Named for the Illinois Indians, this state is known as the "Land of Lincoln," because it's where the 16th president was raised. Illinois became the 21st state in 1818. Illinois is the most populous state in the Midwest. At the northern edge of the state on Lake Michigan lies Chicago, the nation's third largest city. More than half of the population lives in and around Chicago, the leading industrial and transportation center in the region. The rest of the population lives in the smaller cities and on the farms that dot the state's gently rolling plains. Chicago, with its central location and its many cultural attractions and sports events, is a major tourist attraction. Sandy beaches, wooded parks, and yacht harbors border most of Chicago's 50-kilometer shoreline along Lake Michigan.

GOVERNMENT
Capital: Springfield
Governor: Rod Blagojevich, D (to Jan. 2007)
Senators: Richard J. Durbin, D (to Jan. 2009); Peter G. Fitzgerald, R (to Jan. 2005)
House of Representatives: 19 districts | Search by zip code

ECONOMY
Total Gross State Product 1999 (millions of dollars): 445,666; National rank: 4; Percent change since 1990: 62%; National Rank based on Growth Rate: 27 (Including Washington, DC)
Per Capita Personal Income 2001: $32,990; National Rank: 10 (108% of the national average)
State Exports 2001 (millions of dollars): 30,434; National Rank: 6
Agriculture: Corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, dairy products, wheat.
Industry: Machinery, food processing, electric equipment, chemical products, printing and publishing, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, petroleum, coal.