On Dec 3, 1818,
Illinois became the 21st state to be admitted to the
United States of America.
The state is named for the French adaptation of an Algonquian word meaning "speaks normally".
Its northern border with Wisconsin
is fixed at 42°30' north latitude.
The eastern border of Illinois is
Lake Michigan.
Its eastern border with Indiana
is all of the land west of the Wabash River, and a
north~south line [87°31'30" west longitude].
Its western border with Missouri and Iowa is the Mississippi River.
Its southern border with Kentucky is the Ohio River.
WEATHER
Because of its nearly 400 mile (640 km) length and
mid~continental situation, Illinois has a widely varying climate.
Most of Illinois has a humid climate with hot, humid summers
and cool to cold winters.
Average yearly precipitation for Illinois varies from
just over 48 inches (1220 mm) at the southern
tip to around 35 inches (890 mm)
in the northern portion of the state.
Normal annual snowfall exceeds 38 inches (96 cm) in
the Chicago area,
while the southern portion of the state normally receives
less than 14 inches (35 cm).
Illinois receives around 50 days of thunderstorm activity a year and
is vulnerable to tornadoes, with an average of 35 occurring annually.
ECONOMY
The Illinois State Chamber of Commerce
is the state's oldest, largest broad~based business
advocacy group.
They bring together members from every part of the state,
every type of business and industry,
striving continuously to make Illinois
the best possible place to live, work, and do business.
The Chamber has a range of competencies in areas
including tax legislation, employment regulations,
health~care,
worker’s compensation,
financing, marketing,
and environmental protection.
Members needs are met in a number of ways,
such as expert lobbying and policy analysis.
Plus the chamber offers a variety of information and
communication resources including
targeted business services, workshops,
seminars, policy~based conferences,
and compliance manuals.
Illinois is an important
transportation hub.
The Port of Chicago
connects the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River via the Illinois River.
Illinois has a broad economic base.
With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities
and great agricultural productivity in central and western Illinois,
and natural resources like coal, timber, and petroleum in the
south.
The leading manufacturing industries are chemical,
food, machinery, fabricated metal products, plastics and rubber
products, transportation equipment, and computer and
electronic products.
Ranked number 1
in nuclear generating capacity among the United States,
around half of Illinois
electricity is generated using nuclear power.
Illinois exports electricity,
ranking 5th in the US for electricity production.
Important non~manufacturing industries
include financial services, publishing, petroleum, and coal.
About 68% of Illinois has coal~bearing
strata of the Pennsylvanian geologic period.
211 billion tons of bituminous coal are estimated to
lie under the surface, having a total heating value greater
than the entire estimated oil deposits in the Arabian Peninsula.
Illinois is a leading refiner of petroleum in the US Midwest.
Despite large coal resources and some minor oil production,
Illinois imports fuels for energy.
Agricultural outputs are corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle,
dairy products, and wheat.
In most years Illinois is the leading state for the production
of soybeans, and ranked second in total corn production.
Illinois corn is used to produce
40% of the ethanol consumed in the United States.
Illinois is the world's leading producer of ethanol from corn.
State income tax is
calculated by multiplying net income by a flat rate.
SCHOOLS
Education has always been a high priority in Illinois,
as attested by the large number of colleges and universities,
49 public community colleges, as well as dozens of
private colleges and universities.
The Illinois State Board of Education [ISBE],
autonomous of the governor and the state legislature,
administers public education in the state.
Education is compulsory from kindergarten through 12th grade.
For more details please contact the
Illinois State Board of Education.
HOSPITALITY
Looking for a fun family vacation?
Romantic getaway?
Urban adventure?
Illinois has something for everyone.
Enjoy world~class museums, legendary restaurants,
spectacular theatre, VIP nightlife, and miles of
dense green forests, winding riverfronts with picturesque towns,
and many historic sites.
For more details please contact
Illinois Bureau of Tourism.
NEWS
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