Illinois: The history and demographics of the Prairie State
Illinois: The history and demographics of the Prairie State
Learn more about Illinois and its geography, people, economy, and history.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Transcript
Illinois is a state in the Midwest region of the United States. It was the first area of flat grassland that the early pioneers encountered, which is how it got its nickname: The Prairie State.
Illinois is one of the flattest states. The highest point, at 1,235 feet (376 meters), is Charles Mound in the northwest corner of Illinois.
The Mississippi River runs the entire length of Illinois’ western border.
The Ohio River makes up part of the state’s eastern border and joins the Mississippi at the southern tip of Illinois.
Lake Michigan forms the northeast border.
Illinois’ population is made up mostly of whites of European descent. The largest minority is Hispanics, closely followed by African-Americans. Asian-Americans make up about 5 percent.
The largest cities in Illinois are Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, and Rockford.
The economy of Illinois is very diverse. It is strong in manufacturing, agriculture, finance, and technology.
Farms cover about 75 percent of the state’s area. Illinois is one of the top producers in soybeans and corn.
Companies in Illinois manufacture farm and construction machinery, and Chicago is a center of finance and insurance.
Thousands of years ago Mississippian people built mounds in what is now southern Illinois. These mounds are the Cahokia Mounds, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Illinois were a group of Native American tribes that were living in the area when Europeans arrived. These tribes included the Peoria, the Sauk, and the Potawatomi.
The French explorers Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette were the first Europeans to cross the Illinois prairies.
In 1779, the black pioneer Jean-Baptiste-Point Du Sable founded the first settlement on the site that later became Chicago.
In 1787, Illinois became part of the Northwest Territory, which eventually became five states – Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Illinois became the 21st state in 1818.
Black Hawk was a chief of the Sauk people. The Sauk lived on the land that is now Illinois. He tried to stop white settlers from moving onto his land. This led to the Black Hawk War.
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. He practiced law in Springfield, Illinois, until he won the presidency in 1860. He led the country through the Civil War and is thought be one of the country’s greatest presidents.
Gwendolyn Brooks was a poet. She wrote poems about the everyday lives of African-Americans in cities. She drew from her own experience of growing up, and living in Chicago.
Barack Obama was the 44th president of the United States. He spent most of his career in Chicago until he was elected to represent Illinois in the U.S. Congress in 2004. He was elected president four years later.
Illinois is one of the flattest states. The highest point, at 1,235 feet (376 meters), is Charles Mound in the northwest corner of Illinois.
The Mississippi River runs the entire length of Illinois’ western border.
The Ohio River makes up part of the state’s eastern border and joins the Mississippi at the southern tip of Illinois.
Lake Michigan forms the northeast border.
Illinois’ population is made up mostly of whites of European descent. The largest minority is Hispanics, closely followed by African-Americans. Asian-Americans make up about 5 percent.
The largest cities in Illinois are Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, and Rockford.
The economy of Illinois is very diverse. It is strong in manufacturing, agriculture, finance, and technology.
Farms cover about 75 percent of the state’s area. Illinois is one of the top producers in soybeans and corn.
Companies in Illinois manufacture farm and construction machinery, and Chicago is a center of finance and insurance.
Thousands of years ago Mississippian people built mounds in what is now southern Illinois. These mounds are the Cahokia Mounds, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Illinois were a group of Native American tribes that were living in the area when Europeans arrived. These tribes included the Peoria, the Sauk, and the Potawatomi.
The French explorers Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette were the first Europeans to cross the Illinois prairies.
In 1779, the black pioneer Jean-Baptiste-Point Du Sable founded the first settlement on the site that later became Chicago.
In 1787, Illinois became part of the Northwest Territory, which eventually became five states – Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Illinois became the 21st state in 1818.
Black Hawk was a chief of the Sauk people. The Sauk lived on the land that is now Illinois. He tried to stop white settlers from moving onto his land. This led to the Black Hawk War.
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. He practiced law in Springfield, Illinois, until he won the presidency in 1860. He led the country through the Civil War and is thought be one of the country’s greatest presidents.
Gwendolyn Brooks was a poet. She wrote poems about the everyday lives of African-Americans in cities. She drew from her own experience of growing up, and living in Chicago.
Barack Obama was the 44th president of the United States. He spent most of his career in Chicago until he was elected to represent Illinois in the U.S. Congress in 2004. He was elected president four years later.