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     Illinois (“The Prairie State”)

Name Origin: Algonquin for “tribe of superior men”

Motto: “State sovereignty, national union”

Capital: Springfield

Statehood (year and rank): 1818 (21^st)

Ten Largest cities (2000): Chicago, 2,896,016; Rockford, 150,115;

   Aurora, 142,990; Naperville, 128,358; Peoria, 112,936; Springfield,

   111,454; Joliet, 106,221; Elgin, 94,487; Waukegan, 87,901; Cicero,

   85,616

Location: The Midwest

Population (7/03 est.): 12,600,620 (5^th)

# US Representatives: 18

Area (sq mi) and (rank): 57,914 (25^th)

Highest Point: Charles Mound (1235 feet)

Lowest Point: Mississippi River (279 feet)

Agricultural Products: Corn, soybeans, potatoes, sorghum, oats,

   apples, wheat, alfalfa, hay, cheese, pigs, cattle

Industries: Industrial machinery, food processing, electric equipment,

   chemical products, printing and publishing, fabricated metal

   products, transportation equipment, petroleum, coal, food and

   agricultural products, iron and steel production, meat packing,

Fun Facts: Flower (purple violet); tree (white oak); bird (cardinal);

   Song (“Illinois”)

Website: www.illinois.gov

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