Sitemap to all pages covering the state of Illinois. Contributions and photography for the Illinois guides from Alex Nitzman, Andy Field, Brent Ivy, Justin Cozart, Kelly Nitzman, Peter Johnson and Thomas Decker.

Highway Guides

Other Roads

Population Statistics

State Population
12,812,508
Metropolitan Populations
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 9,618,502 Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI 883,493
Peoria 402,391 Rockford 338,798
Champaign-Urbana 222,538 Springfield 208,640
Bloomington 170,954 Decatur 103,998
Top County Populations
Cook 5,275,541 DuPage 932,877
Lake 714,342 Will 696,355
Kane 516,522 McHenry 310,229
Winnebago 285,350 Madison 265,859
Top City Populations
Chicago 2,677,643 Aurora 196,383
Naperville 147,986 Joliet 146,673
Rockford 144,835 Springfield 113,671
Elgin 110,196 Peoria 109,428
Champaign 89,930 Waukegan 85,453
Sources: 2020 U.S. Census Data (metro populations and counties), 2020 U.S. Census Estimate (cities)

About Illinois

  • Capital: Springfield
  • Nickname: Prairie State
  • State Flower: Purple Violet
  • State Bird: Cardinal
  • State Tree: White Oak
  • Total Interstate Mileage: 2,203.42
  • Land Area: 57,918 square miles
  • Highest Point: Charles Mound 1,235 feet
  • Lowest Point: Mississippi River in Alexander County 279 feet
  • Number of Counties: 102
  • Statehood: 21st state; admitted December 3, 1818

Major League Sports Franchises

  • Chicago Bears (NFL)
  • Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
  • Chicago Bulls (NBA)
  • Chicago Cubs (MLB)
  • Chicago Fire (MLS)
  • Chicago White Sox (MLB)
  • Chicago Cardinals, relocated in 1959 to St. Louis and eventually Phoenix.
  • Chicago Zephyrs, relocated in 1963 to Baltimore and renamed the Bullets, later moving again to Washington and eventually changing names to the Wizards.
  • Tri-Cities Blackhawks, relocated to Milwaukee in 1951, later becoming the Atlanta Hawks in 1968.

Major Motorsport Speedways

  • Chicagoland Speedway

Updated July 16, 2021.