Illinois Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.state.il.us/

Income

The population of Illinois in 2002 was 12,586,447. Its rank was 5th in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Illinois had a per capita personal income of $33,053. This per capita personal income ranked 10th in the United States and was 107 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 0.8 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Illinois was $22,550 and ranked 10th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 3.9 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Illinois had a total personal income of $416,018,465. This total personal income ranked 5th in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Illinois was $263,702,045 and ranked 5th in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 1.4 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 4.7 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Illinois. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 68.9 percent of total personal income (compared with 68.8 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 18.4 percent (compared with 18.8 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 12.6 percent (compared with 12.4 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 0.4 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 0.2 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 9.0 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 4.7 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 4.5 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 4.8 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Illinois increased from $321,053,298 in 2001 to $322,805,249 in 2002, an increase of 0.5 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $203,494,106 to the 2002 estimate was 4.7 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Illinois ranks 25th in size among the states of the Union, with an area of 150,007 sq km (57,918 sq mi). That includes 1942 sq km (750 sq mi) of inland water and 4079 sq km (1575 sq mi) of Lake Michigan over which the state has jurisdiction. The greatest north-to-south dimension of the state is 610 km (379 mi), and the greatest east-to-west distance is 343 km (213 mi). The mean elevation is about 180 m (about 600 ft).

Climate - The climate of Illinois is characterized by warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters. In winter polar air masses move south or southeast across the state from Canada, bringing cold and crisp weather. In summer warm air masses move up from the Gulf of Mexico, and the weather is often hot and muggy. Lake Michigan tempers the summer heat somewhat for Chicago and other cities along its shores and also delays the date of the first fall frosts nearby. Average July temperatures increase from about 24°C (about 75° F) in northeastern Illinois to more than 26° C (79° F) in the south, which is the hottest part of the state. During the summer, daytime highs average about 30° C (about 86° F) at Chicago and about 32° C (about 90° F) at East Saint Louis, where a temperature of 47° C (117° F) has been recorded. Summer nights are usually warm throughout the state, ranging from about 19° C (about 66° F) in the north to about 21° C (about 69° F) in the south. January averages range from less than -4° C (24° F) in the northwest to more than 1° C (34° F) in the south. Chicago has an average January temperature of -5° C (23° F). In the north freezing temperatures occur 140 to 145 days a year. Precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) generally increases from north to south. Average precipitation for the state as a whole is about 940 mm (about 37 in) a year. The south is the wettest part of the state, with about 1220 mm (about 48 in) of precipitation a year in places. The driest sections are in the north, where a few places average about 810 mm (about 32 in). Most precipitation falls in the form of rain, especially thundershowers, in late spring and summer, when it is most needed for crops. Damaging hailstorms sometimes occur in summer, and violent windstorms occasionally sweep across the state during the early spring months. Tornadoes may occur in any time of the year. Snowfall is often heavy in the north but is usually light in the south.

State Flag

State Flower - Purple Violet

State Capitol - Springfield
Illinois' first constitution was adopted in 1818, at the time of statehood. There were new constitutions in 1848 and 1870. Although the constitution of 1870 was designed for an agrarian society, it remained in effect throughout Illinois' period of industrialization. A fourth constitution was adopted in 1970 and came into effect in 1971. The latest constitution reflects the concerns of a late-20th-century industrialized state. It includes an expanded bill of rights, which prohibits discrimination in housing and hiring, and guarantees the citizen's right to a healthful environment. It also establishes the state's responsibility for financing public education. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed by three-fifths of the total membership of each house or by a constitutional convention called by the legislature and approved by the voters. Amendments to the section of the constitution dealing with the legislature may be proposed by initiative. A proposed amendment must be placed on the ballot in the next general election. An amendment introduced by the state legislature or by initiative must be approved by three-fifths of those voting on it or a majority of those voting in the election. An amendment introduced by a constitutional convention needs approval only by a majority of those voting on the question.

Famous People

Alfred Wallenstein conductor, Chicago
Archibald MacLeish poet, Glencoe
Arnold O. Beckman inventor, Cullom
Benny Goodman musician, Chicago
Bill Murray actor, Wilmette
Black Hawk Sauk Indian chief
Bob Newhart actor, comedian, Chicago
Burl Ives singer, Hunt City
Carl Sandburg poet, Galesburg
Carl Van Doren writer, educator, Hope
Charlton Heston actor, Evanston
Cindy Crawford model, DeKalb
Clyde W. Tombaugh astronomer, Streator
David Mamet playwright, Chicago
Dorothy Hamill ice skater, Chicago
Edgar Rice Burroughs author, Chicago
Ernest Hemingway author, Oak Park
Florenz Ziegfield theatrical producer, Chicago
Frank Norris author, Chicago
Franklin Pierce Adams author, Chicago
George E. Hale astronomer, Chicago
Gillian Anderson actress, Chicago
Gloria Swanson actress, Chicago
Gower Champion choreographer, Geneva
Harrison Ford actor, Chicago
Harry A. Blackmun jurist, Nashville
Homer Z. Martin inventor, Chicago
Irving Wallace author, Chicago
Jack Benny comedian, Chicago
James Gould Cozzens author, Chicago
James Jones author, Robinson
James T. Farrell author, Chicago
Jane Addams social worker, Cedarville
Jennie Garth actress, Urbana
Jimmy Connors tennis champion, East St. Louis
John Chancellor TV commentator, Chicago
John Dos Passos author, Chicago
John G. Neihardt poet, Sharpsburg
John Gunther author, Chicago
John M. Harlan jurist, Chicago
Lewis Hastings Sarett inventor, Champaign
Marvin Camras inventor, Chicago
Mary Astor actress, Quincy
McLean Stevenson actor, Bloomington
Melvin Van Peebles playwright, Chicago
Miles Davis musician, Alton
Preston Sturges director, Chicago
Quincy Jones composer, Chicago
Raquel Welch actress, Chicago
Ray Bradbury author, Waukegan
Raymond Chandler writer, Chicago
Richard J. Daley mayor, Chicago
Richard Pryor comedian, actor, Peoria
Robert A. Millikan physicist, Morrison
Rock Hudson actor, Winnetka
Ronald Reagan U.S. president, actor, Tampico
Sam Shepard playwright, Fort Sheridan
Sherrill Milnes baritone, Downers Grove
Stanley Mazor inventor, Chicago
Walt Disney film animator, producer, Chicago
Walter Kerr drama critic, Evanston
Wild Bill Hickok scout, Troy Grove
William E. Borah public official, Fairfield
William Holden actor, O'Fallon
William Jennings Bryan orator, politician, Salem
William L. Shirer author, historian, Chicago
William S. Paley broadcasting executive, Chicago