Illinois State Study

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This Illinois State Study is a great way to study the geography of the ‘Land of Lincoln’!

Illinois is the 5th largest state in the U.S. and is full of amazing history to explore. After all, President Ronald Reagan and President Abraham Lincoln have strong ties to the state!

I designed this Illinois State Study to make learning about ‘The Prarie State’, both fun and educational experience. I’ve included videos, articles, literature options, state facts, famous landmarks and more to provide thorough learning opportunities for your children.

Illinois State Study

History of the State of Illinois

History of the State of Illinois

Illinois State Timeline

The History of Illinois

Illinois History

Illinois State Facts

Civil Rights History

National Forest History

Historical Climate Histories of Illinois

Illinois’ Presidential Election Voting History

Videos

Illinois Literature and Research Resources

All About Illinois

When did Illinois become a state?

December 3, 1818

What is the state capital of Illinois?

Springfield

State Abbreviation

State Population

12,822,739

State Size

57,914 square miles

State Name Origin

Illinois comes from the Native American word “iliniwok” or “illiniwek,”

State Motto

“State Sovereignty, National Union”

State Nickname

Prairie State and Land of Lincoln

State Song

“Illinois” is the state song Illinois. Illinois was written in the early 1890s by Civil War veteran Charles H. Chamberlain, the verses were set to the tune of “Baby Mine,”

State Flag

The flag of the state of Illinois is a simple white flag with the seal of Illinois, with the word “Illinois” underneath the seal. The seal was adopted in 1869, the flag bearing the central elements of the seal was adopted in 1915, the word Illinois was added to the flag in 1970.

State Bird

The Northern Cardinal was selected as the state bird on June 4, 1929.

State Tree

In 1973, the White Oak was chosen as the state tree of Illinois.

State Marine Mammal

The Humpback Whale was designated as the official state marine mammal in 1979.

State Fish

In 1986, the Bluegill was selected as the Illinois state fish.

State Insect

The Monarch Butterfly was chosen as the state insect of Illinois.

State Land Mammal

The endangered Hawaiian hoary bat was adopted as the state mammal in 2015.

State Mammal

In 1980, the White-tailed deer was designated as the Illinois state mammal.

State Flower

The Violet was selected as the state flower of Illinois in 1908.

Geography

Major Cities
- Chicago
- Aurora
- Naperville
- Joliet
- Rockford

Rivers
- The Mississippi River
- Illinois River
- Ohio River
- Kaskaskia River
- Wabash River
- Little Wabash River

Lakes
- Lake Michigan
- Lake Huron (attached to the straits of Michigan)
- Carlyle Lake
- Rend Lake
- Lake Shelbyville

Forests

Highways

Interstate H-2 – North and South (Oahu)
Interstate H-3 – Northeastern and Southwestern (Oahu)
Interstate 85 – North and South (Oahu)
Interstate H-1– East and West (Oahu)
Interstate H-201 – Northwest and Southeast (Oahu)
Routes 11, 19, 190- Hawaii Belt Road (encircles the island of Hawaii)
Route 30- North and South (on Maui)
Route 31- East and West (on Maui)
Routes 36 and 360- Northwest and Southeast (on Maui)
Route 37 – North-South (on Maui)
Route 50- East and West (on Kaua’i)
Route 51- North and South (on Kaua’i)
Route 56- Northwest and South (On Kaua’i)
Rout 570- East to West (On Kaua’i)

National Parks

Shawnee National Forest

State Parks

Famous Landmarks

Famous People

Ronald Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) the 40th President of the United States was born in Tampico, Illinois.
Betty White (January 17, 1922 – present) Born in Oak Park Illinois Betty white is an actress, author, comedian, and animal rights, enthusiast.
Harrison Ford (July 13, 1942 – present) This Chicago-born star is best known for his role as Indiana Jones.
Bill Murray (September 21, 1950 – present) Born in Evanston, Bill Murray is best known for his acting in popular movies like Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day.
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) moved to Illinois with his family in 1830 and later became the 16th President of the United States.
Dorothy Hamill (July 26, 1956 – present) The Olympic figure skater born in Chicago.
Richard Pryor (December 1st, 1940 – December 10, 2005) Actor and comedian Richard Pryor was born in Peoria and despite a rough childhood found his way to the big screen where he helped to bring joy to others.
Carl Sandburg (January 6, 1878 – July 22, 1967) This war veteran and journalist won the Pulitzer Prize for his biography on President Abraham Lincoln.

Interesting Facts

The state of Illinois is very flat. At its highest point, it rises only 1,235 feet above sea level.
Man-made canals reversed the flow of the Chicago River between 1892 and 1922. They were considered engineering marvels at the time, and still are today.
Chicago’s nickname “The Windy City” originates from an article describing long-winded politicians at an exhibition in 1893.
The tallest building in the U.S. is named the Sears Tower is in Chicago.
This was the first state in America to ratify the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery.
The world’s largest public library is located in Chicago, IL.
In addition to coal mining, oil production, agriculture, and manufacturing, Illinois has an array of top industries.
In the United States, Illinois is the largest producer of pumpkins
The first McDonald’s was built in Des Plaines, IL.
Illinois has almost 80 percent farmland.

Illinois Learning Resources

What did your children enjoy learning the most about the state of Illinois?

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Misty Leask

Misty Leask is an imperfect country girl from Texas, learning alongside her blessings while loving her husband and living life in the North Woods of Maine. She started Year Round Homeschooling because she wanted to come alongside fellow homeschool moms and help them find the freedom and resources they needed to homeschool their children year round. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest

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Illinois State Study

All About Illinois

When did Illinois become a state?

What is the state capital of Illinois?

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