Fun Fact 2: The white flag of Illinois depicts the state seal. The state seal shows a bald eagle holding a red banner which displays the words state, sovereignty, national and union; these words express the strength of the state and power of the Union. The eagle holds a shield showing 13 red and white stripes and 13 white stars upon a blue background, these represent the 13 original colonies of the USA. The eagle stands upon a rock on which the dates 1868 and 1818 are written; 1818 is the year that Illinois was admitted to the Union and became a state, 1868 was the year the original seal was designed
Fun Fact 3: The Capital city of Illinois is Springfield
Fun Fact 4: The area of the State covers 150,006 square kilometers or 57,918 square miles
Fun Fact 5: There are five states that land border Illinois they are; Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin. There is also a water border across Lake Michigan to Michigan State
Fun Fact 6: The Illinois state nickname is The Prairie State, as the landscape is mainly flat with a large proportion of level farmland (prairies). The prairies are considered to be one of the most endangered ecosystems on earth, within the last 150 years some areas have been destroyed by almost 99%
Fun Fact 7: The state insect of Illinois is the Monarch Butterfly
Fun Fact 8: The official State Song is "Illinois" it was written by Charles H. Chamberlin and the music was composed by Archibald Johnston
Fun Fact 9: The largest cities in Illinois are Chicago, Rockford and Aurora
Fun Fact 10: A Short History of Illinois - In the late 1600s the region was discovered by French explorers. In 1763 it became succeeded by the British until 1783 when it became part of the newly formed United States. Illinois became the 21st State to be admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818
Fun Fact 11: The State Motto is "State Sovereignty, National Union"
Fun Fact 12: The abbreviation letters for the state of Illinois is - ILL. The Postal Code abbreviation is - IL
Fun Fact 13: President Ronald Reagan was born and raised in Illinois! Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Barack Obama were all elected into presidency whilst living in Illinois
Fun Fact 14: There are in excess 75,000 farms in the state, covering a land area in access of 28 million acres; approximately 80% of total land area within the state. Farming and agriculture are major industries examples of produce include - agriculture; soybeans, corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, hay, fruits and vegetables. Farming; cattle, swine, sheep and poultry
Fun Fact 15: The US Department of Commerce Census Bureau states that the population of Illinois in 2012 was an estimated 12,875,255 this compares to a population of 4,821,550 in the 1900 census |
