Demographic and Economic Information
| As of the 2000 Census,
Illinois is
the 5th most populous state with 12,419,293 people. Almost 80% of
the population live in urban areas. The Chicago
metropolitan area
had a population of 8,272,768 according to the 2000 Census. Chicago
is the 3rd largest city in the United States. The
City of Chicago
gained population from 1990 to 2000 for the first time in 50 years. Many ethnic
groups have settled in Illinois throughout its history. These include Native Americans,
Europeans, African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians. The culture and heritage of these
ethnic groups have played important roles in the development of Illinois. Many areas in
Illinois are still identified today with a particular ethnic group and carry on the
heritage of their founders. For example, the Swedish originally settled at
Bishop
Hill in Henry County, and the
Amish
settled in Arcola and Arthur in east central Illinois.
|
A view of the Chicago skyline |
Agriculture was the main occupation of the people in the early history of Illinois.
As Illinois developed, manufacturing and other industries became more important.
Although most of the state remains farmland, people employed in other
industries in the urban areas now far outnumber farmers.
The top agricultural product in Illinois today
is corn. Other leading agriculture products are soybeans, cattle and
hogs. Illinois ranks second in the United States in the export of
agricultural products and ranks fourth in gross state product.
|
Farming remains an important part of the Illinois economy.
This is a soybean field in central Illinois. |
The leading industries in Illinois today are government and education,
manufacturing and retail trade. The leading manufacturing industry in Illinois is food processing. Other major
manufacturing industries include petroleum refining, non-electrical machinery, electrical
equipment and chemicals. Coal
mining is another significant industry in Illinois.
Additional Resources
Study Guide Questions
- How does the distribution of the population
throughout the state in the early
history of Illinois differ from today?
- What is the leading manufacturing industry in
Illinois?
- Describe the role agriculture plays in the economy of Illinois?
Why has agriculture been so successful in Illinois?
- What ethnic groups settled in your part of the state? How have
they influenced the culture where you live?
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