ABOUT ILLINOIS
State Founding Rank:
21st State of the Union (1818)
Nickname(s):
“Land of Lincoln,” “The Prairie State”
State Capital:
Springfield
Governor:
Bruce Rauner (R)
Lt. Governor:
Evelyn Sanguinetti (R)
U.S. Senator (1):
Dick Durbin (D)
U.S. Senator (2):
Tammy Duckworth (D)
Largest City (by population):
Chicago
Total Population:
12,671,821 (2019)
# of Counties:
102
FUN FACT #1
Chicago’s Sears (now “Willis”) Tower (built in 1973) is the tallest building in North America.
FUN FACT #2
In 1865, Illinois was the very first state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolishing slavery.
FUN FACT #3
Des Plaines, IL is home to the first McDonald’s fast food restaurant.
