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The State of Illinois is a state of the United States of America and the 21st state admitted to the Union. Illinois is the most populous state in the Midwest and the fifth most populous in the nation, and has a large and cosmopolitan population. Its balance of vast suburbs and the great metropolis of Chicago in the northeast, rural areas, small industrial cities, and renowned agricultural productivity in central and western Illinois, and the coal mines of the south give it a highly diverse economic base. Its central location, connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River via the Illinois River, made it a transportation hub for 150 years. It is this mixture of factory and farm, of urban and rural, that makes Illinois a microcosm of the United States.
About 2,000 Native American hunters and a small number of French villagers inhabited the area at the time of the American Revolution. American settlers began arriving from Kentucky in the 1810s; they achieved statehood in 1818. Yankees arrived a little later and dominated the north, founding the future metropolis of Chicago in the 1830s. The coming of the railroads in the 1850s made highly profitable the rich prairie farmlands in central Illinois, attracting large numbers of immigrant farmers from Germany and Sweden. Northern Illinois provided major support for Illinoisans Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant during the American Civil War. By 1900, factories were being rapidly built in the northern cities, along with coal mines in central and southern areas. This industrialization attracted large numbers of immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe, and also led to the state's material contribution as a major arsenal in both world wars. In addition to immigrants from Europe, large numbers of blacks left the cotton fields of the South to come to Chicago, where they developed a famous jazz culture.

 

Of Interest

News from The Chigago Tribune

Injured Cicero firefighter struggles with pain and finances

Mar 11, 2010 4:26 pm

Man severely hurt in fire that killed 7 must also deal with caring for daughter with Sandhoff disease Shawn A...

 

Blagojevich does Letterman's Top Ten

Mar 11, 2010 5:59 am

 

Young immigrants declare illegal status

Mar 11, 2010 3:10 am

Overcoming their fear of deportation, a group of college-age immigrants publicly admitted their undocumented status at a rally at the Federal Plaza on Wednesday in hopes of putting a face on the need ...

 

Senate candidate Kirk shows his tax returns

Mar 11, 2010 3:09 am

GOP Senate nominee made more than $232,000 in 2008 according to joint filing Republican Senate nominee Mark K...

 

Daley's choice for lieutenant governor

Mar 11, 2010 2:58 am

Mayor says Democratic primary’s second-place finisher should fill spot vacated by Cohen Mayor Richa...

 

Beyond 'up against the wall'

Mar 11, 2010 1:54 am

Chicago teaching its recruit safer techniques Chicago teaching its recruit safer techniques.

 

CTA bus riders flock to rail

Mar 11, 2010 1:43 am

Service cuts push up ridership on rapid-transit lines Thousands of CTA riders frustrated by long waits and cr...

 
 

News from the Chicago Sun-Times

1 killed, homes damaged in Arkansas tornadoes

Mar 11, 2010 10:00 am

Authorities say one person was killed in the tornadoes that struck parts of Arkansas. Cleburne County Sheriff Marty Moss said Thursday that one person died, but he declined to identify the victim or...

 

Republicans call for Eric Massa ethics probe to be reopened

Mar 11, 2010 10:00 am

WASHINGTON -- House Minority Leader John Boehner said Thursday he wants the ethics panel probe of former Rep. Eric Massa reopened to find out what Democratic leaders and their staff knew about the all...

 

Kansas City to close nearly half of its schools, fire teachers

Mar 11, 2010 10:00 am

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Facing potential bankruptcy, the board that governs the once flush-with-cash Kansas City school district is taking the unusual and contentious step of shuttering almost half its s...

 

Whitney Young teacher's 1st novel wins top award

Mar 11, 2010 10:00 am

Rising at dawn to write every day for eight years. Having to lop off 150 pages from your manuscript because the writing isn't quite working. Shedding tears in the assistant principal's office because ...

 

Over 12 people report falling ill at Pilsen medical facility

Mar 11, 2010 10:00 am

At least a dozen people were evaluated Thursday morning after complaining of becoming ill at a medical facility in the Near South Side Pilsen neighborhood.

 

Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper to partner with Roe Conn on WLS

Mar 11, 2010 10:00 am

WLS-AM (890) announced today that Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper will partner with Roe Conn on his afternoon drive radio show, beginning April 12.

 

Gov: Tax hike for education, billions in spending cuts

Mar 11, 2010 10:00 am

Uncorking a risky election-year gambit, Gov. Quinn on Wednesday proposed a 33 percent increase in the state income tax to avoid "sacrificing the future of a generation of children." Quinn's ...

 

Sun-Times teams to help disadvantaged youth

Mar 11, 2010 10:00 am

Disadvantaged Chicagoans between the ages of 17 and 24 will get a leg up on their post-secondary education under a new program being launched by the Chicago Sun-Times Charity Trust and Jobs For Youth/...

 

How education might suffer if income tax increase fails

Mar 11, 2010 10:00 am

Gov. Quinn's bid to raise the state income tax from 3 percent to 4 percent would avert $1.3 billion in cuts he otherwise vowed to make to public schools, community colleges and universities.

 

Former planner testifies in Boender bribery trial

Mar 11, 2010 10:00 am

A former planner with the city of Chicago testified in the bribery trial of Calvin Boender this morning that Mayor Daley wanted Galewood Yards, a 50-acre swath of open land, turned into a manufacturin...

 
 

Illinois News from BigNewsNetwork.com

More Big Quakes Hit Chile As New President Takes Over

Mar 11, 2010 6:49 pm

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — A series of strong aftershocks from last month's devastating quake rocked Chile on Thursday as a new president was sworn into office and immediately urged coa...

 

Merlin Olsen, Football Hall Of Famer, Tv Actor Has Died

Mar 11, 2010 6:49 pm

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Pro Football Hall of Famer and former television actor Merlin Olsen has died. He was 69. Utah State, Olsen's alma mater, said he died outside of Los Angeles e...

 

Chicago Developer Said He Had A Deal, Official Testifies

Mar 11, 2010 6:44 pm

ASSOCIATED PRESS CHICAGO -- A former Chicago planning official says a millionaire developer blew up angrily and said he didn't need to talk with her because he had a deal with an alderman....

 

Former Planner Testifies In Boender Bribery Trial

Mar 11, 2010 6:44 pm

NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reporter A former planner with the city of Chicago testified in the bribery trial of Calvin Boender this morning that Mayor Daley wanted Galewood Yards, a 50-acre swa...

 

Cadmium Probe Causes More Jewelry Recalls

Mar 11, 2010 6:44 pm

ASSOCIATED PRESS OS ANGELES -- Federal regulators are recalling more children's jewelry due to high levels of the toxic metal cadmium.This time it's charm bracelets with a "R...

 

Developer Said He Had A Deal, Official Testifies

Mar 11, 2010 6:30 pm

Chicago planning official says a millionaire developer blew up angrily and said he didn't need to talk with her because he had a deal with an alderman.

 

Biggest Aftershock Hits Chile On Inauguration Day

Mar 11, 2010 6:28 pm

Paraguay's President Fernando Lugo, right, next to Bolivia's President Evo Morales, center, look up as they react during a aftershock as Chile´s President Sebastian Pinera ...

 

Local Team Marches On In March Madness

Mar 11, 2010 6:26 pm

Students and faculty at Peoria Manual High School cheered on their team Thursday morning. The Manual Rams win Monday night sends them to the state championship games played right in their home town. ...

 

Cat May Build New U.s. Plant

Mar 11, 2010 6:26 pm

It could be a sign of an improving U.S. economy; Caterpillar is contemplating on adding more workers in the U.S. and maybe even building a new plant.

 

Play The Bracket Challenge--and Win!

Mar 11, 2010 5:59 pm

Do you know basketball? Actually, even if you don't, you probably have as good a chance as the next guy/girl to win our Bracket Challenge. Register now and come back and make your pic...

 
 

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Maple Valley Hometown America   IL

Our beautiful 55+ community is filled with friendly folks who take pride in their homes and care about their neighbors. Many of Maple Valley’s two- to three-bedroom homes have garages and have attractive landscaping. The community’s common grounds are

 

Willow Lake Estates - ELS   IL

Located in the Fox River Valley, Willow Lake Estates is a beautifully landscaped community featuring ...