ILIllinois
Prairie State · Capital: Springfield · Midwest (Midwest Rust)
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Quick stats
Capital
Springfield
Largest city
Chicago
Population
Over 10 million
Area rank
#25 of 50
Admitted
1818
Time zone
Central Time
Region
Midwest
Letters
8
Bordering states: Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana.
4 fun facts about Illinois
- Chicago invented the skyscraper — the Home Insurance Building (1885) was the first.
- Lincoln spent most of his political career in Springfield, IL — but was born in Kentucky.
- The state produces more pumpkins than any other — over 90% of US Halloween jack-o-lanterns originate here.
- Route 66 starts in Chicago and ends in Santa Monica, CA.
Learn more
→ How to learn the 50 states (full guide)