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Driven by the vibrant rhythm of the nation’s third-largest city, Illinois is at once up-tempo & down-home, striking a balance between rural areas, small industrial cities, vast suburbs and the great metropolis of Chicago. As the most populous state in the Midwest, the Land of Lincoln thrives on its diverse economic base and central importance as a transportation hub. With its blend of farm and factory, rural and urban, Illinois is a true microcosm of the United States.

Originally settled by the mound-building Mississippian civilization, whose major urban center of Cahokia was near present-day Collinsville, in its recorded history Illinois has successively belonged to the Illiniwek Confederation (with some incursions by the Iroquois League), France and Britain, before becoming U.S. territory in 1783. American settlers from Kentucky arrived in the early 1800s, making Illinois the 21st state in 1818.

Yankees arrived to the Prairie State a little later and dominated the north, establishing the future metropolis of Chicago in the 1830s. The development of railroads opened the prairie’s farmlands to the rest of the country, leading to massive population growth across Illinois. As Chicago matured into a booming industrial city, it became a major center for migrants, both from Europe and the American South, who brought their culture and traditions with them. This influx of new arrivals deeply influenced the Windy City, giving Chicago a dynamic essence all its own, from deep-dish pizza to the Chicago blues.

While Illinois lies entirely in the Interior Plains, it can be split into three major geographical divisions. Chicagoland includes the city of Chicago, its suburbs, and the adjoining exurban area into which the metropolis is expanding. Two out of three Illinoisans live in this region, which dominates much of the state’s commerce, tourism and industry.

Moving South and West, central Illinois is an area of mostly flat prairie. Known as the Heart of Illinois, it is characterized by small towns and mid-sized cities, such as Peoria and Decatur. Finally, southern Illinois is made up of the area south of U.S. Route 50. This includes Metro-East (as St. Louis’ Illinois suburbs are known) and Little Egypt, near the juncture of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Southern Illinois is differentiated from the rest of the Prairie State by its more rugged topography, warmer climate and different mix of crops.

Illinois’ diverse landscape encompasses rambling farmland, small cities, sprawling suburbs and an immense metropolitan area. While much of the Prairie State’s culture and economy center on Chicago, life in Illinois is about much more than just the big city. With a variety of industries, places and people that reflects the diversity of the United States, Illinois offers a little something for everyone.