Illinois: The Prairie State

Illinois: The Prairie State — page 1 — 4 ILLINOIS Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois has more than 300 miles of hiking and riding trails INTRODUCTION Near the center of the United States lies Illinois a state renowned for its farms and factories as well as the glittering city of Chicago Located in the northeast corner of the state Chicago is the third largest city in the country and a national leader in finance and technology Walking along its busy streets it is difficult to imagine the prairies that covered the land just a few hundred years ago Back then prairies stretched as far as the eye could see earning Illinois its official nickname the Prairie State Additionally however Illinois is often referred to as the Land of Lincoln the state slogan The early pioneers who settled in Illinois built a successful farm-based economy While agriculture remains important in the state Illinois is now home to a wide range of industries From commerce and trade to digital technology and health care Illinois is forging ahead with the pioneer spirit of its founders Residents of Illinois have enjoyed the Ferne Clyffe natural area for many years Illinois is French for Illiniwek the name of the Native Americans who lived in the state before Europeans arrived Kaskaskia and Vandalia were capitals of Illinois before Springfield was chosen Illinois motto is State Sovereignty National Union

Illinois: The Prairie State — page 2 — INTRODUCTION 5 Three rivers and five states border Illinois The Mississippi River separates Illinois from Iowa and Missouri to the west Southeastern Illinois is separated from Kentucky by the Ohio River The Wabash River forms part of the state’s border with Indiana which lies to the east The far northeastern part of Illinois is bordered by part of Lake Michigan Wisconsin forms the northern border Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport offers direct service to more than 60 destinations worldwide Illinois Location Map Many travelers transfer to international flights at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago The state song is Illinois by Charles H Chamberlin and Archibald Johnston Chicago is known for its grand architecture The world’s first skyscraper was built there in 1885 Chicago’s Sears Tower built in 1973 is one of the tallest buildings in the world It is 110 stories high A daredevil known as Spiderman climbed up the Sears Tower in 1999 He was arrested for trespassing when he reached the top Capital Springfield Interstate highways Scale 25 40 0 0 50 80 Mi Km Population 12,419,293 Size 57,918 square miles Highest peak Charles Mound 1,235 feet

Illinois: The Prairie State — page 3 — 6 ILLINOIS Al Capone was known as the Big Fellow by many of his gang members While many people in rural Illinois were farming the land in the 1920s the streets of Chicago were being overtaken by gangsters Gangsters grew wealthy from Prohibition and gambling They also fought each other for control of the city Some clashes were quite brutal The St Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929 saw the death of seven of George Bugs Moran’s gangsters by his rival Al Capone Many years passed before Chicago lost its association with mob violence Today Chicago has a reputation as a friendly city Chicago is often referred to as the Windy City Historians say that the boasting and bragging of local politicians earned Chicago the nickname but many people who have felt the biting winter wind called the hawk think otherwise Visitors are welcomed by street signs stating We’re Glad You’re Here Chicago is one of the most diverse places in the nation people from more than 100 ethnic groups call the city home and bring a wide range of cultural interests to Illinois especially in music Chicago’s various annual music festivals bring energy and excitement to the city Located on the shores of Lake Michigan in northeastern Illinois Chicago covers about 228 square miles of land The Great Chicago Fire of October 1871 killed about 300 people and left 100,000 people without homes It destroyed about 4 square miles of downtown Chicago The first resident of Chicago was Jean-Baptist Point du Sable a fur trader of French African descent Du Sable built the first settlement in 1779 at the mouth of the Chicago River The state flag shows the Great Seal of Illinois on a white background

Illinois: The Prairie State — page 4 — INTRODUCTION 7 Prairies are not the only type of terrain in Illinois Thick forests soaring cliffs and sparkling lakes are found in some areas However Illinois many factories and farms have damaged the once-pristine environment Beginning in the late 20th century the state introduced strong measures aimed at controlling pollution and environmental waste The state government implemented Conservation 2000 a program to conserve restore and manage state parks and natural resources The program also regulates hunting and fishing to keep animal populations at sustainable levels Biologists have identified endangered species and efforts are People from Illinois can take their raked leaves to any one of the state’s many composting sites being made to save them Many Illinois residents do their part for the environment by saving grass clippings and leaves for composting rather than burning them Paper plastic glass and metal are often recycled and reused With fishing restrictions and conservation efforts Illinois maintains its quality fishing areas Illinois slogan Land of Lincoln was adopted by the General Assembly in 1955 The State of Illinois has a copyright for its exclusive use In 1865 Illinois became the first state to abolish slavery The state of Illinois covers 57,918 square miles It ranks 25th in size in the country Illinois boasts almost 8,000 miles of railroad which is more than any other state besides Texas

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