Illinois Has Plenty Going On Beyond Chicago
Think you really know Illinois? It's a state with The Bean (AKA that shiny metal sculpture people take selfies with), pizza you won't quite understand until you taste it and go back for more, and cornfields that are so endless your GPS might as well give up. Let's run through the facts, stats, and yes - ketchup crimes - that explain why Illinois has such a hold on people.
Hannah, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Hannah has spent her entire life in Illinois, learning early that the state is equal parts cornfields, quiet downtowns, and people claiming Chicago when they're really living a life in the burbs. She loves Mauve Cocktail Lounge treats, small town downtowns, travel books (she's been voraciously reading them since elementary school), ice cream at the OG Dairy Queen, and correcting grammar just for fun. At Snappy Scout, Hannah edits Illinois moving guides with decades of relocation experience, old soul wisdom, and just enough youthful energy to keep it practical.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Makes Illinois Illinois?
The weird, useful, and surprisingly relevant facts that shape everyday life here.
Common nicknames for Illinois
Land of Lincoln; Prairie State
Local Reality Check
Not just Chicago skyline (nor cornfields)! Illinois also offers lakefront beaches, state and national forests, and vibrant small towns.
You're most likely moving from
Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan
Strangely large concentration of
Frank Lloyd Wright homes in Oak Park.
Music scene
Chicago blues, birthplace of house, gospel roots, jazz legacy, indie and drill.
You'll have to see it to believe it
Cahokia Mounds, once North America's largest pre-Columbian city.
Unique Geography
Lake Michigan shoreline, Mississippi and Ohio rivers, flat prairies meeting Shawnee sandstone bluffs.
Illinois is home to
Route 66's starting point, the world's first skyscraper, the first Dairy Queen, and the first McDonald's
Well known for its
Deep dish pizza, Italian beef, Chicago dogs, skyscrapers, windy politics, Big Ten rivalries.
Fun history fact
Chicago reversed the Chicago River in 1900 to protect its water supply.
Celebrity sightings
Barack Obama, Chance the Rapper, Jennifer Hudson, Common, Michael Jordan around United Center.
Noteworthy Census stat
2020 Census: 12.8 million residents, 6th most populous state.
Most interesting sub-culture within Illinois
Chicago improv diehards at Second City and iO.
Population
6th by population, 25th by land size
Illinois is roughly the same geographic size as
Bangladesh
Locals Know Best
Illinois is home to Starved Rock State Park, but just next door (literally about 3 miles down the road) is Matthiessen State Park. While both are designated as State Parks, Starved Rock gets all the love... and tourists. So if you're looking for a day in nature, want to see stunning waterfalls, but also want some serenity, check out Matthiessen before heading to Starved Rock. (Added bonus: Matthiessen also has the sunflower fields in the fall if you want one of those sunflower photo shoots!)
— Hannah Swieczka
Illinois Local Expert
Ready to See If Illinois Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Illinois guide for the bigger picture.