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The state flag,
first adopted in 1915, bears the state seal. A 1970 statute added
the name Illinois and ensured uniformity in design. On the seal,
adopted in 1868, a bald eagle holds a shield with stars and
stripes that represent the original 13 states. The laurel leaves
symbolize the great achievements of Illinois citizens. The sun
rising over the prairie stands for the progress made since
statehood and for the future.
Illinois «IHL uh NOY», has more people than any other state in the
Midwestern region of the United States. About two-thirds of the
people of Illinois live in and around Chicago, one of the world's
leading industrial and transportation centers. In addition,
millions of Illinoisans live in the smaller cities and on the
farms that dot the state's gently rolling plains. These plains
cover most of Illinois, and have given the state one of its
nicknames, the Prairie State. |
