History of Illinois in Timeline
Illinois, a Midwestern state in the US, shares borders with Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan. Ranked fifth in GDP, sixth in population, and 25th in land area among US states, its capital is Springfield (centrally located), while Chicago (northeast) is its largest city.
1900: Industrial Growth and Immigration
By 1900, industrial jobs in northern cities and coal mining in the central and southern areas attracted immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe, transforming Illinois into a major industrialized state and manufacturing center.
1908: Fort Massac State Park Established
In 1908, Fort Massac State Park became the first park in the Illinois state park system.
1908: Chicago Cubs Begin World Series Drought
In 1908, the Chicago Cubs last won the World Series before their championship drought.
1912: William Lorimer Expelled from Senate
In 1912, William Lorimer was expelled from the U.S. Senate for bribery.
1916: Illinois Does Not Support Winning Presidential Candidate
In 1916, Illinois did not support the winning candidate in the presidential election.
1917: Previous Chicago White Sox World Series Win
In 1917, the Chicago White Sox last won the World Series before their 2005 victory.
1921: Governor Len Small Found Guilty of Fraud
In 1921, Governor Len Small was found guilty of defrauding the state of Illinois.
1923: Official Language of Illinois
From 1923 to 1969, "the American language" held official status in Illinois according to state law, despite English being commonly spoken by the majority of residents.
1925: Tri-State Tornado
The Tri-State Tornado, one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history, struck in 1925, devastating communities across three states. In Illinois alone, 613 people lost their lives as a result of the tornado.
1926: Chicago Blackhawks Begin Play
The Chicago Blackhawks began playing in 1926.
1933: Century of Progress
The Century of Progress World's Fair took place in Chicago in 1933.
1937: Oil Boom
Oil discoveries in Marion and Crawford Counties in 1937 resulted in an oil boom, boosting Illinois to fourth place in U.S. oil production by 1939.
1939: Wartime Manufacturing
During World War II, Illinois contributed significantly to the war effort, manufacturing 6.1% of the total U.S. military armaments, ranking seventh among the 48 states in 1939.
1946: Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference
Since 1946, Illinois has hosted the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference.
July 14, 1954: Record High Temperature
Illinois recorded its all-time high temperature of 117 °F (47 °C) on July 14, 1954, in East St. Louis.
1957: First Experimental Nuclear Power System
Argonne National Laboratory activated the first experimental nuclear power generating system in the U.S. in 1957.
1959: Opening of Saint Lawrence Seaway
In 1959, Chicago became an ocean port with the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, connecting it to both the Mississippi River and the Atlantic Ocean through the Illinois Waterway.
1960: First Privately Financed Nuclear Plant
Dresden 1, the first privately financed nuclear power plant in the United States, was dedicated near Morris, Illinois, in 1960.
1960: First McDonald's Franchise
Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald's franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1960. The original building was later demolished and rebuilt as a replica, which was also demolished.
1961: Criminal Code Revision
Illinois became the first state to adopt the American Law Institute's recommendation and pass a comprehensive criminal code revision, repealing the sodomy law and establishing an age of consent of 18 in 1961.
1962: O'Hare Becomes Busiest Airport
In 1962, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport became the busiest airport globally, surpassing Midway Airport.
1967: Fermilab Opens Particle Accelerator
Fermilab, a national nuclear research facility, opened the world's largest particle accelerator for over 40 years in 1967 near Batavia, Illinois.
1969: Official Language of Illinois
The official status of "the American language" in Illinois ended in 1969, returning English to its prominent role, although various dialects of American English persisted throughout the state.
1970: New State Constitution
Illinois adopted its fourth constitution in 1970, replacing the 1870 document.
1970: Non-Hispanic White Population in Illinois
In 1970, the non-Hispanic White population in Illinois constituted 83.5% of the state's total population. This served as a baseline figure for comparison with later years.
1971: John Deere Classic Begins
The John Deere Classic began as a PGA Tour event in 1971.
1973: Illinois Resource Equalizer Formula
In 1973, Illinois adopted the Resource Equalizer Formula to attempt to distribute school funding more equitably. This formula was later abolished in the late 1980s due to opposition from wealthy communities.
1976: Illinois Does Not Support Winning Presidential Candidate
In 1976, Illinois did not support the winning candidate in the presidential election.
1976: LPGA State Farm Classic Begins
The LPGA State Farm Classic became an LPGA Tour event in 1976.
1984: McDonald's Replica Demolished
The replica of the first McDonald's franchise in Des Plaines was demolished in 1984.
1985: McDonald's Replica Built
In 1985 a replica of the first McDonald's franchise was built to recreate how the original one looked.
1985: First Farm Aid Concert
The first Farm Aid concert, supporting American farmers, was held in Champaign, Illinois, in 1985.
January 26, 1986: Chicago Bears Super Bowl XX Victory
The Chicago Bears won Super Bowl XX on January 26, 1986.
1990: Illinois Income Tax Rate
In 1990, the Illinois state income tax rate was set at 3%.
1992: Illinois Begins Trend Towards Democratic Party
Since the 1992 election, Illinois has trended more toward the Democratic Party.
1993: Great Flood of 1993
The Great Flood of 1993, the worst upper Mississippi River flood of the century, devastated towns and farmland in Illinois.
1998: Illinois Coal Consumption and Source
In 1998, Illinois consumed 21 million tons of coal, mostly mined from Wyoming's Powder River Basin.
January 5, 1999: Previous Record Low Temperature
Before 2019, the record low temperature in Illinois was −36 °F (−38 °C), set on January 5, 1999, near Congerville.
1999: Illinois Coal Production and Consumption
In 1999, Illinois produced 40.4 million tons of coal, but consumed only 17 million tons (42%) within the state. Most was exported.
2000: George W. Bush Wins Presidency Without Illinois
In 2000, George W. Bush won the presidency without carrying Illinois.
2002: Election of Rod Blagojevich and Barack Obama's Rise
The 2002 election saw Democrat Rod Blagojevich become governor and future president Barack Obama rise to a committee leadership position in the Illinois Senate. Obama drafted the Health Care Justice Act, a precursor to the Affordable Care Act. Later, Obama's presidential election led to Blagojevich's impeachment and conviction on corruption charges.
January 2003: Commutation of Death Sentences
In January 2003, Governor George Ryan commuted all death sentences in Illinois.
2003: U.S. Open at Olympia Fields
The U.S. Open was held at Olympia Fields in 2003.
2004: Southern Illinois Music Festival
Since 2004, Southern Illinois University Carbondale has hosted the Southern Illinois Music Festival each summer.
2005: Illinois Oil Production
In 2005, Illinois produced approximately 28,000 barrels of oil per day, ranking 14th among oil-producing states. Despite being a leading petroleum refiner in the Midwest, its crude oil reserves were less than 1% of the US total.
2005: Chicago White Sox Win World Series
The Chicago White Sox won the World Series in 2005.
2006: Chicago Fire Move to Bridgeview
2006: Illinois Manufacturing Output
In 2006, Illinois had an annual value-added productivity from manufacturing exceeding $107 billion. The leading industries by value-added included chemical, machinery, food manufacturing, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, plastics/rubber products, and computer/electronic products.
2006: George Ryan Convicted of Racketeering and Bribery
In 2006, former Illinois Governor George Ryan was convicted of racketeering and bribery.
2006: Chicago Sky Begin Play
The Chicago Sky began playing in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in 2006.
2006: PGA Championship at Medinah
The PGA Championship was held at Medinah in 2006.
2007: Wind Energy Production in Illinois
In 2007, wind energy comprised just 1.7% of Illinois's energy production, with estimates suggesting a potential for 5-10%.
2007: Nuclear Power in Illinois Electricity Generation
Nuclear power generated 48% of Illinois's electricity in 2007.
2008: Illinois Coal Exports
Illinois exported 3 million tons of coal in 2008.
2008: Barack Obama's Presidential Election
In 2008, Barack Obama, who had represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate, was elected president. He ran for president with Illinois as his home base.
2008: Illinois Agricultural Production
In 2008, Illinois harvested 427.7 million bushels of soybeans, making it the first or second highest-producing state for soybeans in most years. It also ranked second in US corn production, producing over 1.5 billion bushels annually.
2008: O'Hare and Midway Passenger Numbers
In 2008, O'Hare International Airport served 59.3 million domestic and 11.4 million international passengers, while Midway Airport served 17.3 million passengers.
January 15, 2009: Unofficial Record Low Temperature
An unofficial temperature reading of −37 °F (−38 °C) was taken in Rochelle, Illinois on January 15, 2009, although not validated as an official record.
September 2009: Illinois Wind Power Capacity
As of September 2009, Illinois had 1116.06 MW of installed wind power capacity and another 741.9 MW under construction. It ranked ninth among US states in installed wind capacity.
2009: Chicago Red Stars Formation
The Chicago Red Stars were formed in 2009 and began play at the top level of U.S. women's soccer.
2009: Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms
The Solheim Cup was held at Rich Harvest Farms in 2009.
2010: FutureGen Project in Mattoon
After several setbacks, the city of Mattoon withdrew from the Department of Energy's FutureGen project, a planned 275-megawatt experimental zero-emission coal-burning power plant, in 2010.
2010: Illinois Nuclear Power Ranking
In 2010, Illinois ranked first in the US in both nuclear capacity and generation, with its plants providing 12% of the nation's total nuclear power.
2010: Religious Demographics of Illinois
In 2010, Roman Catholics were the largest single denomination in Illinois, concentrated around Chicago, making up almost 30% of the population. However, combined Protestant denominations outnumbered Catholics. The largest Protestant groups were the United Methodist Church and the Southern Baptist Convention.
2010: Illinois Income Tax Increase Vote
In 2010, the Illinois General Assembly voted to temporarily increase the state income tax rate to 5%.
2010: Mark Kirk Elected to Senate
Mark Kirk was elected to the Senate from Illinois in 2010.
2010: Illinois Census
The 2010 United States Census served as a benchmark for population data, recording Illinois's population before the slight decline observed in the 2020 census.
January 1, 2011: Illinois Income Tax Increase
On January 1, 2011, the Illinois state income tax rate increased to 5% from 3%.
December 7, 2011: Rod Blagojevich Sentenced to Prison
On December 7, 2011, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years for attempting to sell a vacated Senate seat.
2011: Illinois Manufacturing Ranking
As of 2011, Illinois was the 4th most productive manufacturing state in the US, with about 75% of manufacturers located in the Northeastern Opportunity Return Region and 38% in Cook County.
2011: Illinois Ethanol Production
In 2011, Illinois ranked third in the United States for ethanol production, with a capacity of 1.5 billion gallons per year.
2011: Quad Cities Region Population
In 2011, the Quad Cities region, located on the Mississippi River in northern Illinois, had a population of 381,342.
2011: Projected Illinois Coal Exports
Projections for 2011 estimated Illinois coal exports to reach 9 million tons due to growing energy demands in Asia and Europe.
2011: Chicago Red Stars Hiatus
The Chicago Red Stars did not play in the top level of U.S. women's soccer during the 2011 season.
2011: LPGA State Farm Classic Ends
The LPGA State Farm Classic ceased to be an LPGA Tour event in 2011.
2013: Encompass Championship Begins
The Encompass Championship began as a Champions Tour event in 2013.
2014: Religion in Illinois
In 2014, data concerning religious affiliations in Illinois was gathered.
2014: Election of Bruce Rauner
Republican Bruce Rauner defeated incumbent Pat Quinn in the 2014 Illinois gubernatorial election.
January 1, 2015: Partial Sunset of Illinois Income Tax
On January 1, 2015, the personal income tax rate in Illinois was lowered to 3.75% and the corporate income tax rate fell to 5.25%.
2015: Illinois Budget Impasse Begins
Disagreements between the governor and legislature over the budget led to a 793-day budget impasse in Illinois, starting in 2015.
2015: Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Win
In 2015, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.
2016: Donald Trump Wins Presidency Without Illinois
In 2016, Donald Trump won the presidency without carrying Illinois.
2016: Venture Capital and Federal Contract Spending in Illinois
In 2016, Illinois-based companies received approximately $1.1 billion in venture capital funding and $8.7 billion in federal contracts.
2016: Chicago Bandits Win NPF Title
In 2016, the Chicago Bandits won their most recent league title in the National Pro Fastpitch league.
2016: Chicago Cubs End World Series Drought
In 2016, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, ending their long championship drought.
August 28, 2017: Immigration Bill Signed
On August 28, 2017, Governor Rauner signed a bill preventing police from arresting individuals solely based on immigration status or federal detainers, drawing criticism from some Republicans who viewed it as making Illinois a sanctuary state.
2017: High Sales and Real Estate Taxes in Illinois
As of 2017, Chicago had the highest combined state and local sales tax rate among large U.S. cities, while Illinois had the second-highest real estate tax rate in the country.
2017: Illinois Budget Resolution and Tax Increase
In 2017, Illinois passed a budget after a 736-day impasse, which included raising the personal income tax rate to 4.95% and the corporate rate to 7%.
2017: McDonald's Replica Demolished
The replica of the first McDonald's in Des Plaines was demolished again in 2017 due to repeated flooding.
2018: Election of J.B. Pritzker
J.B. Pritzker's election in 2018 returned the Illinois government to Democratic control.
2018: End of Illinois Budget Impasse
The Illinois Budget Impasse, a 793-day period without a state budget, ended in 2018.
January 2019: North American Cold Wave
The record low temperature of -38F was measured in Illinois during the January 2019 North American cold wave.
January 31, 2019: Record Low Temperature
On January 31, 2019, during the January 2019 North American cold wave, Illinois experienced its all-time low temperature of −38 °F (−39 °C) near Mount Carroll.
February 2019: Illinois Unemployment Rate
The unemployment rate in Illinois reached 4.2% in February 2019.
March 5, 2019: Record Low Temperature Confirmed
On March 5, 2019, the record low temperature of −38 °F (−39 °C) set near Mount Carroll was officially confirmed.
May 1, 2019: Illinois Senate Vote on Graduated Income Tax
On May 1, 2019, the Illinois Senate voted to approve a constitutional amendment to allow a graduated income tax.
May 27, 2019: Governor's Approval of Graduated Income Tax Amendment
On May 27, 2019, Governor J.B. Pritzker approved the bill for a constitutional amendment to allow a graduated income tax.
2019: LGBTQ Identification in Illinois
In 2019, a Gallup survey indicated that 4.3% of adults in Illinois identified as LGBTQ.
2019: Last Republican Statewide Officials Leave Office
In 2019, the last Republicans holding statewide office in Illinois, Governor Bruce Rauner and Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti, left office.
January 2020: Marijuana Legalization
Illinois legalized recreational marijuana in January 2020.
March 9, 2020: COVID-19 Disaster Proclamation
Governor Pritzker declared a disaster proclamation on March 9, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Illinois Ranked 4th Easiest State to Vote In
A 2020 study ranked Illinois as the 4th easiest state for citizens to vote in.
2020: Illinois Census
According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Illinois had a population of 12,812,508. Although slightly lower than estimates, the census revealed a small population decline from 2010 by just over 18,000 residents. This shift resulted in Illinois becoming the sixth most populous state, surpassed by Pennsylvania.
2020: Illinois Population Distribution
As of 2020, 65% of Illinois residents lived within the Chicago metropolitan area, which accounts for only 9% of the state's land. 21.4% of the state's population resided in Chicago itself. Population declines observed in the 2020 census were primarily attributed to Downstate counties rather than the Chicago metro area.
2020: Chicago Population
In 2020, Chicago's population reached 2,746,388, solidifying its position as the third most populous city in the United States. The Chicago metropolitan area, which extends into neighboring states, houses over 7 million residents in Illinois alone.
2020: Illinois Graduated Income Tax Referendum
In 2020, Illinois voters rejected the proposed constitutional amendment to allow a graduated income tax.
2020: Native American Population in Illinois
The 2020 census recorded 96,498 individuals identifying as solely Native American and 184,487 identifying as Native American in combination with other races. More than half of those who identified as Native American also identified as Hispanic or Latino.
2021: Human Development Index in Illinois
Illinois scored 0.929 on the UN's Human Development Index in 2021, slightly above the US average. This places Illinois in the "very high" human development category.
2021: Chicago Sky Win WNBA Championship
The Chicago Sky won their first WNBA Championship in 2021.
2022: Homelessness in Illinois
According to the HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were approximately 9,212 homeless individuals in Illinois.
2022: Illinois Gross State Product
As of 2022, the gross state product of Illinois reached $1.0 trillion USD.
2022: Non-Hispanic White and Black Populations in Illinois
By 2022, the non-Hispanic White population in Illinois had decreased to 58.5%, a significant drop from the 83.5% recorded in 1970. Almost two-thirds of the state's Black population resided in Cook County, which held about 40% of the state's overall population. Cook County was the only majority-minority county in Illinois.
2022: Racial Makeup of Hispanics in Illinois
Data on the racial makeup of Hispanics in Illinois was compiled in 2022.
2022: Foreign-Born Population in Illinois
In 2022, 14.4% of Illinois residents were foreign-born, with a majority originating from Mexico or Central America and Asia. Over half of the foreign-born population had become naturalized U.S. citizens.
2022: Minority Population Under 4 in Illinois
In 2022, 50% of Illinois residents under the age of 4 were identified as minorities. This includes children born to White Hispanic parents or those with one or more minority parent.
2022: Income and Education in Illinois
In 2022, Illinois's per-capita income was $43,317, and the median household income was $76,708. Almost 91% of adults had a high school diploma, and over 37% of those over 25 held a bachelor's degree or higher, exceeding the national average.
2022: Racial/Ethnic Makeup of Illinois (excluding Hispanics from racial categories)
In 2022, data was collected on the racial and ethnic makeup of Illinois, excluding Hispanics from the racial categories.
2022: Racial Makeup of Illinois
In 2022, data was collected on the racial makeup of Illinois.
2022: Detailed Racial and Ethnic Makeup of Illinois
The 2022 U.S. Census Bureau estimates provided a detailed breakdown of Illinois's racial and ethnic composition. Notably, the White population remained the largest racial group. Hispanics, considered an ethnicity rather than a race, primarily identified as "Some Other Race" or Multiracial. When treated as a distinct category, Hispanics constituted the largest minority group in Illinois.
May 2023: End of COVID-19 State of Emergency
The COVID-19 state of emergency in Illinois ended in May 2023.
2025: Illinois Minimum Wage Increase
By 2025, Illinois's minimum wage will increase to $15 per hour, becoming one of the highest in the US.
2025: Renewable Energy Mandate in Illinois
The Illinois General Assembly mandated that 25% of the state's generated electricity must come from renewable resources by 2025.
