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Thursday 20 August 2015

Illinois

Cahokia was a pre-Columbian Native American city, which existed circa 1050–1350 AD and by 1250 was bigger than London. The cultural heritage site is located 8 miles from the Gateway Arch, in Illinois. The city was made up of pyramids and large earthen mounds, and "Woodhenge," which marked the soltices and equinoxes.

At the end the French and Indian Wars, France ceded the entire Illinois region to Britain. This region was an integral part of the Old Northwest that was brought within US boundaries 20 years later by the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolution.

In 1787, the area was officially designated the Northwest Territory. Made part of Indiana Territory in 1800, Illinois was granted statehood on December 3, 1818, becoming the 21st state in the union of the United States.


Abraham Lincoln was the only U.S. president who was also a licensed bartender. He co-owned a saloon, Berry and Lincoln, in Springfield, Illinois.

Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which helped abolished slavery in the United States.

Illinois became the first state to require sexual equality in employment on March 22, 1872. This meant women were allowed the opportunity to join every profession.

The Illinois State Capitol is located in Springfield and houses the executive and legislative branches of the government of Illinois. The capitol is in the architectural style of the French Renaissance and was built between 1869 and 1889 for a total cost of $4,500,000.

Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. By Daniel Schwen -Wikipedia Commons

In 1923 Illinois officially passed legislation replacing English with 'American' as their official language, making it the only state in the Union where people legally 'speak American.' 'American' remained the sole official language of Illinois until 1969.

American restaurateur Ray Kroc opened the ninth McDonald's franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955, an occasion considered to be the founding of the present corporation.

A state law in Illinois mandates all bachelors should be called master, not mister, when addressed by their female counterparts.

Morton, Illinois calls itself the 'Pumpkin Capital of the World' and holds an annual pumpkin festival in the second week of September.

Popcorn is the official snack of Illinois, Since 1958 there has been an annual Popcorn day which falls on the second Saturday of September.

Illinois and Wisconsin have more bars than grocery stores.

Illinois has the highest number of vanity license plates issued in the nation.

Illinois is the most average state in the U.S.—its population demographics look more like the nation as a whole than any other state’s.


The scarlet tanager, a songbird native to Illinois, can eat as many as 2,100 gypsy-moth caterpillars in one hour.

The state bird of Illinois is the cardinal. The state flower is the violet. The state tree is the white oak.

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