Geography of Illinois
From the shoreline of Lake Michigan, inland for 8-10 miles, the land is great.
From the Chicago suburbs moving west toward the Iowa border, the land gradually rises into a hilly region in the far northwest. The state’s highest point, Charles Mund, at 1,235 ft., is located there.
The southern two-thirds of the state is rolled farmland, commonly referred to as America ‘s Corn Belt. This wide and fertile range of land (hilly in some areas) cuts into the states of Iowa, Indiana and Missouri. Shawnee Hills region (a narrow strip of land
listen)) continues southern Illinois from Elizabethtown to the Missouri border. Approximately 40 miles wide and 70 miles long, this rolling woodland rises to almost 1,000 feet.
- Allcitycodes: Provides map of area codes in Illinois by county and city.
- Ask4beauty: Introduction to the state of Illinois, addressing geography, history, politics, economy and population.
- Toppharmacyschools: Lists all educational institutes in Illinois, including psychology, biological science, clinical psychology, computer science, economics, fine arts, etc.
The state’s most important river – the Mississippi – forms it’s entire western border. Other famous rivers include the Illinois, Kaskaskia, Ohio and Wabash.
Major lakes, in addition to Lake Michigan, include Carlisle, Rip, Shelbyville and Upper Peoria.
Illinois Famous Natives
A-D
Physicist James Cronin, Nobel laureate
Henry Crown industrialist, philanthropist
John Cusack actor
Richard J. Daley politician
Richard M. Daley politician
Henry Darger author, artist
Justin W. Dart Jr. activist for disabled
Miles Davis musician, jazz bandleader, composer
Bruce Dern actor
Alfred B. Dick founder ab member company
Everett McKinley Dirksen politician
The Walt Disney Co-Founder Walt Disney Company
Edward Adelbert Doisy biochemist, Nobel laureate
John Dos Passos author
Bruce Douglas basketball player
Richard Drichos fund manager, philanthropist
Michael Clarke Duncan actor
Finlay Peter Dunn author, humorist
F
Dennis Farina actor
James T. Farrell author
Ferris wheel inventor George Ferris
Harrison Ford actor
Robert “Bob” Foss choreographer, director
Dennis Frantz actor
Betty Friedan feminist, activist, author
Physicist Joseph I. Friedman, Nobel laureate
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Donald Gallaer actor
Jeff Garlin actor
Actress Jennie Garth
Actress Jami Gertz
Arthur Goldberg lawyer, U.S. Secretary of Labor
Benny Goodman musician, jazz bandleader
Priest Andrew Greely, sociologist, journalist, author
Comedian Kathy Griffin
John Gunther journalist, author
H
George Halas football player, coach
George E. Hale solar astronomer
Speed skater Dorothy Hamill, Olympic medalist
Daryl Hannah actress
Lawyer for John Marshall Harlan II
Carter politician Henry Harrison Jr.
Dennis Hastert politician
Donny Hathaway musician
Bob Havens musician
Sean Hayes actor
Hugh Hefner publisher
Ernest Hemingway author, journalist
Actress Marilu Henner
Charlton Heston actor
James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok gunfighter, Boy Scout
Tad Hilgenbrink actor
William Holden actor
Robert W. Holley biochemist, Nobel laureate
Henry Horner politician
Actress Jennifer Hudson
Rock Hudson actor
Wayne Huizenga sports team owner
Actress Bonnie Hunt
Henry Hyde politician
I-K
Burl Ives actor, singer
Henry Johnson musician
James Jones author
Quincy Jones composer
Robert “R” Kelly singer, songwriter
Caren Kemner Olympic medalist, volleyball player
Walter Kerr critic, lyricist, director
Singer Chucky Kahn
Henry Kolker actor, director
Harvey Korman actor
Raymond A. Kroc restaurateur
Gina Krupa musician
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Julia Lathrop social reformer
Barbara Lehman author, illustrator
Ramsey Lewis composer, pianist
Abraham Lincoln President of the United States (born in KY)
Robert Todd Lincoln politician
Nicholas Vachel poet Lindsey
Robert Livingston actor
United Union Army John Alexander Logan, politician
M
- Bernie Mac actor
- Archibald MacLeish poet, Pulitzer Prize winner
- Michael Madsen actor
- Actress Virginia Madsen
- Carl Malden actor
- John Malkovich actor
- David Mamet playwright, author
- James Robert Mann politician
- Actor Joe Mantegna
- Economist Harry Markowitz, Nobel laureate
- Homer Z. Martin inventor
- Actress Marley Matlin
- Frederick Louis Maytag founder maytag company
- Stanley Masor inventor
- Actress Jenny McCarthy
- Founder Mark McCormack International Management Group (img)
- Robert R. McCormick Owner Chicago Tribune
- Donovan McNabb football player
- George J. Meckerle founder of the state farm insurance co.
- Actress Laurie Metcalfe
- Robert H. Michel politician
Chicago, IL
Founded in 1833, Chicago is the largest city in Illinois; the authentic home of American blues and contemporary comedy and a first-class nightlife scene.
As America’s railroads moved west, Chicago quickly became the transportation hub for the entire Midwest. For decades, Chicago Stockyards has handled the largest herd of cattle and pigs in the United States.
Chicago is one of the largest cities in the US and home to many iconic sights and sounds. Its scenic skyline along the Lake Michigan shoreline is one of the most memorable sites in all of North America.
The city contains many world class museums, miles of beaches and an excellent park system. Dedicated sports fanatics for the Chicago Bears, Bulls, Cubs and Whitesox fill their stadiums for every game throughout the year.
With live theater and shopping venues that rival those found in London, New York and Los Angeles, millions of visitors a year find plenty to do in the wonderful city of Chicago.
- The world’s first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, was built in Chicago in 1885 using steel frame construction.
- Over one third of its population is concentrated in the lakefront areas along Lake Michigan.
- The annual Taste of Chicago is the largest food festival in the world.
The Art Institute of Chicago
Known as one of the finest art museums in the world, the Art Institute of Chicago houses the third largest permanent collection in the US.
With more than 260,000 works of art and artifacts, the Art Institute collects, displays and preserves items from every culture and historical period.
With exhibitions of African and Amerindian art, European painting and sculpture, impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, Japanese prints and much more, the Art Institute of Chicago offers exceptional works to inspire every taste in art.
Lincoln Park
Zoo The Lincoln Park Zoo is America’s most historic and wonderful zoo facility. Lincoln is also one of the country’s last remaining free-entry zoos.
Founded in 1868, it now contains a rich variety of animals, including endangered gorillas and chimpanzees, African species and North American wildlife.
A pioneer and leader in animal care, conservation and management, this model of modern zoo operation is a source of pride for the city of Chicago. Lincoln Park attracts over 3 million visitors annually from local Illinois cities and communities across the country and the globe.
Buddy Guy Legends
On the Chicago blues scene, Buddy Guy Legends is right at the top. Since its opening in 1989, Buddy Guy has built and maintained its reputation as the nation’s finest blues club.
World renowned artists have performed on its stages including Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones and ZZ Top. Buddy Guy is the Crowned King of Chicago electric blues and has a 50 year musical career.
Legends is the place in Chicago to experience authentic Blues seven nights a week, eating mouth-watering Cajun Negro cuisine surrounded by an eclectic wealth of blues memorabilia.
What New Orleans, Louisiana to the southern blues scene, Chicago brings to the windy northern plains of the American heartland.
