General Facts

• Capitol: Springfield

• Constitution: 21st State

• Governor: George H. Ryan

• Population: 11,895,849; 6th most populous state, 7/97 - U.S. Census Bureau

• Statehood: December 03, 1818, 21st state to enter the Union, 1818 population - 34,620,

• Symbols:

  • Animal: White-Tailed Deer

  • Bird: Cardinal

  • Dance: Square Dance

  • Fish: Bluegill

  • Flag:

    The bald eagle represents the United States. In its beak it holds a streamer with the state motto on it. The state motto means that Illinois governs itself under the government of the United States. In the eagle’s claws is a shield with thirteen bars and thirteen stars, this represents the first thirteen states. The two dates on the boulder are the dates of Statehood and of the State Seal. The ground around it symbolizes the state’s rich prairie soil.

  • Flower: Purple Violet

  • Fossil: Tully Monster

  • Insect: Monarch Butterfly

  • Mineral: Fluorite

  • Motto: State sovereignty, national union

  • Nickname: Prairie State

  • Origin of state's name: Algonquin Indian for "tribe of superior men"

  • Prairie Grass: Big Bluestem

  • Slogan: "Land of Lincoln" The slogan was adopted by the General Assembly in 1955. The State of Illinois has a copyright for the exclusive use of the slogan.

  • Song: Illinois   lyrics by: Charles H. Chamberlin   music by: Archibald Johnston

  • Tree: White Oak
    

Info from Illinois Home Page