Present-day Illinois was inhabited by Indigenous cultures for thousands of years. The French were the first Europeans to arrive, settling near the Mississippi and Illinois rivers in the 17th-century Illinois Country, as part of their sprawling colony of New France.

Geographical and historical treatment of Illinois, including maps and a survey of its people, economy, and government. Its capital city is Springfield, and its largest city and most important cultural and economic center is Chicago.

Welcome to Illinois.gov! Find places to go, things to see. Search through all the different services offered by the various Illinois agencies.

Illinois, a state in the Midwestern United States, shares its borders with Wisconsin to the north, Indiana to the east, and the Mississippi River forms its western border with Iowa and Missouri.

Your guide to the best of Illinois. Places to go, things to do, the best places to eat and drink, must-see Chicago, trip ideas and inspiration for your Illinois vacation.

Discover the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—where innovation, community, and discovery drive world-class learning, research, and public impact.

American Territory The Illinois-Wabash Company was an early claimant to much of Illinois. An early western outpost of the United States, Fort Dearborn, was established in 1803 (at the site of present-day Chicago), and the creation of the Illinois Territory followed on February 3, 1809.

Illinois was once known to be a swing state (voted for either Democratic Party or the Republican Party). Today, Illinois is known to be a blue state, voting for the Democratic Party.

Professional License Look-up The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation provide online public access through its 'License Lookup' to search and verify all Illinois professional license holders.

Illinois, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri'nin Ortabatı bölgesi 'ndedir ve Kuzey Amerika'nın Büyük Göller bölgesindeki sekiz eyaletten biridir (aynı zamanda Ontario, Kanada'yı da kapsar).