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''This article is about the mid-western state of the United States. For other uses, see Illinois (disambiguation)''.



United States   Illinois  [[Image:Illinois.png|left] Illinois is a state in the Midwestern United States. It was organized as a territory in 1809, and became a state in 1818, the 21st to join the Union.

The European settlement of Illinois began in 1699 when the French established Cahokia, and a few years later, Kaskaskia. Following the French and Indian War, the Illinois area was ceded to the British in 1763. Early settlers came to Southern Illinois by the Ohio River, from North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

With the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, settlers began coming from New England states, settling the Northern part of Illinois. Thousands of Irish, southern European, and German immigrants settled around the Great Lakes in the 1830’s and 40’s, drawn by industrial job growth.



Counties of Illinois
For an alphabetical listing of Illinois counties, see Illinois County Creation Dates and Parent Counties.

Click on the map below to go to a county page. Hover over a county to see its name. To see a larger version of the map, click here.

Major Repositories
Newberry Library· Illinois State Archives· Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)· Illinois State Library· Illinois State Historical Library (ISHL)· National Archives Great Lakes Region (Chicago)· Allen County Public Library

Migration Routes
Illinois River· Mississippi River· Ohio River· Wabash River· Lake Michigan· Buffalo Trace· Chicago-Dubuque Highway· Chicago-Kaskaskia Road· Detroit-Chicago Road· Kellog Trail· Mihoaukee Trail· Nashville-Saline River Trail· National Road (or Cumberland Road)· Old Chicago Road· Pecatonica Trail· Russellville-Shawneetown Trail· Illinois and Michigan Canal· Santa Fe Railway· Great Northern Railway (U.S.)