Capital
Springfield
Became a State
December 3,1818 (21^st)
Location
midwestern United States
Area
57,914 sq. miles (25^th)
Population
12,830,632 (h5^th)
Major Cities
Chicago, Rockford, Springfield 
Products
corn, soybeans, wheat, hogs, cattle, dairy products, timber, coal, petroleum
Climate
humid, continental - hot humid summers – cool, cold winters
Yearly Precipitation
averages 48 inches
Professional Sports Teams
Chicago Cubs (National Baseball League)
Chicago White Sox (American Baseball League)
Chicago Bears (National Football League)
Chicago Bulls (National Basketball Association)
Chicago Blackhawks (National Hockey League)
Chicago Machine (professional Lacrosse)
Major Waterways
Lake Michigan, Illinois River, Fox River,Ohio River,DesPlaines River,
Chicago River and Mississippi River
Most Famous Citizens
Jane Addams (social worker)
Louis Armstrong (musician)
Ulysses S. Grant (18^th President of the United States)
Abraham Lincoln (16^th President of the United States)
Frank Lloyd Wright (architect)
Ronald Ragan (40^th President of the United States)
Michael Jordan (basketball)