Illinois
Illinois is famous for its types of weather. It is prone to tornados, heat waves and severe blizzards.
The official state tree of Illinois is the white oak which, despite its name, has grey rather than white bark.
Illinois is the 21st US state. It was admitted to the Union on December the 3rd 1818.
Three Presidents of the USA have been elected whilst living in Illinois: Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant and Barack Obama. Only one has been born there: Ronald Reagan, who was born in Tampico, Illinois on the 6th of February 1911.
The highest point of land in Illinois is Charles Mound, the summit of which is 1,235 feet or 376 metres above sea level. The highest actual point is the Willis Tower in Chicago which surpasses Charles Mound by 494 feet or 141 metres.
The world wide restaurant chain McDonalds has its headquarters in Illinois. McDonald's Plaza can be found in the village of Oak Brook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The business actually has its origins in the state of California.
Illinois has the 5th largest population of all the US states with an estimated 12,882,135 inhabitants in 2013.
Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th amendment to the US Constitution which abolished slavery. It did so on the 1st of February 1865.
Illinois' official state reptile is the painted turtle. It is the most common turtle in North America and can live up to 55 years.
As well as its official nickname 'the Land of Lincoln' Illinois has a few more. Play this fun and informative quiz and see what you know about the Prairie State, the Corn State, the Sucker State and the Garden of the West.
Springfield is the 6th largest city in the state having an estimated population of 116,250. Rockford and Aurora are the 3rd and 2nd largest having populations of around 153,000 and 198,000 respectively. Chicago is by far the largest city in Illinois with about 2,696,000 inhabitants