Statehood:  December 3, 1818 ((21^st state)

State Song: "Illinois" (1925)

State Bird: cardinal (1929)

State Tree: white oak (1973)

State Flower: violet (1908)

State Animal: white-tailed deer (1982);

State Fish: bluegill (1987);

State Insect: monarch butterfly (1975);

State Mineral: fluorite (1965)

State Grass: Big bluestem

State Fossil: Tully Monster

State Nickname: Prairie State

State Motto: State Sovereignty, National Union :

Highest Point: The highest point in Illinois is Charles Mound at 1,235 feet above sea level.

Lowest Point: The lowest point in Illinois is on the Mississippi River ; 279 feet above sea level.

Largest cities: Chicago, 2,842,518; Aurora, 168,181; Rockford, 152,916; Naperville, 141,579; Joliet, 136,208; Springfield, 115,668; Peoria, 112,685; Elgin, 98,645; Waukegan, 91,396; Cicero, 82,741

Famous Illinoisan:

Franklin Pierce Adams author, Chicago
Jane Addams social worker, Cedarville
Gillian Anderson actress, Chicago
Mary Astor actress, Quincy
Arnold O. Beckman inventor, Cullom
Jack Benny comedian, Chicago
Black Hawk Sauk Indian chief
Harry A. Blackmun jurist, Nashville
William E. Borah public official, Fairfield

Population (Quick Facts): 12,831,970:

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17000.html

Official State website:

http://www.illinois.gov/

State Legislature:

http://www.ilga.gov/

Capital of Illinois : Springfield, Illinois:

http://www.springfield.il.us/

United States Department of Agriculture:

http://www.agr.state.il.us/

Department of Public Safety:

http://www.illinois.gov/safety/

Economy:

http://www.illinois.gov/facts/economy.cfm

Transportation:

http://www.dot.state.il.us/

Natural Resources:

http://dnr.state.il.us/

Maps for the state of  Illinois:

http://www.dot.state.il.us/maps.html

State Job link:

 http://www.illinois.gov/jobs/

Tourism and travel:

http://www.illinois.gov/visiting/

Museums:

http://www.illinois.worldweb.com/SightsAttractions/

State Parks: 

http://www.stateparks.com/il.html

Public Library Service:

http://www.publiclibraries.com/illinois.htm

Zip Codes:

http://zipcodes.addresses.com/zip_codes_by_state/IL/A.html

State Newspapers:

Universities and Colleges in Illinois: