The word Illinois comes from the French word meaning "Illini or Land of Illini.  It is an Algonquin word meaning "Men" or "Warriors."   Illinois was discovered in 1673, settled in 1720 and entered the Union on 3 December, 1818.  Illinois is surrounding by bodies of water on nearly every border:  Mississippi  River on the west; Ohio and Wabash Rivers in the south and Lake Michigan in the North. The States that border Illinois are: Kentucky, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri and Indiana.  The first Railroad train crossed the Mississippi River on the river's first bridge in Rock Island, Illinois on 21 April, 1856.  The highest point in Illinois is Charles Mound in JoDaviess County, elevation, 1, 235 and the lowest point is in Cairo, Alexander county at the Mississippi River, elevation 279.

State Insect: Monarch Butterfly State Fish:  Bluegill State Mineral:  Fluorite State Dance:  Square Dance State Animal:  White tailed deer State Fossil:  Tully Monster State Prairie Grass:  Big Bluestem State Flower:  Violet State Tree:  Oak State Song:  "Illinois" State Bird:  Cardinal State Nickname:  The Prairie State State Slogan:  Land of Lincoln State Motto:  State Sovereignty National Union
Illinois Native American Tribes a. Mitchigamis - Originally west of the Mississippi River b.  Kaskaskias - Region between Lake Michigan and Lake Peoria c.  Peorias - Region of Lake Peoria d.  Cahokias - Region of Cahokia and the American Bottom e.  Tamaroas - Region of Southeastern Illinois
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