Category: Illinois...

Illinois was politically divided during the Civil War
Chicago is the third largest U.S. city
Cairo, Illinois is actually farther south than Richmond, Virginia; Illinois is 385 miles in length
dining at Le Francais in Wheeling, said to be the best French restaurant outside France
You had to get out of them occasionally, those Illinois towns with funny names: Paris, Oblong, Normal. Once...the banner heading read "Normal Man Marries Oblong Woman." (J. Sweeney)
the native violet and cardinal are Illinois's symbols
the state's length gives it an unusual variety of Northern and Southern plant life such as wildflowers and trees
Illinois's greatest natural resource is its rich black soil and 3/4 of the state is farmland