation|Illinois]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], a name that was spelled in many different ways in the early records.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fay |first=Jim |date=May 11, 2010 |url=http://www.illinoisprairie.info/Eriniouaj.htm |title=Ilinois, Illini and Liniouek |access-date=August 1, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623234945/http://www.illinoisprairie.info/Eriniouaj.htm |archive-date=June 23, 2010 |publisher=The Illinois Prairie Information Page}}</ref>

American scholars previously thought the name ''Illinois'' meant 'man' or 'men' in the [[Miami-Illinois language]], with the original {{lang|mia|iliniwek}} transformed via French into Illinois.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hodge |first=Frederick Webb |author-link=Frederick Webb Hodge |title=Handbook of American Indians north of Mexico, Volume 1 |year=1911 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology |oclc=26478613 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ze4YAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA597 |page=597 |isbn=9781404740303 |access-date=October 3, 2020 |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204132005/https://books.google.com/books?id=ze4YAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA597 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Stewart |first=George R. |author-link= George R. Stewart |title=Names on the Land: A Historical Account of Place-Naming in the United States |url=https://archive.org/details/namesonlandhisto0000stew |url-access= registration |orig-year= 1945 |edition=Sentry (3rd) |year=1967 |publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin]]}}</ref> This etymology is not supported by the Illinois language,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Costa |first=David J. |date=January 2007 |title=Three American Placenames: Illinois |journal=Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas Newsletter |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=9–12 |issn=1046-4476 |url=http://myaamia.strackattack.com/OtherFiles/CostaNewsletter.pdf#page=9 |access-date= May 29, 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716151840/http://myaamia.strackattack.com/OtherFiles/CostaNewsletter.pdf#page=9 |archive-date= July 16, 2011 }}</ref> as the word for "man" is {{lang|mia|ireniwa}}, and plural of "man" is {{lang|mia|ireniwaki}}. The name {{lang|mia|[[Illiniwek]]}} has also been said to mean 'tribe of superior men',<ref>{{cite journal |last=Costa |first=David J. |date=January 2007 |title=Three American Placenames: Illinois |journal=Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas Newsletter |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=9–12 |issn=1046-4476 |url=http://myaamia.strackattack.com/OtherFiles/CostaNewsletter.pdf#page=9 |access-date= May 29, 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716151840/http://myaamia.strackattack.com/OtherFiles/CostaNewsletter.pdf#page=9 |archive-date= July 16, 2011 }}</ref> which is a [[false etymology]]. The name ''Illinois'' derives from the Miami-Illinois verb {{lang|mia|irenwe·wa}} 'he speaks the regular way'. This was taken into the [[Ojibwe language]], perhaps in the [[Ottawa dialect]], and modified into {{lang|otw|ilinwe·}} (pluralized as {{lang|otw|ilinwe·k}}). The French borrowed these forms, spelling the {{IPA|/we/}} ending as {{lang|fr|-ois}}, a [[transliteration]] of that sound in the French of that time. The current spelling form, ''Illinois'', began to appear in the early 1670s, when French colonists had settled in the western area. The Illinois's name for themselves, as attested in all three of the French missionary-period dictionaries of Illinois, was {{lang|mia|[[Inoka]]}}, of unknown meaning and unrelated to the other terms.<ref>{{cite book |last=Callary |first=Edward |title=Place Names of Illinois |year=2008 |publisher=[[University of Illinois Press]] |isbn=978-0-252-03356-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvHgwa-XImcC&pg=PA169 |page=169 |access-date=October 3, 2020 |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204131219/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvHgwa-XImcC&pg=PA169 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Costa |first=David J. |date=January 2007 |title=Three American Placenames: Illinois |journal=Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas Newsletter |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=9–12 |issn=1046-4476 |url=http://myaamia.strackattack.com/OtherFiles/CostaNewsletter.pdf#page=9 |access-date= May 29, 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716151840/http://myaamia.strackattack.com/OtherFiles/CostaNewsletter.pdf#page=9 |archive-date= July 16, 2011 }}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Illinois}}

===Pre-European===
[[File:Upper Bluff Lake Dancing Figures plate HRoe 2012.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mississippian copper plate]] found at the Saddle Site in [[Union County, Illinois]]]]
[[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|American Indians]] of successive cultures lived along the waterways of the Illinois area for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. The [[Koster Site]] has been excavated and demonstrates 7,000 years of continuous habitation. [[Cahokia]], the largest regional [[chiefdom]] and [[urban center]] of the [[Pre-Columbian era|pre-Columbian]] [[Mississippian culture]], was located near present-day [[Collinsville, Illinois]]. They built an urban complex of more than 100 [[platform mound|platform]] and [[burial mound]]s, a {{cvt|50|acre|4=0|adj=on}} [[plaza]] larger than 35 football fields,<ref name="PAUKETATCAHOKIA">{{cite book |author-link=Timothy Pauketat |first=Timothy R. |last=Pauketat |title=Cahokia: Ancient America's Great City on the Mississippi |series=Penguin library of American Indian history |publisher=[[Viking Press]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-670-02090-4 |oclc=276819729 |pages=23–34 |quote="Cahokia was so large—covering three to five square miles—that archaeologists have yet to probe many portions of it. Its centerpiece was an open fifty-acre Grand Plaza, surrounded by packed-clay pyramids. The size of thirty-five football fields, the Grand Plaza was at the time the biggest public space ever conceived and executed north of Mexico&nbsp;... a flat public square 1,600-plus feet in length and 900-plus feet in width."}}</ref> and a woodhenge of sacred cedar, all in a planned design expressing the culture's cosmology. [[Monks Mound]], the center of the site, is the largest Pre-Columbian structure north of the [[Valley of Mexico]]. It is {{cvt|100|ft}} high, {{cvt|951|ft}} long, {{cvt|836|ft}} wide, and covers {{cvt|13.8|acre}}.<ref name="SKELE">{{Cite book |last=Skele |first=Mikels |url=https://archive.org/stream/greatknobinterpr00skel#page/102/mode/2up |title=The Great Knob: Interpretations of Monks Mound |series=Studies in Illinois Archaeology |publisher=Illinois Historic Preservation Agency |location= Springfield, IL |year=1988 |isbn=978-0-942579-03-1 |issue=4 |access-date=November 12, 2015}}</ref> It contains about {{cvt|814000|cuyd}} of earth.<ref name="SNOW2010">{{cite book |last=Snow |first=Dean R. |title=Archaeology of Native North Americas |year=2010 |publisher=Prentice Hall |location=Upper Saddle River, NJ |pages=201–203 |isbn=9780136156864 |oclc=223933566}}</ref> It was topped by a structure thought to have measured about {{cvt|105|ft}} in length and {{cvt|48|ft}} in width, covered an area {{cvt|5000|sqft}}, and been as much as {{cvt|50|ft}} high, making its peak {{cvt|150|ft}} above the level of the plaza. The finely crafted ornaments and tools recovered by archaeologists at [[Cahokia]] include elaborate ceramics, finely sculptured stonework, carefully embossed and engraved copper and [[mica]] sheets, and one funeral blanket for an important chief fashioned from 20,000 shell beads. These artifacts indicate that Cahokia was truly an urban center, with clustered housing, markets, and specialists in toolmaking, hide dressing, potting, jewelry making, shell engraving, weaving and salt making.<ref>{{cite book|last=Nash|first=Gary B.|title=Red, White, and Black: The Peoples of Early North America|publisher=Pearson|isbn=9780205887590|location=Boston|year=2015|edition=7th|page=6}}</ref>

The civilization vanished in the 15th century for unknown reasons, but historians and archeologists have speculated that the people depleted the area of resources. Many indigenous tribes engaged in constant warfare. According to Suzanne Austin Alchon, "At one site in the central [[Illinois River]] valley, one third of all adults died as a result of violent injuries."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Austin Alchon |first=Suzanne |title=A pest in the land: new world epidemics in a global perspective |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YiHHnV08ebkC&pg=PA59 |publisher=University of New Mexico Press |year=2003 |page=59 |isbn=978-0-8263-2871-7 |access-date=June 16, 2015 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803102909/https://books.google.com/books?id=YiHHnV08ebkC&pg=PA59 |url-status=live }}</ref> The next major power in the region was the [[Illinois Confederation]] or Illini, a political alliance.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hoxie|first=E.|title=Encyclopedia of North American Indians|year=1996|pages=266–267, 506}}</ref> Around the time of European contact in 1673, the Illinois confederation had an estimated population of over 10,000 people.<ref name="museum.state.il.us">{{Cite web |title=Native Americans:Historic:The Illinois:History:The Illinois Decline |url=https://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/nat_amer/post/htmls/hi_decline.html |access-date=June 20, 2024 |website=www.museum.state.il.us}}</ref> As the Illini declined during the [[Beaver Wars]] era, members of the [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian]]-speaking [[Potawatomi]], [[Miami people|Miami]], [[Sauk people|Sauk]], and other tribes including the [[Meskwaki]], [[Iowa people|Iowa]], [[Kickapoo]], [[Mascouten]], [[Piankeshaw]], [[Shawnee]], [[Wea]], and [[Ho-Chunk]] came into the area from the east and north around the Great Lakes.<ref name="Nelson" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/nat_amer/post/ |title=Native Americans:American Indian Tribes of Illinois |publisher=Illinois State Museum |date=October 2, 2002 |access-date=February 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322071318/http://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/nat_amer/post/ |archive-date=March 22, 2016}}</ref>

===European exploration and settlement prior to 1800===
{{Main|New France|Louisiana (New France)|Canada (New France)|Illinois Country|French and Indian War|Treaty of Paris (1763)|Province of Quebec (1763–1791)|Indian Reserve (1763)|American Revolutionary War|Western theater of the American Revolutionary War|Illinois County, Virginia|Treaty of Paris (1783)|Northwest Ordinance|Northwest Territory}}
[[File:Illinois 1718.jpg|thumb|Illinois in 1718, approximate modern state area highlighted, from {{lang|fr|Carte de la Louisiane et du cours du Mississipi}} by [[Guillaume de L'Isle]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.lib.virginia.edu/exhibits/lewis_clark/exploring/ch2-10.html |title=Carte de la Louisiane et du Cours du Mississipi. 1718 |last=de L'Isle |first=Guillaume |author-link=Guillaume Delisle |year=1718 |website=An Exhibition of Maps and Navigational Instruments on View |publisher=University of Virginia |access-date=January 25, 2010 |location=Tracy W. McGregor Room, Alderman Library |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716074149/http://explore.lib.virginia.edu/exhibits/show/lewisclark |archive-date=July 16, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>]]
French explorers [[Jacques Marquette]] and [[Louis Jolliet]] explored the [[Illinois River]] in 1673. Marquette soon after founded a mission at the [[Grand Village of the Illinois]] in [[Illinois Country]]. In 1680, French explorers under [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle]] and [[Henri de Tonti]] constructed a fort at the site of present-day [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]], and in 1682, a fort atop [[Starved Rock]] in today's Starved Rock State Park. French Empire [[Canadiens]] came south to settle particularly along the Mississippi River, and Illinois was part of first [[New France]], and then of [[La Louisiane]] until 1763, when it passed to the British with their defeat of France in the [[Seven Years' War]]. The small French settlements continued, although many French migrated west to [[Ste. Genevieve, Missouri|Ste. Genevieve]] and [[St. Louis, Missouri]], to evade British rule.<ref name="Biles" />

A few British soldiers were posted in Illinois, but few British or American settlers moved there, as the Crown made it part of the territory reserved for Indians west of the Appalachians, and then part of the [[Province of Quebec (1763–1791)|British Province of Quebec]]. In 1778, [[George Rogers Clark]] claimed [[Illinois County]] for [[Colony of Virginia|Virginia]]. In a compromise, Virginia (and other states that made various claims) ceded the area to the new United States in the 1780s and it became part of the [[Northwest Territory]], administered by the federal government and later organized as states.<ref name="Biles">{{cite book |last=Biles |first=Roger |title=Illinois: A History of the Land and its People |year=2005 |publisher=Northern Illinois University Press |location=DeKalb |isbn=978-0-87580-349-4}}</ref>

===19th century===
{{Main|Indiana Territory|Organic act#List of organic acts|Illinois Territory|Admission to the Union|List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union}}
{{See also|History of Chicago|History of Nauvoo, Illinois}}

====Prior to statehood====
[[File:Kaskaskia Bell 3321.jpg|thumb|right|The bell donated by King Louis XV in 1741 to the French mission at Kaskaskia. It was later called the "Liberty Bell of the West", after it was rung to celebrate U.S. victory in the Revolution]]
The [[Illinois-Wabash Company]] was an early claimant to much of Illinois. The [[Illinois Territory]] was created on February 3, 1809, with its capital at [[Kaskaskia, Illinois|Kaskaskia]], an early French settlement.

During the discussions leading up to Illinois's [[admission to the Union]], the proposed northern boundary of the state was moved twice.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sancohis.org/presentations/Illinois%20From%20Territory%20to%20State.htm |title=Full Remarks from Dave M |publisher=Sancohis.org |date=March 16, 2010 |access-date=February 7, 2011}}{{Dead link|date=February 2012}}</ref> The original provisions of the [[Northwest Ordinance]] had specified a boundary that would have been tangent to the southern tip of Lake Michigan. Such a boundary would have left Illinois with no shoreline on Lake Michigan at all. However, as Indiana had successfully been granted a {{cvt|10|mi|adj=on}} northern extension of its boundary to provide it with a usable lakefront, the original bill for Illinois statehood, submitted to Congress on January 23, 1818, stipulated a northern border at the same latitude as Indiana's, which is defined as 10 miles north of the southernmost extremity of Lake Michigan. However, the Illinois delegate, [[Nathaniel Pope]], wanted more, and lobbied to have the boundary moved further north. The final bill passed by Congress included an amendment to shift the border to 42° 30' north, which is approximately {{cvt|51|mi}} north of the Indiana northern border. This shift added {{cvt|8500|sqmi|4=-2}} to the state, including the [[lead mining]] region near [[Galena, Illinois|Galena]]. More importantly, it added nearly 50 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and the Chicago River. Pope and others envisioned a canal that would connect the Chicago and Illinois rivers and thus connect the Great Lakes to the Mississippi.

====State of Illinois prior to the Civil War====
[[File:United States 1818-12-1819-03.png|thumb|In 1818, Illinois became the 21st U.S. state. The southern portion of [[Illinois Territory]] was admitted as the state of Illinois, and the rest was joined to [[Michigan Territory]].]]
[[File:Edward_Coles.png|thumb|right|150px|The second [[Governor of Illinois]], [[Edward Coles]] brought his slaves from his home state of [[Virginia]] to give them their [[manumission|freedom]] when they arrived in Illinois.]]
[[File:Springfield,Illinois-Old State Capitol.jpg|thumb|[[Old State Capitol State Historic Site|Old State Capitol]]: Abraham Lincoln and other area legislators were instrumental in moving the state capitol to centrally located Springfield in 1839.]]
In 1818, Illinois became the 21st U.S. state. The capital remained at Kaskaskia, headquartered in a small building rented by the state. In 1819, [[Vandalia, Illinois|Vandalia]] became the capital, and over the next 18 years, three separate buildings were built to serve successively as the capitol building. In 1837, the state legislators representing [[Sangamon County]], under the leadership of state representative [[Abraham Lincoln]], succeeded in having the capital moved to [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org/Library/newsletter.asp?ID=137&CRLI=193 |title=Abraham Lincoln and Springfield |publisher=Abraham Lincoln's Classroom |access-date=February 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517032613/http://abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org/Library/newsletter.asp?ID=137&CRLI=193 |archive-date=May 17, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> where a [[Old State Capitol State Historic Site (Illinois)|fifth capitol]] building was constructed. A [[Illinois State Capitol|sixth capitol]] building was erected in 1867, which continues to serve as the Illinois capitol today.

Though it was ostensibly a "[[Slave and free states|free state]]", there was nonetheless [[History of slavery in Illinois|slavery in Illinois]]. The ethnic French had owned black slaves since the 1720s, and American settlers had already brought slaves into the area from [[Kentucky]]. Slavery was nominally banned by the Northwest Ordinance, but that was not enforced for those already holding slaves. When Illinois became a state in 1818, the Ordinance no longer applied, and about 900 slaves were held in the state. As the southern part of the state, later known as "Egypt" or "Little Egypt",<ref>{{cite news |last=Simon|first=John Y.|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/06/24/the-other-illinois-how-egypt-lost-its-clout/ |title=The other Illinois: How Egypt lost its clout |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=June 24, 2001 |access-date=April 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714034522/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-06-24/news/0106240357_1_illinois-egypt-logan |archive-date=July 14, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Davis| first=Rich |url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/may/02/backroads-tourism/ |title=Southern Illinois Backroads Tourism: In Little Egypt it means bluffs, Superman, even scuba diving |publisher=Evansville Courier & Press |access-date=April 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117082832/http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/may/02/backroads-tourism/ |archive-date=January 17, 2013}}</ref> was largely settled by migrants from the South, the section was hostile to free blacks. [[Edward Coles]], the second Governor of Illinois who was born in Virginia, participated in a campaign to block extending existing slavery in Illinois after winning the [[1822 Illinois gubernatorial election]]. In 1824, state residents voted against making slavery legal by a vote of 6640 against to 4972 for.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.poemsforfree.com/cc25.html |title=Chapter 25 : The Result |publisher=Poemsforfree.com |access-date=June 11, 2015}}</ref>

Still, most residents opposed allowing free blacks as permanent residents. Some settlers brought in slaves seasonally or as house servants.<ref>{{cite book|last=Finkelman |first=Paul |title=Slavery and the Founders: Race and Liberty in the Age of Jefferson |year=2001 |page=78 |edition=2nd |publisher=M. E. Sharpe |location=Armonk, NY |isbn=9780765604385}}</ref> The [[Constitution of Illinois|Illinois Constitution of 1848]] was written with a provision for exclusionary laws to be passed. In 1853, [[John A. Logan]] helped pass a law to prohibit all African Americans, including [[Freedman|freedmen]], from settling in the state.<ref>{{cite book|first=James Pickett |last=Jones |title=Black Jack: John A. Logan and Southern Illinois in the Civil War Era |date=1995 |publisher=SIU Press |orig-date=1967| isbn=0-8093-2002-9 |oclc=31435846}}</ref>

The [[Hard Winter of 1880–1881|winter of 1830–1831]] is called the "Winter of the Deep Snow";<ref>{{cite news |title=1830-1831: The Winter of the Deep Snow |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/columns/2012/02/02/1830-1831-winter-deep/44269013007/ |publisher=State Journal-Register |access-date=November 9, 2022 |date=February 1, 2012 |archive-date=December 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204125236/https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/columns/2012/02/02/1830-1831-winter-deep/44269013007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> a sudden, deep snowfall blanketed the state, making travel impossible for the rest of the winter, and many travelers perished. Several severe winters followed, including the "Winter of the Sudden Freeze". On December 20, 1836, a fast-moving cold front passed through, freezing puddles in minutes and killing many travelers who could not reach shelter. The adverse weather resulted in crop failures in the northern part of the state. The southern part of the state shipped food north, and this may have contributed to its name, "[[Southern Illinois|Little Egypt]]", after the Biblical story of [[Joseph (Genesis)|Joseph in Egypt]] supplying grain to his brothers.<ref>{{cite web | title=Egypt |last=Duff |first=Andrew D. |url=http://www.springhousemagazine.com/egypt2.htm |website=Springhouse Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117082839/http://www.springhousemagazine.com/egypt2.htm |archive-date=January 17, 2013 |access-date=May 1, 2006}}</ref>

In 1832, the [[Black Hawk War]] was fought in Illinois and present-day [[Wisconsin]] between the United States and a coalition of the [[Sauk people|Sauk]], [[Meskwaki]], and [[Kickapoo]] peoples, who had been forced to leave their homes and relocate to Iowa in 1831. The tribes had lost their territory east of the Mississippi river in Illinois under a [[Treaty of St. Louis (1804)|disputed treaty]] in 1804. The natives, under Sauk chief [[Black Hawk (Sauk leader)|Black Hawk]], attempted to return to Illinois in April 1832 to reclaim this land. They were attacked and defeated by the [[Militia (United States)|U.S. Militia]] and rival tribes allied with the US forces, including the [[Potawatomi]], [[Dakota people|Dakota]], [[Menominee]], and [[Ho-Chunk]]. The survivors of Black Hawk's band were forced back to Iowa.<ref>{{cite web |author=Lewis, James |title=The Black Hawk War of 1832 |url=http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/blackhawk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801011703/http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/blackhawk/ |archive-date=August 1, 2012 |access-date=August 10, 2012 |publisher=Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project}}</ref> This represented the end of native resistance to white settlement in the Chicago and Northern Illinois regions.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/141.html |title=Black Hawk War |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Chicago |access-date = August 10, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120822134545/http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/141.html |archive-date = August 22, 2012}}</ref> By 1832, when the last native lands in Illinois were ceded to the United States, the indigenous population of the state had been reduced by infectious diseases, warfare, and [[Indian removal|forced westward removal]] to only one village with fewer than 300 inhabitants.<ref name="museum.state.il.us"/>

By 1839, the [[Latter Day Saints]] had founded a [[utopian]] city called [[Nauvoo, Illinois|Nauvoo]], formerly called Commerce. Located in [[Hancock County, Illinois|Hancock County]] along the [[Mississippi River]], Nauvoo flourished and, by 1844, briefly surpassed Chicago for the position of the state's largest city.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Easton Black |first=Susan |date=1995 |title=How Large Was the Population of Nauvoo? |url=https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/how-large-was-the-population-of-nauvoo/ |journal=BYU Studies Quarterly |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=91–94 |access-date=December 4, 2023 |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204005818/https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/how-large-was-the-population-of-nauvoo/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Early Chicago, 1833–1871 |url=https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc23.html |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=ilsos.gov |archive-date=November 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109230005/https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc23.html |url-status=live }}</ref> But in that same year, the [[Latter Day Saint movement]] founder, [[Joseph Smith]], [[Death of Joseph Smith|was killed]] in the [[Carthage Jail]], about 30 miles away from Nauvoo. Following a [[succession crisis (Latter Day Saints)|succession crisis]], [[Brigham Young]] led most Latter Day Saints out of Illinois in a [[Mormon pioneers|mass exodus]] to present-day [[Utah]]; after close to six years of rapid development, Nauvoo quickly declined afterward.

After it was established in 1833, [[Chicago]] gained prominence as a [[Great Lakes]] port, and then as an [[Illinois and Michigan Canal]] port after 1848, and as a rail hub soon afterward. By 1857, Chicago was Illinois's largest city.<ref name="Biles" /> With the tremendous growth of mines and factories in the state in the 19th century, Illinois was the ground for the formation of [[labor unions in the United States]].

In 1847, after lobbying by [[Dorothea Dix|Dorothea L. Dix]], Illinois became one of the first states to establish a system of state-supported treatment of mental illness and disabilities, replacing local [[almshouse]]s. Dix came into this effort after having met J. O. King, a [[Jacksonville, Illinois]] businessman, who invited her to Illinois, where he had been working to build an asylum for the insane. With the lobbying expertise of Dix, plans for the Jacksonville State Hospital (now known as the [[Jacksonville Developmental Center]]) were signed into law on March 1, 1847.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Norbury |first1=Frank |title=Dorothea Dix and the Founding of Illinois's First Mental Hospital |journal=Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society |date=Spring 1999 |volume=92 |issue=1 |pages=13–29 |jstor=40193299}}</ref>

====Civil War and after====
{{Main|Illinois in the American Civil War}}
[[File:Embarkation of General McClernand's Brigade at Cairo.jpg|thumb|right|[[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] troops embarking at [[Cairo, Illinois|Cairo]] on January 10, 1862]]
During the [[American Civil War]], Illinois ranked fourth in soldiers who served (more than 250,000) in the [[Union Army]], a figure surpassed by only New York, [[Pennsylvania]], and [[Ohio]]. Beginning with President [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s first call for troops and continuing throughout the war, Illinois mustered 150 infantry regiments, which were numbered from the 7th to the 156th regiments. Seventeen cavalry regiments were also gathered, as well as two light artillery regiments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.illinoiscivilwar.org/units_num.html| title=Illinois Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery Units|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818150741/http://www.illinoiscivilwar.org/units_num.html |archive-date=August 18, 2018 }}</ref> The town of [[Cairo, Illinois|Cairo]], at the southern tip of the state at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, served as a strategically important supply base and training center for the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] army. For several months, both General [[Ulysses S. Grant|Grant]] and Admiral [[Andrew Hull Foote|Foote]] had headquarters in Cairo.

During the Civil War, and more so afterwards, Chicago's population skyrocketed, which increased its prominence. The [[Pullman Strike]] and [[Haymarket affair|Haymarket Riot]], in particular, greatly influenced the development of the American [[labour movement|labor movement]]. From Sunday, October 8, 1871, until Tuesday, October 10, 1871, the [[Great Chicago Fire]] burned in downtown Chicago, killing 300 people and destroying {{cvt|4|sqmi|spell=in}}.<ref>{{cite book|first=Roland |last=Tweet |title=Miss Gale's Books: The Beginnings of the Rock Island Public Library |location=Rock Island, IL |publisher=Rock Island Public Library |year=1997 |page=15}}</ref>

===20th century===
[[File:Protestors and Chicago Police Officers in Grant Park - DPLA - 2972723d78e7f60f542da94846a6f9a6 (1) (cropa).jpg|thumb|Police and protesters at the [[1968 Democratic National Convention]] in Chicago.]]
[[File:Alton Illinois sinking in 1993.jpg|thumb|upright|Rising waters in [[Alton, Illinois|Alton]] in 1993.]]
At the turn of the 20th century, Illinois had a population of nearly 5&nbsp;million. Many people from other parts of the country were attracted to the state by employment caused by the expanding industrial base. Whites were 98% of the state's population.<ref name="census">
{{Cite journal|title=Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For The United States, Regions, Divisions, and States|archivedate=July 25, 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725044857/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/twps0056.html|url-status=dead|url=http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/twps0056.html|journal=U.S. Census Bureau|first1=Gibson|last1=Campbell|first2=Kay|last2=Jung|accessdate=September 4, 2017|date=September 2002}}</ref> Bolstered by continued [[History of immigration to the United States|immigration from southern and eastern Europe]], and by the African-American [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]] from the South, Illinois grew and emerged as one of the most important states in the union. By the end of the century, the population had reached 12.4&nbsp;million.

The [[Century of Progress]] [[World's fair]] was held at Chicago in 1933. Oil strikes in [[Marion County, Illinois|Marion County]] and [[Crawford County, Illinois|Crawford County]] led to a boom in 1937, and by 1939, Illinois ranked fourth in U.S. oil production. Illinois manufactured 6.1 percent of total United States military armaments produced during [[World War&nbsp;II]], ranking seventh among the 48 states.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Peck| first1=Merton J.| author-link2=Frederic M. Scherer |last2=Scherer |first2=Frederic M. |title=The Weapons Acquisition Process: An Economic Analysis |year=1962 |publisher=Harvard Business School |page=111}}</ref> Chicago became an ocean port with the opening of the [[Saint Lawrence Seaway]] in 1959. The seaway and the [[Illinois Waterway]] connected Chicago to both the Mississippi River and the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. In 1960, [[Ray Kroc]] opened the first [[McDonald's]] franchise in [[Des Plaines, Illinois|Des Plaines]], which was demolished in 1984.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=McDonald's Store No. 1 (Gone), Des Plaines, Illinois |url=https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11370 |access-date=March 12, 2024 |website=RoadsideAmerica.com |language=en |archive-date=March 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312024737/https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11370 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1985 a replica was built on the same site to recreate how the original one looked.<ref name=":0" /> Though this replica was demolished in 2017, due to repeated flooding of the building.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 27, 2014 |title=Des Plaines blames Mt. Prospect, Prospect Hts. for heightened flooding - DailyHerald.com |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130419/news/704199563/ |access-date=March 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227181958/https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130419/news/704199563/ |archive-date=February 27, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Placek |first=Christopher |date=November 20, 2017 |title=McDonald's plans to tear down Des Plaines replica restaurant |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/20171120/news/mcdonalds-plans-to-tear-down-des-plaines-replica-restaurant/ |access-date=March 12, 2024 |website=Daily Herald |language=en-US |archive-date=March 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312024737/https://www.dailyherald.com/20171120/news/mcdonalds-plans-to-tear-down-des-plaines-replica-restaurant/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Illinois had a prominent role in the emergence of the [[nuclear age]]. In 1942, as part of the [[Manhattan Project]], the [[Chicago Pile-1|University of Chicago]] conducted the first sustained [[nuclear chain reaction]]. In 1957, [[Argonne National Laboratory]], near [[Chicago]], activated the first experimental nuclear power generating system in the United States. By 1960, the first privately financed nuclear plant in the United States, [[Dresden Nuclear Power Plant|Dresden 1]], was dedicated near [[Morris, Illinois|Morris]]. In 1967, [[Fermilab]], a national nuclear research facility near [[Batavia, Illinois|Batavia]], opened a [[particle accelerator]], which was the world's largest for over 40 years. With eleven plants currently operating, Illinois leads all states in the amount of electricity generated from nuclear power.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comed.com/sites/PartnersBusiness/Documents/EconomicDevelopmentFactSheet.pdf |title=ComEd and Electricity Related Messages for Economic Development |access-date=February 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708180209/https://www.comed.com/sites/PartnersBusiness/Documents/EconomicDevelopmentFactSheet.pdf |archive-date=July 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comed.com/Documents/about-us/economic-development/ComEd_and_Electricity_Related_EconDev_Messages_-_January_2012.pdf |title=Home &#124; ComEd—An Exelon Company |publisher=ComEd |access-date=February 27, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914144313/https://www.comed.com/Documents/about-us/economic-development/ComEd_and_Electricity_Related_EconDev_Messages_-_January_2012.pdf |archive-date=September 14, 2013}}</ref>

In 1961, Illinois became the first state in the nation to adopt the recommendation of the [[American Law Institute]] and pass a comprehensive criminal code revision that repealed the law against [[Sodomy laws in the United States|sodomy]]. The code also abrogated [[common law crime]]s and established an [[age of consent]] of 18.<ref>{{cite web |last=Painter |first=George |title=The History of Sodomy Laws in the United States: Illinois |url=http://www.glapn.org/sodomylaws/sensibilities/illinois.htm#fn73 |website=The Sensibilities of Our Forefathers |publisher=Gay & Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest |access-date=January 12, 2012 |date=August 10, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515065329/http://www.glapn.org/sodomylaws/sensibilities/illinois.htm#fn73 |archive-date=May 15, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The state's [[Illinois Constitution|fourth constitution]] was adopted in 1970, replacing the 1870 document.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hillard |first1=James |title=The Illinois Constitution: A Primer |journal=Illinois Bar Journal |date=October 2008 |volume=96 |issue=10 |page=494 |url=https://www.isba.org/ibj/2008/10/theillinoisconstitutionaprimer |access-date=November 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102094526/https://www.isba.org/ibj/2008/10/theillinoisconstitutionaprimer |archive-date=November 2, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The first [[Farm Aid]] concert was held in [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]] to benefit American farmers, in 1985. The worst [[upper Mississippi River]] flood of the century, the [[Great Flood of 1993]], inundated many towns and thousands of acres of farmland.<ref name="Biles" />

===21st century===
[[File:Jackson Avenue at Federal Plaza, Stay Home City of Chicago Ad.jpg|thumb|A COVID-19 safety message in the Chicago Loop]]
Illinois entered the 21st century under Republican Governor [[George Ryan]]. Near the end of his term in January 2003, following a string of high-profile exonerations, Ryan commuted all [[Capital punishment in Illinois|death sentences]] in the state.<ref>{{cite news |url =https://news.wttw.com/2020/09/24/former-illinois-gov-george-ryan-we-gotta-do-away-death-penalty |date=September 24, 2020 | publisher=WTTW | access-date=June 13, 2023 | title=Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan: 'We Gotta Do Away with the Death Penalty' | first=Evan | last=Garcia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614020343/https://news.wttw.com/2020/09/24/former-illinois-gov-george-ryan-we-gotta-do-away-death-penalty |archive-date=June 14, 2023}}</ref>

The [[2002 Illinois gubernatorial election|2002 election]] brought Democrat [[Rod Blagojevich]] to the governor's mansion. It also brought future president [[Barack Obama]] into a committee leadership position in the Illinois Senate, where he drafted the [[Health Care Justice Act]], a forerunner of the [[Affordable Care Act]].<ref name="fight-tested">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/08/AR2009090803790.html?nav=rss_email/components  |title=In Illinois, a Similar Fight Tested a Future President  |first1=Michael D.  |last1=Shear |first2=Ceci |last2=Connolly |newspaper=Washington Post |date=September 9, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108191922/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/08/AR2009090803790.html?nav=rss_email/components |archive-date=November 8, 2012 }}</ref> Obama's election to the presidency in Blagojevich's second term set off a chain of events culminating in [[Rod Blagojevich corruption charges|Blagojevich's impeachment]], trial, and subsequent criminal conviction and imprisonment, making Blagojevich the second consecutive Illinois governor to be convicted on federal corruption charges.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abc7chicago.com/illinois-governors-in-jail-jailed-who-did-time-served/5944787/ |publisher=ABC 7 Chicago |title=4 Illinois governors have served time in prison |date=February 19, 2020 |access-date=June 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909070738/https://abc7chicago.com/illinois-governors-in-jail-jailed-who-did-time-served/5944787/ |archive-date=September 9, 2023}}</ref>

Blagojevich's replacement [[Pat Quinn (politician)|Pat Quinn]] was defeated by Republican [[Bruce Rauner]] in the [[2014 Illinois gubernatorial election|2014 election]]. Disagreements between the governor and legislature over budgetary policy led to the [[Illinois Budget Impasse]], a 793-day period stretching from 2015 to 2018 in which the state had no budget and struggled to pay its bills.<ref>{{Cite news | publisher = WTTW | title = J.B. Pritzker Takes Oath as Illinois' 43rd Governor | author-first = Amanda | author-last = Vinicky | url = https://news.wttw.com/2019/01/14/jb-pritzker-takes-oath-illinois-43rd-governor | date = January 14, 2019 | access-date = June 13, 2023 | archive-date = June 14, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230614020307/https://news.wttw.com/2019/01/14/jb-pritzker-takes-oath-illinois-43rd-governor | url-status = live }}</ref>

On August 28, 2017, Rauner signed a bill into law that prohibited state and local police from arresting anyone solely due to their immigration status or due to federal detainers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bernal |first1=Rafael |title=Illinois Governor Signs Immigration, Automatic Voter Registration Measures |url=https://thehill.com/latino/348283-illinois-governor-signs-immigration-automatic-voter-registration-measures/ |date=August 28, 2017 |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] | access-date=September 3, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903111831/https://thehill.com/latino/348283-illinois-governor-signs-immigration-automatic-voter-registration-measures | archive-date=September 3, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Tareen |first1=Sophia |title=Governor Signs Law Limiting Illinois Police on Immigration |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/governor-signs-law-limiting-illinois-police-immigration-49472288 |date=August 28, 2017 |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] (from the [[Associated Press]]) | access-date=September 3, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910125132/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/governor-signs-law-limiting-illinois-police-immigration-49472288 | archive-date=September 10, 2017 | url-status=dead}}</ref> Some fellow Republicans criticized Rauner for his action, claiming the bill made Illinois a [[Sanctuary city|sanctuary state]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Singman |first1=Brooke |title=GOP Gov. Rauner Accused of Making Illinois a 'Sanctuary State' with New Law |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-gov-rauner-accused-of-making-illinois-a-sanctuary-state-with-new-law/ |date=August 28, 2017 |publisher=[[Fox News]] | access-date=September 3, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709204706/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/08/28/gop-gov-rauner-accused-making-illinois-sanctuary-state-with-new-law.html | archive-date=July 9, 2018 | url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[2018 Illinois gubernatorial election|2018 election]], Rauner was replaced by [[J. B. Pritzker]], returning the state government to a Democratic [[government trifecta|trifecta]].<ref>{{Cite news | via = Virgin Islands Daily News | publisher = Associated Press | title = GOP, Democrats splitting governor's races in key states | author-first = David A. | author-last = Lieb | date = November 7, 2018 | access-date = June 13, 2023 | url = http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/ap/gop-democrats-splitting-governors-races-in-key-states/article_5341ede1-c111-579e-862d-089aa4bd4b89.html | archive-date = June 14, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230614020258/http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/ap/gop-democrats-splitting-governors-races-in-key-states/article_5341ede1-c111-579e-862d-089aa4bd4b89.html | url-status = live }}</ref> In January 2020 the state [[Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act|legalized marijuana]].<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.npr.org/2020/01/01/792681442/6-new-state-laws-you-should-know-about-in-2020 | access-date = June 13, 2023 | date = January 1, 2020 | title = 6 New State Laws You Should Know About In 2020 | author-first = Acacia | author-last = Squires | archive-date = November 11, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221111043153/https://www.npr.org/2020/01/01/792681442/6-new-state-laws-you-should-know-about-in-2020 | url-status = live }}</ref> On March 9, 2020, Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois|COVID-19 pandemic]]. He ended the state of emergency in May 2023.<ref>{{cite news | title = COVID-19 public health emergency ends Thursday in US, Illinois | publisher = ABC 7 Chicago | author-first = Diane | author-last = Pathieu | date = May 11, 2023 | url = https://abc7chicago.com/covid-19-public-health-emergency-illinois-test-vaccine/13233372/ | access-date = June 13, 2023 | archive-date = June 14, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230614020258/https://abc7chicago.com/covid-19-public-health-emergency-illinois-test-vaccine/13233372/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Illinois}}
{{Further|List of ecoregions in Illinois}}
[[File:Illinois municipalities.svg|thumb|upright|[[List of municipalities in Illinois|Illinois municipalities]]]]
Illinois is located in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest region]] of the United States and is one of the eight states in the [[Great Lakes region (North America)|Great Lakes region]] of North America. Illinois's eastern border with [[Indiana]] consists of a north–south line at 87° 31′ 30″ west longitude in [[Lake Michigan]] at the north, to the [[Wabash River]] in the south above [[Vincennes, Indiana|Post Vincennes]]. The Wabash River continues as the eastern/southeastern border with Indiana until the Wabash enters the [[Ohio River]]. This marks the beginning of Illinois's southern border with [[Kentucky]], which runs along the northern shoreline of the Ohio River.<ref>[[Wikisource]]. [[s:Illinois Constitution of 1818|Illinois Constitution of 1818]].</ref> Most of the western border with [[Missouri]] and [[Iowa]] is the [[Mississippi River]]; Kaskaskia is an [[exclave]] of Illinois, lying west of the Mississippi and reachable only from Missouri. The state's northern border with [[Wisconsin]] is fixed at 42° 30′ north latitude. The northeastern border of Illinois lies in [[Lake Michigan]], within which Illinois shares a water boundary with the state of [[Michigan]], as well as Wisconsin and Indiana.<ref name="Nelson">{{cite book |editor=Nelson, Ronald E. |title=Illinois: Land and Life in the Prairie State |year=1978 |publisher=Kendall/Hunt |location=Dubuque, IA |isbn=978-0-8403-1831-2 |oclc=4499416}}</ref>

===Topography===
[[File:Looking eastward at Charles Mound, the highest point in Illinois.jpg|thumb|[[Charles Mound]], the highest natural point in Illinois at {{convert|1,235|ft}} above sea level, is located in the [[Driftless Area]] in the northwestern part of the state.]]

Though Illinois lies entirely in the [[Interior Plains]], it does have some minor variation in its elevation. In extreme northwestern Illinois, the [[Driftless Area]], a region of unglaciated and therefore higher and more rugged topography, occupies a small part of the state. [[Southern Illinois]] includes the hilly areas around the [[Shawnee National Forest]].

[[Charles Mound]], located in the Driftless region, has the state's highest natural elevation above sea level at {{cvt|1235|ft}}. Other highlands include the [[Shawnee Hills]] in the south, and there is varying topography along its rivers; the [[Illinois River]] bisects the state northeast to southwest. The floodplain on the Mississippi River from [[Alton, Illinois|Alton]] to the [[Kaskaskia River]] is known as the [[American Bottom]].

===Geology===
{{Main|Geology of Illinois}}
During the early part of the [[Paleozoic Era]], the area that would one day become Illinois was submerged beneath a shallow sea and located near the Equator. Diverse marine life lived at this time, including [[trilobite]]s, [[brachiopod]]s, and [[crinoid]]s. Changing environmental conditions led to the formation of large [[Coal forest|coal swamps]] in the [[Carboniferous]].

Illinois was above sea level for at least part of the [[Mesozoic]], but by its end was again submerged by the [[Western Interior Seaway]]. This receded by the [[Eocene|Eocene Epoch]].

During the [[Pleistocene Epoch]], vast ice sheets covered much of Illinois, with only the [[Driftless Area]] remaining exposed. These [[glacier]]s carved the basin of [[Lake Michigan]] and left behind traces of ancient glacial lakes and [[moraine]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Willman |first1=Harold Bowen |last2=Atherton |first2=Elwood |last3=Buschbach |first3=T. C. |last4=Collinson |first4=Charles William |last5=Frye |first5=John Chapman |last6=Hopkins |first6=M. E. |last7=Lineback |first7=Jerry Alvin |last8=Simon |first8=Jack A. |date=1975 |title=Handbook of Illinois stratigraphy |journal=Bulletin - Illinois State Geological Survey |volume=95 |location=Urbana, IL |url=https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/handle/2142/35115 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-date=August 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820230836/https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/handle/2142/35115 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Divisions===
[[File:Cairo Ohio River Bridge at sunset.jpg|thumb|At {{convert|279|ft}} above sea level,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://egsc.usgs.gov/isb//pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |title=Elevations and Distances in the United States |author=U.S. Geological Survey |website=egsc.usgs.gov |access-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130122723/https://egsc.usgs.gov/isb//pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the lowest elevation point in the state is located near [[Cairo, Illinois|Cairo]] and the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.]]
Illinois has three major geographical divisions. [[Northern Illinois]] is dominated by [[Chicago metropolitan area]], or Chicagoland, which is the city of Chicago and its suburbs, and the adjoining exurban area into which the metropolis is expanding. As defined by the federal government, the Chicago metro area includes several counties in Illinois, [[Indiana]], and [[Wisconsin]], and has a population of over 9.8&nbsp;million. Chicago itself is a cosmopolitan city, densely populated, industrialized, the transportation hub of the nation, and settled by a wide variety of ethnic groups. The city of [[Rockford, Illinois|Rockford]], Illinois's third-largest city and center of the state's fourth largest metropolitan area, sits along Interstates [[Interstate 39|39]] and [[Interstate 90|90]] some {{cvt|75|mi|km}} northwest of Chicago. The [[Quad Cities]] region, located along the [[Mississippi River]] in northern Illinois, had a population of 381,342 in 2011.

The midsection of Illinois is the second major division, called [[Central Illinois]]. Historically [[prairie]], it is now mainly agricultural and known as the Heart of Illinois. It is characterized by small towns and medium–small cities. The western section (west of the Illinois River) was originally part of the [[Military Tract of 1812]] and forms the conspicuous western bulge of the state. Agriculture, particularly [[maize|corn]] and [[soybean]]s, as well as educational institutions and manufacturing centers, figure prominently in Central Illinois. Cities include [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]]; [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]], the state capital; [[Quincy, Illinois|Quincy]]; [[Decatur, Illinois|Decatur]]; [[Bloomington-Normal, Illinois|Bloomington-Normal]]; and [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]]-[[Urbana, Illinois|Urbana]].<ref name="Nelson"/>

The third division is [[Southern Illinois]], comprising the area south of [[U.S. Route 50 in Illinois|U.S. Route 50]], including [[Southern Illinois|Little Egypt]], near the juncture of the [[Mississippi River]] and [[Ohio River]]. Southern Illinois is the site of the ancient city of [[Cahokia]], as well as the site of the first state capital at [[Kaskaskia, Illinois|Kaskaskia]], which today is separated from the rest of the state by the Mississippi River.<ref name="Nelson"/><ref name="Horsley">{{cite book |last=Horsley |first=A. Doyne |title=Illinois: A Geography |year=1986 |publisher=Westview Press |location=Boulder |isbn=978-0-86531-522-8}}</ref> This region has a somewhat warmer winter climate, different variety of crops (including some cotton farming in the past), more rugged topography (due to the area remaining unglaciated during the [[Illinoian (stage)|Illinoian Stage]], unlike most of the rest of the state), as well as small-scale oil deposits and [[coal mining]]. The Illinois suburbs of [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], such as [[East St. Louis]], are located in this region, and collectively, they are known as the [[Metro-East]]. The other somewhat significant concentration of population in Southern Illinois is the Carbondale-Marion-Herrin, Illinois Combined Statistical Area centered on [[Carbondale, Illinois|Carbondale]] and [[Marion, Illinois|Marion]], a two-county area that is home to 123,272 residents.<ref name="Nelson"/> A portion of southeastern Illinois is part of the extended [[Evansville, Indiana]], Metro Area, locally referred to as the Tri-State with Indiana and Kentucky. Seven Illinois counties are in the area.

In addition to these three, largely latitudinally defined divisions, all of the region outside the Chicago metropolitan area is often called "[[Downstate Illinois|downstate]]" Illinois. This term is flexible, but is generally meant to mean everything outside the influence of the Chicago area. Thus, some cities in ''Northern'' Illinois, such as [[DeKalb, Illinois|DeKalb]], which is west of Chicago, and [[Rockford, Illinois|Rockford]]—which is actually north of Chicago—are sometimes incorrectly considered to be 'downstate'.

===Climate===
{{Main|Climate of Illinois|List of Illinois tornadoes}}
[[File:IL koppen.svg|upright=0.9|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate types]] of Illinois]]
Illinois has a climate that varies widely throughout the year. Because of its nearly 400-mile distance between its northernmost and southernmost extremes, as well as its mid-continental situation, most of Illinois has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Dfa''), with hot, humid summers and cold winters. The southern part of the state, from about [[Carbondale, Illinois|Carbondale]] southward, has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Koppen ''Cfa''), with more moderate winters. Average yearly precipitation for Illinois varies from just over {{cvt|48|in|0}} at the southern tip to around {{cvt|35|in|0}} in the northern portion of the state. Normal annual snowfall exceeds {{cvt|38|in|0}} in the Chicago area, while the southern portion of the state normally receives less than {{cvt|14|in|0}}.<ref name="Climate_Maps">{{cite web |url=http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/atmos/statecli/index.htm |author=Illinois State Climatologist Office |title=Climate Maps |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207160607/http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/atmos/statecli/Mapsv2/mapsv2.htm |archive-date=February 7, 2006 |access-date=April 22, 2006}}</ref> The all-time high temperature was {{cvt|117|F|0}}, recorded on July 14, 1954, at [[East St. Louis, Illinois|East St. Louis]], and the all-time low temperature was {{cvt|−38|F|0}}, recorded on January 31, 2019, during the [[January 2019 North American cold wave]] at a weather station near [[Mount Carroll, Illinois|Mount Carroll]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/NWSLincoln/posts/2198866976801769  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/201399873215166/2198866976801769 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |url-access=limited|title=US National Weather Service Central Illinois |website=Facebook |access-date=January 31, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="SCEC">{{cite web |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/extremes/scec/records |title=State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC) |website=National Centers for Environmental Information |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=April 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221174428/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/extremes/scec/records |archive-date=February 21, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> and confirmed on March 5, 2019.<ref name="SCECreport">{{cite web |url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/monitoring-content/extremes/scec/reports/20190305-Illinois-Minimum-Temperature.pdf |title=Illinois State Record Minimum Temperature at Mt. Carroll |date=March 5, 2019 |website=National Centers for Environmental Information |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=April 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608021036/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/monitoring-content/extremes/scec/reports/20190305-Illinois-Minimum-Temperature.pdf |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This followed the previous record of {{cvt|−36|F|0}} recorded on January 5, 1999, near [[Congerville, Illinois|Congerville]].<ref name="SCECreport"/> Prior to the Mount Carroll record, a temperature of {{cvt|−37|F|0}} was recorded on January 15, 2009, at [[Rochelle, Illinois|Rochelle]], but at a weather station not subjected to the same quality control as official records.<ref name="pjstar-lose">{{cite news |url=https://www.pjstar.com/news/20190228/congerville-about-to-lose-its-extreme-cold-state-record |title=Congerville about to lose its extreme cold state record |first=Scott |last=Hilyard |date=February 28, 2019 |work=[[PJStar.com]] |location=Peoria, Illinois |access-date=March 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301080452/https://www.pjstar.com/news/20190228/congerville-about-to-lose-its-extreme-cold-state-record |archive-date=March 1, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Weather Underground">{{cite web |url=http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KRPJ/2009/1/15/DailyHistory.html?req_city=Rochelle&req_state=IL&req_statename=Illinois |author=Weather Underground |title=Weather History for Rochelle, IL |date=January 15, 2009 |access-date=January 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716021952/http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KRPJ/2009/1/15/DailyHistory.html?req_city=Rochelle&req_state=IL&req_statename=Illinois |archive-date=July 16, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Illinois averages approximately 51 days of [[thunderstorm]] activity a year, which ranks somewhat above average in the number of thunderstorm days for the United States. Illinois is vulnerable to tornadoes, with an average of 54 occurring annually, which puts much of the state at around five tornadoes per {{cvt|10000|sqmi|km2|-4}} annually.<ref name="Annual average number of tornadoes">"[http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/small/avgt5304.gif Annual average number of tornadoes, 1953–2004] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016174155/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/small/avgt5304.gif |date=October 16, 2011 }}", NOAA National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved October 24, 2006.</ref> Some of [[Tornado Alley]]'s deadliest tornadoes on record have occurred in the state. The [[Tri-State Tornado]] of 1925 killed 695 people in three states; 613 of the victims died in Illinois.<ref name="paddock_nws">{{cite web |url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pah/1925/gi_body.php |author=PAH Webmaster |title=NWS Paducah, KY: NOAA/NWS 1925 Tri-State Tornado Web Site—General Information |date=November 2, 2005 |access-date=November 16, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061002183858/http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pah/1925/gi_body.php |archive-date=October 2, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; margin: 1em auto;"
|+ style="font-size:120%;background:#E8EAFA;" | Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various Illinois Cities (°F)
|-
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000; height:17px;"| City
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;"| January
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;"| February
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;"| March
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;"| April
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;"| May
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;"| June
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;"| July
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;"| August
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;"| September
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;"| October
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;"| November
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:#000;"| December
|-
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000; height:16px;"| [[Cairo, Illinois|Cairo]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0168 |title=Average Weather for Cairo, IL |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710114433/http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0168 |archive-date=July 10, 2014 |website=weather.com}}</ref>
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 43/25
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 48/29
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 59/37
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 70/46
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 78/57
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 86/67
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 90/71
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 88/69
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 81/61
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 71/49
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 57/39
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 46/30
|-
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000; height:16px;"| [[Chicago]]<ref>"[http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/chicago-weather.asp Chicago Weather] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524075650/http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/chicago-weather.asp |date=May 24, 2008 }}", ustravelweather.com</ref>
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 31/16
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 36/21
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 47/31
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 59/42
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 70/52
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 81/61
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 85/65
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 83/65
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 75/57
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 64/45
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 48/34
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 36/22
|-
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000; height:16px;"| [[Edwardsville, Illinois|Edwardsville]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/62025?from=36hr_bottomnav_business |title=Average Weather for Edwardsville, IL—Temperature and Precipitation |publisher=Weather.com |date=January 17, 2007 |access-date=May 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516170813/http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/62025?from=36hr_bottomnav_business |archive-date=May 16, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 36/19
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 42/24
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 52/34
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 64/45
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 75/55
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 84/64
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 89/69
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 86/66
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 79/58
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 68/46
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 53/35
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 41/25
|-
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000; height:16px;"| [[Moline, Illinois|Moline]]<ref>"[http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/moline-weather.asp Moline Weather] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524075653/http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/moline-weather.asp |date=May 24, 2008 }}", ustravelweather.com</ref>
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 30/12
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 36/18
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 48/29
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 62/39
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 73/50
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 83/60
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 86/64
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 84/62
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 76/53
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 64/42
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 48/30
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 34/18
|-
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000; height:16px;"| [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]]<ref>"[http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/peoria-weather.asp Peoria Weather] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524075658/http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/peoria-weather.asp |date=May 24, 2008 }}", ustravelweather.com</ref>
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 31/14
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 37/20
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 49/30
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 62/40
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 73/51
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 82/60
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 86/65
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 84/63
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 77/54
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 64/42
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 49/31
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 36/20
|-
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000; height:16px;"| [[Rockford, Illinois|Rockford]]<ref>"[http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/rockford-weather.asp Rockford Weather] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524075706/http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/rockford-weather.asp |date=May 24, 2008 }}", ustravelweather.com</ref>
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 27/11
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 33/16
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 46/27
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 59/37
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 71/48
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 80/58
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 83/63
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 81/61
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 74/52
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 62/40
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 46/29
| style="background:#f8f3ca; color:#000;"| 32/17
|-
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000; height:16px;"| [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]]<ref>"[http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/springfield-weather.asp Springfield Weather] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524075711/http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-illinois/springfield-weather.asp |date=May 24, 2008 }}", ustravelweather.com</ref>
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 33/17
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 39/22
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 51/32
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 63/42
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 74/53
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 83/62
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 86/66
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 84/64
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 78/55
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 67/44
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 51/34
| style="background:#c5dfe1; color:#000;"| 38/23
|}

===Urban areas===
{{See also|Illinois statistical areas|List of municipalities in Illinois}}

Chicago is the largest city in the state and the [[List of United States cities by population|third-most populous city]] in the United States, with a population of 2,746,388 in 2020. Furthermore, over 7 million residents of the [[Chicago metropolitan area]] reside in Illinois. The [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]] currently lists seven other cities with populations of over 100,000 within the state. This includes the Chicago [[satellite town]]s of [[Aurora, Illinois|Aurora]], [[Joliet, Illinois|Joliet]], [[Naperville, Illinois|Naperville]], and [[Elgin, Illinois|Elgin]], as well as the cities of [[Rockford, Illinois|Rockford]], the most populous city in the state outside of the Chicago area; [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]], the state's capital; and [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]].

The most populated city in the state south of Springfield is [[Belleville, Illinois|Belleville]], with 42,000 residents. It is located in the [[Metro East]] region of [[Greater St. Louis]], the second-most populous urban area in Illinois with over 700,000 residents. Other major urban areas include the [[Peoria, Illinois, metropolitan area|Peoria metropolitan area]], [[Rockford metropolitan area, Illinois|Rockford metropolitan area]], [[Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area]] (home to the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]]), [[Springfield metropolitan area, Illinois|Springfield metropolitan area]], the Illinois portion of the [[Quad Cities]] area, and the [[Bloomington–Normal|Bloomington–Normal metropolitan area]].

{{Largest cities
| country = Illinois
| stat_ref = [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. census]]<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045221 |website=United States Census Buteau |access-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-date=February 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202181905/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045221 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| list_by_pop =
| div_name =
| div_link = List of counties in Illinois{{!}}County
| city_1 = Chicago
| div_1 = Cook County, Illinois{{!}}Cook
| pop_1 = 2,746,388
| city_2 = Aurora, Illinois{{!}}Aurora
| div_2 = Kane County, Illinois{{!}}Kane
| pop_2 = 180,542
| city_3 = Joliet, Illinois{{!}}Joliet
| div_3 = Will County, Illinois{{!}}Will
| pop_3 = 150,362
| city_4 = Naperville, Illinois{{!}}Naperville
| div_4 = DuPage County, Illinois{{!}}DuPage
| pop_4 = 149,540
| city_5 = Rockford, Illinois{{!}}Rockford
| div_5 = Winnebago County, Illinois{{!}}Winnebago
| pop_5 = 148,655
| city_6 = Elgin, Illinois{{!}}Elgin
| div_6 = Kane County, Illinois{{!}}Kane{{))!}}, {{!((}}Cook County, Illinois{{!}}Cook
| pop_6 = 114,797
| city_7 = Springfield, Illinois{{!}}Springfield
| div_7 = Sangamon County, Illinois{{!}}Sangamon
| pop_7 = 114,394
| city_8 = Peoria, Illinois{{!}}Peoria
| div_8 = Peoria County, Illinois{{!}}Peoria
| pop_8 = 113,150
| city_9 = Waukegan, Illinois{{!}}Waukegan
| div_9 = Lake County, Illinois{{!}}Lake
| pop_9 = 89,321
| city_10 = Champaign, Illinois{{!}}Champaign
| div_10 = Champaign County, Illinois{{!}}Champaign
| pop_10 = 88,302
| city_11 = Cicero, Illinois{{!}}Cicero
| div_11 = Cook County, Illinois{{!}}Cook
| pop_11 = 85,268
| city_12 = Schaumburg, Illinois{{!}}Schaumburg
| div_12 = Cook County, Illinois{{!}}Cook
| pop_12 = 78,723
| city_13 = Bloomington, Illinois{{!}}Bloomington
| div_13 = McLean County, Illinois{{!}}McLean
| pop_13 = 78,680
| city_14 = Evanston, Illinois{{!}}Evanston
| div_14 = Cook County, Illinois{{!}}Cook
| pop_14 = 78,110
| city_15 = Arlington Heights, Illinois{{!}}Arlington Heights
| div_15 = Cook County, Illinois{{!}}Cook
| pop_15 = 77,676
| city_16 = Bolingbrook, Illinois{{!}}Bolingbrook
| div_16 = Will County, Illinois{{!}}Will{{))!}}, {{!((}}DuPage County, Illinois{{!}}DuPage
| pop_16 = 73,922
| city_17 = Decatur, Illinois{{!}}Decatur
| div_17 = Macon County, Illinois{{!}}Macon
| pop_17 = 70,522
| city_18 = Palatine, Illinois{{!}}Palatine
| div_18 = Cook County, Illinois{{!}}Cook
| pop_18 = 67,908
| city_19 = Skokie, Illinois{{!}}Skokie
| div_19 = Cook County, Illinois{{!}}Cook
| pop_19 = 67,824
| city_20 = Des Plaines, Illinois{{!}}Des Plaines
| div_20 = Cook County, Illinois{{!}}Cook
| pop_20 = 60,675
}}

==Demographics==
{{split section|Demographics of Illinois|date=September 2024}}
The [[United States Census Bureau]] found that the population of Illinois was 12,812,508 in the [[2020 United States census]], moving from the fifth-largest state to the sixth-largest state (losing out to [[Pennsylvania]]). Illinois' population slightly declined in 2020 from the [[2010 United States census]] by just over 18,000 residents and the overall population was quite higher than recent census estimates.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schulte |first=Sarah |date=April 28, 2021 |title=2020 census results: Illinois loses population, but not from where you'd think |url=https://abc7chicago.com/census-2020-results-illinois-population/10554392/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060025/https://abc7chicago.com/census-2020-results-illinois-population/10554392/ |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |access-date=May 12, 2021 |work=ABC7 Chicago}}</ref>[[File:Illinois 2020 Population Density.png|thumb|right|Illinois 2020 Population Density Map]]Illinois is the most populous state in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest region]]. Chicago, the [[List of United States cities by population|third-most populous city in the United States]], is the center of the [[Chicago metropolitan area]] or Chicagoland, as this area is nicknamed. Although the Chicago metropolitan area comprises only 9% of the land area of the state, it contains 65% of the state's residents, with 21.4% of Illinois' population living in the city of Chicago itself as of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Total Population of Illinois, Chicago and Illinois Counties: April 1,1950 to April 1, 2020 |url=https://dph.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idph/publications/idph/data-and-statistics/vital-statistics/illinois-population-data/County-Census-Population_1950-2020.pdf |website=Illinois Department of Public Health}}</ref> The five [[List of counties in Illinois|most populous counties in the state]], as of 2024, are [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook]] (5,182,617), [[DuPage County, Illinois|DuPage]] (937,142), [[Lake County, Illinois|Lake]] (718,604), [[Will County, Illinois|Will]] (708,583), and [[Kane County, Illinois|Kane]] (520,997), all located in the Chicago metropolitan area. While the state's population has declined in recent years, according to the 2020 census, these losses do not arise from the Chicago metro area; rather the declines are from the Downstate counties.<ref name="VinickyWhere2020">{{cite news |last=Vinicky |first=Amanda |date=December 23, 2020 |title=Illinois Exodus: Census Data Finds People Continue to Leave State |url=https://news.wttw.com/2020/12/23/illinois-exodus-census-data-finds-people-continue-leave-state |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208014533/https://news.wttw.com/2020/12/23/illinois-exodus-census-data-finds-people-continue-leave-state |archive-date=February 8, 2021 |access-date=February 3, 2021 |work=WTTW |quote=[Demographer] Paral says Chicago and the collar counties aren't to blame. He says from Lake to Will to DeKalb counties are growing – not by a lot – but growing at least. Outside of the Chicago metropolitan area is largely declines.}}</ref> As of the 2020 census, the state's geographic mean [[center of population]] is located at 41° 18′ 43″N 88° 22 23″W in [[Grundy County, Illinois|Grundy County]], about six miles northwest of [[Coal City, Illinois|Coal City]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2023 |title=The 'center' of Illinois is likely a spot you've never visited |url=https://wgntv.com/news/illinois/the-center-of-illinois-is-likely-a-spot-youve-never-visited/ |access-date=July 25, 2024 |website=WGN-TV |language=en-US |archive-date=July 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727015136/https://wgntv.com/news/illinois/the-center-of-illinois-is-likely-a-spot-youve-never-visited/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Illinois is the most racially and ethnically diverse state in the Midwestern United States. By several metrics, including racial and ethnic background, religious affiliation, and percentage of rural and urban divide, Illinois is the most representative of the larger [[demography of the United&nbsp;States]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 14, 2024 |title=Illinois ranks as 'most normal state' in U.S. according to Washington Post data analysis |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/illinois-ranks-as-most-normal-state-in-u-s-according-to-washington-post-data-analysis/3436002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515060742/https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/illinois-ranks-as-most-normal-state-in-u-s-according-to-washington-post-data-analysis/3436002/ |archive-date=May 15, 2024 |accessdate=May 15, 2024 |publisher=[[WMAQ-TV]] |language=en-US |department=Illinois}}</ref>

{{US Census population
| 1800 = 2458
| 1810 = 12282
| 1820 = 55211
| 1830 = 157445
| 1840 = 476183
| 1850 = 851470
| 1860 = 1711951
| 1870 = 2539891
| 1880 = 3077871
| 1890 = 3826352
| 1900 = 4821550
| 1910 = 5638591
| 1920 = 6485280
| 1930 = 7630654
| 1940 = 7897241
| 1950 = 8712176
| 1960 = 10081158
| 1970 = 11113976
| 1980 = 11426518
| 1990 = 11430602
| 2000 = 12419293
| 2010 = 12830632
| 2020 = 12812508
| estyear = 2025
| estimate = 12719141
| estref = <ref>{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts: Illinois |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/IL | website=Census.gov | publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>
| footnote = Source: 1910–2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Historical Population Change Data (1910–2020) |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/popchange-data-text.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>
}}

=== Race and ethnicity ===

==== 2020 census ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name="2000CensusP2">{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p004&g=040XX00US17|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 25, 2023|archive-date=November 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125182549/https://data.census.gov/table?q=p004&g=040XX00US17|url-status=live}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name="2010CensusP2">{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPLNAT2010.P2?q=p2&g=040XX00US17|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 25, 2023|archive-date=November 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125182549/https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPLNAT2010.P2?q=p2&g=040XX00US17|url-status=live}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name="2020CensusP2">{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=p2&g=040XX00US17|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 25, 2023|archive-date=November 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125182550/https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=p2&g=040XX00US17|url-status=live}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|8,424,140
|8,167,753
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,472,751
|{{percentage|8424140|12419293|2}}
|{{percentage|8167753|12830632|2}}
|style='background: #ffffe6; |{{percentage|7472751|12812508|2}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|1,856,152
|1,832,924
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,775,612
|{{percentage|1856152|12419293|2}}
|{{percentage|1832924|12830632|2}}
|style='background: #ffffe6; |{{percentage|1775612|12812508|2}}
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|18,232
|18,849
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16,561
|{{percentage|18232|12419293|2}}
|{{percentage|18849|12830632|2}}
|style='background: #ffffe6; |{{percentage|16561|12812508|2}}
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|419,916
|580,586
|style='background: #ffffe6; |747,280
|{{percentage|419916|12419293|2}}
|{{percentage|580586|12830632|2}}
|style='background: #ffffe6; |{{percentage|747280|12812508|2}}
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|3,116
|2,977
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,959
|{{percentage|3116|12419293|2}}
|{{percentage|2977|12830632|2}}
|style='background: #ffffe6; |{{percentage|2959|12812508|2}}
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|13,479
|16,008
|style='background: #ffffe6; |45,080
|{{percentage|13479|12419293|2}}
|{{percentage|16008|12830632|2}}
|style='background: #ffffe6; |{{percentage|45080|12812508|2}}
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|153,996
|183,957
|style='background: #ffffe6; |414,855
|{{percentage|153996|12419293|2}}
|{{percentage|183957|12830632|2}}
|style='background: #ffffe6; |{{percentage|414855|12812508|2}}
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,530,262
|2,027,578
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,337,410
|{{percentage|1530262|12419293|2}}
|15.80%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |{{percentage|2337410|12812508|2}}
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''12,419,293'''
|'''12,830,632'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''12,812,508'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

[[File:Ethnic Origins in Illinois.png|thumb|270x270px|Ethnic origins in Illinois]]
[[File:Illinois counties by race.svg|thumb|292x292px|Map of counties in Illinois by racial plurality, per the 2020 U.S. census{{Collapsible list
| title = Non-Hispanic White|{{col-begin}}{{col-2}}

{{legend|#dd7e6b|40–50%}}

{{legend|#cc4125|50–60%}}

{{legend|#a61c00|60–70%}}

{{legend|#85200c|70–80%}}

{{legend|#5b0f00|80–90%}}

{{legend|#410b00|90%+}}

{{col-end}}
}}]]
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:90%" |Ethnic composition as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]
|-
! Race and ethnicity<ref name=":9">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html |title=Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=August 12, 2021 |website=census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815165418/https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Alone
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|58.3|%|2||background:gray}}
|align=right| {{bartable|61.3|%|2||background:gray}}
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]{{efn|Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin are not distinguished between total and partial ancestry.}}
|align=right| {{bartable}}
|align=right| {{bartable|18.2|%|2||background:green}}
|-
| [[African Americans|African American (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|13.9|%|2||background:mediumblue}}
|align=right| {{bartable|15.0|%|2||background:mediumblue}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
|align=right| {{bartable|5.8|%|2||background:purple}}
|align=right| {{bartable|6.7|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]]
|align=right| {{bartable|0.1|%|2||background:gold}}
|align=right| {{bartable|1.1|%|2||background:gold}}
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]]
|align=right| {{bartable|0.02|%|2||background:pink}}
|align=right| {{bartable|0.1|%|2||background:pink}}
|-
| Other
|align=right| {{bartable|0.4|%|2||background:brown}}
|align=right| {{bartable|1.1|%|2||background:brown}}
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"
|+ '''Illinois Racial Breakdown of Population<ref name=":1" />'''
|-
! Racial composition
!1940
!1950<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=October 8, 2014 |title=US Census Bureau- Illinois Race and Hispanic Origin: 1800-1990 |url=http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/tab28.pdf |website=Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327163928/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/tab28.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 }}</ref>
!1960<ref name=":1" />
!1970<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Persons of Spanish Origin- Table 2 (Persons of Spanish Origin by Race, 1970) |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1970/pc-2-1c/42043782v2p1a1cch7.pdf |website=US Census Bureau}}</ref>
!1980<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Table 5- Percent Distribution of Persons of Spanish Origin by Race, 1980 |url=https://assets.nhgis.org/original-data/modern-census/1980PL_80-S1-7.pdf |website=US Census Bureau}}</ref>!! 1990<ref name=census/><ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 Census of Population General Population Characteristics- Illinois |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-15.pdf |website=US Census Bureau}}</ref>!! 2000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://censusviewer.com/city/IL|title=|website=censusviewer.com|access-date=June 9, 2025|archive-date=February 9, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250209115017/https://censusviewer.com/city/IL|url-status=usurped}}</ref>!! 2010<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html |title=2010 Census Data |website=Census.gov |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-date=May 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522200920/https://census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
!2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=040XX00US17&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20(PL%2094-171) |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
|-
| [[White American|White]]
|95.0%
|92.4%
|89.4%
|86.4%
|80.8%|| 78.3% || 73.5% || 71.5%
|61.4%
|-
| [[African American|Black]]
|4.9%
|7.4%
|10.3%
|12.8%
|14.7%|| 14.8% || 15.1% || 14.5%
|14.1%
|-
| [[Asian American|Asian]]
|0.1%
|0.2%
|0.2%
|0.4%
|1.4%|| 2.5% || 3.4% || 4.6%
|5.9%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]]
|0%
|0%
|0%
|0.1%
|0.1%|| 0.2% || 0.2% || 0.3%
|0.8%
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]]
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—||—||0.0%||0.0%
|0.0%
|-
| [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|'Some Other race']]
|—
|—
|—
|0.2%
|3%|| 4.2% || 5.8% || 6.7%
|8.9%
|-
| [[Multiracial American|Two or more races]]
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—||—|| 1.9% || 2.3%
|8.9%
|-
|'''''[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (Any race)'''''
|'''''0.3%{{efn|Estimate based on the white population "of Spanish mother tongue" in the 1940 Census. Prior to the introduction of 'some other race' as a census category, the vast majority of Hispanics were counted as white, but this estimate may still exclude some non-white Hispanics and those of Hispanic heritage who didn't speak Spanish. }}'''''
|'''''—'''''
|'''''—'''''
|'''''3.3%'''''
|'''''5.6%'''''
|'''''7.9%'''''
|'''''12.3%'''''
|'''''15.8%'''''
|'''''18.2%'''''
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic whites|''Non-Hispanic white'']]
|''94.7%''
|''—''
|''—''
|''83.5%''
|''78%''
|''74.8%''
|''67.8%''
|''63.7%''
|''58.3%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic black''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''12.6%''
|''14.6%''
|''14.7%''
|''15.0%''
|''14.3%''
|''13.9%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic Asian''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''0.4%''
|''1.4%''
|''2.4%''
|''3.4%''
|''4.5%''
|''5.8%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic Native American''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''0.1%''
|''0.1%''
|''0.2%''
|''0.2%''
|''0.2%''
|''0.1%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic 'Some other race'''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''0.2%''
|''0.4%''
|''0.1%''
|''0.1%''
|''0.1%''
|''0.4%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic two or more races''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''1.2%''
|''1.4%''
|''3.2%''
|}

==== 2023 American Community Survey ====
{| class="cx-linter-tag"
| valign="top" |
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = '''Racial Makeup of Illinois (2023)'''<ref name=CensusACS2023 />
| label1 = White alone
| value1 = 60.70| color2=#36A
| label2 = Black alone
| value2 = 13.32| color1=#6A5
| label3 = Native American alone
| value3 = 0.70| color3=#FF33AC
| label4 = Asian Alone
| value4 = 6.03 | color4=#1A9
| label5 = Pacific Islander Alone
| value5 = 0.05| color5=#E17720
| label6 = Some other race alone
| value6 = 8.13| color6=#F0FF00
| label7 = Two or more races
| value7 = 11.08 | color7=#64ECDF
}}
| valign="top" |
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = '''Racial/Ethnic Makeup of Illinois excluding Hispanics from racial categories (2023)'''<ref name=CensusACS2023 />{{break}}''NH=Non-Hispanic''
| label1 = White NH
| value1 = 57.85 | color2=#36A
| label2 = Black NH
| value2 = 13.10 | color1=#6A5
| label3 = Native American NH
| value3 = 0.10 | color3=#FF33AC
| label4 = Asian NH
| value4 = 5.93 | color4=#1A9
| label5 = Pacific Islander NH
| value5 = 0.03 | color5=#E17720
| label6 = Other NH
| value6 = 0.38 | color6=#F0FF00
| label7 = Two or more races NH
| value7 = 3.65 | color7=#64ECDF
| label8 = Hispanic Any Race
| value8 = 18.95 | color8=#9400D3
}}
| valign="top" |
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = '''Racial Makeup of Hispanics in Illinois (2023)'''<ref name=CensusACS2023 />
| label1 = White alone
| value1 = 15.02 | color2=#36A
| label2 = Black alone
| value2 = 1.19 | color1=#6A5
| label3 = Native American alone
| value3 = 3.15 | color3=#FF33AC
| label4 = Asian Alone
| value4 = 0.50 | color4=#1A9
| label5 = Pacific Islander Alone
| value5 = 0.08 | color5=#E17720
| label6 = Other race alone
| value6 = 40.87 | color6=#F0FF00
| label7 = Two or more races
| value7 = 39.19 | color7=#64ECDF
}}
|}

According to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau estimates (with Hispanics allocated amongst the various racial groups), Illinois' population was 60.7% [[White American|White]], 13.3% Black or [[African American]], 0.1% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaskan Native]], 6.0% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander]], 8.1% Some Other Race, and 11.8% from [[Multiracial American|two or more races]].<ref name="CensusACS2023">{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=B03002&g=040XX00US17 |title=B03002 HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE—Illinois—2022 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates |date=July 1, 2023 |publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]] |access-date=February 21, 2024 |archive-date=October 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007044801/https://data.census.gov/table?q=B03002&g=040XX00US17 |url-status=live }}</ref> The white population continues to remain the largest racial category in Illinois. Under this methodology, Hispanics are allocated amongst the various racial groups and primarily identify as Some Other Race (40.9%) or Multiracial (39.2%) with the remainder identifying as White (15.0%), Black (1.2%), American Indian and Alaskan Native (3.2%), Asian (0.5%), and Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (0.1%).<ref name=CensusACS2023 /> By ethnicity, 19.0% of the total population is [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic-Latino]] (of any race) and 81.0% is Non-Hispanic (of any race). Illinois has the largest share of Hispanic residents in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]], with over 37% of Hispanics in the region living in Illinois.<ref name="auto5">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=May 31, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=02000US2&primary_geo_id=02000US2#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=May 31, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

==== Hispanic Americans ====
If treated as a separate category, Hispanics are the largest minority group in Illinois, making up nearly a fifth of the population.<ref name="CensusACS2023" /> Around 75% of the state's Hispanic population is [[Mexican Americans|Mexican-American]], numbering 1,794,369 and making up 14.3% of the total population of the state.<ref name="auto6">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03001 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03001&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=April 10, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> Illinois is home to the largest population of Mexican descent in the US outside of the [[Western United States]]. The second largest Hispanic group in Illinois are [[Puerto Ricans]], numbering 211,676 and making up 9% of the Hispanic population and 1.7% of the total population. The state is also home to significant Central American and South American communities, including 44,373 Guatemalan-Americans, 41,047 Ecuadorian-Americans, and 42,101 Colombian-Americans.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03001 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03001&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> Hispanics are the second fastest growing demographic in Illinois after Asians, growing by 15% between 2010 and 2020, while the overall population of the state declined.

The vast majority of Hispanics in Illinois live in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs, with 786,464 Hispanics living in the city of Chicago itself, making up nearly a third of the city's population. Many large suburbs of Chicago, including [[Aurora, Illinois|Aurora]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=16000US1703012&primary_geo_id=16000US1703012 |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> [[Berwyn, Illinois|Berwyn]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=16000US1705573&primary_geo_id=16000US1705573 |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> [[Cicero, Illinois|Cicero]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=16000US1714351&primary_geo_id=16000US1714351 |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> and [[Elgin, Illinois|Elgin]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=16000US1723074&primary_geo_id=16000US1723074 |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> have either a majority or plurality Hispanic population. The county with the highest share of Hispanic residents in the state, at 33.5% of the population, is [[Kane County, Illinois|Kane County]], located on the western edge of the Chicago suburbs and including the cities of Elgin and Aurora.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=05000US17089&primary_geo_id=05000US17089 |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> Hispanics have the lowest per-capita income of any major ethnic or racial group in Illinois, at $28,541.<ref name=":8" /> However, the Hispanic poverty rate, at 14.1%, is lower than that of Black residents, who have a poverty rate of 23%.<ref name=":3" /> Hispanic residents are the youngest demographic group in Illinois, with a median age of 30.7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B01002I - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B01002I&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=May 11, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

While those of Hispanic ethnicity are not distinguished between total and partial Hispanic origin, 2021 estimates show that almost 10% of the state's Hispanic population also reported a non-Spanish European ancestry, with this group making up 1.7% of the state's total population.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web |title=IPUMS USA |url=https://usa.ipums.org/usa/ |access-date=May 11, 2025 |website=usa.ipums.org}}</ref>

==== African-Americans ====
Black Americans form the second largest minority group in Illinois. In 2023, 1,922,259 Illinoisans identified as Black alone or in combination, making up 15.3% of the states population. Of this population, 1,643,638 (13.1%) are non-Hispanic Black alone, while 28,321 identify as [[Afro-Latino]], and 250,300 identify as Black in combination with any other race.<ref name="auto7">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref name="auto8">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02001 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02001&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref name="auto9">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02009 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02009&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> While most of the state's Black population identifies as African-American,<ref name="auto10">{{Cite web |title=Detailed Races and Ethnicities in the United States and Puerto Rico: 2020 Census |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/detailed-race-ethnicities-2020-census.html |access-date=April 14, 2025 |publisher=US Census Bureau |language=en}}</ref> there are also 45,393 people of West Indian descent and 43,911 of Nigerian descent in the state.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B04006 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B04006&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> A majority of the state's Black population resides in the Chicago metropolitan area, with 42% living in Chicago itself.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02009 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02009&geo_ids=16000US1714000&primary_geo_id=16000US1714000 |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

According to a study from the Brookings Institution, the Chicago area has the third highest level of black-white residential segregation in the United States.<ref name=":4" /> While some areas, including many neighborhoods on the city's west side and south side, as well as many suburbs in the [[Chicago Southland]], are majority Black, most neighborhoods on the north and northwest sides of Chicago, as well as most of the northern and southwestern suburbs of the city, have very small Black populations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chicago Black Population |url=https://blackdemographics.com/cities-2/chicago-black-population/ |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=BlackDemographics.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Outside of Chicagoland, urban areas in Southern and Central Illinois, including the [[Metro East]], [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]], [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]], and [[Decatur, Illinois|Decatur]] also have significant Black populations. The counties with the highest share of Black residents in Illinois are [[Pulaski County, Illinois|Pulaski]] and [[Alexander County, Illinois|Alexander County]], located at the southern tip of the state along the banks of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in the region known as "[[Southern Illinois#Origin of "Little Egypt" name|Little Egypt]]", with Black residents making up 32% of the population in both counties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census profile: Pulaski County, IL |url=https://censusreporter.org/profiles/05000US17153-pulaski-county-il/ |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=Census Reporter |language=en}}</ref>

The per-capita income of Black residents, at $30,295, is the second lowest of all major ethnic or racial groups in the state, after Hispanics of any race. However, Black Illinoisans have the highest overall poverty rate of all groups in the state, at 23%.<ref name=":5" /> The median age of Black residents in Illinois is 36.8 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B01002B - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B01002B&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=May 11, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

Illinois has a long history of milestones regarding [[African Americans|African American]] involvement in politics. It was the first state to elect a Black person to the U.S. [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] in the post-reconstruction era, with the election of [[Oscar Stanton De Priest|Oscar De Priest]] in 1928.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DE PRIEST, Oscar Stanton {{!}} US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives |url=https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/D/DE-PRIEST,-Oscar-Stanton-(D000263)/ |access-date=May 31, 2025 |website=history.house.gov |language=en}}</ref> It was also the first state to elect a Black woman to the [[United States Senate|US Senate]], with the election of [[Carol Moseley Braun|Carol Mosley Brown]] in 1992.<ref name="auto11">{{Cite web |title=MOSELEY BRAUN, Carol {{!}} US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives |url=https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/M/MOSELEY-BRAUN,-Carol-(M001025)/ |access-date=May 31, 2025 |website=history.house.gov |language=en}}</ref> Illinois senator [[Barack Obama]] would become the first Black president of the United States following his victory in the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]].

==== Asian-Americans ====
The third largest minority group in Illinois are Asian-Americans. In 2023, 894,048 Illinoisans identified as being Asian alone or in combination, making up 7.1% of the state's population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02011 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02011&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=April 13, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> 756,661 identified as Asian alone, making up 6.0% of the population.<ref name="auto8" /> The state's Asian-American population has grown rapidly in recent decades, from only 2.5% of the total population in 1990, to over 7% in 2023.

Around 37% of the state's Asian population is of [[South Asia]]n origin, 31% are [[East Asia]]n, 29% are [[Southeast Asia]]n (Mostly Filipino), 1% are [[Central Asia]]n, and 2% are of 'unspecified' Asian origins.<ref name="auto12">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02018 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02018&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=May 10, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> The largest specific Asian groups in the state are Indian (277,961), Filipino (184,508), Chinese (160,880), Korean (67,452), and Pakistani (50,508).<ref name="auto13">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02018 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02018&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=April 13, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> Around 85% of the state's Asian-American population identifies as Asian alone, while 15% identify as multiracial. Illinoisans of South Asian ancestry are significantly less likely than other Asian-Americans in the state to report multiracial ancestry, with 94% of Indian-Americans and 90% of Pakistani-Americans in the state identifying as Asian alone, compared to 82% of Chinese-American residents, 73% of Filipino-American residents, and only 44% of the state's 33,000 Japanese-American residents.<ref name="auto14">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02015 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02015&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=May 10, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref name="auto13" />

The overwhelming majority of the state's Asian population resides in the [[Chicago metropolitan area]], mostly in suburban areas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02011 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02011&geo_ids=31000US16980&primary_geo_id=31000US16980 |access-date=April 13, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> Suburban [[DuPage County, Illinois|DuPage County]] has the highest share of Asian residents in the state, at 14.7%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02011 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02011&geo_ids=05000US17043&primary_geo_id=05000US17043 |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> While Asians aren't the majority in any municipality within Illinois, they make up a significant share of the population (between 20 and 40%) in multiple western and northern suburbs of Chicago, including [[Naperville, Illinois|Naperville]], [[Schaumburg, Illinois|Schaumburg]], [[Hoffman Estates, Illinois|Hoffman Estates]], [[Skokie, Illinois|Skokie]], [[Niles, Illinois|Niles]], and [[Morton Grove, Illinois|Morton Grove]]. Additionally, the Chicago [[Community areas in Chicago|community area]] of Armour Square, which includes the city's [[Chinatown, Chicago|Chinatown]] neighborhood, is majority Asian at 63.7% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Community Data Snapshot- Armour Square |url=https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/Armour-Square.pdf |website=Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning}}</ref> Asian residents have the highest per-capita income of any major ethnic or racial group in the state, at $54,122, and the second lowest poverty rate, after non-Hispanic whites, at 10.4%.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> The median age of single-race Asian residents in Illinois is 38.9 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B01002D - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B01002D&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=May 11, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> Illinois senator [[Tammy Duckworth]], of [[Thai Americans|Thai]] descent, is one of only three Asian Americans currently serving in the [[United States Senate|US Senate]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schaeffer |first=Katherine |date=January 21, 2025 |title=119th Congress brings new growth in racial, ethnic diversity to Capitol Hill |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/21/119th-congress-brings-new-growth-in-racial-ethnic-diversity-to-capitol-hill/ |access-date=May 31, 2025 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Native Americans ====
In 2023, 271,494 Illinoisans identified as Native American alone or in combination, making up 2.2% of the state's population. 184,155 Illinoisans identified as Native American in combination with any other race, while 87,339 identified as being Native American alone. Over 80% of the state's Native American population also identified as being Hispanic or Latino, with only 12,385, or 0.1% of the population, identifying as non-Hispanic Native American alone.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02001 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02001&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref name="auto7" /> According to the 2023 American Community Survey, the largest self-identified Indigenous groups in the state were [[Aztecs|Aztec]] (53,815) and [[Maya peoples|Maya]] (17,866).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02021 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02021&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=April 13, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> The largest non-Latin American Indigenous groups in the state were [[Blackfeet Nation|Blackfeet]] (8,674) and [[Navajo]] (3,950).

==== Pacific Islanders ====
The state has a very small number of [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islanders]], numbering 17,982 and making only 0.1% of the population in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02012 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02012&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> The majority of Pacific Islanders in the state identify as multiracial, with only 5,852 identifying as Pacific Islander alone.<ref name="auto2"/> The largest Pacific Islander groups in the state are [[Native Hawaiians]] (6,362), [[Samoans]] (2,211), and [[Chamorro people|Chamorros]] (1,519).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02019 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02019&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

==== European-Americans ====
In 2023, 7,260,529 Illinoisans identified as non-Hispanic white alone, making up 57.9% of the population.<ref name="auto5" /> Although a majority of white residents in the state live in the Chicago area, the counties with the highest percent share of white population are all located in rural areas with smaller populations, with non-Hispanic white people making up over 80 or 90% of the population in most non-urban counties in the state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population by Race and Ethnicity |url=https://dph.illinois.gov/data-statistics/vital-statistics/illinois-population-data/population-race-ethnicity.html |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=dph.illinois.gov |language=en}}</ref>

In the Chicago metro area, the white population is located mostly in suburban areas, with non-Hispanic white residents making up a majority of the population (between 53%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census profile: Kane County, IL |url=https://censusreporter.org/profiles/05000US17089-kane-county-il/ |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=Census Reporter |language=en}}</ref> and 75%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census profile: McHenry County, IL |url=https://censusreporter.org/profiles/05000US17111-mchenry-county-il/ |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=Census Reporter |language=en}}</ref>) in every metropolitan county other than [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]], while making up only 31.7% of the population in the city of Chicago itself.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census profile: Chicago, IL |url=https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US1714000-chicago-il/ |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=Census Reporter |language=en}}</ref> Within Chicago, there is significant [[racial segregation]], with the white population concentrated primarily on the [[North Side, Chicago|North Side]] of the city, while many predominantly African-American or Hispanic neighborhoods on the [[West Side, Chicago|West Side]] and [[South Side, Chicago|South Side]] of the city have almost no non-Hispanic white residents.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Serrato |first1=Jacqueline |last2=Sier |first2=Pat |last3=Runes |first3=Charmaine |last4=Weekly |first4=South Side |date=February 17, 2022 |title=Mapping Chicago's Racial Segregation {{!}} FIRSTHAND: Segregation |url=https://www.wttw.com/firsthand/segregation/mapping-chicago-racial-segregation |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=WTTW Chicago |language=en}}</ref>

The largest European ancestry reported in Illinois is [[German Americans|German]]. 1,983,050 Illinoisans, or 15.8% of the total population, identify with German ancestry, making it the single largest ancestry group in the state.<ref name="auto15">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B04006 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B04006&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> German ancestry predominates among the white population in every county in [[northern Illinois]], as well as most counties in the southwestern part of the state, while [[English Americans|English-Americans]], making up 6.8% of Illinois' population, predominate in most of the southeastern counties.<ref name="auto10" /> The state's white population also includes a large number of [[Irish people|Irish]] (10.5%), [[Polish Americans|Polish]] (6.1%), and [[Italian Americans|Italian-Americans]] (5.5%), with these groups concentrated mainly in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B04006 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B04006&geo_ids=31000US16980&primary_geo_id=31000US16980 |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> Illinois' Polish-American population of 761,948 is the highest out of any state. The state is also home to a significant population of other [[Eastern Europe]]an ethnicities, also largely concentrated around the Chicago area, including 86,814 [[Russian Americans|Russians]], 83,679 [[Czech Americans|Czechs]], 71,279 [[Ukrainian Americans|Ukrainians]], and 35,407 [[Croatian Americans|Croatians]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B04006 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B04006&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cpercentage |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Census profile: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Metro Area |url=https://censusreporter.org/profiles/31000US16980-chicago-naperville-elgin-il-in-metro-area/ |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=Census Reporter |language=en}}</ref>

Most Illinoisans who report any European ancestry identify with multiple ancestries. Those of partial descent make up the majority of most European ancestry groups in Illinois, including 58% of Polish-Americans, 68% of English-Americans, 69% of German-Americans, and 75% of Irish-Americans in the state. Of all European ancestries numbering over 50,000 in Illinois, those identifying solely with that ancestry are only a majority among the state's 71,279 [[Ukrainian Americans|Ukrainian-Americans]], with two thirds of this group identifying as Ukrainian alone.<ref name="auto16">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B04004 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B04004&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=May 11, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref name="auto1" />

Along with white residents reporting multiple European ancestries, around 3% of the state's population identifies as non-Hispanic white in combination with another racial group.<ref name=":9" /> Additionally, while those of Hispanic ethnicity are not distinguished between total and partial Hispanic origin, an estimated 1.7% of Illinois' population are Hispanics who report a non-Spanish European ancestry.<ref name="auto3"/>

Non-Hispanic whites have the second highest per-capita income of any racial group in the state, at $53,591, just slightly below that of Asians.<ref name=":8" /> The white poverty rate, at only 8.3%, is the lowest of all major racial or ethnic groups in the state, including Asians.<ref name=":7" /> The median age of non-Hispanic white residents is the oldest of all racial or ethnic groups in the state, at 44.2 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B01002H - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B01002H&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=May 11, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

==== Arab Americans ====
The state is home to a significant Middle Eastern population, with 101,464 people (0.8% of the population) identifying as [[Arab Americans|Arab]].'''''{{efn|Arabs and other Middle Eastern Americans are classified as racially 'white' by the Census Bureau}}'''''<ref name="auto1"/> 71,422, (0.6% of the population) identify as Arab alone.<ref name="auto16" /> The highest concentration of Arab-Americans in the state are found in the southern suburbs of Chicago, in the towns of [[Bridgeview, Illinois|Brigeview]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B04006 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B04006&geo_ids=16000US1708225&primary_geo_id=16000US1708225 |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> [[Oak Lawn, Illinois|Oak Lawn]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B04006 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B04006&geo_ids=16000US1754820&primary_geo_id=16000US1754820 |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> [[Palos Hills, Illinois|Palos Hills]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B04006 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B04006&geo_ids=16000US1757394&primary_geo_id=16000US1757394 |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> and [[Hickory Hills, Illinois|Hickory Hills]], where they make up between 5–12% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B04006 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B04006&geo_ids=16000US1734514&primary_geo_id=16000US1734514 |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

Illinois has the largest [[Palestinian Americans|Palestinian]] population in the United States. According to census estimates, 19,255 Illinoisans have Palestinian ancestry, while other estimates place the population of Palestinian descent in the Chicago area as high as 85,000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Palestinians |url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/946.html |access-date=May 25, 2025 |website=www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org}}</ref>

==== Demographic Trends ====
[[File:Illinois population pyramid.webp|thumb|Illinois [[population pyramid]]]]
{{as of|2023}}, 50% of Illinois's population younger than age 18 were minorities. This marks an increase from 2010, when 47% of children in the state were minorities, and 2000, when 41% were minorities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Child population by race and ethnicity {{!}} KIDS COUNT Data Center |url=https://datacenter.aecf.org/data/tables/103-child-population-by-race-and-ethnicity?loc=15&loct=2#detailed/2/15/false/2545,133,11/72,66,67,8367,69,70,71,12/423,424 |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=datacenter.aecf.org |language=en}}</ref> (Note: Children born to white Hispanics or to a sole full or partial minority parent are counted as minorities. Arabs are classified as white in census data.).<ref>{{Cite web |title=IECAM |url=https://db.iecam.illinois.edu/search.asp |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=db.iecam.illinois.edu}}</ref>

The state's most populous ethnic group, non-Hispanic white, has declined from 83.5% in 1970<ref>{{cite web |title=Illinois QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17000.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401070310/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17000.html |archive-date=April 1, 2009 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> to 58.5% in 2022.<ref name="CensusACS2023" /> Almost 60% of Illinois' minority population, including over 67% of the black population, lives in [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]], while the county includes around 40% of the state's total population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census profile: Cook County, IL |url=http://censusreporter.org/profiles/05000US17031-cook-county-il/ |access-date=July 27, 2024 |website=Census Reporter |language=en}}</ref> Cook County, which is home to [[Chicago]], is the only [[Majority minority in the United States|majority-minority]] county within Illinois, with non-Hispanic whites making up a plurality of 40.4% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=05000US17031&primary_geo_id=05000US17031 |access-date=July 27, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> Despite being the most ethnically diverse state in the Midwest, urban areas in Illinois have had a persistently high level of [[racial segregation]], with a study from the [[Brookings Institution]] finding that the Chicago area has the third highest level of black-white [[residential segregation]] out of all major metropolitan areas in the United States.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=June 2, 2022 |title=Infographic: Northeast Has the Highest Black-White Segregation |url=https://www.statista.com/chart/27566/major-us-metro-areas-with-highest-black-white-neighborhood-segregation/ |access-date=May 7, 2025 |website=Statista Daily Data |language=en}}</ref>

=== Ancestry ===
According to 2022 estimates from the American Community Survey, 16% of the population had [[German Americans|German]] ancestry, 14% had [[Mexican Americans|Mexican]] ancestry, 10.4% had [[Irish Americans|Irish]] ancestry, 7.1% had [[English Americans|English]] ancestry, 6.2% had [[Polish Americans|Polish]] ancestry, 5.2% had [[Italian Americans|Italian]] ancestry, 3.4% listed themselves as [[American ancestry|American]], 2.3% had [[Indian Americans|Indian]] ancestry, 1.7% had [[Puerto Ricans|Puerto Rican]] ancestry, 1.7% had [[Swedish Americans|Swedish]] ancestry, 1.4% had [[Filipino Americans|Filipino]] ancestry, 1.4% had [[French Americans|French]] ancestry, and 1.2% had [[Chinese Americans|Chinese]] ancestry. The state also has a large population of [[African Americans|African-Americans]], making up 15.3% of the population alone or in combination.<ref name="auto15" /><ref name="auto13" /><ref name="auto6" /><ref name="auto9" />
This table displays all self-reported [[Ancestries of Americans|ancestries]] with over 50,000 members in Illinois, alone or in combination, according to estimates from the 2022 American Community Survey. Hispanic groups are not distinguished between total and partial ancestry:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Ancestry
!Number in 2022 (Alone)<ref name="auto16" /><ref name="auto14" />
!Number as of 2022 (Alone or in any combination)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03001 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03001&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cpercentage |access-date=July 25, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref name="auto15" /><ref name="auto12" />
!% Total
|-
|[[German Americans|German]]
|649,997
|2,014,297
|16.0%
|-
|[[African Americans|Black or African American]]
<small>(Including Afro-Caribbean & Sub-Saharan African)</small>
|1,689,724
|1,931,027
|15.3%
|-
|[[Mexican Americans|Mexican]]
|—
|1,759,842
|14.0%
|-
|[[Irish Americans|Irish]]
|338,198
|1,312,888
|10.4%
|-
|[[English Americans|English]]
|278,564
|891,189
|7.1%
|-
|[[Polish Americans|Polish]]
|336,810
|780,152
|6.2%
|-
|[[Italian Americans|Italian]]
|205,189
|657,830
|5.2%
|-
|[[American ancestry|American]]
<small>(Mostly [[Old Stock Americans|old-stock]] white Americans of British descent)</small>
|345,772
|428,431
|3.4%
|-
|[[Indian Americans|Indian]]
|270,311
|287,101
|2.3%
|-
|[[Puerto Ricans|Puerto Rican]]
|—
|214,835
|1.7%
|-
|[[Swedish Americans|Swedish]]
|48,814
|210,128
|1.7%
|-
|[[Filipino Americans|Filipino]]
|131,433
|175,619
|1.4%
|-
|[[French Americans|French]]
|27,025
|174,964
|1.4%
|-
|[[Chinese Americans|Chinese]]
|130,864
|153,277
|1.2%
|-
|Broadly "[[European Americans|European]]"
<small>(No country specified)</small>
|114,209
|146,671
|1.2%
|-
|[[Scottish Americans|Scottish]]
|33,638
|136,636
|1.1%
|-
|[[Norwegian Americans|Norwegian]]
|33,099
|133,538
|1.1%
|-
|[[Dutch Americans|Dutch]]
|32,184
|122,139
|1.0%
|-
|[[Arab Americans|Arab]]
|74,779
|106,612
|0.8%
|-
|[[Czech Americans|Czech]]
|21,168
|83,090
|0.7%
|-
|[[Greek Americans|Greek]]
|39,290
|82,360
|0.7%
|-
|[[Russian Americans|Russian]]
|27,532
|79,623
|0.6%
|-
|[[Lithuanian Americans|Lithuanian]]
|27,001
|73,207
|0.6%
|-
|[[Korean Americans|Korean]]
|55,515
|71,709
|0.6%
|-
|[[Scotch-Irish Americans|Scotch-Irish]]
|16,817
|60,693
|0.5%
|-
|[[Ukrainian Americans|Ukrainian]]
|37,306
|60,623
|0.5%
|}

=== Immigration ===
At the 2022 estimates from the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], there were 1,810,100 foreign-born inhabitants of the state or 14.4% of the population, with 37.8% from Mexico or Central America, 31% from Asia, 20.2% from Europe, 4.3% from South America, 4.2% from Africa, 1% from Canada, and 0.2% from Oceania.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B05012 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B05012&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cpercentage |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B05006 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B05006&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cpercentage |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> Of the foreign-born population, 53.5% were [[United States nationality law|naturalized U.S. citizens]], and 46.5% were not U.S. citizens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B05002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B05002&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> The top countries of origin for immigrants in Illinois were [[Mexico]], [[India]], [[Poland]], the [[Philippines]] and [[China]] in 2018 and 2023.<ref>{{cite web |date=2020 |title=Immigrants in Illinois |url=https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/sites/default/files/research/immigrants_in_illinois.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927190155/https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/sites/default/files/research/immigrants_in_illinois.pdf |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |publisher=American Immigration Council}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
!Place of birth
!Population (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B05002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B05002&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=July 27, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B05006 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B05006&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=July 27, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>
!% of total
|-
!United States
!10,660,218
!84.7%
|-
|{{Flag|Illinois}}
|8,379,091
|66.6%
|-
|Other States or D.C.
|2,227,917
|17.7%
|-
|{{Flag|Puerto Rico}}
|50,577
|0.4%
|-
|Other [[Territories of the United States|US Territories]]
|2,633
|0.0%
|-
!Born abroad to American parents
!111,714
!0.9%
|-
!Mexico & Central America
!683,766
!5.4%
|-
|{{Flag|Mexico}}
|621,541
|4.9%
|-
|{{Flag|Guatemala}}
|22,886
|0.2%
|-
|{{Flag|Honduras}}
|13,811
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|El Salvador}}
|12,097
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Belize}}
|7,150
|0.1%
|-
|Other [[Central America]]n countries
|6,281
|0.0%
|-
!Caribbean
<small>(Not including Puerto Rico)</small>
!25,258
!0.2%
|-
|{{Flag|Cuba}}
|6,955
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Jamaica}}
|6,873
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Haiti}}
|5,265
|0.0%
|-
|Other [[Caribbean]] countries
|6,165
|0.0%
|-
!South America
!76,944
!0.7%
|-
|{{Flag|Colombia}}
|22,796
|0.2%
|-
|{{Flag|Venezuela}}
|15,387
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Ecuador}}
|14,356
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Brazil}}
|9,164
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Peru}}
|6,426
|0.1%
|-
|Other [[South America]]n countries
|8,815
|0.1%
|-
!Northern America
!17,775
!0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Canada}}
|17,632
|0.1%
|-
|Other Northern American countries
|143
|0.0%
|-
!Eastern Europe
!271,358
!2.2%
|-
|{{Flag|Poland}}
|120,473
|1.0%
|-
|{{Flag|Ukraine}}
|33,575
|0.3%
|-
|{{Flag|Romania}}
|15,452
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Russia}}
|14,930
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Bulgaria}}
|13,464
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Bosnia}}
|11,071
|0.1%
|-
|Other [[Eastern Europe]]an countries
|62,393
|0.5%
|-
!Western Europe
!30,076
!0.3%
|-
|{{Flag|Germany}}
|19,611
|0.2%
|-
|Other [[Western Europe]]an countries
|10,465
|0.1%
|-
!Southern Europe
!34,997
!0.3%
|-
|{{Flag|Italy}}
|18,660
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Greece}}
|12,463
|0.1%
|-
|Other [[Southern Europe]]an countries
|3,874
|0.0%
|-
!Northern Europe
!27,573
!0.2%
|-
|{{Flag|UK}}
<small>(Including overseas [[Crown Dependencies|Crown]]</small>
<small>[[Crown Dependencies|Dependencies]])</small>
|19,123
|0.2%
|-
|{{Flag|Ireland}}
|5,465
|0.0%
|-
|Other [[Northern Europe]]an countries
|2,985
|0.0%
|-
!Europe, unspecified country
!1,353
!0.0%
|-
!East Asia
!137,098
!1.1%
|-
|{{Flag|China}}
|77,933
|0.7%
|-
|{{Flag|Korea}} (North or South)
|37,662
|0.3%
|-
|{{Flag|Japan}}
|9,905
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Taiwan}}
|8,995
|0.1%
|-
|Other [[East Asia]]n countries
|2,603
|0.0%
|-
!South or Central Asia
!231,775
!1.8%
|-
|{{Flag|India}}
|173,578
|1.4%
|-
|{{Flag|Pakistan}}
|29,823
|0.2%
|-
|{{Flag|Bangladesh}}
|5,858
|0.0%
|-
|Other [[South Asia|South]] or [[Central Asia]]n countries
|22,516
|0.2%
|-
!Southeast Asia
!131,684
!1.0%
|-
|{{Flag|Philippines}}
|92,569
|0.7%
|-
|{{Flag|Vietnam}}
|18,559
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Thailand}}
|5,268
|0.0%
|-
|Other [[Southeast Asia]]n countries
|15,288
|0.1%
|-
!West Asia
!52,352
!0.4%
|-
|{{Flag|Iraq}}
|13,341
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Jordan}}
|8,240
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Syria}}
|8,130
|0.1%
|-
|{{Flag|Turkey}}
|5,271
|0.0%
|-
|Other [[West Asia]]n countries
|17,370
|0.1%
|-
!Asia, unspecified country
!8,366
!0.1%
|-
!Sub-Saharan Africa
!63,590
!0.6%
|-
|{{Flag|Nigeria}}
|22,648
|0.2%
|-
|{{Flag|Ghana}}
|6,018
|0.0%
|-
|{{Flag|Ethiopia}}
|5,069
|0.0%
|-
|Other [[Sub-Saharan Africa]]n countries
|29,855
|0.3%
|-
![[North Africa]]
!11,924
!0.1%
|-
!Africa, unspecified country
!2,368
!0.0%
|-
![[Oceania]]
!4,211
!0.0%
|-
!Total Population
!'''12,582,032'''
!100%
|}

=== Age and sex ===
In 2022, 11.2% of Illinois's population was reported as being under the age of 9, 12.9% were between 10 and 19 years old, 13.4% were 20–29 years old, 13.6% were 30–39 years old, 12.6% were 40–49 years old, 12.7% were 50–59 years old, 11.9% were 60–69 years old, 7.7% were 70–79 years old, and 4% were over the age of 80.<ref name="Census profile: Illinois">{{Cite web |title=Census profile: Illinois |url=http://censusreporter.org/profiles/04000US17-illinois/ |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=Census Reporter |language=en}}</ref> As of 2023, 21.5% of the population is under the age of 18.<ref name="auto17">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B01001 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B01001&primary_geo_id=04000US17&geo_ids=04000US17,01000US |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> The median age in Illinois is 39.1 years.

Females make up approximately 50.5% of the population, while males make up 49.5%.<ref name="auto17" /> According to a 2022 study from the [[Williams Institute]], an estimated 0.44% of adults in Illinois identify as [[transgender]], a rate slightly lower than the national estimate of 0.52%.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 2022 |title=How Many Adults and Youth Identify as Transgender in the United States? |url=https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Trans-Pop-Update-Jun-2022.pdf |website=UCLA School of Law: Williams Institute}}</ref> According to a Gallup survey from 2019, 4.3% of adults in Illinois identify as [[LGBTQ]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Movement Advancement Project {{!}} State Profiles |url=https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/profile_state/IL |access-date=July 27, 2024 |website=www.lgbtmap.org |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Age Group
!% of total (2022)
!Population (2022)
|-
|0–9
|11.2%
|1,409,553
|-
|10–19
|12.9%
|1,628,658
|-
|20–29
|13.4%
|1,683,823
|-
|30–39
|13.6%
|1,709,929
|-
|40–49
|12.6%
|1,579,665
|-
|50–59
|12.7%
|1,596,049
|-
|60–69
|11.9%
|1,501,221
|-
|70–79
|7.7%
|970,961
|-
|80+
|4%
|502,173
|}

=== Socioeconomics ===
As of 2023, the [[Per capita income|per-capita income]] in Illinois is $45,043,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B19301 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B19301&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> and the [[median income]] for a household in the state is $80,306, slightly higher than the national average. 11.6% of the population lives below the [[Poverty in the United States|poverty line]], including 15% of children under 18 and 11% of those over the age of 65. There is significant racial income inequality in the state, with Asians and Non-Hispanic Whites having a per-capita income almost double that of Black and Hispanic residents.
{| class="wikitable"
!Race/Ethnicity
!Per capita income (2023)
!Poverty Rate (2023)
|-
|Asian<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B19301D - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B19301D&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>
|$54,122
|10.4%
|-
|White (Non-Hispanic)<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B19301I - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B19301I&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table C17001H - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=C17001H&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>
|$53,591
|8.3%
|-
|'''All residents'''
|'''$45,043'''
|'''11.6%'''
|-
|Black<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B19301B - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B19301B&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table C17001B - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=C17001B&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>
|$30,295
|23.0%
|-
|Hispanic (Any Race)<ref name=":8"/><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table C17001I - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=C17001I&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17 |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>
|$28,541
|14.1%
|}
There are 5,071,288 households in Illinois, with an average size of 2.4 people per household. 48% of the population over the age of 15 is married. As of 2023, Illinois' [[total fertility rate]] is the 11th lowest of all US states, with a lifetime average of 1.50 births per woman, in comparison to an average of 1.64 on the national level.<ref name="2023cdc">[https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr74/nvsr74-1.pdf]. Births: Final Data for 2023. p.26.</ref>

90.6% of the adult population has a high school diploma, and 38.3% of the population over 25 has a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to a national average of 36.2%.<ref name="Census profile: Illinois" />

In 2022, Illinois scored 0.932 on the UN's [[Human Development Index]], placing it in the category of "very high" Human Development and slightly higher than the US average of 0.927.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Subnational HDI |url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/table/shdi/USA/ |website=Global Data Lab}}</ref>

According to [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development|HUD]]'s 2022 [[Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress|Annual Homeless Assessment Report]], there were an estimated 9,212 [[Homelessness in Illinois|homeless people in Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007-2022 PIT Counts by State |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huduser.gov%2Fportal%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fxls%2F2007-2022-PIT-Counts-by-State.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314020239/https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huduser.gov%2Fportal%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fxls%2F2007-2022-PIT-Counts-by-State.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |access-date=March 11, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress |url=https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2022-AHAR-Part-1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311234217/https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2022-AHAR-Part-1.pdf |archive-date=March 11, 2023 |access-date=March 11, 2023}}</ref>

According to 2022 data from the [[Prison Policy Initiative]], an estimated 53,000 people were imprisoned in local jails, state prisons, federal prisons, or detention centers in the state, meaning that around 0.43% of the state's total population was incarcerated.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Illinois profile |url=https://www.prisonpolicy.org/profiles/IL.html |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=www.prisonpolicy.org |language=en}}</ref> Census data from 2023 reports an estimated 59,254 people (0.47%) imprisoned in adult correctional facilities in the state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B26103 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B26103&geo_ids=04000US17&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> However, Illinois' prison incarceration rate has declined by almost 50% since 2014, and the state has the 13th lowest total incarceration rate out of all 50 states.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=States of Incarceration: The Global Context 2024 |url=https://www.prisonpolicy.org/global/2024.html |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=www.prisonpolicy.org |language=en}}</ref>

===Birth data by race/ethnicity===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"
|+ Live Births by Single Race/Ethnicity of Mother
|-
! [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Race]]
! 2013<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_01.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2013 |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |publisher=CDC |volume=64 |issue=1 |date=January 15, 2015 |first1=Joyce A. |last1=Martin |first2=Brady E. |last2=Hamilton |first3=Michelle J.K. |last3=Osterman |first4=Sally C. |last4=Curtin |first5=T.J. |last5=Mathews |pages=1–65 |pmid=25603115 |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911162514/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_01.pdf |archive-date=September 11, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
! 2014<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_12.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2014 |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |publisher=CDC |volume=64 |issue=12 |date=December 23, 2015 |first1=Joyce A. |last1=Martin |first2=Brady E. |last2=Hamilton |first3=Michelle J.K. |last3=Osterman |first4=Sally C. |last4=Curtin |first5=T.J. |last5=Mathews |pages=1–64 |pmid=26727629 |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214040341/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_12.pdf |archive-date=February 14, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
! 2015<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr66/nvsr66_01.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2015 |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |publisher=CDC |volume=66 |issue=1 |date=January 5, 2017 |first1=Joyce A. |last1=Martin |first2=Brady E. |last2=Hamilton |first3=Michelle J.K. |last3=Osterman |first4=Anne K. |last4=Driscoll |first5=T.J. |last5=Mathews |page=1 |pmid=28135188 |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831155911/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr66/nvsr66_01.pdf |archive-date=August 31, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
! 2016<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr67/nvsr67_01.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2016 |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |publisher=CDC |volume=67 |issue=1 |date=January 31, 2018 |first1=Joyce A. |last1=Martin |first2=Brady E. |last2=Hamilton |first3=Michelle J.K. |last3=Osterman |first4=Anne K. |last4=Driscoll |first5=Patrick |last5=Drake |pages=1–55 |pmid=29775434 |access-date=May 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603002249/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr67/nvsr67_01.pdf |archive-date=June 3, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
! 2017<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr67/nvsr67_08-508.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2017 |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |publisher=CDC |volume=67 |issue=8 |date=November 7, 2018 |first1=Joyce A. |last1=Martin |first2=Brady E. |last2=Hamilton |first3=Michelle J.K. |last3=Osterman |first4=Anne K. |last4=Driscoll |first5=Patrick |last5=Drake |pages=1–50 |pmid=30707672 |access-date=February 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201210916/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr67/nvsr67_08-508.pdf |archive-date=February 1, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
! 2018<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr68/nvsr68_13-508.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2018 |publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |volume=68 |issue=13 |date=November 27, 2019 |first1=Joyce A. |last1=Martin |first2=Brady E. |last2=Hamilton |first3=Michelle J.K. |last3=Osterman |first4=Anne K. |last4=Driscoll |pages=1–47 |pmid=32501202 |access-date=December 2, 2019 |archive-date=November 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128161211/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr68/nvsr68_13-508.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2019<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr70/nvsr70-02-508.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2019 |publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |volume=70 |issue=2 |date=March 23, 2021 |first1=Joyce A. |last1=Martin |first2=Brady E. |last2=Hamilton |first3=Michelle J.K. |last3=Osterman |first4=Anne K. |last4=Driscoll |pages=1–51 |pmid=33814033 |access-date=March 29, 2021 |archive-date=March 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324160631/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr70/nvsr70-02-508.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2020<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr70/nvsr70-17.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2020 |publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |volume=70 |issue=17 |date=February 7, 2022 |first1=Joyce A. |last1=Martin |first2=Brady E. |last2=Hamilton |first3=Michelle J.K. |last3=Osterman |first4=Anne K. |last4=Driscoll |first5=Claudia P. |last5=Valenzuela |access-date=February 20, 2022 |archive-date=February 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210175206/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr70/NVSR70-17.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2021<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr72/nvsr72-01.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2021 |publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |volume=72 |issue=1 |date=January 31, 2023 |first1=Joyce A. |last1=Martin |first2=Brady E. |last2=Hamilton |first3=Michelle J.K. |last3=Osterman |first4=Anne K. |last4=Driscoll |first5=Claudia P. |last5=Valenzuela |pages=1–53 |pmid=36723449 |access-date=February 2, 2022 |archive-date=February 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201003942/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr72/nvsr72-01.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2022<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr73/nvsr73-02.pdf |title=Data |website=www.cdc.gov |access-date=April 5, 2024 |archive-date=April 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404230758/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr73/nvsr73-02.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2023<ref name="2023cdc" />
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]]
| 85,866 (54.7%)
| 86,227 (54.4%)
| 85,424 (54.0%)
| 82,318 (53.3%)
| 78,925 (52.8%)
| 77,244 (53.3%)
| 74,434 (53.1%)
| 70,550 (52.9%)
| 71,482 (54.1%)
| 68,107 (53.1%)
| 64,698 (51.8%)
|-
| [[African Americans|Black]]
| 27,692 (17.6%)
| 28,160 (17.8%)
| 28,059 (17.7%)
| 25,619 (16.6%)
| 25,685 (17.2%)
| 24,482 (16.9%)
| 23,258 (16.6%)
| 22,293 (16.7%)
| 20,779 (15.7%)
| 19,296 (15.0%)
| 18,013 (14.4%)
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
| 9,848 (6.3%)
| 10,174 (6.4%)
| 10,222 (6.5%)
| 10,015 (6.5%)
| 9,650 (6.5%)
| 9,452 (6.5%)
| 9,169 (6.5%)
| 8,505 (6.4%)
| 8,338 (6.3%)
| 8,277 (6.4%)
| 8,416 (6.7%)
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]]
| 234 (0.1%)
| 227 (0.1%)
| 205 (0.1%)
| 110 (0.0%)
| 133 (0.1%)
| 129 (0.1%)
| 119 (0.1%)
| 79 (>0.1%)
| 86 (>0.1%)
| 87 (>0.1%)
| 97 (>0.1%)
|-
| ''[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]'' (any race)
| ''33,454'' (21.3%)
| ''33,803'' (21.3%)
| ''33,902'' (21.4%)
| ''32,635'' (21.1%)
| ''31,428'' (21.0%)
| ''30,362'' (21.0%)
| ''30,097'' (21.5%)
| ''28,808'' (21.6%)
| ''28,546'' (21.6%)
| ''29,710'' (23.1%)
| ''30,465'' (24.4%)
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''156,931''' (100%)
| '''158,556''' (100%)
| '''158,116''' (100%)
| '''154,445''' (100%)
| '''149,390''' (100%)
| '''144,815''' (100%)
| '''140,128''' (100%)
| '''133,298''' (100%)
| '''132,189''' (100%)
| '''128,350''' (100%)
| '''124,820''' (100%)
|}
* Since 2013, births of [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]] origin are not collected by race, but included in one ''Hispanic'' group; persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

===Languages===
{{Main|Languages of Illinois}}

The [[official language]] of Illinois is [[English language|English]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=132&ChapterID=2, |title=5 ILCS 460/ State Designations Act, Illinois Compiled Statutes |publisher=Illinois General Assembly  |access-date=October 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319005854/http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=132&ChapterID=2, |archive-date=March 19, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> although between 1923 and 1969, state law gave official status to "the American language". Nearly 80% of people in Illinois speak English natively, and most of the rest speak it fluently as a second language.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/acs-22.pdf |title=Language Use in the United States: American Community Survey Reports |last1=Ryan |first1=Camille |date=August 2013 |website=Census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205101044/http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/acs-22.pdf |archive-date=February 5, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A number of dialects of [[American English]] are spoken, ranging from [[Inland Northern American English]] and [[African-American English]] around Chicago, to [[Midland American English]] in Central Illinois, to [[Southern American English]] in the far south.

Over 24% of Illinoians speak a language other than English at home, of which [[Spanish language|Spanish]] is by far the most widespread, at more than 14% of the total population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B16007 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B16007&geo_ids=04000US17,01000US&primary_geo_id=04000US17#valueType%7Cpercentage |access-date=July 27, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> A sizeable number of [[Polish language|Polish]] speakers is present in the [[Chicago Metropolitan Area]]. [[Illinois Country French]] has mostly gone extinct in Illinois, although it is still celebrated in the [[French Colonial Historic District]].
{| class="wikitable"
!Language spoken at home
!% of total (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Language Spoken At Home by Ability to Speak English (2023) |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=punjabi&g=040XX00US17 |website=US Census Bureau}}</ref>
!Population (2023)
|-
|English only
|75.7%
|9,004,820
|-
|Spanish
|14.1%
|1,672,496
|-
|[[Polish language|Polish]]
|1.4%
|161,590
|-
|[[Chinese language|Chinese]]
|0.9%
|109,270
|-
|[[Tagalog language|Tagalog]]
|0.7%
|87,330
|-
|[[Arabic]]
|0.6%
|74,919
|-
|[[Urdu]]
|0.5%
|62,667
|-
|[[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] or other Slavic languages
|0.5%
|61,713
|-
|[[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
|0.5%
|53,564
|-
|[[Russian language|Russian]]
|0.4%
|48,012
|-
|[[Hindi]]
|0.4%
|45,893
|-
|[[Korean language|Korean]]
|0.3%
|36,666
|-
|[[French language|French]]
|0.3%
|34,463
|-
|[[West Africa]]n Languages
|0.3%
|32,917
|-
|[[German language|German]]
|0.3%
|31,305
|-
|[[Serbo-Croatian]]
|0.2%
|26,399
|-
|[[Italian language|Italian]]
|0.2%
|26,018
|-
|[[Greek language|Greek]]
|0.2%
|23,751
|-
|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|0.2%
|23,163
|-
|Other [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] Languages
|0.2%
|20,193
|-
|[[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]
|0.2%
|19,468
|-
|All other languages
|2.0%
|232,046
|-
!Total population aged 5+
!100%
!11,888,663
|}

===Religion===
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Religion in Illinois (2023)<ref name="pew2023">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/state/illinois/ |title=Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics |work=Pew Research Center |access-date=April 10, 2025 }}</ref>
| label1 = [[Protestantism]]
| value1 = 36
| color1 = DodgerBlue
| label2 = [[Irreligious|No religion]]
| value2 = 29
| color2 = Honeydew
| label3 = [[Roman Catholicism]]
| value3 = 23
| color3 = #d4213d
| label4 = [[Islam]]
| value4 = 3
| color4 = Green
| label5 = Other Christian
| value5 = 3
| color5 = Pink
| label6 = [[Judaism]]
| value6 = 2
| color6 = Blue
| label7 = [[Buddhism]]
| value7 = 1
| color7 = Yellow
| label8 = [[Hinduism]]
| value8 = 1
| color8 = Orange
| label9 = Other religion
| value9 = 2
| color9 = Chartreuse
| value10 = 0
| label10 = No response given/Unknown
| color10 = Black
}}

====Christianity====
The religious demographics of Illinois closely mirror the religious demography of the nation as a whole. [[Christians]] of any denomination make up 62% of the population of Illinois, a share identical to the estimated national percentage of 62%, according to the Pew Research Center.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religious Landscape Study |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/?post_type=rls |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref>

However, looking at specific denominations, Illinois has a significantly larger Catholic population than most states. Roman Catholics constitute the single largest religious denomination in Illinois; they are heavily concentrated in and around Chicago, reflecting the prominent Hispanic, Polish, Irish, and Italian diasporas in the area.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Congregational Membership Reports {{!}} US Religion |url=https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/census/congregational-membership?y=2020&t=1&c=17 |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=The Association of Religion Data Archives (the ARDA) |language=en-gb}}</ref> As of 2023, Catholics account for nearly 25% of the state's population. In 2010, Catholics in Illinois numbered 3,648,907, while by 2020, this number had declined to 3,099,544.<ref name="auto" /> The first and only American-born Catholic [[pope]], [[Pope Leo XIV]], was born in Chicago and raised in the suburb of [[Dolton, Illinois|Dolton]].

When taken together as a group, the various Protestant denominations comprise a greater percentage of the state's population than do Catholics, making up 36% of the state's population. The largest Protestant denominations in 2020 were the [[United Methodist Church]] with 235,045 members and the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] with 222,589. Illinois has one of the largest concentrations of [[Missouri Synod Lutherans]] in the United States, at 182,097.

Illinois played an important role in the early [[Latter Day Saint movement]], with [[Nauvoo, Illinois|Nauvoo]] becoming a gathering place for Mormons in the early 1840s. Following the 1844 [[Killing of Joseph Smith|killing of Mormon leader Joseph Smith]] by a lynch mob in nearby Carthage, Nauvoo was the location of the [[Succession crisis (Latter Day Saints)|succession crisis]], which led to the separation of the Mormon movement into [[List of denominations in the Latter Day Saint movement|several Latter Day Saint sects]]. [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], the largest of the sects to emerge from the Mormon schism, has more than 55,000 adherents in Illinois today.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/state/illinois |title=Illinois - Statistics and Church Facts |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205040239/https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/state/illinois |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |year=2020 |access-date=March 30, 2020}}</ref>

====Other Abrahamic religious communities====
[[File:Baha'i Temple WikiP-1.jpg|left|thumb|upright|[[Baháʼí House of Worship (Wilmette, Illinois)|The Baháʼí House of Worship]] in [[Wilmette, Illinois]]]]
A significant number of adherents of other [[Abrahamic religions|Abrahamic faiths]] can be found in Illinois. Largely concentrated in the [[Chicago metropolitan area]], followers of the [[Muslim]], [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí]], and [[Jews|Jewish]] religions all call the state home.<ref name="thearda.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/c/17/rcms2010_17031_county_family_2010.asp |title=The Association of Religion Data Archives &#124; County Membership Report |publisher=www.thearda.com |access-date=November 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112162210/http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/c/17/rcms2010_17031_county_family_2010.asp |archive-date=November 12, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Muslims constituted the largest non-Christian group, with 473,792 adherents. Illinois has the largest concentration of Muslims by state in the country, with 3.7% of the population being Muslim.<ref name="auto18">{{Cite web |title=Groups - Religious Profiles {{!}} US Religion |url=https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/group-profiles/groups?D=554 |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=The Association of Religion Data Archives (the ARDA) |language=en-gb}}</ref> The highest concentration of Muslims in the state is in suburban [[DuPage County, Illinois|DuPage county]], where they make up approximately 7.6% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rankings by Counties, Metro-Areas, States (Quicklists) {{!}} Statistics {{!}} US Religion |url=https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/statistics/rankings |access-date=April 10, 2025 |website=The Association of Religion Data Archives (the ARDA) |language=en-gb}}</ref> In the Chicago area as a whole, around 4.7% of the population are Muslim, the highest rate of any major metropolitan area in the United States.<ref name="auto18" />

The largest and oldest surviving [[Baháʼí House of Worship (Wilmette, Illinois)|Baháʼí House of Worship]] in the world is located on the shores of [[Lake Michigan]] in [[Wilmette, Illinois]], one of eight continental [[Baháʼí House of Worship]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Baháʼí House of Worship |url=https://www.bahai.us/bahai-temple/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306235249/https://www.bahai.us/bahai-temple/ |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |access-date=March 6, 2019 |publisher=Baháʼís of the United States}}</ref> It serves as a space for people of all backgrounds and religions to gather, meditate, reflect, and pray, expressing the [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí]] principle of the [[Baháʼí Faith and the unity of religion|oneness of religions]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Ave |first1=Linden |last2=IL 60091 |first2=Sheridan Rd Wilmette |title=Baha'i House Of Worship |url=https://www.enjoyillinois.com/explore/listing/bahai-house-of-worship |access-date=August 15, 2021 |website=Enjoy Illinois |language=en-US |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815203752/https://www.enjoyillinois.com/explore/listing/bahai-house-of-worship |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Chicago area has a very large Jewish community, particularly in the northern suburbs of [[Skokie, Illinois|Skokie]], [[Buffalo Grove, Illinois|Buffalo Grove]], [[Highland Park, Illinois|Highland Park]], and surrounding areas. Former Chicago Mayor [[Rahm Emanuel]] was the Windy City's first Jewish mayor. The current governor of Illinois, [[JB Pritzker|J.B. Pritzker]], is Jewish, being the third person of Jewish descent to hold the office after [[Henry Horner]] and [[Samuel Shapiro (Illinois politician)|Samuel H. Shapiro]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sales |first=Ben |date=January 9, 2019 |title=J.B. Pritzker, Illinois' incoming Jewish governor, opens up about his family's immigrant past |url=https://stljewishlight.org/world-news/j-b-pritzker-illinois-incoming-jewish-governor-opens-up-about-his-familys-immigrant-past/ |access-date=May 31, 2025 |website=St. Louis Jewish Light}}</ref> Almost 4% of the Chicago area's population is Jewish, numbering over 300,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Metropolitan Chicago Jewish Population Study |url=https://www.brandeis.edu/cmjs/community-studies/chicago-report.html#:~:text=The%202020%20estimate%20of%20the,by%20a%20chronic%20health%20condition. |access-date=April 10, 2025 |website=www.brandeis.edu |language=en}}</ref>

====Other religions====
Chicago is also home to a significant population of [[Hinduism|Hindus]], [[Sikh]]s, [[Jainism|Jains]], and [[Buddhism|Buddhists]].<ref name="thearda.com"/>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Illinois}}

{{See also|List of Illinois locations by per capita income}}
[[File:Illinois counties by GDP (2021).png|thumb|Illinois counties by GDP (2021)]]
As of 2022, the [[List of U.S. states by GDP (nominal)|gross state product]] for Illinois reached {{US$|1.0}}&nbsp;trillion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bea.gov/news/2022/gross-domestic-product-state-and-personal-income-state-3rd-quarter-2022|title=Gross Domestic Product by State and Personal Income by State, 3rd Quarter 2022|access-date=February 11, 2023|archive-date=February 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214141059/https://www.bea.gov/news/2022/gross-domestic-product-state-and-personal-income-state-3rd-quarter-2022|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2025, 99.6% of businesses in the state were [[Small business|small businesses]], and employed 43.7% of Illinois's workforce.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2025 Small Business Profile - Illinois |url=https://advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Illinois_2025-State-Profile.pdf |access-date=February 19, 2026 |website=U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy}}</ref> As of May 2025, the [[unemployment rate]] in Illinois was 4.8%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=staff |first=CNBC com |date=2025-07-10 |title=13. Illinois |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/10/illinois-top-states-for-business-ranking.html |access-date=2026-01-07 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>

As of 2026, Illinois's [[Minimum wage in the United States|minimum wage]] is $15.00 per hour for employees over the age of 18. Tipped workers are to be paid a minimum of 60% of minimum wage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minimum Wage Law |url=https://labor.illinois.gov/laws-rules/fls/minimum-wage-law.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260103003901/https://labor.illinois.gov/laws-rules/fls/minimum-wage-law.html |archive-date=2026-01-03 |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=labor.illinois.gov |language=en}}</ref>

===Agriculture===
{{main|Agriculture in Illinois}}

[[File:John Deere 9660STS combine.jpg|thumb|A [[John Deere]] [[combine harvester]] on an Illinois farm; the company is headquartered in [[Moline, Illinois]].]]
Illinois's major agricultural outputs are [[maize|corn]], [[soybean]]s, [[Pig|hogs]], [[cattle]], [[dairy product]]s, and wheat. In most years, Illinois is either the first or second state for the highest production of soybeans.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}} For example, Illinois had a harvest of 648.9&nbsp;million bushels (17.7&nbsp;million [[tonne|metric tons]]) in 2023, ahead of Iowa's production of 573&nbsp;million bushels (15.6&nbsp;million metric tons).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://soystats.com/2024-soystats/ |archive-url= |url-status= |archive-date= |title=2024 Soystats: A Reference Guide to Important Soybean Facts & Figures |year=2024 |website=Soy Stats |publisher=The American Soybean Association |access-date=February 22, 2026|page=11}}</ref> Illinois ranks second in U.S. corn production with more than 1.5&nbsp;billion bushels produced annually.<ref name="ilcorn">{{cite web |url=http://www.ilcorn.org/internal.php?q=vprofile&id=90&date=&banner=ethanol |title=Ethanol Fact Sheet |year=2010 |publisher=Illinois Corn Growers Association |access-date=January 18, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723163514/http://www.ilcorn.org/internal.php?q=vprofile&id=90&date=&banner=ethanol |archive-date=July 23, 2011}}</ref> With a production capacity of 1.5&nbsp;billion gallons per year, Illinois is a top producer of ethanol, ranking third in the United States in 2011.<ref name="eia.gov">{{cite web |url=http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=IL |title=Illinois—State Energy Profile Overview—U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) |publisher=Eia.gov |date=March 19, 2015 |access-date=February 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716020349/http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=il |archive-date=July 16, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Illinois is a leader in food manufacturing and meat processing.<ref name="stateil">[http://www.agr.state.il.us/about/agfacts.html Facts About Illinois Agriculture] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716030412/http://www.agr.state.il.us/about/agfacts.html |date=July 16, 2015 }}, Illinois Department of Agriculture. Accessed online April 16, 2012</ref> Although Chicago may no longer be "[[Chicago (poem)|Hog Butcher for the World]]", the Chicago area remains a global center for [[Food manufacturers of Chicago|food manufacture and meat processing]],<ref name="stateil"/> with many plants, processing houses, and distribution facilities concentrated in the area of the former [[Union Stock Yards]].<ref>[http://www.lib.niu.edu/2006/iht1320636.html "Meatpacking in Illinois History] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613074227/http://www.lib.niu.edu/2006/iht1320636.html |date=June 13, 2012 }} by Wilson J. Warren, Illinois History Teacher, 3:2, 2006. Access online April 16, 2012.</ref> Illinois also produces [[Illinois wine|wine]], and the state is home to two [[American viticultural area]]s. In the area of The Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway, peaches and apples are grown. The German immigrants from agricultural backgrounds who settled in Illinois in the mid- to late 19th century are in part responsible for the profusion of fruit orchards in that area of Illinois.<ref>{{cite web |author=Kathleen Walls |url=http://americanroads.net/agri_trails_winter2014.htm |title=Agri Trails |publisher=Americanroads.net |access-date=February 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035741/http://americanroads.net/agri_trails_winter2014.htm |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Illinois's universities are actively researching alternative agricultural products as alternative crops.

===Manufacturing===
Illinois is one of the nation's manufacturing leaders, boasting annual value added productivity by manufacturing of over $107&nbsp;billion in 2006. {{as of|2011}}, Illinois is ranked as the 4th-most productive manufacturing state in the country, behind California, Texas, and Ohio.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ildceo.net/NR/rdonlyres/1357C591-2810-4228-A334-E8B55EF1288D/0/Manufacturing2011.pdf |title=DCEO: Home |publisher=Ildceo.net |access-date=February 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512224938/http://www.ildceo.net/NR/rdonlyres/1357C591-2810-4228-A334-E8B55EF1288D/0/Manufacturing2011.pdf |archive-date=May 12, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> About three-quarters of the state's manufacturers are located in the Northeastern Opportunity Return Region, with 38 percent of Illinois's approximately 18,900 manufacturing plants located in Cook County. As of 2006, the leading manufacturing industries in Illinois, based upon value-added, were chemical manufacturing ($18.3&nbsp;billion), machinery manufacturing ($13.4&nbsp;billion), food manufacturing ($12.9&nbsp;billion), fabricated metal products ($11.5&nbsp;billion), transportation equipment ($7.4&nbsp;billion), plastics and rubber products ($7.0&nbsp;billion), and computer and electronic products ($6.1&nbsp;billion).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.commerce.state.il.us/NR/rdonlyres/1357C591-2810-4228-A334-E8B55EF1288D/0/Manufacturing.pdf |title=Manufacturing in Illinois |year=2009 |publisher=Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity |access-date=January 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929204017/http://www.commerce.state.il.us/NR/rdonlyres/1357C591-2810-4228-A334-E8B55EF1288D/0/Manufacturing.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2011}}</ref>

===Services===
[[File:Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (51574643886).jpg|thumb|The [[Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago]], one of twelve [[Federal Reserve Bank]]s, at the heart of Chicago's financial center.]]
By the early 2000s, Illinois's economy had moved toward a dependence on high-value-added services, such as financial trading, higher education, law, logistics, and medicine. In some cases, these services clustered around institutions that hearkened back to Illinois's earlier economies. For example, the [[Chicago Mercantile Exchange]], a trading exchange for global [[derivative (finance)|derivatives]], had begun its life as an agricultural [[futures exchange|futures market]]. Other important non-manufacturing industries include publishing, tourism, and energy production and distribution.

===Investments===
Venture capitalists funded a total of approximately $62&nbsp;billion in the U.S. economy in 2016. Of this amount, Illinois-based companies received approximately $1.1&nbsp;billion. Similarly, in FY 2016, the federal government spent $461&nbsp;billion on contracts in the U.S. Of this amount, Illinois-based companies received approximately $8.7&nbsp;billion.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

===Energy===
{{See also|List of power stations in Illinois|Solar power in Illinois}}
Illinois is a net importer of fuels for energy, despite large coal resources and some minor oil production. Illinois exports electricity, ranking fifth among states in electricity production and seventh in electricity consumption.<ref name="finley">"[http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/maps-data-pub/publications/energy01/globalm.shtml Illinois in the Global Energy Marketplace]" {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517110354/http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/maps-data-pub/publications/energy01/globalm.shtml |date=May 17, 2008 }}, [[Robert Finley]], 2001. Illinois State Geological Survey publication.</ref>

====Coal====
[[File:IllinoisBasinMap.jpg|thumb|Location of the [[Illinois Basin]]]]
The coal industry of Illinois has its origins in the middle 19th century, when entrepreneurs such as [[Jacob Loose]] discovered coal in locations such as [[Sangamon County]]. [[Jacob Bunn]] contributed to the development of the Illinois coal industry. Coal mining in central and southern Illinois was important in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The [[1909 Cherry Mine disaster]] was an underground fire that killed 259 miners in the third worst disaster in the history of American coal mining. After 1940 there was a slow decline in coal mining.<ref>Harry Mitchell Dixon, "The Illinois Coal Mining Industry" (PhD dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 1951. 0002728).</ref> About 68% of Illinois has coal-bearing strata of the [[Pennsylvanian (geology)|Pennsylvanian]] geologic period. According to the Illinois State Geological Survey, 211&nbsp;billion tons of [[bituminous coal]] are estimated to lie under the surface, having a total heating value greater than the estimated oil deposits in the [[Arabian Peninsula]].<ref>Illinois State Geological Survey. [http://www.isgs.illinois.edu/research/coal/illinois-coal.shtml Coal in Illinois] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212180840/http://www.isgs.illinois.edu/research/coal/illinois-coal.shtml |date=February 12, 2012 }} Retrieved December 4, 2008.</ref> However, this coal has a high [[sulfur]] content, which causes [[acid rain]], unless special equipment is used to reduce [[sulfur dioxide]] [[air pollution|emissions]].<ref name="Nelson"/><ref name="Biles"/><ref name="Horsley"/> Many Illinois [[Power station|power plants]] are not equipped to burn high-sulfur coal. In 1999, Illinois produced 40.4&nbsp;million tons of coal, but only 17&nbsp;million tons (42%) of Illinois coal was consumed in Illinois. Most of the coal produced in Illinois is exported to other states and countries. In 2008, Illinois exported three million tons of coal and was projected to export nine million in 2011, as demand for energy grows in places such as China, India, and elsewhere in Asia and Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ildceo.net/NR/rdonlyres/EA15E8A9-E0BD-468A-A308-BE58E93D0C03/0/CoalInIllinois2011.pdf |title=DCEO: Home |publisher=Ildceo.net |access-date=February 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202930/http://www.ildceo.net/NR/rdonlyres/EA15E8A9-E0BD-468A-A308-BE58E93D0C03/0/CoalInIllinois2011.pdf |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> {{as of|2010}}, Illinois was ranked third in recoverable coal reserves at producing mines in the nation.<ref name="eia.gov"/> Most of the coal produced in Illinois is exported to other states, while much of the coal burned for power in Illinois (21&nbsp;million tons in 1998) is mined in the [[Powder River Basin]] of [[Wyoming]].<ref name="finley"/>

====Petroleum====
Illinois is a leading refiner of petroleum in the American [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]], with a combined crude oil distillation capacity of nearly {{cvt|900000|oilbbl/d|m3/d}}. However, Illinois has very limited crude oil proved reserves that account for less than 1% of the U.S. total reserves. Residential heating is 81% natural gas compared to less than 1% [[heating oil]]. Illinois is ranked 14th in [[List of oil-producing states#North America|oil production]] among states, with a daily output of approximately {{cvt|28000|oilbbl|m3}} in 2005.<ref name="EIA_petro">[[United States Department of Energy]]. [http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/state/il.html Petroleum Profile: Illinois] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008225316/http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/state/il.html |date=October 8, 2009 }}. Retrieved April 4, 2006.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eia.gov/state/state-energy-profiles.cfm?sid=IL |title=Illinois—U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) |publisher=Eia.gov |date=April 19, 2012 |access-date=April 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415181347/http://www.eia.gov/state/state-energy-profiles.cfm?sid=IL |archive-date=April 15, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Nuclear power====
{{Main|Nuclear power in the United States}}

[[File:Byron Nuclear Power Plant, IL 02.JPG|thumb|[[Byron Nuclear Generating Station]] in [[Ogle County, Illinois|Ogle County]]]]
Worldwide [[nuclear power]] began in Illinois during 1942 with the [[Chicago Pile-1]], the world's first artificial self-sustaining [[nuclear chain reaction]] in the world's first [[nuclear reactor technology|nuclear reactor]], built on the [[University of Chicago]] campus. There are six operating [[nuclear power plant]]s in Illinois: [[Braidwood Nuclear Generating Station|Braidwood]], [[Byron Nuclear Generating Station|Byron]], [[Clinton Nuclear Generating Station|Clinton]], [[Dresden Nuclear Power Plant|Dresden]], [[LaSalle County Generating Station|LaSalle]], and [[Quad Cities Nuclear Generating Station|Quad Cities]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eia.gov/cneaf/nuclear/state_profiles/illinois/il.html |title=Nuclear State Profiles |publisher=Eia.gov |access-date=April 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117023524/http://www.eia.gov/nuclear/state/ |archive-date=January 17, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> With the exception of the single-unit Clinton plant, each of these facilities has two reactors. Three reactors have been permanently shut down and are in various stages of decommissioning: [[Dresden-1]] and [[Zion Nuclear Power Station|Zion-1 and 2]]. Illinois ranked first in the nation in 2010 in both nuclear capacity and nuclear generation. Generation from its nuclear power plants accounted for 12 percent of the nation's total.<ref name="eia.gov"/> In 2007, 48% of Illinois's electricity was generated using nuclear power.<ref name="EIA_glance">{{cite web |url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/page/at_a_glance/states/statesil.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041109144818/http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/page/at_a_glance/states/statesil.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 9, 2004 |title=Illinois Nuclear Industry |date=November 6, 2009 |publisher=U.S. Energy Information Administration |access-date=January 29, 2010}}</ref> The [[Morris Operation]] is the only de facto high-level [[radioactive waste]] storage site in the United States.

====Wind power====
{{Main|Wind power in Illinois}}

[[File:Illinois wind resource map 50m 800.jpg|thumb|Average annual wind power distribution for Illinois, {{cvt|50|m}} height above ground (2009)]]
Illinois has seen growing interest in the use of [[wind power]] for electrical generation.<ref>"Illinois Wind". Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, [[Western Illinois University]] {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070622022457/http://www.illinoiswind.org/index.asp Illinoiswind.com]}}</ref> Most of Illinois was rated in 2009 as "marginal or fair" for wind energy production by the [[U.S. Department of Energy]], with some western sections rated "good" and parts of the south rated "poor".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/astate_template.asp?stateab=il |title=Illinois Wind Activities |date=October 20, 2009 |website=[[EERE]] |publisher=U.S. Department of Energy |access-date=January 14, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209085417/http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/astate_template.asp?stateab=il |archive-date=February 9, 2010}}</ref> These ratings are for wind turbines with {{cvt|50|m|adj=on|sp=us}} hub heights; newer wind turbines are taller, enabling them to reach [[wind profile power law|stronger winds farther from the ground]]. As a result, more areas of Illinois have become prospective wind farm sites. As of September 2009, Illinois had 1116.06 [[megawatt|MW]] of installed wind power [[nameplate capacity]] with another 741.9 MW under construction.<ref name="awea_projects_illinois">{{cite web |url=http://www.awea.org/projects/Projects.aspx?s=Illinois |title=U.S. Wind Energy Projects—Illinois |date=September 30, 2009 |publisher=[[American Wind Energy Association]] |access-date=January 14, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105174701/http://www.awea.org/projects/Projects.aspx?s=Illinois |archive-date=January 5, 2010}}</ref> Illinois ranked ninth among U.S. states in installed wind power capacity and sixteenth by potential capacity.<ref name="awea_projects_illinois"/> Large [[wind farm]]s in Illinois include [[Twin Groves Wind Farm|Twin Groves]], [[Rail Splitter Wind Farm|Rail Splitter]], [[Acciona Energy|EcoGrove]], and [[Mendota Hills Wind Farm|Mendota Hills]].<ref name="awea_projects_illinois"/>

As of 2007, wind energy represented only 1.7% of Illinois's energy production, and it was estimated that wind power could provide 5–10% of the state's energy needs.<ref>[http://environmentalalmanac.blogspot.com/2006/09/wind-power-on-illinois-horizon.html "Wind Power on the Illinois Horizon"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124113615/http://environmentalalmanac.blogspot.com/2006/09/wind-power-on-illinois-horizon.html |date=January 24, 2008 }}, Rob Kanter, September 14, 2006. University of Illinois Environmental Council.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/state_profiles/illinois.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527035341/http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/state_profiles/illinois.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 27, 2008 |title=Illinois Renewable Electricity Profile |year=2007 |publisher=U.S. Energy Information Administration |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref> Also, the [[Illinois General Assembly]] mandated in 2007 that by 2025, 25% of all electricity generated in Illinois is to come from [[renewable resource]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://centralillinoisproud.com/content/fulltext/?cid=5420 |title=Wind Farm Conference Tackles Complicated Issue |author=Olbert, Lori |date=December 13, 2007 |website=CIProud.com |publisher=[[WYZZ-TV]]/[[WMBD-TV]] |access-date=January 15, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

====Biofuels====
Illinois is ranked second in [[maize|corn]] production among U.S. states, and Illinois corn is used to produce 40% of the [[ethanol]] consumed in the United States.<ref name="ilcorn"/> The [[Archer Daniels Midland]] corporation in [[Decatur, Illinois]], is the world's leading producer of ethanol from corn.

The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC), the world's only facility dedicated to researching the ways and means of converting corn (maize) to ethanol is located on the campus of [[Southern Illinois University Edwardsville]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://illinoisrfa.org/research/ |title=ILFRA |publisher=Illinoisrfa.org |access-date=February 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001512/http://illinoisrfa.org/research/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stlrcga.org/documents/corn%20to%20ethanol.pdf |title=Ready for Research |access-date=September 12, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006155839/http://www.stlrcga.org/documents/corn%20to%20ethanol.pdf |archive-date=October 6, 2013}}</ref>

[[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]] is one of the partners in the [[Energy Biosciences Institute]] (EBI), a $500&nbsp;million biofuels research project funded by petroleum giant [[BP]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7018719 |title=BP Pledges $500 Million for Energy Biosciences Institute and Plans New Business to Exploit Research |publisher=Bp.com |date=June 14, 2006 |access-date=May 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519210908/http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7018719 |archive-date=May 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=2&RecNum=5690 |title=Gov. Blagojevich joins Gov. Schwarzenegger, top BP executives to celebrate launch of $500&nbsp;million biosciences energy research partnership with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UC-Berkeley |publisher=Illinois.gov |date=February 1, 2007 |access-date=May 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526191007/http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=2&RecNum=5690 |archive-date=May 26, 2012}}</ref>

===Taxes===
Tax is collected by the [[Illinois Department of Revenue]]. State [[income tax]] is calculated by multiplying [[net income]] by a [[flat fee|flat rate]]. In 1990, that rate was set at 3%, but in 2010, the General Assembly voted for a temporary increase in the rate to 5%; the new rate went into effect on January 1, 2011; the personal income rate partially sunset on January 1, 2015, to 3.75%, while the corporate income tax fell to 5.25%.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pierog |first=Karen |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-illinois-budget-idUSTRE70A6GP20110112 |title=Illinois lawmakers pass big tax hike to aid budget |work=Reuters |date=January 12, 2011 |access-date=February 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514081335/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/12/us-illinois-budget-idUSTRE70A6GP20110112 |archive-date=May 14, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Illinois Department of Revenue. [http://www.revenue.state.il.us/Businesses/TaxInformation/Income/individual.htm Individual Income Tax] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923131952/http://www.revenue.state.il.us/Businesses/TaxInformation/Income/individual.htm |date=September 23, 2006 }}. Retrieved January 30, 2011.</ref> Illinois failed to pass a budget from 2015 to 2017, after the 736-day [[Illinois Budget Impasse|budget impasse]], a budget was passed in Illinois after lawmakers overturned Governor Bruce Rauner's veto; this budget raised the personal income rate to 4.95% and the corporate rate to 7%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://illinoiscomptroller.gov/financial-data/find-a-report/special-fiscal/consequences-of-illinois-2015-2017-budget-impasse-and-fiscal-outlook/ |title=Consequences of Illinois's 2015–2016 Budget Impasse and Fiscal Outlook |last=Mendoza |first=Susana |date=September 18, 2018 |website=Illinois Comptroller |access-date=August 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213161259/https://illinoiscomptroller.gov/financial-data/find-a-report/special-fiscal/consequences-of-illinois-2015-2017-budget-impasse-and-fiscal-outlook/ |archive-date=December 13, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> There are two rates for state [[sales tax]]: 6.25% for general merchandise and 1% for qualifying food, drugs, and medical appliances.<ref>Illinois Department of Revenue. [http://www.revenue.state.il.us/Publications/Sales/strrm/04012008/ST-25.pdf Illinois Sales Tax Reference Manual (PDF)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527192755/http://www.revenue.state.il.us/Publications/Sales/strrm/04012008/ST-25.pdf |date=May 27, 2008 }}. p133. January 1, 2006.</ref> The [[property tax]] is a major source of tax revenue for local government taxing districts. The property tax is a local—not state—tax imposed by local government taxing districts, which include counties, [[civil township|townships]], municipalities, [[school district]]s, and special taxation districts. The property tax in Illinois is imposed only on [[real property]].<ref name="Nelson"/><ref name="Biles"/><ref name="Horsley"/>

On May 1, 2019, the Illinois Senate voted to approve a [[Illinois Fair Tax|constitutional amendment]] that would have stricken language from the [[Constitution of Illinois|Illinois Constitution]] requiring a flat state income tax, in a 73–44 vote. If approved, the amendment would have allowed the state legislature to impose a graduated income tax based on annual income. The governor, [[J. B. Pritzker]], approved the bill on May 27, 2019. It was scheduled for a 2020 general election ballot vote<ref name="1:a">{{cite web |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/5/27/18641670/graduated-income-tax-illinois-house-constitutional-amendment-2020-ballot |title=Graduated income tax question heads to ballot as House OKs constitutional amendment |last=Sfondeles |first=Tina |date=May 27, 2019 |website=www.chicagosuntimes.com |publisher=[[Chicago Sun Times]] |access-date=May 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530232705/https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/5/27/18641670/graduated-income-tax-illinois-house-constitutional-amendment-2020-ballot |archive-date=May 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="1:b">{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2019/05/28/pritzkers-big-win-brady-munoz-stake-in-video-gambling-abortion-bill-fate-uncertain-440275 |title=PRITZKER's BIG WIN—BRADY, MUNOZ stake in video gambling—ABORTION BILL fate uncertain |last=Kapos |first=Shia |date=May 28, 2019 |publisher=[[Politico]] |access-date=May 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530233349/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2019/05/28/pritzkers-big-win-brady-munoz-stake-in-video-gambling-abortion-bill-fate-uncertain-440275 |archive-date=May 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> and required 60 percent voter approval to effectively amend the state constitution.<ref name="1:d">{{cite web |url=https://abc7chicago.com/politics/illinois-graduated-income-tax-plan-will-go-to-voters-bill-passes-house/5319069/ |title=Illinois graduated income tax plan will go to voters after Governor JB Pritzker's bill passes the State House |last=Wall |first=Craig |date=May 27, 2019 |website=abc7chicago.com |publisher=ABC 7 |access-date=May 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531001900/https://abc7chicago.com/politics/illinois-graduated-income-tax-plan-will-go-to-voters-bill-passes-house/5319069/ |archive-date=May 31, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The amendment was not approved by Illinoisans, with 55.1% of voters voting "No" on approval and 44.9% voting "Yes".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wheeler |first=Kayla |title=Fair Tax Amendment fails in Illinois |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/elections/illinois-fair-tax-amendment-2020-election/63-bd67f26f-ab08-42da-b391-6ec75ca9c5b9 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |website=ksdk.com |date=November 4, 2020 |archive-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220153951/https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/elections/illinois-fair-tax-amendment-2020-election/63-bd67f26f-ab08-42da-b391-6ec75ca9c5b9 |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of 2017 Chicago had the highest state and local sales tax rate for a U.S. city with a populations above 200,000, at 10.250%.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walczak |first1=Jared |title=Sales Tax Rates in Major Cities, Midyear 2017 |url=https://taxfoundation.org/sales-tax-rates-major-cities-midyear-2017/ |website=Taxfoundation.org |publisher=Tax Foundation |access-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331204403/https://taxfoundation.org/sales-tax-rates-major-cities-midyear-2017/ |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The state of Illinois has the second highest rate of real estate tax: 2.31%, which is second only to New Jersey at 2.44%.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kiernan |first1=John S |title=2019's Property Taxes by State |url=https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-highest-and-lowest-property-taxes/11585/ |website=wallethub |publisher=Evolution Finance, Inc. |access-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331204633/https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-highest-and-lowest-property-taxes/11585/ |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Toll road]]s are a ''de facto'' user tax on the citizens and visitors to the state of Illinois. Illinois ranks seventh out of the 11 states with the most miles of toll roads, at 282.1 miles. Chicago ranks fourth in most expensive toll roads in America by the mile, with the [[Chicago Skyway]] charging 51.2 cents per mile.<ref>{{cite web |title=Most Expensive Toll Roads in the United States |url=https://ezfreightfactoring.com/blog/expensive-toll-roads-united-states |website=ezfreightfactoring.com |publisher=EZ Freight Factoring |access-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331204623/https://ezfreightfactoring.com/blog/expensive-toll-roads-united-states |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Illinois also has the 11th highest gasoline tax by state, at 37.5 cents per gallon.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stebbins |first1=Samuel |title=How much gas tax adds to cost of filling up your car in every state |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/02/05/gas-tax-state-what-costs-fill-up-your-car-across-country/38908491/ |website=usatoday |publisher=24/7 Wall Street |access-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331204623/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/02/05/gas-tax-state-what-costs-fill-up-your-car-across-country/38908491/ |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Culture==

===Museums===
{{Main list|List of museums in Illinois
}}

Illinois has numerous museums; the greatest concentration of these are in Chicago. Several museums in Chicago are ranked as some of the best in the world. These include the [[Shedd Aquarium|John G. Shedd Aquarium]], the [[Field Museum of Natural History]], the [[Art Institute of Chicago]], the [[Adler Planetarium]], and the [[Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)|Museum of Science and Industry]].

The modern [[Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum]] in Springfield is the largest and most attended [[Presidential library system|presidential library]] in the country. The Illinois State Museum boasts a collection of 13.5&nbsp;million objects that tell the story of Illinois life, land, people, and art. The ISM is among only 5% of the nation's museums that are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Other historical museums in the state include the [[Polish Museum of America]] in [[Chicago]]; [[Magnolia Manor (Cairo, Illinois)|Magnolia Manor]] in [[Cairo, Illinois|Cairo]]; [[Easley Pioneer Museum]] in [[Ipava, Illinois|Ipava]]; the [[Elihu Benjamin Washburne House|Elihu Benjamin Washburne]]; [[Ulysses S. Grant Home]]s, both in [[Galena, Illinois|Galena]]; and the Chanute Air Museum, located on the former Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul.

The Chicago metropolitan area also hosts two zoos: The [[Brookfield Zoo]], located about ten miles west of the city center in suburban [[Brookfield, Illinois|Brookfield]], contains more than 2,300 animals and covers {{cvt|216|acre}}. [[Lincoln Park Zoo]] is located in [[Lincoln Park]] on Chicago's North Side, approximately {{convert|3|mi|km}} north of the [[downtown Chicago|Loop]]. The zoo, including [[Nature Boardwalk]], occupies {{cvt|49|acre}} of the park.

<gallery mode="packed" caption="Illinois Museums" heights="100px" widths="100px">
Vandalia-Courthouse.jpg|[[Vandalia State House State Historic Site]] in [[Vandalia, Illinois|Vandalia]]
Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago).jpg|The [[Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)|Museum of Science and Industry]] in [[Chicago]]
Magnolia Manor.jpg|[[Magnolia Manor (Cairo, Illinois)|Magnolia Manor]] is a [[Victorian period]] [[historic house museum]] in [[Cairo, Illinois|Cairo]].
Lincoln Home 1.jpg|[[Lincoln Home National Historic Site]] in [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]]
20070822 Polish Museum.JPG|The [[Polish Museum of America]] in [[Chicago]]
CBQ 1926 20050716 Illinois Railway Museum.jpg|A [[Railway Post Office]] preserved at the [[Illinois Railway Museum]] in [[Union, Illinois|Union]]</gallery>

===Music===
{{Main|Music of Illinois}}

Illinois is a leader in music education, having hosted the [[Midwest Clinic|Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference]] since 1946, as well being home to the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA, formerly IMEA), one of the largest professional music educator's organizations in the country. Each summer since 2004, [[Southern Illinois University Carbondale]] has played host to the Southern Illinois Music Festival, which presents dozens of performances throughout the region. Past featured artists include the [[Eroica Trio]] and violinist [[David Kim (violinist)|David Kim]].

[[Chicago]], in the northeast corner of the state, is a [[Music of Chicago|major center for music]]<ref>[http://www.centerstagechicago.com/music/ Centerstage Chicago] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708205635/http://www.centerstagechicago.com/music/ |date=July 8, 2008 }} Retrieved on September 18, 2008</ref> in the [[midwestern United States]] where distinctive forms of blues (greatly responsible for the future creation of [[rock and roll]]), and [[house music]], a genre of electronic dance music, were developed.

The [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]] of poor black workers from the South into the industrial cities brought traditional [[jazz]] and [[blues music]] to the city, resulting in [[Chicago blues]] and "Chicago-style" [[Dixieland jazz]]. Notable blues artists included [[Muddy Waters]], [[Junior Wells]], [[Howlin' Wolf]] and both [[Sonny Boy Williamson II|Sonny Boy Williamsons]]; jazz greats included [[Nat King Cole]], [[Gene Ammons]], [[Benny Goodman]], and [[Bud Freeman]]. Chicago is also well known for its [[soul music]].

In the early 1930s, [[Gospel music]] began to gain popularity in Chicago due to [[Thomas A. Dorsey]]'s contributions at [[Pilgrim Baptist Church]].

In the 1980s and 1990s, [[Hard rock|heavy rock]], [[punk rock|punk]], and [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] also became popular in Chicago. [[Orchestra]]s in Chicago include the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]], the [[Lyric Opera of Chicago]], and the [[Chicago Sinfonietta]].<ref>[http://www.chicagosinfonietta.org/ Chicago Sinfonietta Website] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120120226/http://www.chicagosinfonietta.org/ |date=January 20, 2017 }}. Retrieved on November 7, 2008</ref>

===Movies===
[[John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes]], who moved from [[Grosse Pointe, Michigan|Grosse Pointe]] to [[Northbrook, Illinois|Northbrook]], based many films of his in [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], and its suburbs. [[Ferris Bueller's Day Off]], [[Home Alone]], [[The Breakfast Club]], and all his films take place in the fictional Shermer, Illinois (the original name of Northbrook was Shermerville, and Hughes's High School, [[Glenbrook North High School]], is on Shermer Road). Most locations in his films include Glenbrook North, the former [[Maine North High School]], the [[Ben Rose House]] in Highland Park, and the famous Home Alone house in [[Winnetka, Illinois]].

===Recreation===
{{Main list|List of protected areas of Illinois
}}
[[File:Garden of the Gods Sunset.jpg|thumb|Sunset on the [[Garden of the Gods Wilderness]], part of the [[Shawnee National Forest]] in southern Illinois.]]

The [[Illinois state parks]] system began in 1908 with what is now [[Fort Massac]] State Park, becoming the first park in a system encompassing more than 60 parks and about the same number of recreational and wildlife areas.

Areas under the protection of the [[National Park Service]] include: the [[Illinois and Michigan Canal|Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor]] near [[Lockport, Illinois|Lockport]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Illinois & Michigan Canal |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=July 15, 2008 |url=https://www.nps.gov/ilmi/index.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726132500/http://www.nps.gov/ilmi |archive-date=July 26, 2008}}</ref> the [[Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail]], the [[Lincoln Home National Historic Site]] in Springfield, the [[Mormon Trail|Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail]], the [[Trail of Tears|Trail of Tears National Historic Trail]], the [[American Discovery Trail]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Illinois |publisher=National Park Service |access-date = July 15, 2008 |url=https://www.nps.gov/state/il |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080705121254/http://www.nps.gov/state/il/ |archive-date = July 5, 2008 |url-status = live}}</ref> the [[Pullman National Monument]], and [[New Philadelphia Town Site]]. The federal government also manages the [[Shawnee National Forest]] and the [[Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie]].

===Sports===
{{Main list|List of professional sports teams in Illinois
}}
[[File:Soldier Field during Chicago Bears home game against the San Francisco 49ers on October 29, 2006.jpg|thumb|[[Soldier Field]] is home to the [[National Football League]]'s [[Chicago Bears]]]]
[[File:Wrigley field 720.jpg|thumb|[[Wrigley Field]] is home to [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[Chicago Cubs]]]]

As one of the United States' major metropolises, all [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|major sports leagues]] have teams headquartered in Chicago.

Two [[Major League Baseball]] teams are located in the state. The [[Chicago Cubs]] of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] play in the second-oldest major league stadium, [[Wrigley Field]], and went the longest length of time without a championship in all of major American sport, from 1908 to 2016, when they won the [[World Series]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Mark McGuire Commentary |url=http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Long-look-at-Top-10-title-droughts-558915.php |title=Long look at Top 10 title droughts |newspaper=Times Union |date=June 12, 2010 |access-date=February 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220080756/http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Long-look-at-Top-10-title-droughts-558915.php |archive-date=February 20, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/404001-longest-playoff-droughts-in-the-major-sports |title=The Longest Running Title Droughts in Sports |website=Bleacher Report |date=June 10, 2010 |access-date=February 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708013740/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/404001-longest-playoff-droughts-in-the-major-sports |archive-date=July 8, 2011}}</ref> The [[Chicago White Sox]] of the [[American League]] won the [[World Series]] in 2005, their first since 1917. They play on the city's south side at [[Rate Field]]. The [[Chicago Bears]] football team has won nine total [[List of NFL champions|NFL Championships]], the last occurring in [[Super Bowl&nbsp;XX]] on January 26, 1986. The [[Chicago Bulls]] of the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] is one of the most recognized [[basketball|basketball teams]] in the world, largely as a result of the efforts of [[Michael Jordan]], who led the team to six NBA championships in eight seasons in the 1990s. The [[Chicago Blackhawks]] of the [[National Hockey League|NHL]] began playing in [[1926–27 NHL season|1926]] and became a member of the [[Original Six]] once the NHL dropped to that number of teams during World War&nbsp;II. The Blackhawks have won six [[Stanley Cup]]s, most recently in [[2014–15 NHL season|2015]]. [[Chicago Fire FC]] is a member of [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] and has been one of the league's most successful and best-supported clubs since its founding in 1997, winning one league and four [[Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup]]s in that timespan. The team played in [[Bridgeview, Illinois|Bridgeview]], adjacent to Chicago from 2006 to 2019. The team now plays at Soldier Field in Chicago.

The [[Chicago Red Stars]] have played at the top level of U.S. women's soccer since their formation in 2009, except in the 2011 season. The team currently plays in the [[National Women's Soccer League]], playing at [[SeatGeek Stadium]], the Bridgeview venue it formerly shared with Fire FC. The [[Chicago Sky]] have played in the [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA) since 2006. The Sky won their first WNBA Championship in 2021. They play at [[Wintrust Arena]] in Chicago. The [[Chicago Bandits]] of the [[National Pro Fastpitch|NPF]], a women's softball league, have won four league titles, most recently in 2016. They play at [[Parkway Bank Sports Complex]] in [[Rosemont, Illinois]], in the Chicago area.

Many [[minor league]] teams also call Illinois their home. They include the [[Bloomington Edge]] of the [[Indoor Football League]], [[Bloomington Flex]] of the [[Midwest Professional Basketball Association]], [[Chicago Dogs]] of the [[American Association of Professional Baseball]], [[Chicago Fire FC II]] of [[MLS Next Pro]], [[Chicago Wolves]] of the [[American Hockey League]], [[Gateway Grizzlies]] of the [[Frontier League]], [[Kane County Cougars]] of the [[American Association of Professional Baseball|American Association]], [[Joliet Slammers]] of the Frontier League, [[Peoria Chiefs]] of the [[Midwest League]], [[Peoria Rivermen (SPHL)|Peoria Rivermen]] of the [[Southern Professional Hockey League|SPHL]], [[Rockford Aviators]] of the Frontier League, [[Rockford IceHogs]] of the AHL, [[Schaumburg Boomers]] of the Frontier League, [[Southern Illinois Miners]] in the Frontier League, [[Windy City Bulls]] of the [[NBA G League]], and [[Windy City ThunderBolts]] of the Frontier League.

The state features 13 athletic programs that compete in [[NCAA Division I]], the highest level of U.S. college sports. The two most prominent are the [[Illinois Fighting Illini]] and [[Northwestern Wildcats]], both members of the [[Big Ten Conference]] and the only ones competing in the "[[Power Five conferences]]". The Fighting Illini football team has won five national championships and three [[Rose Bowl Game]]s, whereas the men's basketball team has won 17 conference seasons and played five Final Fours. Meanwhile, the Wildcats have won eight football conference championships and one Rose Bowl Game. The [[Northern Illinois Huskies]] compete in the [[Mid-American Conference]], having won four conference championships and earning a bid in the [[Orange Bowl]]. Four schools have football programs that compete in the second level of Division&nbsp;I football, the [[Football Championship Subdivision]]. The [[Illinois State Redbirds]] and [[Southern Illinois Salukis]] are members of the [[Missouri Valley Conference]] for non-football sports and the [[Missouri Valley Football Conference]]. The [[Eastern Illinois Panthers]] and [[Western Illinois Leathernecks]] are members of the [[Ohio Valley Conference]]. The city of Chicago is home to four Division&nbsp;I programs that do not sponsor football: the [[DePaul Blue Demons]] of the [[Big East Conference]], [[Loyola Ramblers]] of the [[Atlantic 10 Conference]], [[UIC Flames]] of the Missouri Valley Conference, and [[Chicago State Cougars]] of the [[Northeast Conference]]. Finally, two non-football Division&nbsp;I programs are located downstate. The [[Bradley Braves]] are Missouri Valley Conference members, and the [[SIU Edwardsville Cougars]] compete in the Ohio Valley Conference.

[[Motor racing]] oval tracks at the [[Chicagoland Speedway]] in [[Joliet, Illinois|Joliet]], the [[Chicago Motor Speedway]] in [[Cicero, Illinois|Cicero]] and the [[Gateway Motorsports Park]] in [[Madison, Illinois|Madison]], near St. Louis, have hosted [[NASCAR]], [[Champ Car|CART]], and [[Indy Racing League|IRL]] races, whereas the [[Sports Car Club of America]], among other national and regional [[road racing]] clubs, have visited the [[Autobahn Country Club]] in Joliet, the [[Blackhawk Farms Raceway]] in [[South Beloit, Illinois|South Beloit]] and the former [[Meadowdale International Raceway]] in [[Carpentersville, Illinois|Carpentersville]]. Illinois also has several [[Short track motor racing|short tracks]] and [[dragstrip]]s. The dragstrip at Gateway International Raceway and the [[Route 66 Raceway]], which sits on the same property as the Chicagoland Speedway, both host [[NHRA]] drag races.

Illinois features several golf courses, such as [[Olympia Fields Country Club|Olympia Fields]], [[Medinah Country Club|Medinah]], [[Midlothian Country Club|Midlothian]], [[Cog Hill Golf & Country Club|Cog Hill]], and [[Conway Farms Golf Club|Conway Farms]], which have often hosted the [[BMW Championship (PGA Tour)|BMW Championship]], [[Western Open]], and [[Women's Western Open]]. Also, the state has hosted 13 editions of the [[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] (latest at Olympia Fields in 2003), six editions of the [[PGA Championship]] (latest at Medinah in 2006), three editions of the [[U.S. Women's Open]] (latest at The Merit Club), the [[2009 Solheim Cup]] (at Rich Harvest Farms), and the [[2012 Ryder Cup]] (at Medinah). The [[John Deere Classic]] is a regular [[PGA Tour]] event played in the Quad Cities since 1971, whereas the [[Encompass Championship]] is a [[Champions Tour]] event since 2013. Previously, the [[LPGA State Farm Classic]] was an [[LPGA Tour]] event from 1976 to 2011.

==Law and politics==
{{Main|Law of Illinois|Politics of Illinois}}

In a 2020 study, Illinois was ranked as the 4th easiest state for citizens to vote in.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=J. Pomante II |first1=Michael |last2=Li |first2=Quan |title=Cost of Voting in the American States: 2020 |journal=Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy |date=December 15, 2020 |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=503–509 |doi=10.1089/elj.2020.0666 |s2cid=225139517 |doi-access=free  | issn=1533-1296}}</ref>

===State government===
{{Main|Government of Illinois}}

[[File:Gfp-illinois-springfield-capitol-and-sky.jpg|thumb|The [[Illinois State Capitol]] in [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]]]]
The [[government of Illinois]], under the [[Constitution of Illinois]], has three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The executive branch is split into several statewide elected offices, with the governor as chief executive. Legislative functions are granted to the Illinois General Assembly. The judiciary is composed of the Supreme Court and lower courts.

The executive branch is composed of six elected officers and their offices as well as numerous other departments.<ref name=Lind2012ch5/> The six elected officers are:<ref name=Lind2012ch5/> [[Governor of Illinois|Governor]], [[Lieutenant Governor of Illinois|Lieutenant Governor]], [[Illinois Attorney General|Attorney General]], [[Illinois Secretary of State|Secretary of State]], [[Illinois Comptroller|Comptroller]], and [[Illinois Treasurer|Treasurer]]. The government of Illinois has numerous departments, agencies, boards and commissions, but the so-called code departments provide most of the state's services.<ref name=Lind2012ch5>{{cite book |title=Governing Illinois: Your Connection to State and Local Government |chapter=The Governor and the Executive Branch |pages=78–79 |first=Judy Lee |last=Uphoff |editor1-first=Nancy S. |editor1-last=Lind |editor2-first=Erik |editor2-last=Rankin |edition=4th |publisher=Center Publications, Center for State Policy and Leadership, [[University of Illinois Springfield]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-938943-28-0|chapter-url=http://illinoisissues.uis.edu/images/Chapter5Draft.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622010608/http://illinoisissues.uis.edu/images/Chapter5Draft.pdf |archive-date=June 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{ILCS|20|5}}</ref>

[[File:Illinois House of Representatives.jpg|thumb|[[Illinois House of Representatives]]]]
The [[Illinois General Assembly]] is the state legislature, composed of the 118-member [[Illinois House of Representatives]] and the 59-member [[Illinois Senate]]. The members of the General Assembly are elected at the beginning of each even-numbered year. The ''[[Illinois Compiled Statutes]]'' (ILCS) are the [[codification (law)|codified]] statutes of a general and permanent nature.<ref name="survey">{{cite book |title=Illinois Criminal Law: A Survey of Crimes and Defenses |first1=John F. |last1=Decker |first2=Christopher |last2=Kopacz |year=2012 |edition=5th |publisher=[[LexisNexis]] |isbn=978-0-7698-5284-3 |url={{Google books|l2I_8OvYAVYC |page=PT24 |keywords= |text= |plainurl=yes}}|at=§ 1.01}}</ref><ref name="tapping">{{cite book |title=Tapping State Government Information Sources |page=126 |first1=Lori L. |last1=Smith |first2=Daniel C. |last2=Barkley |first3=Daniel C. |last3=Cornwall |first4=Eric W. |last4=Johnson |first5=J. Louise |last5=Malcomb |year=2003 |publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]] |isbn=978-1-57356-387-1 |lccn=2002044846 |url={{Google books|4zo-J7chfmMC |page=PA126 |keywords= |text= |plainurl=yes}}}}</ref>

The [[Judiciary of Illinois]] is the unified court system of Illinois. It consists of the [[Supreme Court of Illinois|Supreme Court]], [[Illinois Appellate Court|Appellate Court]], and [[Illinois Circuit Courts|Circuit Courts]]. The Supreme Court oversees the administration of the court system.

The [[administrative divisions of Illinois]] are counties, townships, precincts, cities, towns, villages, and special-purpose districts.<ref>{{citation |title=Individual State Descriptions: 2007 |series=2007 Census of Governments |date=November 2012 |pages=89–97 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |url=http://www2.census.gov/govs/cog/isd_book.pdf |ref={{harvid|Census|2007}} |access-date=March 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123173109/http://www2.census.gov/govs/cog/isd_book.pdf |archive-date=November 23, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The basic subdivision of Illinois are the 102 counties.{{sfn|Census|2007|p=89}} Eighty-five of the 102 counties are in turn divided into townships and precincts.{{sfn|Census|2007|p=89}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ilsos.gov/isa/localgovnameindexsrch.jsp |title=Name Index to Illinois Local Governments |author=Illinois Regional Archives Depository System |website=Illinois State Archives |publisher=[[Illinois Secretary of State]]| access-date = November 11, 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131110230747/http://www.ilsos.gov/isa/localgovnameindexsrch.jsp| archive-date = November 10, 2013| url-status = live}}</ref> Municipal governments are the cities, villages, and incorporated towns.{{sfn|Census|2007|p=89}} Some localities possess [[home rule]], which allows them to govern themselves to a certain extent.<ref>{{cite book |title=Illinois Politics & Government: The Expanding Metropolitan Frontier |first1=Samuel Kimball |last1=Gove |first2=James Dunlap |last2=Nowlan |year=1996 |series=Politics and Governments of the American States |pages=155–156 |publisher=[[University of Nebraska Press]] |isbn=978-0-8032-7014-5 |lccn=95046017 |location=Lincoln |url={{Google books|9JFP49qn_wUC |page=PA156 |keywords= |text= |plainurl=yes}}}}</ref>

===Party balance===
[[File:Governor JB Pritzker official portrait 2019 (crop).jpg|thumb|upright|Governor [[J. B. Pritzker]] (D)]]

In modern national and state politics, Illinois is a [[Red states and blue states|Democratic stronghold]].<ref>{{cite web |last=McClelland |first=Edward |url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Illinois-The-Most-Democratic-State-126772408.html |title=Illinois: The Most Democratic State |publisher=[[NBC Chicago]] |date=August 4, 2011 |access-date=December 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313040549/http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Illinois-The-Most-Democratic-State-126772408.html |archive-date=March 13, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Historically, Illinois was a political [[swing state]], with near-parity existing between the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] and the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] parties. However, in recent elections, the Democratic Party has gained ground, and Illinois has come to be seen as a solid [[Red states and blue states|"blue" state]] in both presidential and congressional campaigns.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0716/p01s01-uspo.html |title=Suburb shift turns state blue / The Christian Science Monitor |publisher=CSMonitor.com |date=July 16, 2004 |access-date=February 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716022620/http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0716/p01s01-uspo.html |archive-date=July 16, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Illinois a blue island in red sea | author-first = Russell | author-last = Working | newspaper = Chicago Tribune | date = November 8, 2004 | pages = [https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-illinois-a-blue-island-i/126633609/ 1-1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-politics-but-even-in-il/126633660/ 1-15] | via = Newspapers.com }}</ref> Illinois's Democratic tendencies are mostly attributable to [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]] and [[Chicago]], by far the state's largest county and city, respectively, which have long been strongly Democratic. The [[collar counties]], affluent suburban counties that surround Cook County, historically voted Republican and helped keep the state competitive; however, they have swung toward the left in recent elections as the national Republican Party has become increasingly conservative, which has cemented Democratic dominance in state politics.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 17, 2020 |title=Illinois primary live results |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/17/politics/illinois-primary-results-live/index.html |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website= |publisher=[[CNN]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Downstate Illinois|Outside of the Chicago metropolitan area]], the state's rural areas are heavily Republican. The dominance of the Chicago area in state elections is so overwhelming that it has influenced a [[Separation referendums in Illinois|secessionist movement]] in the downstate region.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McClelland |first=Edward |date=October 15, 2020 |title=If Downstate Illinois Seceded |url=https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/October-2020/Illinois-Secession/ |access-date=July 14, 2020 |website=[[Chicago Magazine]] |language=en-US |archive-date=October 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028223448/http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/October-2020/Illinois-Secession/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Illinois was long seen as a national bellwether,<ref>{{cite web |url-status=live |url=http://www.lib.niu.edu/1990/ii900209.html |title=Illinois as a bellwether: So what? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194005/http://www.lib.niu.edu/1990/ii900209.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date= July 21, 2013 |first1=David H. |last1=Everson |date=February 1990 |work=Illinois Issues |publisher=Illinois Periodicals Online at Northern Illinois University  }}</ref> supporting the winner in every election in the 20th century, except for [[1916 United States presidential election in Illinois|1916]] and [[1976 United States presidential election in Illinois|1976]]. Since the [[1992 United States presidential election|1992 election]], however, Illinois has trended more toward the Democratic Party and is part of the "[[Blue wall (U.S. politics)|blue wall]]" of states that have consistently voted Democratic in the last six presidential elections. In [[2000 United States presidential election in Illinois|2000]], [[George W. Bush]] became the first Republican to win the presidency without carrying either Illinois or [[Vermont]], with [[Donald Trump]] repeating the feat in 2016. Illinois has not elected a Republican to the [[United States Senate|Senate]] since [[Mark Kirk]] won in [[2010 United States Senate elections in Illinois|2010]]; the last Republicans to hold statewide office were Governor [[Bruce Rauner]] and Lieutenant Governor [[Evelyn Sanguinetti]], who both left office in 2019.

===History of corruption===

{{Main|Political corruption in Illinois}}

Politics in the state have been infamous for highly visible corruption cases, as well as for crusading reformers, such as governors [[Adlai Stevenson II|Adlai Stevenson]] and [[James R. Thompson]]. In 2006, former governor [[George Ryan]] was convicted of racketeering and bribery, leading to a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence. On December 7, 2011, former governor [[Rod Blagojevich]] was sentenced to 14 years in prison for allegations that he conspired to sell the vacated Senate seat left by President [[Barack Obama]] to the highest bidder. Blagojevich had earlier been impeached and convicted by the legislature, resulting in his removal from office. In the late 20th century, Congressman [[Dan Rostenkowski]] was imprisoned for mail fraud; former governor and federal judge [[Otto Kerner Jr.]] was imprisoned for bribery; Secretary of State [[Paul Powell (politician)|Paul Powell]] was investigated and found to have gained great wealth through bribes, and State Auditor of Public Accounts (Comptroller) [[Orville Hodge]] was imprisoned for embezzlement. In 1912, William Lorimer, the GOP boss of Chicago, was expelled from the U.S. Senate for bribery, and in 1921, Governor [[Len Small]] was found to have defrauded the state of a million dollars.<ref name="Biles"/><ref name="Horsley"/><ref>{{cite book |title=Grafters and Goo Goos: corruption and reform in Chicago, 1833–2003 |last=Merriner |first=James L. |year=2004 |publisher=Southern Illinois University Press |location=Carbondale |isbn=978-0-8093-2571-9 |oclc=52720998}}</ref>

===U.S. presidential elections===

{{Main|United States presidential elections in Illinois}}

Illinois has shown a strong presence in presidential elections. Three presidents have claimed Illinois as their political base when running for president: [[Abraham Lincoln]], [[Ulysses S. Grant]], and most recently [[Barack Obama]]. Lincoln was born in [[Kentucky]], but he moved to Illinois at age 21. He served in the [[Illinois General Assembly|General Assembly]] and represented the [[Illinois's 7th congressional district|7th congressional district]] in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] before his election to the presidency in 1860. [[Ulysses S. Grant]] was born in [[Ohio]] and had a military career that precluded settling down, but on the eve of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] and approaching middle age, he moved to Illinois and thus utilized the state as his home and political base when running for president. [[Barack Obama]] was born in [[Hawaii]] and made Illinois his home after graduating from [[law school]], and later represented Illinois in the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]]. He then became president in 2008, running as a candidate from his Illinois base.

[[Ronald Reagan]] was born in Illinois, in the city of [[Tampico, Illinois|Tampico]], raised in [[Dixon, Illinois]], and educated at [[Eureka College]], outside [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]]. Reagan later moved to [[California]] during his young adulthood. He then became an actor, and later became [[Governor of California|California's Governor]] before being elected president.

[[Hillary Clinton]] was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago and became the first woman to represent a major political party in the general election of the U.S. presidency. Clinton ran from a platform based in [[New York (state)|New York State]].

===African-American U.S. senators===

[[List of African-American United States Senators|Twelve African-Americans]] have served as members of the [[United States Senate]]. Of which three have represented Illinois, the most of any single state: [[Carol Moseley Braun|Carol Moseley-Braun]],<ref name="auto11" /> [[Barack Obama]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/Photo_Exhibit_African_American_Senators.htm |title=U.S. Senate: Art & History Home |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=February 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702035451/https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/Photo_Exhibit_African_American_Senators.htm |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Roland Burris]], who was appointed to replace Obama after his election to the presidency. Moseley-Braun was the first African-American woman to become a U.S. Senator.

===Political families===

Several families from Illinois have played particularly prominent roles in politics, in both the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] earlier in the state's history but more recently the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], gaining both statewide and national fame.

====Ingersoll====

The [[List of United States political families (I)#The Ingersolls of Illinois|Ingersoll family of Illinois]] comprised a pair of brothers who held several prominent elected positions representing Illinois.
* [[Ebon C. Ingersoll]] (1831–1879), Illinois State Representative 1856, U.S. Representative from Illinois 1864–71. Brother of Robert G. Ingersoll.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/ingersoll.html|title=The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Ingersoll|website=politicalgraveyard.com}}</ref>
* [[Robert G. Ingersoll]] (1833–1899), Illinois State Representative 1860, Attorney General of Illinois 1867–69, delegate to the Republican National Convention 1876. Brother of Ebon C. Ingersoll.<ref name="auto4"/>
** John C. Ingersoll (1860–1903), U.S. Consul in [[Cartagena, Colombia]] 1902. Son of Ebon C. Ingersoll.<ref name="auto4"/>

====Stevenson====

The [[Stevenson family]], initially rooted in central Illinois and later based in the Chicago metropolitan area, has provided four generations of Illinois officeholders.
* [[Adlai Stevenson I]] (1835–1914) was a Vice President of the United States, as well as a [[Congressman]]
* [[Lewis Stevenson (politician)|Lewis Stevenson]] (1868–1929), son of Adlai, served as [[Illinois Secretary of State]].
* [[Adlai Stevenson II]] (1900–1965), son of Lewis, served as [[Governor of Illinois]] and as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations; he was also the Democratic party's presidential nominee in [[1952 United States presidential election|1952]] and [[1956 United States presidential election|1956]], losing both elections to [[Dwight Eisenhower]].
* [[Adlai Stevenson III]] (1930–2021), son of Adlai II, served ten years as a [[United States Senator]].

====Daley====

The [[Daley family]]'s powerbase was in Chicago.
* [[Richard J. Daley]] (1902–1976) served as [[Mayor of Chicago]] from 1955 to his death.
* [[Richard M. Daley]] (born 1942), son of Richard J, was Chicago's longest-serving mayor, in office from 1989 to 2011.
* [[William M. Daley]] (born 1948), another son of Richard J, is a former [[White House Chief of Staff]] and has served in a variety of appointed positions.

====Pritzker====

The [[Pritzker family]] is based in Chicago and have played important roles in both the private and the public sectors.
* [[Jay Pritzker]] (1922–1999), co-founder of [[Hyatt Hotel]] based in Chicago.
* [[Penny Pritzker]] (born 1959), 38th [[United States Secretary of Commerce]] under President [[Barack Obama]].
* [[J. B. Pritzker]] (born 1965), current and 43rd [[governor of Illinois]] and co-founder of the Pritzker Group.

====Madigan====

Members of the [[Mike Madigan#The Madigan family and their role in Illinois government|Madigan family]] have held extensive influence in Illinois politics.
* [[Mike Madigan|Michael Madigan]] (born 1942), longtime speaker of the [[Illinois House of Representatives]] and notorious [[political boss]].
* [[Lisa Madigan]] (born 1966), adopted daughter of Michael Madigan, former [[Illinois Attorney General]].

==Education==
{{multiple image
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 | image1 = Alex MacLean 2005 campus with cityscape.jpg
 | caption1 = Campus of the [[University of Chicago]]
 | image2 = Foellinger Auditorium University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign closer.jpg
 | caption2 = [[Foellinger Auditorium]] at the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]]
}}
{{Further|History of education in Chicago}}

===Illinois State Board of education===
{{Main|Illinois State Board of Education}}

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is autonomous of the governor and the state legislature, and administers [[public education]] in the state. Local municipalities and their respective [[school district]]s operate individual public schools, but the ISBE audits performance of public schools with the [[Illinois School Report Card]]. The ISBE also makes recommendations to state leaders concerning education spending and policies.

===Primary and secondary schools===
{{See also|List of school districts in Illinois|List of high schools in Illinois}}

Education is compulsory for ages 7–17 in Illinois. Schools are commonly, but not exclusively, divided into three tiers of primary and secondary education: elementary school, [[middle school]] or [[Middle school|junior high school]], and high school. District territories are often complex in structure. Many areas in the state are actually located in ''two'' school districts—one for high school and the other for elementary and middle schools. And such districts do not necessarily share boundaries. A given high school may have several elementary districts that feed into it, yet some of those feeder districts may themselves feed into multiple high school districts.

===Colleges and universities===
{{Main list|List of colleges and universities in Illinois
}}
Using the criterion established by [[the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching]], there are eleven "National Universities" in the state.

{{As of|2010|8|19}}, six of these rank in the "first tier" among the top 500 National Universities in the nation, as determined by the ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' rankings: the [[University of Chicago]], [[Northwestern University]], the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]], [[Loyola University Chicago]], the [[Illinois Institute of Technology]], [[DePaul University]], [[University of Illinois Chicago]], [[Illinois State University]], [[Southern Illinois University Carbondale]], and [[Northern Illinois University]].<ref name="usnews">{{cite web |url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/national-universities-rankings/state+IL |title=Best Colleges 2010—National Universities Rankings |date=August 19, 2009 |access-date=May 31, 2016 |website=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105090520/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/national-universities-rankings/state+IL |archive-date=January 5, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The University of Chicago is continuously ranked as one of the world's top ten universities on various independent university rankings, and its [[Booth School of Business]], along with Northwestern's [[Kellogg School of Management]] consistently rank within the top five graduate business schools in the country and top ten globally. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is often ranked among the best engineering schools in the world and United States.

Illinois also has more than twenty additional [[Educational accreditation|accredited]] four-year universities, both public and private, and dozens of small [[liberal arts college]]s across the state. Additionally, Illinois supports 49 public [[community college]]s in the [[Illinois Community College System]].

===School financing===
Schools in Illinois are funded primarily by property taxes, based on state assessment of property values, rather than direct state contributions. Scholar Tracy Steffes has described Illinois public education as historically "inequitable", a system where one of "the wealthiest of states" is "the stingiest in its support for education". There have been several attempts to reform school funding in Illinois. The most notable attempt came in 1973 with the adoption of the Illinois Resource Equalizer Formula, a measure through which it was hoped funding could be collected and distributed to Illinois schools more equitably. However, opposition from affluent Illinois communities who objected to having to pay for the less well-off school districts (many of them Black majority communities, produced by redlining, white flight, and other "soft" segregation methods) resulted in the formula's abolition in the late 1980s.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Steffes |first1=Tracy L. |title=Assessment Matters: The Rise and Fall of the Illinois Resource Equalizer Formula |journal=History of Education Quarterly |date=February 2020 |volume=60 |issue=1 |pages=24–57 |doi=10.1017/heq.2020.7 |s2cid=216496825}}</ref>

==Transportation==
{{See also|List of Illinois Routes}}
Because of its central location and its proximity to the [[Rust Belt]] and [[Grain Belt]], Illinois is a national crossroads for air, auto, rail, and truck traffic.

===Airports===
{{See also|List of airports in Illinois}}
[[File:Concourse B, Chicago O'Hare airport.jpg|thumb|Concourse B inside [[O'Hare International Airport]], one of the [[List of busiest airports by passenger traffic|world's busiest airports]]]]

From 1962 until 1998, Chicago's [[O'Hare International Airport]] (ORD) was the busiest airport in the world, measured both in terms of total flights and passengers. While it was surpassed by [[Atlanta]]'s [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Hartsfield]] in 1998 (as Chicago splits its air traffic between O'Hare and Midway airports, while Atlanta uses only one airport), with 59.3&nbsp;million domestic passengers annually, along with 11.4&nbsp;million international passengers in 2008,<ref>{{cite web |title=O'Hare International Airport Activity Statistics |url=http://www.flychicago.com/Statistics/stats/1208ORDSUMMARY-REVISED.pdf |publisher=City of Chicago: FlyChicago.com |date=March 27, 2009 |access-date=April 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101054630/http://flychicago.com/Statistics/stats/1208ORDSUMMARY-REVISED.pdf |archive-date=January 1, 2010 }}</ref> O'Hare consistently remains one of the two or three busiest airports globally, and in some years still ranks number one in total flights. It is a major [[airline hub|hub]] for both [[United Airlines]] and [[American Airlines]], and a major airport expansion project is currently underway. [[Chicago Midway International Airport|Midway Airport]] (MDW), which had been the busiest airport in the world at one point until it was supplanted by O'Hare as the busiest airport in 1962, is now the secondary airport in the Chicago metropolitan area and still ranks as one of the nation's busiest airports. Midway is a major hub for [[Southwest Airlines]] and services many other carriers as well. Midway served 17.3&nbsp;million domestic and international passengers in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Midway Airport Activity Statistics |url=http://www.flychicago.com/Statistics/stats/1208SUMMARYRevised.pdf |website=FlyChicago.com |publisher=City of Chicago |date=January 30, 2009 |access-date=April 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101054737/http://flychicago.com/Statistics/stats/1208SUMMARYRevised.pdf |archive-date=January 1, 2010}}</ref>

===Highways===
{{Main|List of Interstate Highways in Illinois|List of U.S. Highways in Illinois}}

[[File:Welcome to Illinois Sign - US67 Rock Island (44320554331).jpg|thumb|An Illinois welcome sign along [[U.S. Route 67 in Illinois|U.S. Route 67]] in [[Rock Island, Illinois|Rock Island]]]]

The Interstate Highways in Illinois are all segments of the [[Interstate Highway System]] that are owned and maintained by the state.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://highways.dot.gov/highway-history/interstate-system/50th-anniversary/interstate-frequently-asked-questions |title=Interstate Frequently Asked Questions—50th Anniversary—Interstate System—Highway History—Federal Highway Administration |website=[[Federal Highway Administration|Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)]] |access-date=May 3, 2019 |archive-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220154101/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/faq.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref> Major U.S. Interstate highways crossing the state include: [[Interstate 24 in Illinois|Interstate&nbsp;24]] (I-24), [[Interstate 39 in Illinois|I-39]], [[Interstate 41|I-41]], [[Interstate 55 in Illinois|I-55]], [[Interstate 57 in Illinois|I-57]], [[Interstate 64 in Illinois|I-64]], [[Interstate 70 in Illinois|I-70]], [[Interstate 72 in Illinois|I-72]], [[Interstate 74 in Illinois|I-74]], [[Interstate 80 in Illinois|I-80]], [[Interstate 88 (Illinois)|I-88]], [[Interstate 90 in Illinois|I-90]], and [[Interstate 94 in Illinois|I-94]].

Illinois has the distinction of having the most primary (two-digit) interstates pass through it among all the 50 states with 13. Illinois also ranks third among the fifty states with the most interstate mileage, coming in after California and Texas, which are much bigger states in area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.interstate-guide.com/state-index.html |title=Interstates by State |publisher=Interstate-Guide |date=February 2, 2016 |access-date=February 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301091838/http://www.interstate-guide.com/state-index.html |archive-date=March 1, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:IllinoisLicensePlates.jpg|thumb|Standard license plate introduced in 2017]]

The [[Illinois Department of Transportation]] (IDOT) is responsible for maintaining the [[United States Numbered Highways|U.S Highways]] in Illinois. The system in Illinois consists of 21 [[List of U.S. Highways|primary highways]]. Among the U.S. highways that pass through the state, the primary ones are: [[U.S. Route 6 in Illinois|US&nbsp;6]], [[U.S. Route 12 in Illinois|US&nbsp;12]], [[U.S. Route 14 in Illinois|US&nbsp;14]], [[U.S. Route 20 in Illinois|US&nbsp;20]], [[U.S. Route 24 in Illinois|US&nbsp;24]], [[U.S. Route 30 in Illinois|US&nbsp;30]], [[U.S. Route 34 in Illinois|US&nbsp;34]], [[U.S. Route 36 in Illinois|US&nbsp;36]], [[U.S. Route 40 in Illinois|US&nbsp;40]], [[U.S. Route 41 in Illinois|US&nbsp;41]], [[U.S. Route 45 in Illinois|US&nbsp;45]], [[U.S. Route 50 in Illinois|US&nbsp;50]], [[U.S. Route 51 in Illinois|US&nbsp;51]], [[U.S. Route 52 in Illinois|US&nbsp;52]], [[U.S. Route 54 in Illinois|US&nbsp;54]], [[U.S. Route 60 in Illinois|US&nbsp;60]], [[U.S. Route 62 in Illinois|US&nbsp;62]], and [[U.S. Route 67 in Illinois|US&nbsp;67]].

===Buses===
{{See also|List of intercity bus stops in Illinois}}
Due to its central location, Illinois sees numerous intercity bus services primarily connecting east and west. The [[Chicago Bus Station]] is the busiest intercity bus station in the state. The following carriers provide scheduled service: [[Amtrak Thruway]], [[Barons Bus Lines]], [[Burlington Trailways]], [[Flixbus]], [[Greyhound Lines]], [[Indian Trails]], Miller Transportation (Hoosier Ride), [[Peoria Charter Coach Company]], [[Van Galder Bus Company]], and [[Wisconsin Coach Lines]].

{| class="collapsible uncollapsed" style="border:1px #aaa solid; width:50em; margin:0.2em auto"
|-
! Local transit map
|-
|{{Location map+ |Illinois |width=600 |float=center
|caption=Local Transit Systems (Only systems with fixed-route services are shown)
|places=
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=42.490878|long=-88.989627|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[Beloit Transit]]</small>'''|label_size=90|mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=40.310613|long=-88.157375|position=left |label='''<small>[[Champaign County Area Rural Transit System|C-CARTS]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=40.116288|long=-88.241830|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District|MTD]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=41.883258|long=-87.630168|position=top |label='''<small>[[Chicago Transit Authority]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=39.492000|long=-88.267348|position=right |label='''<small>[[Coles County Zipline]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=40.509127|long=-88.984559|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[Connect Transit]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=40.126363|long=-87.628600|position=left |label='''<small>[[Danville Mass Transit|DMT]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=39.843411|long=-88.952125|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[Decatur Public Transit System|DPTS]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=41.929663|long=-88.746312|position=left |label='''<small>[[DeKalb Public Transit]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=40.947491|long=-90.367992|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[Galesburg Transit]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=40.462073|long=-90.670187|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[Go West Transit]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=40.689406|long=-89.593388|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[Greater Peoria Mass Transit District|CityLink]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=37.764334|long=-89.336658|position=top |label='''<small>[[Jackson County Mass Transit District|JCMTD]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=37.724086|long=-89.216567|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[Saluki Express]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=37.729364|long=-88.927212|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[Rides Mass Transit District|RMTD]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=38.893661|long=-90.186293|position=top |label='''<small>[[Madison County Transit]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=41.493269|long=-90.527848|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[Quad Cities MetroLINK|MetroLINK]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=41.899716|long=-87.940336|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[Pace (transit)|Pace]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=39.930614|long=-91.404490|position=right |label='''<small>[[Quincy Transit Lines]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=41.122909|long=-87.863392|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[River Valley Metro Mass Transit District|River Valley Metro]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=42.272756|long=-89.097266|position=left |label='''<small>[[Rockford Mass Transit District|RMTD]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=38.521568|long=-89.974614|position=right |label='''<small>[[St. Clair County Transit District|SCCTD]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=39.800531|long=-89.641155|position=left |label='''<small>[[Sangamon Mass Transit District|SMTD]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=40.880322|long=-88.629727|position=left |label='''<small>[[SHOW Bus]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=38.527975|long=-89.134188|position=right |label='''<small>[[South Central Illinois Mass Transit District|South Central Transit]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=38.442910|long=-90.199766|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[Monroe Randolph Transit District|MRTD]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=37.738372|long=-88.532671|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[Rides Mass Transit District|RMTD]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
{{Location map~ |Illinois |lat=40.147864|long=-89.363148|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[SHOW Bus]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |mark=Icon-mode-bus-default.svg|marksize=20 }}
}}
|}

===Railroads===
{{See also|List of Illinois railroads}}
[[File:Illinois Zephyr and Lincoln Service trains at Chicago Union Station, December 2018.JPG|thumb|284x284px|Two [[Illinois Department of Transportation|IDOT]]-owned [[Amtrak]] locomotives at [[Chicago Union Station]]]]
Illinois has an extensive passenger and freight rail transportation network. Chicago is a national [[Amtrak]] hub and in-state passengers are served by Amtrak's [[Illinois Service]], featuring the Chicago to Carbondale [[Illini (Amtrak)|''Illini'']] and [[Saluki (Amtrak)|''Saluki'']], the Chicago to Quincy [[Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg|''Carl Sandburg'']] and ''[[Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg|Illinois Zephyr]]'', and the Chicago to St. Louis ''[[Lincoln Service]]''. Currently there is trackwork on the Chicago–St. Louis line to bring the maximum speed up to {{cvt|110|mph}}, which would reduce the trip time by an hour and a half. Nearly every North American railway meets at Chicago (including all six [[Railroad classes|Class I]] railroads), making it the largest and most active rail hub in the country. Extensive heavy rail service is provided in the city proper and some immediate suburbs by the [[Chicago Transit Authority]]'s [[Chicago "L"|'L']] system. One of the largest suburban commuter rail system in the United States, operated by [[Metra]], uses existing rail lines to provide direct commuter rail access for hundreds of suburbs to the city and beyond, with one [[Union Pacific North Line|line]] extending into [[Kenosha, Wisconsin|Kenosha]], [[Wisconsin]]. The [[South Shore Line]] commuter service originates in [[Millennium Station|Chicago]] and connects the state to [[Northwest Indiana]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stations & Map |url=https://mysouthshoreline.com/plan-your-trip/stations-map/ |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=South Shore Line |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Illinois Department of Transportation]] (IDOT) has programmed several new passenger rail routes to serve the state. These include the Chicago-[[Moline, Illinois|Moline]] [[Quad Cities (train)|route]] (to be operated by [[Amtrak]]) and the Chicago-[[Rockford, Illinois|Rockford]] [[Rockford Intercity Passenger Rail|route]] (to be operated by [[Metra]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=KWQC |date=2025-10-31 |title=Illinois passes state transit bill, including funding for Moline-to-Chicago passenger rail |url=https://www.kwqc.com/2025/10/31/illinois-passes-state-transit-bill-including-funding-moline-to-chicago-passenger-rail/ |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=https://www.kwqc.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-16 |title=Pritzker signs transit bill, advancing Quad Cities passenger rail plans |url=https://www.wqad.com/article/money/business/pritzker-signs-transit-bill-advancing-qc-passenger-rail-plans/526-603419b0-7e91-4730-a606-aa8374dd9068 |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=wqad.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-02-25 |title=Is Rockford to Chicago rail service ever coming back? Project organizers say its coming soon |url=https://www.mystateline.com/news/is-rockford-to-chicago-rail-service-ever-coming-back-project-organizers-say-its-coming-soon/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260228184546/https://www.mystateline.com/news/is-rockford-to-chicago-rail-service-ever-coming-back-project-organizers-say-its-coming-soon/ |archive-date=2026-02-28 |access-date=2026-03-23 |work=MyStateline {{!}} WTVO WQRF News, Weather and Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Kolkey |first=Jeff |title=The return of rail: IDOT officials say Rockford to Chicago service coming late 2027 |url=https://www.rrstar.com/story/news/local/2025/09/19/study-shows-hundreds-would-ride-rockford-to-chicago-train-daily/86218725007/ |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=Rockford Register Star |language=en-US}}</ref> A route between Chicago and [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]] was accepted into the [[Federal Railroad Administration|Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA)]] [[Corridor Identification and Development Program]] and is undergoing studies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schopp |first=Collin |date=2023-12-08 |title=Peoria takes next step toward securing passenger rail service |url=https://www.wcbu.org/local-news/2023-12-07/peoria-takes-next-step-toward-securing-passenger-rail-service |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=WCBU Peoria |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-05-30 |title=First step in bringing passenger rail to Peoria approved at Tuesday’s city council meeting |url=https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/first-step-in-bringing-passenger-rail-to-peoria-approved-at-tuesdays-city-council-meeting/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240902184154/https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/first-step-in-bringing-passenger-rail-to-peoria-approved-at-tuesdays-city-council-meeting/ |archive-date=2024-09-02 |access-date=2026-03-23 |work=CIProud.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bullock |first=J. J. |title=Peoria's pursuit of passenger rail will require more money than originally anticipated |url=https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/local/2025/10/08/peoria-gives-update-on-passenger-rail-pursuit-heres-what-to-know/86576140007/ |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=Peoria Journal Star |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Waterways===
{{See also|Category:Illinois waterways}}
[[File:Chicago Landscape.jpg|thumb|279x279px|A boat on the South Branch of the [[Chicago River]]]]
In addition to the state's rail lines, the [[Mississippi River]] and [[Illinois River]] provide major transportation routes for the state's agricultural interests. [[Lake Michigan]] gives Illinois access to the Atlantic Ocean by way of the [[Saint Lawrence Seaway]].

The [[Port of Chicago|Illinois International Port District]] operates the Port of Chicago, which is located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the [[Calumet River]]. It is the start point of the [[Illinois Waterway]], which is series of rivers that allow for commercial shipping between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. The Illinois Waterway also consists of the [[Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal]], which connects the [[Chicago River]] with the [[Des Plaines River]] and replaced the [[Illinois and Michigan Canal]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} Illinois International Port District |url=https://www.iipd.com/about |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=www.iipd.com}}</ref>

The [[Chicago River]] hosts many tourist and commuter boat routes such as the Chicago River Architecture Tours and the Chicago Water Taxi.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Chicago Water Taxi |url=https://www.chicagowatertaxi.com/about-us/ |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=Chicago Water Taxi |language=en-US}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{portal|Illinois|United States}}
* [[Index of Illinois-related articles]]
* [[List of people from Illinois]]
* [[Outline of Illinois]]
* [[History of Illinois]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |title=Illinois: its history & legacy |last1=Bridges |first1=Roger D. |last2=Davis |first2=Rodney O. |year=1984 |publisher=River City Publishers |location=St. Louis |isbn=978-0-933150-86-7 |oclc=11814096}}
* {{cite book |title=The era of the Civil War, 1848–1870 |last=Cole |first=Arthur Charles |year=1987|orig-year= 1919 |publisher=[[University of Illinois Press]] |location=Urbana |isbn=978-0-252-01339-3 |oclc=14130434}}
* {{Cite book |last=Davis |first=James E. |title=Frontier Illinois |year=1998 |publisher=[[Indiana University Press]] |location=Bloomington |isbn=978-0-253-33423-7 |oclc=39182546}}
* {{Cite book |author1=Grossman, James R. |author2=Keating, Ann Durkin |author3=Reiff, Janice L. |title=Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago |year=2005 |orig-year=2004 |edition=Online |publisher=[[Chicago History Museum|Chicago Historical Society]], Newberry Library |location=Chicago |isbn=978-0-226-31015-2 |url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/ |access-date=January 28, 2009 |oclc=60342627 |archive-date=June 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617205553/http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/ |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |title=Illinois literature: the nineteenth century |editor=Hallwas, John E. |year=1986 |publisher=Illinois Heritage Press |location=Macomb |oclc=14228886}}
* {{Cite book |last=Howard |first=Robert P. |title=Illinois; a history of the Prairie State |year=1972 |publisher=W. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co |location=Grand Rapids |isbn=978-0-8028-7025-4 |oclc=495362 |url=https://archive.org/details/illinoishistoryo0000howa }}
* {{Cite book |last=Jensen |first=Richard E. |title=Illinois: a history |year=2001 |publisher=[[University of Illinois Press]] |location=Urbana |isbn=978-0-252-07021-1 |oclc=46769728}}
* {{Cite book |last=Keiser |first=John H. |title=Building for the centuries: Illinois, 1865 to 1898 |year=1977 |publisher=[[University of Illinois Press]] |location=Urbana |isbn=978-0-252-00617-3 |oclc=2798051 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/buildingforcentu0000keis }}
* {{cite book |title=Illinois; History, government, geography |url=https://archive.org/details/illinoishistoryg00kild |last1=Kilduff |first1=Dorrell |last2=Pygman |first2=C. H. |year=1962 |publisher=Follett |location=Chicago |oclc=5223888 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Kleppner |first=Paul |title=Political atlas of Illinois |year=1988 |publisher=Northern Illinois University Press |location=DeKalb |isbn=978-0-87580-136-0 |oclc=16755435}}
* {{Cite book |last=Meyer |first=Douglas K. |title=Making the heartland quilt: a geographical history of settlement and migration in early-nineteenth-century Illinois |year=2000 |publisher=Southern Illinois University Press |location=Carbondale |isbn=978-0-585-37905-0 |url=https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=65659204 |oclc=48139026 |access-date=September 1, 2017 |archive-date=May 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525091131/http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=65659204 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |title=Illinois Politics: A Citizen's Guide |last1=Nowlan |first1=James D. |last2=Gove |first2=Samuel K. |last3=Winkel |first3=Richard J. |year=2010 |publisher=[[University of Illinois Press]] |location=Urbana |isbn=978-0-252-07702-9}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sutton |first=Robert P. |title=The Prairie State; a documentary history of Illinois |year=1976 |publisher=Eerdmans |location=Grand Rapids |isbn=978-0-8028-1651-1 |oclc=2603998 |url=https://archive.org/details/prairiestatedocu0002unse }}
* {{Cite book |last=Walton |first=Clyde C. |title=An Illinois reader |year=1970 |publisher=Northern Illinois University Press |location=DeKalb |isbn=978-0-87580-014-1 |oclc=89905 |url=https://archive.org/details/illinoisreader0000unse }}
* {{Cite book |last=Works Progress Administration |author-link=Works Progress Administration |title=The WPA guide to Illinois: the Federal Writers' Project guide to 1930s Illinois |year=1983 |orig-year=1939 |publisher=Pantheon Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0-394-72195-8 |oclc=239788752 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/wpaguidetoillino00unit }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|Illinois|voy=Illinois}}
* {{official website}}
* [https://guides.loc.gov/illinois-state-guide Illinois: State Resource Guide, from the Library of Congress] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810001229/https://guides.loc.gov/illinois-state-guide |date=August 10, 2022 }}
* {{OSM relation|122586}}
* [https://www.enjoyillinois.com Illinois Office of Tourism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713051608/https://www.enjoyillinois.com/ |date=July 13, 2021 }}
* [https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=IL Illinois - State Energy Profile Overview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628165412/https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=IL |date=June 28, 2021 }} U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
* [https://data.ers.usda.gov/reports.aspx?StateFIPS=17&StateName=Illinois&ID=17854 State Fact Sheets: Illinois] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712002854/https://data.ers.usda.gov/reports.aspx?StateFIPS=17&StateName=Illinois&ID=17854 |date=July 12, 2021 }} USDA's Economic Research Service
* [https://www.usgs.gov/states/illinois?qt-states_l2_landing_page_tabs=0#qt-states_l2_landing_page_tabs USGS Central Midwest Water Science Center] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712004406/https://www.usgs.gov/states/illinois?qt-states_l2_landing_page_tabs=0#qt-states_l2_landing_page_tabs |date=July 12, 2021 }}

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Mississippi]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union]]|years=Admitted on December 3, 1818 (21st)}}
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{{s-end}}
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