Fun Facts
Capital – Springfield
State abbreviation / Postal code – Ill. / IL
U.S. Senators: 2
U.S. Representatives: 18
Illinois has 20 electoral votes.
The Illinois General Assembly consists of a Senate with 59 members and a House of Representatives with 118 members.
Organized as a territory: Feb. 3, 1809
Entered Union (rank): Dec. 3, 1818 (21)
Present constitution adopted: 1970
The Illinois State Motto: State Sovereignty, National Union
The 2020 population of Illinois is 12,671,821.
Illinois State Song: Illinois. The words were written by C.H. Chamberlain. The music was composed by Archibald Johnston.
Illinois is known as the Prairie State.
Illinois State Slogan – Land of Lincoln
State Tree – white oak
State Bird – cardinal
State Fish – bluegill
Illinois State Animal – white-tailed deer
Illinois State Insect – monarch butterfly
Illinois State Mineral – fluorite
Illinois State Fossil – Tully monster
Illinois State Prairie Grass – big bluestem
Illinois State Reptile – painted turtle
Illinois State Amphibian – eastern tiger salamander
Illinois State Flower – violet 2
*Pending the results of the 2020 U.S. Census and potential legislative action regarding the data, some of the numbers in this document may change. Updates will be made, as necessary.
Illinois State Soil – drummer silty clay loam
Illinois State Dance – square dance
Illinois State Snack – popcorn
Illinois State Fruit – goldrush apple
Illinois State Tartan – Illinois Saint Andrew Society Tartan
Illinois State Vegetable – sweet corn
Illinois State Pie – pumpkin pie
Illinois State Exercise – cycling
Illinois State Pet – shelter dogs and shelter cats
Illinois State Microbe – Penicillium rubens
Illinois State Grain – corn
State Artifact – pirogue
Illinois State Theatre – The Great American People Show Origin of name: Algonquin for “tribe of superior men.”
Official Language – English
Number of counties: 102
10 largest cities (2010): Chicago, 2,695,598; Aurora, 197,899; Rockford, 152,817; Joliet, 147,433; Naperville, 141,853; Springfield, 116,250; Peoria, 115,007; Elgin, 108,188; Waukegan, 89,078; Cicero, 83,891
Largest county by population and area: Cook, 5,194,675 (2010); McLean, 1,184 sq mi. Population density in 2010: 85.5 people per square kilometer (221.5 per square mile)
Distribution in 2009 (estimate): 87% Urban, 13% Rural
Illinois is the fifth most populous state in the country.
Resident: Illinoisan
Public use areas: 186 (275,000 ac.), including state parks, memorials, forests and conservation areas
Geographic center: In Logan County, 28 miles northeast of Springfield.
Highest point: Charles Mound, 1,235 feet
Lowest point: Mississippi River, 279 feet Land Area: 57,918 square miles.
Chicago's Mercy Hospital was the first hospital opened in Illinois.
Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is the busiest airport in the world. A plane takes off or lands there every 23 seconds.
The Chicago Public Library is the world's largest public library with a collection of more than 2 million books.
The Chicago Post Office at 433 West Van Buren is the only postal facility in the world you can drive a car through.