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 Illinois

State Tree – white oak Illinois

State Bird – cardinal Illinois

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 Illinois

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.