On Dec. 3, 1818, Illinois became the 21st state admitted to the United States.
Illinois is known as the “Land of Lincoln” in recognition of the years President Abraham Lincoln lived and built his political career in the state. Born in Kentucky, Lincoln moved to Illinois in 1830 and lived there for three decades until he was elected President of the United States (the first Republican to win the White House). While in Illinois, Lincoln met his wife, Mary Todd, in Springfield; worked as a postmaster and county surveyor in New Salem; practiced law in Springfield; served four terms in the Illinois House of Representatives and one term in the U.S. House of Representatives (as the state’s lone Whig Party delegate); and won the 1860 presidential election.
“You really can’t think of Illinois without thinking about Abraham Lincoln,” said Illinois Rep. Sonya Harper, who represents the 6th District and is a 2022 CSG Toll Fellow. “He was in Illinois through many of the most important times of his life, which you can learn about at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. It’s big and gorgeous — it takes up two city blocks — and it walks you through his life. And I love the focus the museum puts on slavery and how it affected Lincoln and our state. It’s really a wonderful place.”
Historically, Illinois has enjoyed a reputation as a transportation hub. The state has the third-highest total of interstate routes and miles in the nation. It’s home to O’Hare International Airport, one of the world’s busiest airports. The state also operates as a hub for both Amtrak’s national passenger rail routes as well as for North American freight rail. Not only that, Chicago served as the eastern starting point of the iconic U.S. Route 66 roadway, which opened in 1926 and was the primary automotive route to the American west, stretching some 2,448 miles and terminating in Santa Monica, California.
“If America moves, chances are it passes through Illinois,” Harper said. “It’s why Illinois has been known as ‘America’s Crossroads’ because it’s easy to get anywhere from here, given that we sit smackdab in the middle of the country.”
Chicago, home to 2.7 million people, is one of the nation’s great cities. The city was the site of the first modern skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, which rose ten stories and was completed in 1885. A century later, it boasted the world’s tallest building: the 110-story Sears Tower (renamed the Willis Tower in 2009), which was completed in 1973 and held the distinction for nearly 25 years (although, currently, it’s no longer among the world’s top 25 tallest buildings).
“When I was in college, I worked at the Sears Tower on the top floor at the Sears Tower Sky Deck, where visitors could look out over the city,” Harper said. “It was one of the best jobs I ever had — I had the best view every day, and I got to greet people from all over the world.”
Chicago also has a rich history in the arts. The city is home to The Art Institute of Chicago, which houses one of the world’s most expansive collections of Impressionist paintings. It’s also the birthplace of improvisational comedy, thanks to The Second City theater, which famously launched the careers of many a comedy star, including Joan Rivers, Bill Murray, John Belushi, Chris Farley, Tiny Fey, Stephen Colbert and Amy Poehler.
While jazz was born in New Orleans, it’s said the art form grew up in Chicago. African Americans, fleeing oppression in the South, migrated to the city during the early 1900s, bringing jazz music with them. Settling on the city’s South Side, many gravitated to the Bronzeville neighborhood, which enjoyed a vibrant night district, regularly featuring a veritable Who’s Who of American jazz icons, including Louis Armstrong, Nat “King” Cole, Count Basie, Herbie Hancock and Ella Fitzgerald.
“I’m proud to represent Chicago’s South Side, which was home to the blues, gospel and even house music,” Harper said. “There was so much happening there during that time, whether at the Parkway Ballroom, The Forum or The Sunset Café, all these venues where people were experimenting with forms of musical expression. Bronzeville really was this Black metropolis.”
Illinois also is famous for its food, namely culinary staples that have become synonymous with Chicago: deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs (loaded with tomatoes, pickles, mustard, relish and onions), Italian beef sandwiches, and Garrett’s popcorn (famous for its mix of cheddar and caramel flavors).
“If you haven’t had Garrett’s popcorn, you’re missing out because it’s the best ever, especially when it’s fresh,” Harper added.
Economically, Illinois is led by its agriculture sector. The state consistently ranks among the top producers of pumpkins, corn and soybeans. Additionally, it produces about 95% of the world’s horseradish, Harper said. Those agricultural roots extend past the farmland, she added, noting that she’s thrilled to see a growing number of personal gardens cropping up around her home city of Chicago.
“We’re seeing a new generation of young people and community farmers reconnecting with our agricultural heritage through gardening,” Harper said. “It’s wonderful, and I love to see it.”