What are the three regions of Illinois?
Bordered by the Mississippi River on the west and the Wabash and Ohio Rivers on the southeast and south, the landscape of Illinois can be grouped into three main regions; the Central Plains, the Shawnee Hills and the Gulf Coastal Plain. The Central Plains: About 90% of Illinois is covered by the Central Plains region.
What is the largest county in Illinois by land area?
McLean County is the largest county in terms of land area (1,184 sq mi.), while Cook County is the largest county in terms of population (5,275,541 as of 2020), and the largest when land and water area are combined. Illinois has three major geographical divisions: Northern, Central, and Southern.
How is Southern Illinois different from the other two regions?
This region can be distinguished from the other two by its warmer climate, different mix of crops (including cotton farming in the past), more rugged unglaciated topography, as well as small-scale oil deposits and coal mining. The population in southern Illinois is concentrated in two areas:
How many land regions are in Illinois?
Bordered by the Mississippi River on the west and the Wabash and Ohio Rivers on the southeast and south, the landscape of Illinois can be grouped into three main regions; the Central Plains, the Shawnee Hills and the Gulf Coastal Plain.
What are the four major land regions in Illinois?
But a closer look reveals other interesting landforms, from massive moraines and high hills to rocky cliffs, glacial lakes and deep river canyons.Central Plains. The Central Plains stretch across the U.S. Midwest, encompassing more than 90 percent of Illinois. ... Great Lakes Plains. ... The Driftless Area.
What type of region is Illinois?
Illinois is located in the Midwest region of the United States and is one of the eight states in the Great Lakes region of North America (which also includes Ontario, Canada).
How many part do we have in Illinois?
There are 102 counties in Illinois. The largest of these by population is Cook County, home to Chicago and the second-most populous county in the United States, while the smallest is Hardin County....List of counties in Illinois.Counties of IllinoisSubdivisions261 Precincts 1,433 Townships6 more rows
What landforms are in Illinois?
GEOGRAPHY AND LANDFORMS The state can be divided into three regions. The Central Plains region covers almost all of the state and contains fertile land and low hills. It includes the Great Lakes Plain, which runs along Lake Michigan; the elevated Driftless Plains in the northwest; and the Till Plains in the north.
Is there a desert in Illinois?
The “Deserts of Illinois” remain because of their dry nature, and the sand is “forgiving.” The conservation of these areas is critical to the endangered species of Illinois.
What are the 5 regions of the United States?
A common way of referring to regions in the United States is grouping them into 5 regions according to their geographic position on the continent: the Northeast, Southwest, West, Southeast, and Midwest.
Why is it called Midwest?
“Midwest” was invented in the 19th Century, to describe the states of the old Northwest Ordinance, a term that became outdated once the nation spread to the Pacific Coast. “Midwest” is applied to a chunk of America that seems unclassifiable to the rest of the country: neither North, South, East or West.
What does the word Chicago mean?
What Does the Word “Chicago” Mean? The most-accepted Chicago meaning is a word that comes from the Algonquin language: “shikaakwa,” meaning “striped skunk” or “onion.” According to early explorers, the lakes and streams around Chicago were full of wild onions, leeks, and ramps.
What's the best place to live in Illinois?
Three cities in Illinois and several from the Midwest ranked among the best to live across the U.S., according to a new report. Peoria, Chicago and Rockford all earned spots in U.S. News and World Report's list of the top 150 places to live in 2020 to 2021.
What is the cleanest river in Illinois?
The Kankakee River takes a leisurely path from its origin to a point near Wilmington, Illinois, where it joins the DesPlaines River to form the Illinois River. Long acclaimed as one of the cleanest rivers in the Midwest.
Is Illinois a blue state?
The US state of Illinois is a Democratic stronghold and one of the "big three" Democratic states alongside California and New York. It is considered one of the most Democratic states in the nation and following the 2018 elections, all six statewide elected offices are held by a Democrat.
What are the four regions of the United States?
The US Census Bureau, for example, considers there to be four regions of the US: the Northeast, the Midwest, the South, and the West.
What are the major cities in Illinois?
ChicagoSpringfieldPeoriaChampaignRockfordNapervilleIllinois/Cities
What landforms are in Chicago?
Chicago and its surrounding area include Cook, Dupage and Will counties in Illinois. These are political boundaries, however; arbitrary divisions superimposed on the landforms – or topography – that predate them. Those landforms include Lake Michigan, the Chicago Plain, the Valparaiso Moraine and the Desplaines Valley.
What are the major landforms in Michigan?
Landforms--the mountains, hills, valleys, plains, and coastlines--are the foundation on which the modern state of Michigan was created. Glacial landforms dominate the surface of the whole state except the western half of the Upper Peninsula, where eroded remnants of some of the oldest mountains on earth are found.
What are the three major regions of Illinois?
Illinois: Physiographic Regions. The landscape of the country can be divided into three major regions: the Central Plains, This area is further divided into three sections: the Great Lakes Plain, the Driftless Plain and the. Till Plain. The Interior Low Plateaus further divided into the. Shawnee Hills,
How many miles of shoreline does Illinois have?
Illinois has 63 miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan. The Shawnee Hills in the southern part of the state range from 300 to 1,065 feet above sea level. This is an area of forested hills, valleys, woods, and river bluffs. The Upper Great Lakes Plain covers the southern half of Michigan, northwest Ohio, northern Indiana, northern Illinois, ...
What is the Alluvial Valley?
Mississippi Alluvial Valley - This area includes the floodplain of the Mississippi River that cuts into the Gulf Coastal Plain, extending north to and including the delta at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and south toward the Gulf of Mexico. The Alluvial Valley includes most of eastern Louisiana, eastern Arkansas, northwest Mississippi, small portions of west Tennessee and Kentucky, the bootheel of Missouri, and the Cache River lowlands of Illinois. Nonforested marsh in southern portions of the floodplain is included in the Coastal Prairie physiographic area. Water shaped this land. The ridges and swales, levees, oxbows, and terraces of the Valley all resulted from meanderings and floods of the Mississippi River. Small changes in elevation determine how wet a site is, the plant community that grows there, and habitat conditions for birds.
What type of forest is the most abundant?
Western mesophytic, oak-hickory, and beech-maple forests were historically the most abundant cover types. There were also tallgrass prairie elements in the north and northwest, oak savannahs in the Bluegrass and other northern sections, barrens and glades in central regions, and forested wetlands along major waterways.
What is the Central Plains region?
The Central Plains region includes an area of rich farmland known as the Till Plains. These plains are part of the Midwestern Corn Belt, extending from Ohio to Kansas. About 90% of Illinois is covered by the Central Plains region. These gently rolling fertile plains were carved and leveled by glaciers during the Ice Age.
What are the Great Lakes Plains?
Great Lakes Plains - This low flat stretch of land along Lake Michigan develops some small hills north and west of Chicago. The industrial area surrounding Chicago is part of the Great Lakes Plains. Once covered by Lake Michigan, this region has small hills, lakes, and marshes. Illinois has 63 miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan. The Shawnee Hills in the southern part of the state range from 300 to 1,065 feet above sea level. This is an area of forested hills, valleys, woods, and river bluffs.
Where is the Prairie Peninsula?
The Prairie Peninsula stretches from northeastern Missouri, across much of Illinois and through the middle of Indiana into Ohio. It is a gently rolling glacial plain in the west, but becomes flatter to the east, where prairie and oak openings were embedded in beech-maple forest.
What are the three major geographical divisions of Illinois?
Illinois has three major geographical divisions: Northern, Central, and Southern. Collectively, central and southern Illinois are often referred to within Illinois as " downstate Illinois " but with political developments since World War II "Downstate" now generally refers to all of Illinois outside of the Chicago metro area.
What is the geography of Illinois?
Geography of Illinois. Illinois is in the midwestern United States. Surrounding states are Wisconsin to the north, Iowa and Missouri to the west, Kentucky to the east and south, and Indiana to the east. Illinois also borders Michigan, but only via a northeastern water boundary in Lake Michigan. Nearly the entire western boundary ...
What are the counties in Northern Illinois?
The " collar counties " are the five counties that surround the centrally located Cook County in the Chicago metropolitan area: DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, and Will County. The term " Chicagoland " is sometimes used to describe the metro area, including Chicago, its suburbs within Cook County, and the so-called collar counties. The term is said to have been coined by Chicago Tribune publisher Robert R. McCormick. The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce defines it as all of Cook, and DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. The region is cosmopolitan, densely populated, industrialized, and settled by a wide variety of ethnic groups. As defined by the federal government, the Chicago Metropolitan Area includes two counties in Indiana, two counties in Wisconsin, and the following 11 counties in Illinois: Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry, and Will counties.
How much snow does Illinois get?
Snowfall averages 30 inches (760 mm) in the north and 10 inches (250 mm) in the south, although the actual snowfalls vary greatly by year. In some years, southern Illinois receives very little snowfall, and may never get typical winter weather. Most of the state has four distinct seasons.
What is the border between Illinois and Michigan?
Illinois is in the midwestern United States. Surrounding states are Wisconsin to the north, Iowa and Missouri to the west, Kentucky to the east and south, and Indiana to the east. Illinois also borders Michigan, but only via a northeastern water boundary in Lake Michigan. Nearly the entire western boundary of Illinois is the Mississippi River, except for a few areas where the river has changed course. Illinois' southeastern and southern boundary is along the Wabash River and the Ohio River, whereas its northern boundary and much of its eastern boundary are straight survey (longitudinal and latitudinal) lines. Illinois has a maximum north-south distance of 390 miles (630 km) and 210 miles (340 km) east-west. Its total area is 57,918 square miles (150,010 km 2 ).
How many counties are there in Chicago?
As defined by the federal government, the Chicago Metropolitan Area includes two counties in Indiana, two counties in Wisconsin, and the following 11 counties in Illinois: Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry, and Will counties.
Where are dinosaur bones found in Illinois?
The chance of finding dinosaur bones in Illinois is almost nil:, the Pennsylvanian rocks were here before the dinosaurs. Galena, a lead ore, has been mined in the northwest corner of the state. The ore was processed around Peru, Illinois, where river transport was available to bring the ore to a source of coal.
How big is Illinois?
On the east, Illinois is bordered by Lake Michigan and Indiana . Illinois borders Iowa and Missouri on the west. Total Area. Illinois covers 57,918 square miles, making it the 25th largest of the 50 states. Land Area. 55,593 square miles of Illinois are land areas. Water Area.
What county is Illinois in?
Illinois is 390 miles long and 210 miles wide. Near the geographic center of Illinois is a small village in Logan County called Chestnut . Chestnut is located between Lincoln and Decatur about 28 miles northeast of Springfield . Illinois is bordered by Wisconsin on the north and Kentucky in the south.
What are the three parts of the Central Plains?
The Central Plains run from Lake Michigan west and south to cover most of the state and can be divided into three sections; the Great Lakes Plain, the Driftless Plains and the Till Plains.
What are the major lakes in Illinois?
Major Lakes. Lake Michigan , Rend Lake. The Land. Bordered by the Mississippi River on the west and the Wabash and Ohio Rivers on the southeast and south, the landscape of Illinois can be grouped into three main regions; the Central Plains, the Shawnee Hills and the Gulf Coastal Plain. The Central Plains: About 90% of Illinois is covered by ...
What is the highest temperature in Illinois?
The highest temperature recorded in Illinois is 117°, Fahrenheit. This record high was recorded on July 14, 1954 at East St. Louis. The lowest temperature in Illinois, -36°, was recorded on January 5, 1999 at Congerville. Monthly average temperatures range from a high of 87.1 degrees to a low of 9.8 degrees.
Where are the Great Lakes Plains?
The Great Lakes Plains This low flat stretch of land along Lake Michigan develops some small hills north and west of Chicago. The Driftless Plains In the northwest corner of Illinois, the Driftless Plains offer the highest elevations in the state.
How wide is the Shawnee Hills?
This small strip of land, ranging from five to 40 miles wide and about 70 miles long is characterized by higher elevations (300 to 1,065 feet). The landscape of the Shawnee Hills consists of rivers, valleys and woodland.
What are the largest cities in Illinois?
Largest municipalities in Illinois by population. Chicago is Illinois' most populous municipality. Paramount Theatre in Aurora, Illinois' second largest city by population. Skyline of Rockford seen from the Rock River, Illinois' third largest municipality by population. Union Station in Joliet, Illinois' fourth largest municipality by population. ...
Where is Illinois in 2021?
Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (April 2021) Illinois is a state located in the Midwestern United States. According to the 2010 United States Census, Illinois is the 6th most populous state with 12,831,549 inhabitants but the 24th largest by land area spanning ...
Where is the Union Station in Illinois?
Union Station in Joliet, Illinois' fourth largest municipality by population. Downtown block in Naperville, Illinois' fifth largest municipality by population. Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois' capital city and sixth largest city by population.
Overview
Geographical divisions
Illinois has three major geographical divisions: Northern, Central, and Southern. Collectively, central and southern Illinois are often referred to within Illinois as "downstate Illinois" but with political developments since World War II "Downstate" now generally refers to all of Illinois outside of the Chicago metro area.
Northern Illinois is dominated by the Chicago metropolitan area, including the city of Chicago, its …
Statistics
• Illinois has a maximum north-south distance of 390 miles (630 km) and 210 miles (340 km) east-west.
• Total area is 57,918 square miles (150,010 km ), ranked 25th in size of the 50 states.
• Water area is 2,325 square miles (6,020 km ); Lake Michigan accounts for most of this.
Political geography
The city of Chicago and some of its older suburbs are heavily Democratic. While this tendency has historically been balanced by Republican voters in the suburbs, Democrats have significantly increased their suburban support in the past decade. Central Illinois's largely rural character helps to sustain a largely Republican voting pattern and widespread antipathy toward Chicago. The combination of poorer soil, coal mining and industrialization has caused the southern region to l…
Geology
Illinois is predominantly covered with soil, hundreds of feet thick in many places. Much of this soil is called, appropriately, "Illite", and is the most common type of soil on the planet. The visible geology of the state is mainly Quaternary, with rocks buried deeply. The wealth of the state mainly arises from this abundance of soil and the favorable agrarian conditions it provides.
Illinois is a major coal-producing state. Much of the bedrock surface is of Pennsylvanian age, incl…
Flora and fauna
Large mammal species currently found in Illinois include whitetail deer and coyote, with the latter becoming urbanized in the Chicago area, as well as common in the rural areas. Furbearers commonly found include opossum, raccoon, mink, red and gray foxes, and muskrat. Commonly seen lagomorphs include the cottontail rabbit and commonly seen rodents include squirrels. Game birds found include Canada goose, mallard duck, ruffed grouse, wild turkey, and bobwhite quail. The nort…
Climate
Illinois has a continental climate, with large temperature extremes not moderated by either mountains or oceans. Weather is influenced primarily by cold Canadian Arctic air in the winter, and warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico in the summer. High temperatures in the south of the state are about 10 to 12 °F. warmer than the north. Average annual temperature is 47 °F. in the no…
Border anomalies
The Mississippi River is the nominal western boundary of the state, except for locations where the river has changed course. Kaskaskia, Illinois, the first state capital, is now west of the river. The Mississippi, due to a flood, destroyed the old town of Kaskaskia, and occupies what was the lower channel of the Kaskaskia River. A portion of Missouri is east of the river, near Grand Tower, Illinois. Similar "avulsions" are found along the Ohio River border with Kentucky and the Wabash River bord…