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Copyright 2001. The Lazy 'C' - All rights reserved.
history
The Illinois flag was created in a contest sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The prize of $25 was won by the Rockford Chapter. That design was presented by Senator Raymond D. Meeker and approved by the General Assembly on July 6, 1915.
In 1969, the General Assembly voted to add the word "ILLINOIS" under the Great Seal of the flag. The State's name was added to the flag to ensure that people not familiar with the Great Seal of Illinois would still recognize the banner. The Illinois flag flies atop the State Capital in Springfield.
In 1969, the General Assembly voted to add the word "ILLINOIS" under the Great Seal of the flag. The State's name was added to the flag to ensure that people not familiar with the Great Seal of Illinois would still recognize the banner. The Illinois flag flies atop the State Capital in Springfield.
Nickname: The Land of Lincoln State.
Capital: Springfield.
Constitution: The 21st State.
Statehood: December 3rd 1818.
Motto: State sovereignty, national union
History:
The Illinois region was once the home of prehistoric American Indians called Mound Builders. Many of the later Indians of the region formed a union of tribes called the Illinois Confederacy. Only a few Illinois Indians remained by 1800.
In the late 1600's, French settlers were the first white people to live in Illinois. In 1717, Illinois became part of the French colony of Louisiana. France gave up the region to Great Britain (also known as the United Kingdom) in 1763. Control passed to Virginia in 1778, then Virginia gave the region to the national government in 1784.
Bird:
In 1928, Illinois schoolchildren selected the cardinal as the State Bird of Illinois. The General Assembly made that designation official in 1929.
Economy:
Agriculture: Corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, dairy products, wheat.
Industry: Machinery, food processing, electric equipment, chemical products, printing and publishing, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, petroleum, coal.
Flower:
In 1907, Illinois schoolchildren voted to select the state tree and the state flower. They selected the Native Oak and the Violet. The General Assembly approved a bill to make these selections official in 1908.
Origin of state's name:
The name "Illinois" comes from a Native American word meaning "tribe of superior men."
Tree:
In 1973, a special poll of 900,000 schoolchildren changed the State Tree from the Native Oak to the White Oak.
The Illinois region was once the home of prehistoric American Indians called Mound Builders. Many of the later Indians of the region formed a union of tribes called the Illinois Confederacy. Only a few Illinois Indians remained by 1800.
In the late 1600's, French settlers were the first white people to live in Illinois. In 1717, Illinois became part of the French colony of Louisiana. France gave up the region to Great Britain (also known as the United Kingdom) in 1763. Control passed to Virginia in 1778, then Virginia gave the region to the national government in 1784.
Bird:
In 1928, Illinois schoolchildren selected the cardinal as the State Bird of Illinois. The General Assembly made that designation official in 1929.
Economy:
Agriculture: Corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, dairy products, wheat.
Industry: Machinery, food processing, electric equipment, chemical products, printing and publishing, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, petroleum, coal.
Flower:
In 1907, Illinois schoolchildren voted to select the state tree and the state flower. They selected the Native Oak and the Violet. The General Assembly approved a bill to make these selections official in 1908.
Origin of state's name:
The name "Illinois" comes from a Native American word meaning "tribe of superior men."
Tree:
In 1973, a special poll of 900,000 schoolchildren changed the State Tree from the Native Oak to the White Oak.