From What is the meaning of Illinois to some of the dumbest laws in the country, Here are the 20 incredible Illinois facts that you never knew you needed to know.
1-5 Fun Facts About Illinois
1. The name “Illinois” is derived from a French interpretation of a Native American word meaning “men” or “warriors.” That sounds like a pretty accurate description of the state’s sports fans during game day!
2. Illinois, with a sprawling land area of 57,915 mi² (149,997 km²), ranks 25th among the largest states in the US, nestled comfortably between Georgia and Iowa.
3. If Illinois were a country, it would outsize Greece or dwarf Panama by twice its size.
4. Its population, standing at 12.8 million, makes it the sixth most populous state in the country, sandwiched between Pennsylvania and Ohio.
5. The capital of Illinois is Springfield, but it’s the grandeur of Chicago that takes the cake as the state’s largest city. Chicago is also the third-largest city in the United States, following New York City and Los Angeles.
6-10 Interesting Facts About Illinois
6. Boasting a population of 2.7 million, with the metropolitan area extending up to 9.7 million, Chicago is an urban paradise that attracts people from all over.
7. Illinois’ official state motto, “State Sovereignty, National Union,” is a testament to the state’s pride in its sovereignty while acknowledging its role in the nation.
8. Interestingly, from 1923 to 1969, Illinois had “the American Language” as its official language instead of English.
9. Today, approximately 75% of Illinois’ residents call the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area, popularly known as “Chicagoland,” their home.
10. Illinois is affectionately referred to as “The Land of Lincoln,” where he’s remembered for his contributions to the state and not just for being a tall dude with a top hat. He is also honored on the state quarter and license plates.
11-15 Crazy Facts About Illinois
11. Illinois boasts the fifth highest rate of people with bachelor’s degrees or higher in the country, with one-third of the population holding such degrees.
12. A variety of famous figures hail from Illinois, including Ernest Hemingway, Walt Disney, Betty White, Cindy Crawford, Hillary Clinton, and Bill Murray.
13. Of course, like any state, Illinois has its quirks and oddities. For example, it’s illegal to pee into your neighbor’s mouth in Champaign. We can’t believe we have to say this, but please don’t try it in any other city either.
14. And it’s also prohibited to share your whiskey with your dog in Chicago.
15. Furthermore, an old Illinois law states that you can be arrested for vagrancy if you don’t have a dollar in cash.
16-20 Insane Facts About Illinois
16. And Finally, it’s also illegal to eat inside a burning building in Chicago – something that seems like common sense, but apparently needed to be spelled out!
17. If you’re a fan of wearing sagging pants, make sure to avoid Collinsville, where you might get caught with your pants down – literally!
18. Chicago takes their train tracks seriously, so seriously that they set them on fire to prevent them from failing due to stress.
19. Illinois is the nuclear power capital of the United States, generating 12% of the nation’s nuclear power.
20. The Nabisco Factory in Chicago is the world’s largest bakery, making it the perfect place to satisfy your sweet tooth. Just make sure you bring a map to navigate the 18,000,000 square feet of deliciousness – you might get lost in all the cookies and cakes!
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading 20 Illinois Fun Facts.
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