Illinois is the most populous Midwestern state with Springfield as its capital and Chicago as an economic powerhouse.

The topography is mainly flat except for the Shawnee Hills in the south. Major waterways are the Mississipi, Ohio and Illinois Rivers.

 

The Koster Site shows humans lived in the area at least 7000 years ago.

After the Beaver Wars Algonquian tribes moved in from the east and the north.

 

French Canadian explorers arrived from the North via the Missisipi River in 1673 and Illinois became part of New France.

After a brief British period the territory joined the young United States in 1773 .

In 1821 Illinios became the 21st US state.

 

President Abraham Lincoln came from Illinois so in the Civil War the state joined the Union and was a major troops supplier.

 

We lived in the Chicago area in the early 1990's and used the opportunity to see more of the state, like the historic Midway Village, Springfield and the Shawnee Hills.