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Illinois is the most populous state in the Midwest region. Chicago, the third-most populous city in the United States, is the center of the Chicago metropolitan area or Chicagoland, as this area is nicknamed. Although the Chicago metropolitan area comprises only 9% of the land area of the state, it contains 65% of the state's residents.
On December 3, 1818, Illinois became the 21st U.S. state. Early U.S. expansion began in the south part of the state and quickly spread northward, driving out the native residents. In 1832, some Native American "Indians" returned from Iowa but were driven out in the Black Hawk War, fought by militia.
The Government of Illinois, under Illinois ' Constitution, has three branches of government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. The State's executive branch is split into several statewide elected offices, with the Governor as chief executive and head of state, and has numerous departments, agencies, boards and commissions.
There are 102 counties in Illinois. The most populous of these is Cook County, the second-most populous county in the United States and the home of Chicago, while the least populous is Hardin County. The largest by land area is McLean County, while the smallest is Putnam County. Illinois's FIPS state code is 17 and its postal abbreviation is IL.
Illinois has a maximum north–south distance of 390 miles (630 km) and 210 miles (340 km) east-west. Total area is 57,918 square miles (150,010 km 2 ), ranked 25th in size of the 50 states. Water area is 2,325 square miles (6,020 km 2 ); Lake Michigan accounts for most of this. Charles Mound in the northwest Driftless Area is the highest point ...
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the U.S. state of Illinois: Illinois – fifth most populous of the 50 states of the United States of America. Illinois lies between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River and the Ohio River in the Midwestern United States. Chicago, Illinois, is the third most populous ...
The Great Seal of the State of Illinois is the official emblem of the U.S. state, and signifies the official nature of a document produced by the state of Illinois. The flag of the state of Illinois consists of the seal of Illinois on a white background, with the word "Illinois" underneath the seal. The present seal was adopted in 1869, the ...
The Illinois State Library is located in the Brooks Library, east of the Capitol, which is named for longtime state Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1950. In addition, the secretary of state operates 136 Driver Services license-issuing facilities statewide and maintains its own police force.