| Chicago: The
largest city of Illinois, in the northeast part of the state on Lake
Michigan. It is a major port and the commercial, financial, industrial,
and cultural center of the Middle West. It is also the third-largest
U.S. city. Chicago was nearly destroyed by a disastrous fire in 1871.
Population: 2,783,726. |
|
Illinois: A state
of the north-central United States. It was admitted as the 21st state in
1818. The area was explored by the French in the late 1600s, ceded by
France to the British in 1763, and ceded by them to the newly formed
United States in 1783. Springfield is the capital and Chicago the
largest city. Population: 11,466,682. |
