one of the United States of North America, is bounded N. by Wisconsin, E. by Lake Michigan and Indiana, from which it is separated for a third of its length by the Wabash River, S. by the Ohio, which separates it from Kentucky, and W. by the Mississippi. It lies between N. Lat. 37° and 42° 30', and between W. Long. 87° 49' and 91° 28'. Greatest length from N. to S., 378 miles; greatest breadth, 212 miles; average breadth, 140 miles. Its area is estimated at 55,409 square miles, being only about 3000 square miles less than that of England and Wales. According to the census of 1850, little more than a sixth part of the state was under cultivation.
Illinois is one of the most level states in the Union. With the exception of a range of low hills in the S., and a good deal of broken land in the N.W., as well as a few elevations near the Illinois, and some lofty bluffs along the Mississippi, the state may be regarded as an extensive table-land, gently inclining towards the S.W. At the mouth of the Ohio the soil is only about 340 feet above tide-water in the Gulf of Mexico, and the highest elevation in the whole state does not exceed 800 feet above that standard. Its surface is occupied almost entirely by prairies, which are popularly distinguished by the names, "wet" and "dry," "alluvial" and "rolling." The wet prairies are peaty, indicating that they have once been morasses. Those of an alluvial nature are dry, with a rich black loam, and exceedingly fertile. They are covered with a coarse kind of grass, which grows to an enormous size. The soil of the high and "rolling" prairies is, in general, only of second-rate quality, and abounds in springs. Grape-vines are abundant. The prairies furnish an inexhaustible summer-range for cattle. From the exceeding flatness of some of the plains, the rains that fall are allowed to stagnate, and thus render the situation unhealthy. The Grand Prairie, which is the largest tract of this description, is probably the highest table-land between the Mississippi and the Wabash. It extends from the county of Jackson, in a N.E. direction, to the Iroquois county, and varies in breadth from 1 to upwards of 12 miles. Although passing under one name, it does not consist of one single tract of land, but is broken up into several reaches of prairie ground, with stripes of wood running between them. It is rich and fertile, and several settlements have been located on its border, which is everywhere skirted with wood. The prairies, generally, are not plentifully supplied with timber, most of them being only interspersed with groups of trees, or skirted with stripes of forest. Much of the young wood is destroyed by the annual winter burning of the coarse grass, which covers at least two-thirds of the prairie land. In spring the prairies again become profusely decked with the greatest variety of beautiful and delicate flowers of every hue.
Illinois is distant from the sea, but is well provided with rivers. Nearly three-fourths of its boundary is formed by navigable rivers; and on the N.E. it has Lake Michigan for upwards of 60 miles. The Mississippi, which forms its entire western, and the Ohio, which forms the southern boundary, give commercial access to those valleys which bear their names. The Wabash, a noble stream which bounds the state on the E. for more than 100 miles, is navigable for more than that distance. For internal communication, the Illinois, which belongs entirely to this state, is navigable at all seasons for steamboats for 260 miles, to La Salle, where navigation is stopped occasionally by the little rapids, and where a canal branches off, connecting the river with Lake Michigan. The principal tributaries of the Illinois, which is itself formed by the junction of the Kankakee and the Des Plaines, are the Fox River, which rises in Huron territory, and has a course of 200 miles before it joins the Illinois; the Vermilion River, which falls into it from the S.E.; the Sangamon from the E., the Mackinaw from the N.E., and the Spoon River from the N.W. These are almost all navigable for considerable distances. The Sangamon is navigable for 140 miles. The Little Wabash and the Embarrass, which flow into the Wabash, are likewise navigable for upwards of 150 miles. The Rock River, which rises in Wisconsin, and falls into the Mississippi, after a course of about 300 miles, is navigable for some distance, but its upper course is impeded by rapids.
The climate of Illinois, extending as it does over a space of 5½ degrees of latitude, must necessarily be varied. The natural difference of temperature between the northern and the southern parts is, however, increased, by the numerous and large rivers which bound and intersect the country, and by its state of cultivation. Everywhere the winters are severe, the summers hot and long, and the temperature subject to frequent and sudden changes. In the southern parts of the state the summer heat is very oppressive and enervating; and is only occasionally relieved by fresh breezes from the prairies. In winter the snow falls to a considerable depth, and lies occasionally for three months; and many of the rivers remain frozen for the same length of time. In some parts of the state only a few inches of snow falls, and it quickly disappears.
Illinois possesses a vast extent of arable land. The soil, although varied, is generally highly productive, and for agriculture, it has been considered as unsurpassed by any state in the American confederacy. The soil in "the bottoms," or along the river valleys, such as those of the Rock River, the Sangamon, and Kaskaskia, consists chiefly of rich alluvial deposits, and is so productive as frequently to yield 40 bushels of wheat or 100 bushels of Indian corn to the acre. Nearly all the tracts adjacent to the rivers are of this character. "The American Bottom," as it is called, is the richest river alluvium, and has been cropped without deterioration for a century. It extends along the Mississippi for 90 miles; but in consequence of its liability to inundation, much of it is uncultivated. The prairies, although less productive, are still very fertile, and on account of their greater salubrity are preferred for farms, wherever wood is to be obtained. In 1850, there were 76,208 farms in Illinois, containing 5,039,545 acres of improved ground.
Important and valuable minerals abound in this state. Bituminous coal occurs in almost every county; and in some instances may be obtained without excavation. Vast beds are found on the bluffs adjacent to the "American Bottom;" and it has been reported that anthracite coal has been found in the county of Jackson. But the great coal region is an extensive tract which extends quite across the state from Missouri to Indiana, and from Iowa to Kentucky. Iron has been found in the southern part of the state, and is said to be plentiful in the northern. The great lead region is shared between Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Galena in the N.W. is nearly supported by this mineral. Silver has also been found in the west part of the state, and copper is obtained in several places. The other minerals found here are, zinc, gypsum, quartz, crystals, &c.
Illinois possesses great facilities for manufactures, which have hitherto been very imperfectly developed. According to the census of 1850, the number of manufacturing establishments, producing each annually to the value of L.100 and upwards, was 3099. There were 16 woollen manufactories, employing a capital of L.30,900, and 178 hands, including 54 females, producing in all 336,995 yards of stuffs, and 137,000 lbs. of yarn; 96 tanneries, employing 275 hands and a capital of L.37,675; 31 furnaces, forges, &c., employing 482 hands, and producing 2700 tons of pig iron and 4160 tons of cast iron. The home-made manufactures were valued at L.231,180.
The total of the imports into this state from the Lakes in 1851 was L.1,564,190, and exports L.887,002. The foreign exports in 1852 amounted to L.10,265, and imports to L.966. The tonnage entered was only 1155, and cleared 3616.
The internal trade of this state is becoming considerable, and increasing in proportion to the means of internal communication. Its direct foreign commerce is exceedingly small and is chiefly with Great Britain.
The present constitution was adopted in convention on the 31st August 1847, and accepted by the people on the 7th March 1848. By it, one year's residence in the state entitles every white male citizen, 21 years of age, to a vote for all elective affairs. The executive power is vested in a governor and a lieutenant-governor, chosen by the electors for four years, the former receiving L.500 per annum, and the latter 3 dollars per day during the session. The legislature consists of a senate and house of representatives. The senate consists of 25 members elected for 4 years, and the house of representatives of 75 elected for 2 years. Each member receives 2 dollars a-day for 42 days, and 1 dollar a-day afterwards.
The judiciary consists of a supreme court of three divisions, each of which is presided over by a judge receiving a salary of L.250 each per annum; and 17 circuit courts, presided over by as many judges, each receiving 1000 dollars per annum. Illinois is entitled to 9 members in the national house of representatives, and to 11 electoral votes for the president of the United States.
The debt of the state, principal and interest, was, in January 1, 1855, L.2,798,923. During the two years ending November 30, 1854, there had been paid of the public debt, in addition to L.240,000 paid on account of accruing interest, the sum of L.55,007, making a total of L.790,007 paid during that time on account of the public debt. If the present rate of taxation is continued, and the present method of reducing the debt followed, it will be entirely extinguished in 1866. The rate of taxation in 1852 on each 100 dollars was 60½ cents; in 1853, 49½ cents. During the two years, L.56,178 were received from the sale of 80,129·04 acres of state land, and 48,598·15 acres remained unsold December 1, 1854.
Illinois consists of 100 counties, which contain a number of thriving towns, many of which are increasing very fast in population. Chicago is much the largest, and has connected with it the greater part of the traffic of the state. Pop. in 1850, 29,963. In 1853, it is said to have increased to upwards of 60,000. The capital of the state is Springfield.
The following table shows the decennial increase of the population since 1810:
| Year | Whites | Free coloured | Slaves | Total | |------|--------|--------------|-------|-------| | 1810 | 1,100,101 | 613 | 108 | 1,222 | | 1820 | 53,788 | 506 | 917 | 55,211 | | 1830 | 155,061 | 1,637 | 747 | 157,445 | | 1840 | 472,254 | 3,589 | 331 | 476,183 | | 1850 | 846,104 | 5,288 | None | 851,470 |
In 1850 there were 1167 churches in this state. Of In 1854, there were 4215 public schools in the state; 2492 being taught by males, and 1537 by females. The number of children receiving instruction was 136,371.
There are 4 colleges in the state, attended by about 250 students. There is also a theological seminary (Baptist), connected with Shurtleff College, at Upper Alton. At Chicago is the Rush Medical School, founded in 1842, having in 1850, 6 professors, 70 students, and 16 graduates. In 1854 the sum of $951,504.07 dollars was devoted to the purposes of education. Besides those connected with schools and colleges, there are 27 public libraries containing 19,916 volumes. The total number of newspapers and periodicals published in 1850 was 119, of which 73 were political, and 46 devoted to literature, science, religion, &c.
Illinois was within the limits of the cession which Virginia made to the United States in 1787. But it had been visited by the French traveller Marquette as early as 1673, and settlements were made at Cahokia and Kaskaskia before the close of the seventeenth century. By the treaty of 1763 between England and France this country came into the hands of the British, and at the Revolution in 1775 it became a part of the possessions of the United States. It constituted a part of the N.W. territory in 1789, and in 1800 it formed part of a separate territory under the name of Indiana, in conjunction with the state now bearing that name. A final division took place in 1809, when the present state was organised as the territory of Illinois, and was admitted into the Union in 1818, as an independent state. Since that period it has been steadily progressing in general industry.
Its internal improvements for some years past have been very great. Canals have been formed to compensate for the natural barriers to navigation in some of its rivers, and recently its great canal from Chicago to Peru, on the Illinois River has been completed, uniting the waters of Lake Michigan with the Mississippi; thus opening direct communication between the whole of the Lake district in the N., and the river navigation on the S. The system of railroads, projected on a grand scale upwards of 20 years ago, and which had been temporarily suspended, has been resumed some years ago on a still greater scale, and is being carried on with vigour. Chicago, its principal commercial city, was in 1853 connected with Rockford, St Charles, Aurora, and Peru within the state, and beyond it, either directly or indirectly, with Detroit, Cincinnati, New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. Besides these there were railroads uniting Springfield with Jackson, and Naples, Alton, and Quincy, with Columbus. When its railroads under construction are finished, Illinois will be surpassed for its railroad communication by but few states in the Union.