Consider yourself an expert on Illinois? In addition to being known as Windy City and being the home of famous hot dogs, the Prairie State is home to 20 fascinating facts that may surprise you.
1. County Count
102 counties in Illinois bear the names of notable American figures.
2. Abolishing Slavery
Illinois was the first state to adopt the Thirteenth Amendment, which outlawed slavery, on February 1, 1865.
3. Willis Tower
With a height of 1,451 feet, Chicago’s Willis Tower is the third-tallest structure in North America.
4. First Skyscraper
The Home Insurance Building, the first modern skyscraper in history, was constructed in Chicago in 1885.
5. Ice Cream Sundae
The origin of the name “ice cream sundae” is thought to have come from Evanston, Illinois’s Garwood’s Drugstore.
6. Underground Freight
A Chicago project that was originally planned to be a narrow-gauge freight railroad turned into a narrow-gauge railroad in 1899.
7. Personal Plates
In the US, Illinois has the third-highest percentage of customized license plates.
8. Unique Law
It is forbidden for boys to throw snowballs at trees in Mount Pulaski, Illinois.
9. Tallest Man
Born in Alton, Illinois, Robert Pershing Wadlow stands at 8 1/8 of the height in the world.
10. John Deere
In Moline, Illinois, the agricultural machinery manufacturer John Deere was established in 1937.
11. Largest City
With a population of over 2.7 million, Chicago is the largest city in Illinois and the third largest in the United States.
12. Walt Disney
Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago.
13. Popcorn Production
With 333 farms cultivating popcorn on 47,000 acres, Illinois is a significant producer of popcorn. Snack of the state is also popcorn.
14. Green River
To celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, the Chicago River is colored green each year.
15. Twinkies
In Schiller Park, Illinois, on April 6, 1930, James Alexander Dewar created the first twinkies.
16. Pumpkin Capital
Known as the Pumpkin Capital of the World, Morton, Illinois, processes more than 85% of the packaged pumpkin sold worldwide and holds an annual Pumpkin Festival.
17. Square Dance
The Square Dance became the official state dance of Illinois in 1990.
18. State Name Origin
The Algonquin word that gives rise to the state of Illinois means “warriors” or “tribe of superior men,” among other things.
19. Candy Capital
Because so many confectionery enterprises have been based in Chicago since the early 1900s, the city has been dubbed the Candy Capital of the World.
20. First McDonald s:
In 1955, the very first McDonald’s restaurant opened its doors in Des Plaines, Illinois.
These details demonstrate Illinois’s cultural relevance, rich history, and contributions to a range of industries, demonstrating why this surprising state is one that is well worth further investigation.