Illinois State (IL) posted Whisky trail tours

Whisky trail tours have a mission to guide the people. Illinois is a state located in the Midwest of the United States. In 2016, the population was over 14 million people. In terms of area, it ranks fifth in the United States - 149, 9 thousand km2. The capital is Springfield. It became part of the United States 21st in 1818. According to one version, the name Illinois is associated with the Indian word irenwewa, which means "he speaks as always." The state is also called "Lincoln Land".

In the pre-Columbian era, the state's lands were inhabited by a variety of Illinois tribes, which united into the political Union of Illinois. However, the beginning of European expansion led to a war between the Iroquois and the Illinois, which the latter lost and were forced to leave their lands.

After the discovery and exploration of these lands by the Europeans, they were until 1763 as part of New France. After they came under the control of the British, who also did not stay here. Already in 1778, during the War of Independence, the rebels against the British under the leadership of George Clark drove out the British troops, and the lands themselves were transferred to the management of the state of Virginia. After much debate and decisions about the division of the Illinois lands, on December 3, 1818, Illinois received the status of the 21st state of the United States.

Illinois geography

Illinois is geographically located in the Central Plains region. The main part is occupied by the steppes; therefore it is called the "prairie state". There are more than half a thousand rivers and 950 lakes here. The largest waterway is Illinois, which is connected through an artificial channel to Lake Michigan. The great extent of Illinois causes significant climatic differences. The southern half has a subtropical climate, to the north it is temperate continental with very warm summers and cold winters. There is a lot of precipitation throughout the territory, the average amount of which is in the range of 800-1200 mm. The region has a high probability of a tornado (an average of 35 per year).

Sights. The rich nature of Illinois has given the state several remarkable landmarks that have become its hallmark. One of the pearls is Indiana Dunes National Park, which is several tens of kilometers of dunes that have appeared due to the impact of winds from Michigan. On its territory there are plants representing different natural zones. Among them are pines, dogwood and even cacti. A number of very rare endemics also grow here.

Population in Illinois

The state is characterized by uneven settlement of its inhabitants. About 65% of the population lives in the Chicago metropolitan area, the rest live in rural areas or relatively small cities. The diverse ethnic composition of Illinois is represented by many ethnic groups, among which the descendants of immigrants from Germany (21%), Ireland (13%) and Poland (8%) stand out. The state is also heterogeneous in confessional terms. About a third of the population is Catholic, followed by representatives of several Protestant churches. The trend towards an increase in the number of Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs is becoming more and more evident.

Previously, a significant part of the population of Illinois were supporters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), but after the murder of the founder of their church, Joseph Smith Jr., most Mormons left the territory of Illinois and moved to Mexico, in what is now Utah.

Among the cities of Illinois in terms of population, Chicago is beyond competition. According to the 2010 census, 2.7 million people lived there. The rest of the cities, which are among the largest, are significantly inferior in this indicator. The second and third - Aurora and Rockford have 197.8 and 152.8 thousand inhabitants, respectively. Also in the top ten in terms of population are Joliet, Naperville, Springfield, Peoria, Elgin, Waukegan and Cicero.

Illinois economy

Illinois is included in the cohort of economically developed states, ranking fifth in terms of nominal GDP. The main industrial base is concentrated in the northeast. Here is Chicago - the largest city in Illinois, one of the three US metropolitan areas in terms of gross domestic product.

Illinois is one of the pillars of the American nuclear industry, the country's leader in terms of the share of nuclear power. There are 6 nuclear power plants on its territory. Along with traditional industries (oil refining, mechanical engineering, chemical and food industries), innovative industries (computers, electronics) are developing in the state. Here are the offices of dozens of major companies, including the world famous Boeing, Kraft Foods and McDonald's.

Illinois is part of the grain belt, leading the way in the production of soybeans and corn. Melons and grapes are actively cultivated in the southern half. The state has traditionally developed cattle breeding and meat processing industry. Favorable geographical position contributed to the development of transport infrastructure. O'Hare Airport in Chicago holds the first place in the world in terms of passenger traffic. For more info click on whisky trail tours.