Illinois State Facts | Illinois State Symbol

Illinois is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is the 6th-most populous U.S. state and 25th-largest state in terms of land area and is often noted as a microcosm of the entire United States. Illinois has many state symbols that have been officially recognized as representatives of the state. In 1907, Illinois schoolchildren voted to select the Symbol of state tree and the state flower. They selected the Native Oak and the Violet as their National Symbol. In 1928, Illinois schoolchildren selected the cardinal as the Symbol of State Bird of Illinois. The General Assembly made that designation official in 1929. Illinois schoolchildren voted to select the white-tailed deer as the state Symbol of the animal in 1980. The vote was made official by the General Assembly in 1982. Illinois has many charming towns and state parks but is largely dominated by The Windy City, Chicago. Home to world-class museums, memorable sights, great food and a lot of shops, Chicago is truly a travelers paradise. It is one of the largest cities in the US and draws millions of visitors every year.