50 Interesting & Fun Facts About Illinois State

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Illinois is far from an underrated state. As the "Land of Lincoln" and the home of one of the biggest cities in the world, it would be hard to find someone who doesn't know about the state.

However, if you asked someone to name a few fun and interesting facts about Illinois state, they might have some trouble. Even people from Illinois sometimes struggle to come up with a long list of trivia about the state.

If you want to impress the locals on your trip to this great Midwestern state, or you just want to brush up on your Illinois knowledge, keep reading! Here are 50 facts about Illinois state that might surprise you.

50 Illinois State Facts

Illinois Fun Facts

It was the 21st state

One of the first state facts about Illinois you need to know is when it entered the Union. The state joined the USA and earned its star on the flag in December of 1818.

That date made Illinois the 21st state. However, like many states, Illinois had been a US territory for longer than that. It was first acquired in 1809.

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Chicago O'Hare International Airport is a major hub

O'Hare International Airport is the more popular of the two major airports in the Chicago area. However, O'Hare isn't just the busiest airport in the city; it's one of the busiest in the world.

For nearly 30 years, O'Hare held the title of the busiest airport in the USA. Today, it serves over 68 million passengers each year.

It's where Abraham Lincoln got into politics

Illinois is known as the "Land of Lincoln," yet he only lived in the state for six years. So, why is he so important to Illinois history?

Illinois is where Abraham Lincoln first got into politics. Before that, he was a self-taught lawyer. Then his morals and desire for change pushed him to run for Congress.

Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States

Chicago is the largest city in Illinois and the third-largest city in the United States. New York is the largest city with roughly three times the population of Chicago's 2.7 million residents. Los Angeles is the second most populated city, with just over 1 million more residents than Chicago.

Lincoln gave a speech at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, IL

History fans likely know that Abraham Lincoln was one of history's most ethical and moral men. His career in politics aimed to bring the U.S. together and create a just country for everyone.

In 1858, while campaigning for a spot in the U.S. Senate, he delivered what would become known as the "House Divided" speech. This speech was given at the Old Illinois State Capitol and hoped to unite the country to outlaw slavery.

The Walt Disney Birthplace Home can be visited in Chicago, IL

One of the least well-known fun facts about Illinois is that it's the state where the famed Walt Disney was born. Before creating one of the world's biggest entertainment companies, Disney was just a young boy from Chicago.

In the downtown area of Chicago, you can find the quaint little home where Walt was born. Though Walt only lived in the house for four years, it's remained a state landmark.

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Dixon, Illinois, is the location of the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home

Before Ronald Reagan was a Hollywood star and the 40th US president, he was just a young boy from Dixon, Illinois, a small town in Northern Illinois.

After spending his formative years in Dixon, eventually, in 1911, the family moved to Tampico, another small town in Illinois. However, despite this, the original family home in Dixon has remained intact and was named a National Historic Place in 1982.

The Illinois population decreased from 2021 to 2022

From 2021 to 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois population lost just over 100,000 people. The most significant decline was seen in Chicago, where approximately 30,000 individuals left the city.

The decrease is speculated to be due to post-pandemic work and life preferences as well as changes to state taxes influencing where people wish to reside.

Downers Grove, a Chicago suburb, is a hub of DIY homes

Though its popularity has dramatically decreased, Sears used to be a major supplier of everything from home goods to tools. Between 1908 and 1940, one of the many things that could be ordered from Sears was the "do-it-yourself" house kits.

These kits supplied everything you needed to build a home from the ground up. Though 70,000 were sold nationwide, the largest concentration was in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove. Here, over 200 DIY houses were constructed.

The ice cream sundae legal loophole

Some people like to say that Illinois is the birthplace of the ice cream sundae. That can't be confirmed, but sundaes were served as a legal loophole.

In the late 1800s, serving soda on Sundays in the Midwest was illegal. To compensate for the lost revenue, soda shops in Illinois served ice cream sundaes instead.

Hillary Clinton called Illinois home

Here is another First Lady-related entry on this list of facts about the state of Illinois. The former first lady and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was also born in Chicago.

At that time, she wasn't a Clinton; her name was Hillary Rodham. Initially, Hillary's family lived in the city but later moved to one of the Chicago suburbs, where she remained until she left for university.

The demolished Home Insurance Building in Chicago was an early skyscraper

Though it's no longer standing, the Home Insurance Building in Chicago was, at the time of its construction, an architectural marvel. That's because it was the first modern skyscraper.

The building was originally ten stories high and was extended to 12 levels in 1890. At the time, that was taller than most buildings in even the biggest metropolitan areas across the US. Unfortunately, the building was demolished in 1931, but its memory remains.

Robert Pershing Wadlow was bornin Alton, Illinois

Though there are many tall people in the world today, none have ever managed to beat the record set by Robert Pershing Wadlow. At 8 feet 11 inches, Wadlow still maintains the record as the tallest person to ever live.

"The Gentle Giant" was born in Alton, Illinois, a small town near the Missouri border. Wadlow only lived 22 years, but his incredible height has earned him a place in history.

The capital of Illinois is Springfield

Chicago might be the largest city in the state, but its capital is in central Illinois. One of the most important facts of Illinois is that Springfield is the seat of the state's government.

Springfield was named capital in 1837 due to its central location. Chicago had only been incorporated into the state for four years, so its importance and population hadn't grown to prominence yet.

Illinois had three state seals

Every state in the USA has a state seal used on official documents and buildings. Illinois is no different. However, Illinois hasn't just had a single seal. It's had three throughout its history.

The current seal has been in use since 1867. If you're doing the math, that means the state changed its seal design three times in less than 50 years!

Interesting Facts About Illinois

The Chicago metropolitan area covers 14 counties

Typically, when people talk about Chicago's counties, they refer to Cook County. That's where the city center is located. Chicago's metropolitan area spans a much larger territory at over ten thousand miles.

That amount of space is much larger than one county can manage. Fourteen counties are considered part of the Chicago metropolitan area, affectionately known as Chicagoland.

Chicago, Illinois, was the birthplace of First Lady Michelle Obama

While Reagan may have been the only US president born in Illinois, the same can't be said about the first ladies of the USA. Illinois has been the home state of three different first ladies.

Michelle Obama was a well-loved First Lady due to her philanthropic work, and she became a role model for young women around the country. She's also been very vocal about her love for her hometown of Chicago, where she was born and raised.

One part of Illinois is bordered by the Ohio River

Southern Illinois is bordered by the Ohio River. It's also the starting place of the river's path. The Ohio River may share its name with a state, but it actually flows through 6 different states. Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are all in the river's path.

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The Chicago Public Library has 81 locations

The Chicago Public Library circulates over ten million books per year across its 81 branches, establishing itself as the second-largest library in the city after the University of Chicago.

If you count size by the number of locations, the Chicago Public Library is easily the largest public library in the Midwest. If you count the number of books, that honor goes to the Detroit Public Library, with Chicago a close second.

Jolliet, Illinois, is where Dairy Queen started

One of the little-known interesting facts of Illinois is that it's the birthplace of Dairy Queen. DQ, as it's commonly called, is a beloved nationwide fast-food chain, but it had humble beginnings.

The first Dairy Queen location opened in 1940 in Jolliet, Illinois. Though the chain is known for its shakes and malts, they weren't added to the menu until 1949.

The state is covered by Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is a special place for many Illinois locals. As a major body of water near Chicago, it's a popular weekend getaway spot for people all over the state.

As one of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan covers thousands of square miles. Its size is so great that it dramatically affects the weather in much of Northern Illinois.

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Chicago, IL, has renowned resources for learning world history

Chicago is a cultural hub for art and history. The city takes so much pride in the fact that it's created numerous places where locals and tourists can easily learn about world history.

The Field Museum of Natural History is renowned for its artifacts that showcase geological and biological history. The Art Institute also showcases art history, among many other types of history.

You might be able to find gold in the rivers here

If you find yourself on the banks of the Mississippi or Ohio rivers in Illinois, keep your eyes peeled, you might find some gold dust. Recreational gold panning has been a staple for people visiting the state's river shores.

However, while you might find some small bits of gold, don't expect to get rich. Illinois doesn't have any known gold deposits worth mining.

The Illinois River flows into the Mississippi

One of the most interesting facts on Illinois involves two of the state's rivers. Both the Mississippi and the Illinois Rivers are major water bodies within the state.

To keep the Mississippi's flow consistent, it needs tributaries, or its water level could drop. One of the river's main secondary water sources is the Illinois River.

It's also called the "Prairie State"

Most people are familiar with the Illinois state nickname, the "Land of Lincoln." However, it's also known as the "Prairie State."

Illinois is full of sprawling fields of grasses in the heart of the great planes. Though you'll find hills in the northern parts of the state, much of its territory is relatively flat, which helped earn the state this moniker.

The Chicago River turns green annually

The Chicago River is one of the most popular landmarks in the city. Once a year, though, the river is made extra special. On St. Patrick's Day, the Chicago River is dyed green.

The tradition has been ongoing for over 60 years. The color lasts between four and five hours to celebrate the holiday. The dye used is food-grade coloring, so it's completely safe.

Illinois contains most of the Mississippi River

The Mississippi River flows through ten different states. Its flow starts in Minnesota and ends in Louisiana, where it meets the Gulf.

However, though ten states share the river, more of its path runs through Illinois than any other state. Between East Dubuque and Cairo, 575 out of the river's 2340 miles run through the state.

The state has a historic post office

Galena isn't just known for its mining history. It's also home to one of the country's oldest continuously running post offices.

The post office was built in 1858 and is still in its original form today. It's been named a "Great American Post Office" by the Smithsonian Institute due to its historical significance.

Galena once had the largest population in the state

Today, Galena, Illinois, is known for being a quaint, picturesque town in the state's western corner. However, at one time in history, Galena's population size surpassed Chicago.

Galena was a thriving river mining port town in the mid-1800s due to the presence of lead in the area. To mine this natural resource, thousands of people came to Galena. Eventually, the mining boom ended, and the population dispersed.

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Don't call it the Willis Tower

For 28 years, the Sears Tower was the tallest building in the world. Since 1998, that title has been passed to other skyscrapers around the world.

Chicagoans were able to get over that sting, but they'll never get over the building's change in name. Officially, it might be known as the Willis Tower, but don't let any locals hear you call it that. It will always be the Sears Tower to them.

Facts About Illinois History

Many formerly enslaved African Americans moved to Illinois

After the Civil War, many formerly enslaved people left the South to find a better life in the northern states that freed them. Though these men and women found homes all over the Union, many found their way to Illinois.

Chicago represented a land of opportunity. Even though it would still take time for Illinois to provide benefits to its African American residents, the booming economy still allowed many of them to start afresh.

Native Americans created a confederation in Illinois

Before settlers came to Illinois, 13 Native American tribes were located in the state's territory. These tribes lived along the Mississippi River due to its fertile land and fresh water.

To maintain peace, these tribes joined together to create the Illinois Confederation, also called the Illiniwek or Illini. According to records, this confederation comprised over 20 thousand men, women, and children.

No Civil War battles were fought in Illinois

As part of the Union, Illinois was deeply involved in the Civil War. Yet, you might be surprised to learn that not a single battle was fought in the state.

Instead of being the site of actual fighting, Illinois was, instead, the location of several important supply bases. Of course, the state also supplied its fair share of soldiers, including General Ulysses S. Grant.

Artifacts in the area date back ten thousand years

Europeans have only been in Illinois for the last 300 years, but populations in the area date back much further. Historical artifacts found in the state show that people have lived in its territory for around ten thousand years.

Signs of archaic human settlement along the Illinois River have been dated to around 6000 B.C. These ancient people were likely nomadic but stuck around the river, where they eventually settled.

Explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet were the first Europeans in Illinois

Marquette and Joliet were a pair of French explorers responsible for mapping out much of the US in the name of France. By following the path of the Mississippi River, the two explorers traveled much of the country. Starting in Northern Illinois, they could explore virtually the entire state this way.

Creepy Facts About Illinois

H. H. Holmes terrorized Chicago

In 1893, Chicago was swarmed with visitors attending the World's Fair. At that same time, H. H. Holmes was terrorizing the city.

Holmes owned a complex structure in the city with small shops and apartments across several floors. It was later dubbed the "murder castle." He modified the building to trap and murder guests.

Although there was only one verified victim at the building he owned, the actual number is considered anywhere from as low as ten to as high as 200.

Galena has been haunted since the 1800s

Most lists of Illinois facts and history seem to forget that Galena is one of the most haunted towns in the state. That's partly because many of Galena's buildings date back to the early 1900s or earlier.

Galena's ghost sightings aren't a new phenomenon. They date back to the 1800s. The town has made the best of its haunted history. You can take multiple ghost tours throughout the city.

There's an abandoned asylum still standing

Stories of the Peoria State Hospital have swirled around the city since its construction in 1895. After it closed in 1973, those stories have just increased.

As a hospital for the incurably insane, it saw its fair share of interesting patients. Its history and contributions to the mental health field have earned the asylum a spot in the registry of nationally historic places.

Floods created ghost towns

Many states have ghost towns, but Illinois has a particularly large collection. Since the state has multiple river valleys, towns were often built nearby to capitalize on the water source.

Many towns in Southern Illinois were built too close to rivers or had too low elevations, so they suffered flooding. After years of constant rebuilding, these towns were eventually primarily abandoned.

It could be scary to get your mail

For a few weeks in 2002, if you lived in the Midwest, getting your mail could be dangerous. During that time, 18 explosive devices were found in mailboxes in multiple states.

Most of these devices weren't triggered, but a few were. Some of which were in Illinois. Luckily, the terror only lasted a few weeks. People were injured, but one was killed.

Weird Facts About Illinois

Illinois produces a lot of nuclear energy

Many people don't think about where their energy comes from. While different sources allow individuals to use electricity, nuclear is the primary energy source.

Nuclear energy is produced nationwide, but Illinois is one of the most significant contributors. One-eighth of America's nuclear power comes from Illinois.

The state is home to the largest bakery in the world

If you've ever been in a grocery store cookie aisle, you're probably familiar with Nabisco cookies. Did you know your favorite sweet treat might have been made in Chicago?

Nabisco's Chicago bakery plant is approximately 170,000 square meters in size. That makes it the largest bakery in the world. It takes 1,200 workers to keep the production chain running smoothly.

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A metal bean is a famous landmark

One of the weird facts about Illinois is that one of Chicago's biggest tourist sites is Cloud Gate. If you've never heard that name, you may have heard about "The Bean."

Officially unveiled in 2006, Cloud Gate is the centerpiece of Millennium Park. It's a giant, reflective metal bean that has become a popular photo spot.

Chicago railroad tracks are set on fire

As a big city, public transportation is necessary to get around Chicago. Many people take trains to commute. Since Chicago is no stranger to below-freezing temperatures, the city devised a solution to keep the trains moving. Little gas burners are set up along the tracks and are lit to melt away snow and ice. Essentially, the tracks are set on fire.

There are a lot of personalized license plates

Getting a personalized license plate for your car is a unique way to set yourself apart from other drivers. However, most people don't bother with this extra cost.

Illinois locals disagree. Vanity license plates are pretty popular in the state. There are almost 640,000 customized license plates registered in the state. That represents 6% of all registered vehicles.

Though it might not be the state with the most custom license plates, which goes to California, it's up there in the ranking. Compared to states with similar populations, like Pennsylvania, Illinois has almost double the number of custom license plates.

Cool Facts About Illinois

It's the starting point of Route 66

Regarding cool facts about Illinois, its relationship with historic Route 66 deserves to be at the top of the list. Illinois is one of the states the famed highway runs through, but that's not all.

Downtown Chicago is the route's starting point. From there, countless drivers have taken the nearly 2,400-mile journey through 8 states. The highway no longer exists, but you can still follow its famous path.

Illinois means "men" and "warriors"

Illinois gets its name from 2 languages. The current spelling and pronunciation come from the French who first settled in the area. This spelling was their interpretation of the Native American language.

In the Peoria tribe's language, the word "Illiniwek" meant "men" and "warriors." This word was often used to refer to the tribal confederation in the territory. When the French began settling, they adopted the word as the name of the future state.

Aurora is the "City of Lights"

Aurora is an often unknown city to most people outside of Illinois. It gained some notoriety in 1881 when it earned the moniker the "City of Lights."

At that time, electricity was still up and coming in the world, and many streets were lit with gas lamps. Aurora was the first city to light its streets with electric lights.

Three-quarters of the state is farmland

The Midwest is known for its farmland, and Illinois is no different. It might be home to one of the country's biggest metropolitan areas, but most of the state is dedicated to agriculture.

Currently, there are 72,000 farms in the Prairie State. This farmland covers 27 million acres of the state's territory, equaling roughly three-fourths of its total area.

It was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment

In 1865, the US government passed a law to amend the Constitution for the 13th time so slavery would be officially abolished. However, it wasn't ratified right away.

Each state needed to amend its Constitution to include the new law. This can be a lengthy process. Illinois was prepared, though. The same day Congress passed the amendment, it was ratified in Illinois, making it the first state to do so.

In Summary

Now that you're done, how many of the above facts about Illinois state did you already know? How many were a surprise? Hopefully, you learned a thing or two about this important US state.

With any luck, this list has inspired you to do your own research on the "Prairie State." There are plenty of other fun, weird, creepy, and historical facts out there!

This article was edited by Henry Grahame.

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