Happy Birthday, Illinois!

Today is the anniversary of Illinois being admitted to our United States of America.

Date of Admittance: December 3, 1818

Parentage: The word "illinois" doesn't really mean anything. It is thought to be from the Ojibwe/Ottawa dialect word, "ilinwe" that became French and then English. The meaning of "ilinwe" is "speaking straight," which is ironic because it has such an odd etymology. 

Place in the Family 

Number 21

Illinois was the Darling of 1818, 

as it came between 

Mississippi  (Dec 1817)

and Alabama (Dec 1819)

This will be the first time I ask this: 

What's up with all these states in December!?! 

Motto 

"State Sovereignty, National Unity"

Definitely a product of its time, eh?

Nick-Name 

Land of Lincoln

Although he was born in Kentucky, 

Illinois claims our 16th President as theirs

On the License Plate 

"Land of Lincoln" 

State Flag 

A plain white banner with the state seal in the center,

with the state name on the bottom

I don't mind the seal so much, but I am so not a fan of 

words on flags! 

First City You Probably Think of 

When You Think "Illinois":

Chicago

Actual State Capital:Springfield

State Size (Area) is 25th of 50
Population is closer to 5th of 50

(per 2000 Census figures)

Illinois Sports: 
NFL (Chicago Bears)


 MLB (Chicago Cubs)




MLB (Chicago White Sox)
 
   
NBA



NHL (Chicago Blackhawks)
 


Anybody From Illinois
Ever Grow Up To Be President?
Yes!
  Although most people think of him as 
being from California, the 40th President 
was actually born here! 
40th President Ronald Reagan 

Good vs Evil 
cultural edtion
Walt Disney
everybody's favorite Uncle Walt

Hugh Hefner
everybody's pervy Uncle Hugh

Musical Illinoisians

Miles Davis

Lou Rawls

 

Herbie Hancock


Fall Out Boy

Kanye West 

Jennifer Hudson

Academy Award winning actress, too

Celebrities From Illinois

Black Hawk

Elliot Ness

original "Untouchable"

Jack Benny

TV & Radio comedian

 

Fred MacMurray

Film & TV actor

 

Donald O'Connor

actor & singer

(that's him on the left)

 

Buddy Ebsen

actor & dancer

 

Charlton Heston

Academy Award winning actor

 

Rock Hudson

actor & symbol of AIDS

 

Burl Ives

Academy Award winning actor & singer

Robert Young

actor, "Marcus Welby"

 

Ann-Margret

actress, "Bye-Bye Birdie," "Viva Las Vegas"

Robert Conrad

TV actor 

 

 

Nichelle Nichols

iconic actress

 

Betty White

iconic comedienne

 

Don Cornelius

host, "Soul Train" 

Siskel & Ebert

iconic film reviewers

 

Richard Pryor

comedian & actor

 

Shel Silverstein

author & illustrator 

 

Bill Murray 

actor & comedian

David Ogden Stiers

actor & voice actor

Harrison Ford

actor
 

Karen Allen

actress, "Indiana Jones"

Robin Williams 

Academy Award winning actor & comedian

 

Cindy Crawford

super-model 

John Cusack

actor

John Malkovich

actor

Chris O'Donnell

actor

 Dan Castellaneta

actor & voice actor 

 

Scott Turow

novelist 

 

The Wachowskis

writers/producers/directors

Bernie Mac

actor & comedian

 

Jane Lynch

actress

 

Chi McBride

actor

 

Most Famous Person from Illinois 

Ray Kroc

who took over an unknown hamburger chain 

and turned it into McDonalds 

A Song For You.... 
"Hard to Say I'm Sorry" 
there are plenty of great songs about Chicago, but...
how could I resist a group *named* Chicago!?! 
 here's their Number One Hit from 1982
 written by Peter Cetera & David Foster