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Illinois Almanac

The Illinois Almanac presents a general overview of the State of Illinois.

Category Information

Sources...

The United States Census Bureau, July 10, 2001.
Illinois. I. Chicago: World Book, Inc., 1988. 54. Print.
Carpenter, Alan, and Carl Provorse. The World Almanac of the U.S.A.. Mahwah: World Almanac Books, 1996. Print.

Admitted to Union December 3, 1818
Capital Springfield, [ Find out more... ]
Nickname Prairie State, Land of Lincoln, Corn State, [ Find out more... ]
Motto State Sovereignty, National Union, [ Find out more... ]
Total area including land and water 57,918 square miles Rank among states 25th
Land area 55,593 square miles Rank among states 24th
Water area 2,325 square miles Rank among states 20th
Greatest distance East to West 212 miles
Greatest distance North to South 378 miles
Highest point 1,235 feet (Charles Mound) Rank among states 45th
Lowest point 279 feet (Mississippi River) Rank among states 32nd
Mean elevation 600 feet Rank among states 38th
Highest recorded temperature 117 degrees on July 14, 1954 at East St. Louis
Lowest recorded temperature -36 degrees on January 5, 1999 at Congerville
Highest monthly average temperature 87.1 degrees Rank among states 26th
Lowest monthly average temperature 9.8 degrees Rank among states 11th
Average yearly precipitation (rain & snow) 38 inches Rank among states  
Population
(U.S. Census, April, 2000)
12,419,293 Rank among states 5th
Population per square mile
(Population/Land area)
223.40 Rank among states 11th
Ten largest cities by population
State Capital in red
(U.S. Census, April, 2000)

1. Chicago 2,896,016 6. Springfield 111,454
2. Rockford 150,115 7. Joliet 106,221
3. Aurora 142,990 8. Elgin 94,487
4. Naperville 128,358 9. Waukegan 87,901
5. Peoria 112,936 10. Cicero 85,616
Median age
32.8
Average lifetime (1979-1981) 73.37 Rank among states 36th
Total crimes reported per 100,000 people (1992-1993) 5,617.9 Rank among states 16th
Violent crimes reported per 100,000 people 959.7 Rank among states 8th
Property crimes reported per 100,000 people 4,658.2 Rank among states 21st
Per capita income (2000)
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
$31,856 Rank among states 10th
Disposable per capita personal income (income minus taxes) (2000)
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
$26,860 Rank among states 8th
Median household income (1993) $32,875 Rank among states 18th

Additional Information

Weird Illinois: Your Travel Guide to Illinois' Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets

Weird Illinois: Your Travel Guide to Illinois' Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets, by Troy Taylor. 256 pages. Publisher: Sterling Publishing (April 7, 2005)

If it's weird and it's in Illinois, it's in Weird Illinois. With notepad and camera in hand, Troy Taylor, a Prairie State sleuth in pursuit of the eccentric and the uncanny, has followed the trail down main roads, back roads, and all roads in between. Whether it's a man-eating Piasa Bird, an abandoned insane asylum, or the haunted tomb of a certain famous Abe, Troy has chronicled the story and presents it here for you in Weird Illinois.

Visit the NETSTATE Illinois State Book Store for additional Illinois related books, including Illinois Reference Books, History, Biographies and Cookbooks.

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