What is the geography like in Illinois?
Covering an area of 149,997 sq. km, the State of Illinois is located in the East-North-Central (Midwest and Great Lakes) region of the United States. As observed on the map, the major portion of Illinois is mostly flat with irregular plains occupying the southern, western, and northern regions.
Where is Illinois?
Where is Illinois? Covering an area of 149,997 sq. km, the State of Illinois is located in the East-North-Central (Midwest and Great Lakes) region of the United States. As observed on the map, the major portion of Illinois is mostly flat with irregular plains occupying the southern, western, and northern regions.
What is the length of the state of Illinois?
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 km2), ranked 25th in size of the 50 states. Water area is 2,325 square miles (6,020 km2); Lake Michigan accounts for most of this.
How many acres of land are for sale in Illinois?
With tens of thousands of properties and rural land for sale in the state, LandWatch has a combined 131,356 acres of land for sale in Illinois. The average price of Illinois land listings and ranches for sale is $349,120. Illinois ranks second in the country for the size of its pig and hog farming industry.
What is the landscape 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. The Central Plains: About 90% of Illinois is covered by the Central Plains region.
What is the land like in Chicago?
Chicago lies mainly on a relatively flat glacial plain—on what was once the bottom of Lake Chicago (the precursor of Lake Michigan)—averaging between 579 and 600 feet (176 and 183 metres) above sea level.
Is Illinois flat or hilly?
Researchers at the University of Kansas say the terrain makes Illinois is the second-flattest state in the country, behind a very surprising frontrunner. Researchers at the University of Kansas say the terrain makes Illinois is the second-flattest state in the country, behind a very surprising frontrunner.
Is Illinois part of the plains?
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The Midwest, or Middle West, is a region in the north-central United States. It is also called the North Central Plains. The Midwest includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Does Illinois have mountains?
Illinois has many mountains, peaks, and hills within its borders. Above you will find an interactive map with pins for all of these summits. Just zoom in to see their specific location in Illinois. You'll also find a list of Illinois counties, from Adams County to Woodford County.
Is Chicago technically an island?
on a technical level, yes, it's an island, because of the man -made north shore channel, but on a practical and psychological level, it doesn't function like an island because of the all too frequent bridge crossings.
What is flattest U.S. state?
By any measure, Florida takes the prize for the flattest state in the nation because the highest point in the state is only 345 feet above sea level. Then Illinois, North Dakota, Louisiana, Minnesota and Delaware follow. Kansas merely ranks seventh in flatness.
What states have no mountains?
Flattest States in the United StatesFlorida.Illinois.North Dakota.Louisiana.Minnesota.Delaware.Kansas.Texas.More items...
What is the flattest part of Illinois?
Douglas CountyThe lowest elevation at 280 feet is at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers at Illinois' southern tip. Getting back to flatness, Douglas County is the flattest with a relief (distance between the highest and lowest points) of just 100 feet and an average slope of just 0.4%.
What makes Illinois special?
Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery, 1865. Illinois was home to President Ulysses S. Grant, whose home is preserved in Galena. The Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station were the only buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire, 1871.
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 5 facts about Illinois?
IllinoisNickname: The Prairie State.Statehood: 1818; 21st state.Population (as of July 2016): 12,801,539.Capital: Springfield.Biggest City: Chicago.Abbreviation: IL.State bird: northern cardinal.State flower: violet.
What landforms are found in Chicago?
Landforms Near ChicagoPlains and Moraines. Chicago and its surrounding area include Cook, Dupage and Will counties in Illinois. ... Chicago Plain. ... Valparaiso Moraine. ... Desplaines Valley.
What is the Chicago land area?
234.5 mi²Chicago / Area
Is Chicago a swamp?
The story of Chicago begins in the 17th century at a place called the Chicago Portage. Located about ten miles west of Lake Michigan, this swampy area provided a crucial link in a transcontinental system of travel.
Is Chicago built on a lake?
The city of Chicago is located in northern Illinois, United States, at the south western tip of Lake Michigan. It sits on the Saint Lawrence Seaway continental divide at the site of the Chicago Portage, an ancient trade route connecting the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes watersheds.
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 nonforested marsh in southern portions of the floodplain?
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.
What are the interior low plateaus?
The Interior Low Plateaus constitute a diverse landscape that extends from north Alabama across central Tennessee and Kentucky into southern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. It consists of six distinct subregions: the Shawnee Hills, Bluegrass region, Western Highland Rim, Central Basin, Eastern Highland Rim, and Tennessee Valley. Its hilly topography sets it apart from the Coastal Plain to the south and Prairie Peninsula to the north. To the west, the valley of the Mississippi River separates the Interior Low Plateaus from the Ozark Highlands, the two of which share many similarities. 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 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 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 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 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.
Where is Illinois?
The State of Illinois is located in the East-North-Central (Midwest and Great Lakes) region of the United States. Illinois is bordered by the state of Indiana in the east; by Kentucky in the southeast; by Missouri in the west; by Iowa in the northwest and by Wisconsin in the north. It is also bounded by Lake Michigan in the northeast.
What region is Illinois in?
Outline Map. Key Facts. Covering an area of 149,997 sq. km, the State of Illinois is located in the East-North-Central (Midwest and Great Lakes) region of the United States.
What is the largest city in Illinois?
Situated in the northeastern part of the state along the shores of Lake Michigan is Chicago – the largest and the most populous city in Illinois and the 3 rd most populous city in the United States.
What is the most important river in Illinois?
The state's most important river is the Mississippi River – the longest river in Illinois that forms the entire western border of the state. Other rivers of note include the Illinois, Kaskaskia, Ohio, and Wabash. As marked on the map by an inverted yellow triangle, that stat’s lowest point is situated at the confluence of Ohio ...
Why is Illinois called the Prairie State?
Illinois has been nicknamed as “The Prairie State” in reference to the landscape of rolling hills and prairies that occupy large areas of the state. See also: Illinois Flag. Illinois Symbols.
Where is Illinois land sold?
Still, most of the land sales in Illinois take place in Cook County, home to Chicago. The Windy City so dominates Illinois that everything outside the city is referred to as “downstate” – even towns like Rockford that are geographically north of Chicago. Most of the Cook County undeveloped lands are small building lot parcels; not many hunting tracts hiding here.
What is the climate in Illinois?
Most of the state experiences a humid continental climate. It has hot summers and cold winters. The southern portion has a humid tropical climate. Precipitation too varies with 48 inches in the southern region and 35 inches toward the north. In Chicago, the average snowfall is over 38 inches while in the south, it is below 14 inches. Thunderstorms are common here with about 50 days of thunderstorms per year. Tornadoes are also common and deadly. The most destructive tornado, Tri-State Tornado, was recorded in Illinois. On average, the state receives 35 tornadoes per year. However, the climate here changes quickly. It is tough to predict the weather here.
How Is The Real Estate Market Performing In Illinois?
The prices in Illinois post-financial crisis in 2008 had taken a fall. But, since 2013, prices have again started to go up. Currently, prices are still rising. So it looks like a good opportunity to grab some land here. Chicago is one of the best cities in the United States. Who would not want to stay in this city? However, there are some downfalls of buying a property in Illinois too. The biggest drawback is the high tax property tax rates. But as the economy progresses, it is expected that this problem may soon be resolved.
How many books are in Chicago Public Library?
With over 2 million books, The Chicago Public Library happens to be the largest public library in the world.
What is the oldest community in Illinois?
The oldest community in Illinois is Peoria.
What is Northwestern Illinois used for?
This variable land is used for agriculture, private hunting preserves, horse farms, waterfront property, and vacation retreats. All carry a wide range of price tags.
Where to hunt whitetail deer in Illinois?
One way to chase those monster whitetails and beat the high cost is to purchase timberland and hunting farms in the Land of Lincoln.
What is the best place to live in Illinois in 2021?
What city is the best place to live in Illinois for 2021? Well according to the US Census and FBI data we crunched, Deerfield is the best place to live in Illinois if you care about home values, low crime, and a high quality of life.
Which Illinois village has the lowest dropout rate?
But for the money, you get some of the best schools in the state -- GreatSchools gave the village's school's an average rating of 8.5, and Glencoe enjoys the lowest high school dropout rate in Illinois. Besides being great on paper, Glencoe has loads to keep you occupied year-round.
How many tiers are there in places to live?
So to create our ranking, we broke places to live into three tiers:
Is Buffalo Grove a good place to live in Chicago?
In what's becoming a pattern, Buffalo Grove is yet another Chicago suburb to rank among the best places to live in Chicago. At 41,062, Buffalo Grove is the most populous place to make this list, so you won't have to worry about being far from the action here.
Is Park Ridge a good place to live?
As for the data, everything points to Park Ridge being an excellent forever home. Crime is low, schools are great, and the local economy works for everyone — we don’t hand out 10/10 SnackAbility scores for nothing, after all.
Is Illinois a good state?
Yes, it's a thing. And, yes, it's what makes Illinois one of the best states in the country. Now, if you talk to the flatlanders that call Illinois home, they would definitely agree that their hospitality is gold star worthy. They would also tell you, however, that there a ton of other qualities that make Illinois a state you should call home.
What is the state of Illinois?
Illinois is in the Midwestern United States and is the 6th most populated state and the 25th largest in land area. The name derives from the Miami-Illinois verb meaning "he speaks the regular way," which was then modified by the French. Illinois borders Indiana to the east, Lake Michigan to the northeast, also sharing a water boundary with Michigan, Kentucky and the Ohio River to the south, Missouri, Iowa, the Mississippi River and Missouri River to the west, and Wisconsin to the north. Chicago is the largest city in the state, and the third most populated city in the country. Other large cities include Aurora, a Chicago satellite city, Rockford, Joliet, Naperville, Peoria, Elgin, Belleville, Champaign, and Waukegan. Springfield is the state capital and is the sixth most populated city in the state.
What are the animals that live in Illinois?
Wildlife to be found on land for sale in Illinois include whitetail deer, turkey, ducks, dove, quail, and geese. Fishermen have their pick of bass, catfish, pike, and trout. Some 42 percent of the appropriately named Great Lakes State is covered by water, spelling abundant fishing opportunities on its diverse spread of lakes, rivers, and streams. ...
What are the most famous landmarks in Chicago?
Chicago has a great many attraction;, most notable and famous are Millennium Park , the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum, with 300,000 square feet of biological and anthropological collections, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Science and Industry, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, and Navy Pier.
What is the largest city in Illinois?
Chicago is the largest city in the state, and the third most populated city in the country. Other large cities include Aurora, a Chicago satellite city, Rockford, Joliet, Naperville, Peoria, Elgin, Belleville, Champaign, and Waukegan. Springfield is the state capital and is the sixth most populated city in the state.
How many colleges are there in Illinois?
There are more than 15 public colleges and universities, including branches, in Illinois, as well as nearly 100 private colleges, universities and for-profit institutions, and more than 50 community colleges.
Which state produces the most soybeans?
Most years, Illinois is the first or second state for production of soybeans. Illinois is the second highest producer of corn in the U.S. and the third highest producer of ethanol, processed from corn. The state is the leader in food manufacturing and meat processing, and Chicago remains a large producer of these.
Where does the name Illinois come from?
The name derives from the Miami-Illinois verb meaning "he speaks the regular way," which was then modified by the French.
Overview
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.
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 …
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…