Illinois: The Prairie State of Great Agricultural and Industrial Worth
Illinois, with land area of 150,007 km2 (57,918m2) and population of 105,277, is one of the leading energy producers and consumers in the United States. Illinois’ capital is Springfield though its largest city is Chicago, which is also the center for trade both in agricultural commodities and industrial goods. With its rich and copious availability of natural resources, Illinois is considered a leader in grain production and manufacturing. Most economists have predicted that the future of this highly agricultural urban state appears in its continuous consolidation of farms into huge corporate operations.
And though its economy depends on industrial and manufacturing of equipment and chemicals, agriculture remains Illinois’ top priority. Illinois is one of the leading producers of crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, oats, orchard crops, and vegetables. Its land area is very productive for lush vegetation of oaks, hickory, maple, beech, sweet gum, elm, ash, cedar, pine, tamarack, and fir.
But no one can deny the fact too that Illinois belongs to the top ranking states in manufacturing petroleum refining, non-electrical machinery, food and food products, and leading exports like metals and metals products, chemicals, electronics, and transport equipment. Also Illinois is among the best producers of extracted minerals, which includes petroleum, natural gas, clay, silica, fluorspar, lead, zinc, and limestone. As early as 1920, Illinois was counted among the foremost states in nearly very significant growth variable such as coal mining, industry, farming, urbanization, transportation, and wholesaling.
Since 1850, Illinois has been a major state in all sectors of the economy. Its largest city, Chicago, has been the main trade center for both agricultural commodities and industrial goods. In terms of tourism---cultural and historical site have been the notable factors that made Illinois one of the leading (and also one of the pioneering) states across America that grossed annually several billions of dollars. Among these sites are: the famous heritage of Abraham Lincoln, which is preserved at Lincoln’s monument and tomb, Lincoln Home national historic site located at its capital in the Springfield, the popular New Salem state park, Vandalia state memorial park, Shawnee national house forest, Wrigley field, the old Comiskey parks, and the Lakeview center for the arts and sciences in Peoria.
Culturally, Illinois still preserved its old tradition such as the Mississippi River Arts Festival in Edwardsville and the festival of Contemporary arts in Urbana.
Illinois is also a leading communication and transportation centers. Aside from more than 300 AM and FM stations, Illinois’ largest city, Chicago has become an important publishing center as well. Illinois’ transportation hub, which is a major part of United States main interstate highways, is considered one of the country’s busiest main railroad networks and busiest airport in the world.
Since Illinois is one of the leading progressive five states created from the Northwest Territory, most of the prominent political analysts have long referred Illinois as a "swing state" in its national election and government political system. Ever since, Illinois remained solidly republican from the Civil war period until nearly the turn of the 20th century.
As an Urban state of the north central region of the United States, Illinois remained the nation’s very friendly states---it continues to forge close ties relationship with other states like Indiana, Wisconsin, and Kentucky.
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