View source for User:Redwolf24/Vandals

#{{User|Redwolf24isgay}} Blocked by: [[User:Evil Monkey|Evil Monkey]]
#{{User|Redwolf24isafag}} Blocked by: Evil Monkey
#{{User|Redwolf24isahomo}} Blocked by: [[User:Dbiv|David]]
#{{User|NickBush24isgay}} Blocked by: Evil Monkey, [[User:Radiant!|Radiant!]]
#{{User|NickBush24isafag}} Blocked by: Evil Monkey
#{{User|Mickey654}} Blocked by: [[User:Jwrosenzweig|Jwrosenzweig]], [[User:Redwolf24|Redwolf24]], [[User:Essjay|Essjay]]
#{{User|Mickey655}} Blocked by: Redwolf24
#{{User|Mickey656}} Blocked by: [[User:Antandrus|Antandrus]]
#{{User|Mickey657}} Blocked by: [[User:Zscout370|Zscout370]], Essjay
#{{User|R℮dwolf24}} Blocked by: [[User:SlimVirgin|SlimVirgin]], [[User:El C|El C]]
#{{User|RedwoIf24}} Blocked by: [[User:Finlay McWalter|Finlay McWalter]]
#{{User|RedWoIf24}} Blocked by: [[User:Cyrius|Cyrius]]

And here's a treat! From the deleted page (as a hoax) [[Republic of Illinois]] (where by the way I first met [[User:Y0u|Y0u]]). Look how well written it is!

<!-- Please do not remove or change this VfD message until the issue is settled -->
<div class="boilerplate metadata" id="vfd" style="margin: 0 5%; padding: 0 7px 7px 7px; background: #EDF1F1; border: 1px solid #999999; text-align: left; font-size:95%;">
'''This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedia's [[Wikipedia:Deletion policy|deletion policy]][[Template:Vfd|.]]'''<br />
Please vote on and discuss the matter. See '''[[Wikipedia:Votes for deletion/{{PAGENAME}}|this article's entry]]''' on the Votes for Deletion page.<br />
You are welcome to edit this article, but please do not blank, merge, or move this article, or remove this notice, while the discussion is in progress. For more information, read the [[Wikipedia:Guide to Votes for deletion|Guide to ''Votes for Deletion'']].</div>
<!-- End of VfD message, feel free to edit beyond this point -->

{{current}}

The '''Republic of Illinois''' is a country in [[North America]].  Initially a [[soverign]] [[state]] within the [[United States of America]], it declared its independance in [[2005]] from the [[federal government]] on [[July]] 14th.  Illinois is a [[democracy|democratic]] [[constitution]]al [[federal republic]] of one hundred and two [[provinces]].  Located in central [[North America]], the Republic of Illinois is primarily an [[enclave]] of the [[United States of America]], having only a short border on the contested [[Lake Michigan|Midwestern Ocean]].  Illinois, much like [[South Africa]], has opted for not one but many [[Capitols]].  [[Springfield, Illinois]] (located in [[Sangamon County, Illinois|Sangamon Province]]) serves as the [[nation|nations]] [[executive]] and [[legislative]] capitol, [[Chicago, Illinois]] (located in [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook Province]]) serves as the [[economic]] capitol, and [[Champaign, Illinois]] (located in [[Champaign County, Illinois|Champaign Province]] serves as the [[judicial]] capitol.

{{Infobox Country |
native_name = The Republic of Illinois |
common_name = Illinois |
image_flag = Illinois state flag.png |
image_coat = Illinois state seal.png|20px |
national_motto = <br>''Soverignty above Union'' ([[2005]]&ndash;present) |
image_map = Illinois-map-straight-lg.jpg |
national_anthem = ''[[Above the prairie]]'' |
official_languages = [[English language|English]] [[de facto]] |
capital = [[Springfield, Illinois]], [[Chicago, Illinois]], [[Champaign, Illinois]]|
government_type =  [[Democracy|Democratic]] [[federal republic]] |
leader_titles = [[President]]<br>[[Vice President]] |
leader_names = [[Rod Blagojevich]]<br>None, assassinated |
largest_city = [[Chicago]] |
area = 149,998&nbsp|
area_rank = 92nd|
area_magnitude = 1 E12|
percent_water = 4.00% |
population_estimate = 12,419,293 |
population_estimate_year = July 2005 |
population_estimate_rank = 67th |
population_census = 12,419,293 |
population_census_year = 2000 |
population_density = 86.27 |
population_density_rank = 83rd |
GDP_PPP_year = 2005 |
GDP_PPP = $528,904 million |
GDP_PPP_rank = 22nd |
GDP_PPP_per_capita = $32,965 |
GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 10th |
sovereignty_type = [[Independence]] |
established_events = &nbsp;- Declared<br>&nbsp;- Unrecognized<br><br>[['''Constitution''']]<br>&nbsp;- completed<br>&nbsp;- ratified<br>&nbsp;- effective|
established_dates = From [[United States]]<br> [[July 14]], [[2005]]<br>pending<br><br><br>
[[July 4th]], [[2005]]<br>[[July 10th]], [[2005]]<br>[[July 14th]], [[2005]]|
currency = [[United States dollar|US dollar]] ([[$]]) |
currency_code = USD |
time_zone = |
utc_offset = -6 |
time_zone_DST = |
utc_offset_DST = -5 |
cctld = [[.gov]] [[.edu]] [[.mil]] [[.us]] [[.um]] |
calling_code = 1 |
footnotes=|
}}<!--

END INFOBOX

-->

==Current Situation==
Details are sketchy at the moment, but the new republic is entering into an increasing state of panic over the secession of Illinois from the Union.

==Independance==
'''Illinois''' declared independance from the [[United States of America]] in [[July]] of [[2005]].  The state has organized its military and expects resistance from its formal [[colonial]] [[rulers]].  As of yet no official response to this move has been made by the [[USA]], and the fledgling nation has yet to be recognized by foreign powers.

== History ==
===Pre-Columbian===
[[Cahokia]], the urban center of the pre-Columbian [[Mississippian culture]], was located near present-day [[Collinsville, Illinois]].  That civilization vanished circa 1400-1500 for unknown reasons.  The next major power in the region was the [[Illiniwek]] Confederation, a political alliance among several tribes.  The Illiniwek gave Illinois its name.  The Illini suffered in the seventeenth century as [[Iroquois]] expansion forced them to compete with several tribes for land.  The Ilini were replaced in Illinois by the [[Potawatomi]], [[Miami]], [[Sauk]], and other tribes.

===European exploration===
[[France|French]] explorers [[Jacques Marquette]],S.J. and [[Louis Joliet]] explored the Illinois River in [[1673]].  As a result of their exploration, Illinois was part of the French empire until [[1763]], when it passed to the British.  The area was ceded to the new United States in [[1783]] and became part of the [[Northwest Territory]].

===The 1800s===
The [[Illinois-Wabash Company]] was an early claimant to much of Illinois.  The [[Illinois Territory]] was created on [[February 3]], [[1809]]. In [[1818]], Illinois became the 21st U.S. state.  Early U.S. settlement began in the south part of the state and quickly spread northward, driving out the native residents.  With the [[1832]] [[Black Hawk War]], the last native tribes were driven out of northern Illinois.

Illinois is known as the "Land of [[Abraham Lincoln|Lincoln]]" because it is here that the 16th [[President of the United States|President]] spent his formative years. [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]] gained prominence as a [[canal]] port after [[1848]], and as a rail hub soon afterward. By 1857, Chicago was Illinois' largest city (see [[History of Chicago]]).

===The Civil War===
During the Civil War, over 250,000 Illinois men served in the Union Army, more than any other northern state except New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Beginning with President Lincoln's first call for troops and continuing throughout the war, Illinois mustered 150 infantry regiments (see [[Illinois in the Civil War]]), which were numbered from the 7th IL to the 156th IL. Seventeen cavalry regiments were also mustered, as well as two light artillery regiments. 

==Government==
[[Image:Ilolluds.jpg|thumb|right|The sample version of the current [[Illinois]] [[license plate]] introduced in 2001.]]
The state government of Illinois is modeled after the federal government with adaptations originating from traditions cultivated during the state's frontier era.  As codified in the state constitution, there are three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial.  The executive branch is led by the [[Governor of Illinois]].  Legislative functions are given to the [[Illinois General Assembly]], comprised of the 118-member [[Illinois State House of Representatives]] and the 59-member [[Illinois State Senate]].  The judiciary is comprised of the state [[supreme court]], which oversees the lower [[court of appeals|appelate court]]s and [[circuit court]]s.

*The '''[[Governor of Illinois]]''' is [[Rod Blagojevich]] ([[Democratic Party of the United States|Democrat]])
*The '''[[Lieutenant Governor of Illinois]]''' is [[Pat Quinn (politician)|Pat Quinn]] ([[Democratic Party of the United States|Democrat]])
*The '''[[Secretary of State of Illinois]]''' is [[Jesse White]] ([[Democratic Party of the United States|Democrat]])
*The '''[[Treasurer of Illinois]]''' is [[Judy Baar Topinka]] ([[Republican Party of the United States|Republican]])
*The '''[[United States Senate|Senior United States Senator]]''' is [[Richard J. Durbin]] ([[Democratic Party of the United States|Democrat]])
*The '''[[United States Senate|Junior United States Senator]]''' is [[Barack Obama]] ([[Democratic Party of the United States|Democrat]])

As the birthplace of the Republican party, the GOP was long dominant in Illinois.  This has changed and the state has supported Democratic presidential candidates in the last four elections.  John Kerry easily won the state's 21 electoral votes in 2004 by a margin of 11 percentage points with 54.8% of the vote.  It is the most liberal of the midwestern states.  Republicans dominate most of the state's rural areas, especially in the southeast, and the suburban counties of Chicago.  Barack Obama is the only black U.S. Senator.

== Geography ==
''See [[List of Illinois counties]]''

It is in the north-central U.S. and borders on [[Lake Michigan]].  Surrounding states are [[Wisconsin]] to the north, [[Iowa]] and [[Missouri]] to the west, [[Kentucky]] to the south, and [[Indiana]] to the east. Illinois also borders Michigan, but only via a water boundary in Lake Michigan.

Illinois has three major geographical divisions. The first is [[Chicagoland]], including the city of [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], its suburbs, and the adjoining exurban area into which the metropolis is expanding. This region includes a few counties in Indiana and Wisconsin and streches across much of the Northern Illinois toward the Iowa border, generally along and north of [[Interstate 80]]. This region is cosmopolitan, densely populated, industrialized, and settled by a variety of ethnic groups.  The city of Chicago is heavily [[Democratic]].  While this tendency has historically been balanced by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] voters in the suburbs, Democrats have significantly increased their suburban support in the past decade.

Southward and westward, the second major division is Central Illinois, an area of rolling hills and flat [[prairie]].  Known as the Land of [[Lincoln]], it is characterized by small towns and mid-sized cities.  Agriculture, particularly [[maize|corn]] and [[soybeans]], figures prominently.  Major cities include famously average [[Peoria]], [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfied]] (the state capital), and [[Champaign]]-[[Urbana]] (home of the [[University of Illinois]]).  This region's largely rural character helps to sustain a heavily Republican voting pattern and widespread antipathy toward Chicago. 

The third division is Southern Illinois, or [[Little Egypt (region)|Little Egypt]], distinguished from the other two by its warmer climate, different mix of crops (including some [[cotton]] farming in the past), more rugged unglaciated topography, [[coal]] mining, and proximity to the juncture of the [[Mississippi River]] and [[Ohio River]].  The combination of coal mining and industrialization, especially in the region around [[Saint Louis]], [[Missouri]], has caused the region to lean Democratic politically. This division comprises the area generally along and south of [[Interstate 70]].

[[McLean County]] is the largest county in terms of land area, at 1,184 sq mi., while [[Cook County]] is the largest county in terms of population, at 5,327,777. Both figures are as of [[2004]].

In extreme northwestern Illinois the [[Driftless Zone]], a region of unglaciated and therefore comparatively higher and more rugged topography, occupies a small part of the state.

== Economy ==
[[Image:Illinoisquarter2003 geraldfarinas.PNG|right|Illinois Quarter]]
The 2003 total [[gross state product]] for Illinois was $499 billion, placing it 5<sup>th</sup> in the nation. The per capita income was $32,965.

Illinois' agricultural outputs are corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, dairy products and wheat. Its industrial outputs are machinery, food processing, electrical equipment, chemical products, publishing, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, petroleum and coal.

== Demographics ==

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of [[2003]], the population of Illinois was 12,653,544. At the northern edge of the state on Lake Michigan lies Chicago, the nation's third largest city. In 2000, 23.3% of the population lived in the city of Chicago, 43.3% in Cook county and 65.6% in the Illinois's part of the [[Chicagoland]] the leading industrial and transportation center in the region. The rest of the population lives in the smaller cities and on the farms that dot the state's gently rolling plains.

The racial makeup of the state is as follows:
*67.8% [[Whites|White]]
*15.1% [[Blacks|Black]]
*12.3% [[Hispanics|Hispanic]]
*3.4% [[Asian American|Asian]]
*0.2% [[American Indian]]
*1.9% [[Mixed Race]]

The top 5 ancestry groups in Illinois are [[German-American|German]] (19.6%), [[African American]] (15.1%), [[Ireland|Irish]] (12.2%), [[Mexico|Mexican]] (9.2%), [[Polish-American|Polish]] (7.5%).

German-Americans dominate most of Illinois, especially in the Saint Louis area.  Blacks predominate in the city of Chicago, East St. Louis, and the southern tip of the state.  Residents of American and British ancestry are concentrated in the southeastern part of the state.  Metropolitan Chicago has the greatest numbers of Irish, Mexican, and Polish residents.

7.1% of Illinois' population were reported as under 5, 26.1% under 18, and 12.1% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 51% of the population.

===Religion===
Protestants are the largest religious group in Illinois, however unlike the other Midwestern states Illinois is not overwhelmingly Protestant (Less than half of the people consider themselves Protestants). Roman Catholics, who are heavily concentrated in and around Chicago, account for almost 30% of the population.

The religious affiliations of the people of Illinois are:
*[[Christianity|Christian]] &#8211; 78%
**[[Protestant]] &#8211; 48%
***[[Baptist]] (African American and American) &#8211; 12%
***[[Lutheran]] &#8211; 7%
***[[Methodist]] &#8211; 7%
***[[Presbyterian]] &#8211; 3%
***Other Protestant &#8211; 19%
**[[Roman Catholic]] &#8211; 29%
**Other Christian &#8211; 1%
*Other Religions &#8211; 4%
*Non-Religious &#8211; 18%

== Important cities and towns ==
[[Image:National-atlas-illinois.png|thumb|300px|right|Illinois, showing major cities and roads]]
[[Image:Chicago-Illinois-USA-skyline-day.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Chicago]]
[[List of towns and villages in Illinois|See complete listing here...]]
{| border="0" style="font-size: small;"
|valign="top"|
Population > 1,000,000
*[[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]]

Population > 100,000

*[[Aurora, Illinois|Aurora]]
*[[Joliet, Illinois|Joliet]]
*[[Naperville, Illinois|Naperville]]
*[[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]]
*[[Rockford, Illinois|Rockford]]
*[[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]] (state capital)
|valign="top"|
Important Suburbs of Chicago
*[[Addison, Illinois|Addison]]
*[[Arlington Heights, Illinois|Arlington Heights]]
*[[Aurora, Illinois|Aurora]]
*[[Berwyn, Illinois|Berwyn]]
*[[Bolingbrook, Illinois|Bolingbrook]]
*[[Buffalo Grove, Illinois|Buffalo Grove]]
*[[Carol Stream, Illinois|Carol Stream]]
*[[Carpentersville, Illinois|Carpentersville]]
*[[Cicero, Illinois|Cicero]]
*[[Crystal Lake, Illinois|Crystal Lake]]
*[[Des Plaines, Illinois|Des Plaines]]
*[[Downers Grove, Illinois|Downers Grove]]
*[[Elgin, Illinois|Elgin]]
*[[Elk Grove Village, Illinois|Elk Grove Village]]
*[[Elmhurst, Illinois|Elmhurst]]
*[[Evanston, Illinois|Evanston]]
*[[Glendale Heights, Illinois|Glendale Heights]]
*[[Glenview, Illinois|Glenview]]
*[[Hoffman Estates, Illinois|Hoffman Estates]]
*[[Joliet, Illinois|Joliet]]
*[[La Grange, Illinois|La Grange]]
*[[Lemont, Illinois|Lemont]]
*[[Mount Prospect, Illinois|Mount Prospect]]
*[[Naperville, Illinois|Naperville]]
*[[Northbrook, Illinois|Northbrook]]
*[[Oak Lawn, Illinois|Oak Lawn]]
*[[Oak Park, Illinois|Oak Park]]
*[[Orland Park, Illinois|Orland Park]]
|valign=top|
*[[Oswego, Illinois|Oswego]]
*[[Palatine, Illinois|Palatine]]
*[[Park Ridge, Illinois|Park Ridge]]
*[[Round Lake Beach, Illinois|Round Lake Beach]]
*[[Schaumburg, Illinois|Schaumburg]]
*[[Skokie, Illinois|Skokie]]
*[[St. Charles, Illinois|St. Charles]]
*[[Tinley Park, Illinois|Tinley Park]]
*[[Waukegan, Illinois|Waukegan]]
*[[Western Springs, Illinois|Western Springs]]
*[[Wheaton, Illinois|Wheaton]]
*[[Wheeling, Illinois|Wheeling]]

of [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]]
*[[Belleville, Illinois|Belleville]]
*[[Collinsville, Illinois|Collinsville]]
*[[East St. Louis, Illinois|East Saint Louis]]
*[[Edwardsville, Illinois|Edwardsville]]
*[[Granite City, Illinois|Granite City]]
*[[O'Fallon, Illinois|O'Fallon]]

of [[Rockford, Illinois|Rockford]]
*[[Loves Park, Illinois|Loves Park]]
*[[Machesney Park, Illinois|Machesney Park]]

of [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]]
*[[East Peoria, Illinois|East Peoria]]
*[[Morton, Illinois|Morton]]
*[[Pekin, Illinois|Pekin]]
*[[Washington, Illinois|Washington]]
|valign="top"|
Other cities > 10,000 population
*[[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]]
*[[Urbana, Illinois|Urbana]]
*[[Bloomington, Illinois|Bloomington]]
*[[Normal, Illinois|Normal]]
*[[East Moline, Illinois|East Moline]]
*[[Moline, Illinois|Moline]]
*[[Rock Island, Illinois|Rock Island]]
*[[Decatur, Illinois|Decatur]]
*[[Alton, Illinois|Alton]]
*[[Bellwood, Illinois|Bellwood]]
*[[Kankakee, Illinois|Kankakee]]
*[[DeKalb, Illinois|DeKalb]]
*[[Danville, Illinois|Danville]]
*[[Quincy, Illinois|Quincy]]
*[[Galesburg, Illinois|Galesburg]]
*[[Sterling, Illinois|Sterling]]
*[[Peru, Illinois|Peru]]
*[[Freeport, Illinois|Freeport]]
*[[Carbondale, Illinois|Carbondale]]
*[[Jacksonville, Illinois|Jacksonville]]
*[[Charleston, Illinois|Charleston]]
*[[Centralia, Illinois|Centralia]]
*[[Ottawa, Illinois|Ottawa]]
|valign=top|
*[[Woodstock, Illinois|Woodstock]]
*[[Herrin, Illinois|Herrin]]
*[[Mattoon, Illinois|Mattoon]]
*[[Macomb, Illinois|Macomb]]
*[[Streator, Illinois|Streator]]
*[[Lincoln, Illinois|Lincoln]]
*[[Dixon, Illinois|Dixon]]
*[[Mount Vernon, Illinois|Mount Vernon]]
*[[Marion, Illinois|Marion]]
*[[Canton, Illinois|Canton]]
*[[Rantoul, Illinois|Rantoul]]
*[[Effingham, Illinois|Effingham]]
*[[Taylorville, Illinois|Taylorville]]
*[[Morris, Illinois|Morris]]
*[[Murphysboro, Illinois|Murphysboro]]
*[[Kewanee, Illinois|Kewanee]]
*[[Sandwich, Illinois|Sandwich]]
*[[Pontiac, Illinois|Pontiac]]
*[[Harrisburg, Illinois|Harrisburg]]
*[[Braidwood, Illinois|Braidwood]]
*[[Monmouth, Illinois|Monmouth]]
|}

== Counties of Illinois ==

{| border="0" style="font-size: small;"
|valign="top"|

* [[Adams County, Illinois|Adams]]
*[[Alexander County, Illinois|Alexander]]
*[[Bond County, Illinois|Bond]]
*[[Boone County, Illinois|Boone]]
*[[Brown County, Illinois|Brown]]
*[[Bureau County, Illinois|Bureau]]
*[[Calhoun County, Illinois|Calhoun]]
*[[Carroll County, Illinois|Carroll]]
*[[Cass County, Illinois|Cass]]
*[[Champaign County, Illinois|Champaign]]
*[[Christian County, Illinois|Christian]]
*[[Clark County, Illinois|Clark]]
* [[Clay County, Illinois|Clay]]
* [[Clinton County, Illinois|Clinton]]
* [[Coles County, Illinois|Coles]]
* [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook]]
* [[Crawford County, Illinois|Crawford]]
* [[Cumberland County, Illinois|Cumberland]]
* [[DeKalb County, Illinois|DeKalb]]
* [[De Witt County, Illinois|De Witt]]
* [[Douglas County, Illinois|Douglas]]

|valign="top"|

* [[Du Page County, Illinois|Du Page]]
* [[Edgar County, Illinois|Edgar]]
* [[Edwards County, Illinois|Edwards]]
* [[Effingham County, Illinois|Effingham]]
* [[Fayette County, Illinois|Fayette]]
* [[Ford County, Illinois|Ford]]
* [[Franklin County, Illinois|Franklin]]
* [[Fulton County, Illinois|Fulton]]
* [[Gallatin County, Illinois|Gallatin]]
* [[Greene County, Illinois|Greene]]
* [[Grundy County, Illinois|Grundy]]
* [[Hamilton County, Illinois|Hamilton]]
* [[Hancock County, Illinois|Hancock]]
* [[Hardin County, Illinois|Hardin]]
* [[Henderson County, Illinois|Henderson]]
* [[Henry County, Illinois|Henry]]
* [[Iroquois County, Illinois|Iroquois]]
* [[Jackson County, Illinois|Jackson]]
* [[Jasper County, Illinois|Jasper]]
* [[Jefferson County, Illinois|Jefferson]]
* [[Jersey County, Illinois|Jersey]]

|valign="top"|

* [[Jo Daviess County, Illinois|Jo Daviess]]
* [[Johnson County, Illinois|Johnson]]
* [[Kane County, Illinois|Kane]]
* [[Kankakee County, Illinois|Kankakee]]
* [[Kendall County, Illinois|Kendall]]
* [[Knox County, Illinois|Knox]]
* [[Lake County, Illinois|Lake]]
* [[La Salle County, Illinois|La Salle]]
* [[Lawrence County, Illinois|Lawrence]]
* [[Lee County, Illinois|Lee]]
* [[Livingston County, Illinois|Livingston]]
* [[Logan County, Illinois|Logan]]
* [[McDonough County, Illinois|McDonough]]
* [[McHenry County, Illinois|McHenry]]
* [[McLean County, Illinois|McLean]]
* [[Macon County, Illinois|Macon]]
* [[Macoupin County, Illinois|Macoupin]]
* [[Madison County, Illinois|Madison]]
* [[Marion County, Illinois|Marion]]
* [[Marshall County, Illinois|Marshall]]

|valign="top"|

* [[Mason County, Illinois|Mason]]
* [[Massac County, Illinois|Massac]]
* [[Menard County, Illinois|Menard]]
* [[Mercer County, Illinois|Mercer]]
* [[Monroe County, Illinois|Monroe]]
* [[Montgomery County, Illinois|Montgomery]]
* [[Morgan County, Illinois|Morgan]]
* [[Moultrie County, Illinois|Moultrie]]
* [[Ogle County, Illinois|Ogle]]
* [[Peoria County, Illinois|Peoria]]
* [[Perry County, Illinois|Perry]]
* [[Piatt County, Illinois|Piatt]]
* [[Pike County, Illinois|Pike]]
* [[Pope County, Illinois|Pope]]
* [[Pulaski County, Illinois|Pulaski]]
* [[Putnam County, Illinois|Putnam]]
* [[Randolph County, Illinois|Randolph]]
* [[Richland County, Illinois|Richland]]
* [[Rock Island County, Illinois|Rock Island]]
* [[St. Clair County, Illinois|St. Clair]]

|valign="top"|

* [[Saline County, Illinois|Saline]]
* [[Sangamon County, Illinois|Sangamon]]
* [[Schuyler County, Illinois|Schuyler]]
* [[Scott County, Illinois|Scott]]
* [[Shelby County, Illinois|Shelby]]
* [[Stark County, Illinois|Stark]]
* [[Stephenson County, Illinois|Stephenson]]
* [[Tazewell County, Illinois|Tazewell]]
* [[Union County, Illinois|Union]] 
* [[Vermilion County, Illinois|Vermilion]]
* [[Wabash County, Illinois|Wabash]]
* [[Warren County, Illinois|Warren]]
* [[Washington County, Illinois|Washington]]
* [[Wayne County, Illinois|Wayne]]
* [[White County, Illinois|White]]
* [[Whiteside County, Illinois|Whiteside]]
* [[Will County, Illinois|Will]]
* [[Williamson County, Illinois|Williamson]]
* [[Winnebago County, Illinois|Winnebago]]
* [[Woodford County, Illinois|Woodford]]
|}

== Education ==

===Illinois State Board of Education===

The Illinois State Board of Education or ISBE, autonomous of the governor and the state legislature, administers [[public education]] in the state.  Local municipalities and their respective [[school district]]s operate individual public schools but the ISBE audits performance of public schools with an [[Illinois School Report Card|annual school report card]].  The ISBE also makes recommendations to state leaders concerning education spending and policies.

There is current debate as to the role of the ISBE and whether or not its autonomous relationship with the governor and the state legislature is appropriate.  In [[2002]], the Office of the Governor proposed the creation of a monolithic statewide department of education to replace the ISBE.  However, direct control of the new department would fall under the state governor's jurisdiction.  The structure would mimic the system employed by the [[Hawaii State Department of Education]], which has no local school districts.  Opponents to the proposal argue that local communities would lose control over what their children would learn in public schools and the means by which those public schools operate.

===Primary and secondary schools===

Education is compulsory from [[kindergarten]] through the twelfth grade in Illinois, commonly but not exclusively divided into three tiers of [[primary education|primary]] and [[secondary education]]: [[elementary school]], [[middle school]] or [[junior high school]] and [[high school]].  District territories are often complex in structure.  In some cases, elementary, middle and junior high schools of a single district feed into high schools in another district.

: ''See'' [[List of school districts in Illinois]] for a listing of all school districts, by county.
: ''See'' [[List of high schools in Illinois]] for a partial list of high schools.

===Colleges and universities===

While many students enter the military or join the workforce directly from high school, students have the option of applying to [[college]]s and [[university|universities]] in Illinois.  Notable Illinois institutions of [[higher education]] include [[Loyola University Chicago]], [[Northwestern University]], [[University of Chicago]] and the several branches of the [[University of Illinois]]. Illinois is also home to 49 colleges in the [[Illinois community college system]].

====List of colleges and universities====
{| border="0"
|valign="top"|
*[[Augustana College]]
*[[Aurora University]]
*[[Barat College]]
*[[Benedictine University]]
*[[Blackburn College]]
*[[Bradley University]]
*[[The Chicago School of Professional Psychology]]
*[[Chicago State University]]
*[[City Colleges of Chicago]] 
**[[Richard J. Daley College]]
**[[Harold Washington College]]
**[[Kennedy-King College]]
**[[Malcolm X College]]
**[[Olive-Harvey College]]
**[[Harry S Truman College]]
**[[Wilbur Wright College]]
*[[College of DuPage]]
*[[Columbia College]]
*[[Concordia University, River Forest]]
*[[DePaul University]]
*[[DeVry University, DuPage]]
*[[Dominican University]]
*[[East-West University]]
*[[Eastern Illinois University]]
*[[Elgin Community College]]
*[[Elmhurst College]]
*[[Erikson Institute]]
*[[Eureka College]]
*[[Governors State University]]
*[[Greenville College]]
*[[Illinois College]]
*[[Illinois Institute of Technology]]
*[[Illinois State University]]
*[[Illinois Wesleyan University]]
*[[Joliet Junior College]]
*[[Judson College]]
*[[Kendall College]]
*[[Knox College]]
*[[Lake Forest College]]
*[[Lakeview College of Nursing]]
*[[Lewis University]]
*[[Lincoln Christian College and Seminary]]
*[[Loyola University Chicago]]
*[[Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago]]
|valign="top"|
*[[McKendree College]]
*[[MacMurray College]]
*[[Midwestern University]]
*[[Millikin University]]
*[[Monmouth College]]
*[[Moody Bible Institute]]
*[[National University of Health Sciences]]
*[[National-Louis University]]
*[[North Central College]]
*[[North Park College and Theological Seminary]]
*[[Northeastern Illinois University]]
*[[Northern Illinois University]]
*[[Northwestern University]]
*[[Olivet Nazarene University]]
*[[Principia College]]
*[[Quincy University]]
*[[Robert Morris College]]
*[[Rockford College]]
*[[Roosevelt University]]
*[[Rush University]]
*[[Saint Anthony College of Nursing]]
*[[St. Xavier University]]
*[[School of the Art Institute of Chicago]]
*[[Shimer College]]
*[[Southern Illinois University System]]
**[[Southern Illinois University Carbondale]]
**[[Southern Illinois University Edwardsville]]
*[[Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies]]
*[[Trinity Christian College]]
*[[Trinity International University]]
*[[Triton College]]
*[[University of Chicago]]
*[[University of Illinois System]]
**[[University of Illinois at Chicago]]
**[[University of Illinois at Springfield]]
**[[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]]
*[[University of St. Francis]]
*[[Waubonsee Community College]]
*[[Western Illinois University]]
*[[Wheaton College, Illinois|Wheaton College]]
*[[William Rainey Harper College]]
|}

== Professional sports teams ==
{| border="0"
|valign="top"|
*[[National Football League]]
**[[Chicago Bears]]
*[[National Basketball Association]]
**[[Chicago Bulls]]
*[[National Hockey League]]
**[[Chicago Blackhawks]]
*[[Major League Soccer]]
**[[Chicago Fire (soccer)|Chicago Fire]]
*[[Arena Football League]]
**[[Chicago Rush]]
|valign="top"|
*[[Major League Baseball]]:
**[[Chicago Cubs]]
**[[Chicago White Sox]]
*[[minor league baseball|Minor League baseball teams]]:
**[[Peoria Chiefs]]
**[[Kane County Cougars]]
**[[Gateway Grizzlies]]
**[[Rockford RiverHawks]]
**[[Schaumburg Flyers]]
**[[Windy City ThunderBolts]]
|}

==People==
*[[Ronald Reagan]], the 40th President, was born in [[Tampico, Illinois]].
*[[Abraham Lincoln]], the 16th President, is buried in [[Springfield, Illinois]]

== State symbols ==
[[Image:Cardinal.jpg|thumb|300px|The Cardinal is the state bird of Illinois]]
*[[State animal]]: [[White-tailed deer]] (''Odocoileus virginianus'')
*[[State bird]]: [[Northern Cardinal|Cardinal]] (''Cardinalis cardinalis'')
*[[List of U.S. state capitals|State capital]]: [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]]
*[[State dance]]: [[Square dance]]
*[[State fish]]: [[Bluegill]] (''Lepomis macrochirus'')
*[[State flower]]: Purple [[violet (plant)|violet]] (''Viola sororia'')
*[[State fossil]]: [[Tully Monster]] (''Tullimonstrum gregarium'')
*[[State insect]]: [[Monarch butterfly]]
*[[State mineral]]: [[Fluorite]]
*[[List of U.S. state mottos|State motto]]: "State sovereignty, national union"
*[[State grass|State prairie grass]]: Big Bluestem (''Andropogon gerardii'')
*State slogan: "Land of Lincoln"
*[[State song]]: "[[Illinois (state song)|Illinois]]"
*State snack: [[Popcorn]]
*[[State tree]]: [[White oak]] (''Quercus alba'')

== See also ==
*[[Little Egypt (region)|Little Egypt]]
*[[Fort Sheridan, Illinois]]
*[[List of ZIP Codes in Illinois]]
*[[U.S. presidential election, 2004, in Illinois]]

== External links ==
*[http://www.illinois.gov State of Illinois Web Site]
:*[http://www.illinois.gov/facts/symbols.cfm Illinois State Symbols]
*[http://www.HavenWorks.com/illinois Illinois News]
*[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17000.html US Census Bureau]
*[http://www.illinoisdata.com/index.htm Illinois Data ]
*[http://www.genealogybuff.com/il/ GenealogyBuff.com - Illinois Library Data Files]
*[http://obit.obitlinkspage.com/il.htm Illinois Obituary Links]
*[http://www.usnewspapers.org/state/illinois Illinois Newspapers]


{{Illinois}}
{{United_States}}