History of Illinois in Timeline

Illinois is a Midwestern U.S. state bordering Lake Michigan, the Mississippi River, and the Wabash and Ohio rivers. It ranks highly in GDP and population among the 50 states and is moderately sized in land area. Springfield is the capital city located in the state's center, while Chicago is its largest city, situated in the northeast.

1900: Industrial Growth and Immigration

Around 1900, Illinois experienced a surge in industrial jobs in northern cities and coal mining in central and southern regions, which attracted immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe. This growth transformed Illinois into one of America's most industrialized states and a major manufacturing center.

1908: Chicago Cubs championship drought begins

In 1908, the Chicago Cubs began the longest championship drought in all of major American sport.

1908: Illinois state parks system begins

In 1908, the Illinois state parks system began with what is now Fort Massac State Park, becoming the first park in a system encompassing more than 60 parks and about the same number of recreational and wildlife areas.

1912: William Lorimer expelled from the U.S. Senate

In 1912, William Lorimer, the GOP boss of Chicago, was expelled from the U.S. Senate for bribery.

1916: Illinois does not support the winner in the election

In 1916, Illinois did not support the winner in the election.

1917: Chicago White Sox last World Series win

The Chicago White Sox last won the World Series in 1917.

1921: Len Small found to have defrauded the state

In 1921, Governor Len Small was found to have defrauded the state of a million dollars.

1923: Official status to "the American language" in Illinois in 1923

In 1923, state law in Illinois gave official status to "the American language".

1925: The Tri-State Tornado

In 1925, the Tri-State Tornado, one of Tornado Alley's deadliest tornadoes on record, killed 695 people across three states, with 613 deaths occurring in Illinois.

1926: Chicago Blackhawks established

The Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL began playing in 1926.

1928: Oscar De Priest elected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 1928, Illinois was the first state to elect a Black person, Oscar De Priest, to the U.S. House of Representatives in the post-reconstruction era.

1933: Century of Progress World's Fair

In 1933, the Century of Progress World's Fair was held in Chicago, Illinois.

1937: Oil Boom in Marion and Crawford Counties

In 1937, oil strikes in Marion County and Crawford County led to an oil boom in Illinois.

1939: Illinois ranks fourth in U.S. oil production

By 1939, Illinois ranked fourth in U.S. oil production.

1942: First Sustained Nuclear Chain Reaction

In 1942, as part of the Manhattan Project, the University of Chicago conducted the first sustained nuclear chain reaction.

1946: Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference begins

Since 1946, Illinois has hosted the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference.

July 14, 1954: All-Time High Temperature Recorded

On July 14, 1954, the all-time high temperature in Illinois was recorded at 117 °F (47 °C) in East St. Louis.

1957: First Experimental Nuclear Power Generating System

In 1957, Argonne National Laboratory, near Chicago, activated the first experimental nuclear power generating system in the United States.

1959: Opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway

In 1959, Chicago became an ocean port with the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, connecting Chicago to both the Mississippi River and the Atlantic Ocean.

1960: Dresden 1 Nuclear Plant Dedicated

By 1960, the first privately financed nuclear plant in the United States, Dresden 1, was dedicated near Morris, Illinois.

1960: First McDonald's Franchise Opens

In 1960, Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald's franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois.

1961: Illinois Criminal Code Revision

In 1961, Illinois became the first state in the nation to adopt the recommendation of the American Law Institute and pass a comprehensive criminal code revision that repealed the law against sodomy, abrogated common law crimes, and established an age of consent of 18.

1962: O'Hare Busiest Airport

In 1962, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport became the busiest airport in the world, measured in terms of total flights and passengers, surpassing Midway Airport.

1967: Fermilab Opens

In 1967, Fermilab, a national nuclear research facility near Batavia, Illinois, opened a particle accelerator, which was the world's largest for over 40 years.

1969: Repeal of "the American language" law in Illinois in 1969

In 1969, the state law in Illinois that gave official status to "the American language" was repealed.

1970: Adoption of State's Fourth Constitution

In 1970, Illinois adopted its fourth constitution, replacing the 1870 document.

1970: Non-Hispanic white population in Illinois in 1970

In 1970, the non-Hispanic white population in Illinois was 83.5%.

1971: John Deere Classic begins

Since 1971, the John Deere Classic has been a regular PGA Tour event played in the Quad Cities.

1973: Illinois Resource Equalizer Formula

In 1973, the Illinois Resource Equalizer Formula was adopted in an attempt to reform school funding in Illinois.

1976: LPGA State Farm Classic begins

From 1976 to 2011, the LPGA State Farm Classic was an LPGA Tour event.

1976: Illinois does not support the winner in the election

In 1976, Illinois did not support the winner in the election.

1984: Demolition of Original McDonald's Franchise

In 1984, the first McDonald's franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois, which opened in 1960, was demolished.

1985: Replica of Original McDonald's Built

In 1985, a replica of the original McDonald's franchise was built on the same site in Des Plaines, Illinois, to recreate its original appearance.

1985: First Farm Aid Concert Held in Champaign

In 1985, the first Farm Aid concert was held in Champaign, Illinois, to benefit American farmers.

January 26, 1986: Chicago Bears win Super Bowl XX

On January 26, 1986, the Chicago Bears football team won Super Bowl XX.

1990: Asian-Americans in Illinois in 1990

In 1990, Asian-Americans made up only 2.5% of the total population of Illinois.

1990: Illinois state income tax rate

In 1990, the Illinois state income tax rate was set at 3%.

1992: Carol Mosley Brown elected to US Senate

In 1992, Illinois was the first state to elect a Black woman, Carol Mosley Brown, to the US Senate.

1992: Illinois trends more Democratic

Since the 1992 election, Illinois has trended more toward the Democratic Party and is part of the "blue wall" of states that have consistently voted Democratic in the last six presidential elections.

1993: Great Flood of 1993

In 1993, the worst upper Mississippi River flood of the century, the Great Flood of 1993, inundated many towns and thousands of acres of farmland in Illinois.

1997: Chicago Fire FC founded

Chicago Fire FC was founded in 1997 and became a member of MLS.

1998: Coal Consumption for power in Illinois

In 1998, 21 million tons of coal was burned for power in Illinois. Most of this coal was mined in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming.

1998: O'Hare Surpassed by Atlanta

In 1998, Atlanta's Hartsfield surpassed Chicago's O'Hare International Airport as the busiest airport in the world.

January 5, 1999: Previous Record Low Temperature

Prior to the Mount Carroll record, a temperature of −36 °F (−38 °C) was recorded on January 5, 1999, near Congerville, Illinois.

1999: Illinois coal production and consumption

In 1999, Illinois produced 40.4 million tons of coal, but only 17 million tons (42%) of Illinois coal was consumed in Illinois, with most of the coal produced in Illinois being exported to other states and countries.

2000: Minority population under age 18 in Illinois in 2000

In 2000, 41% of children in Illinois were minorities.

2000: George W. Bush wins presidency without carrying Illinois

In 2000, George W. Bush became the first Republican to win the presidency without carrying either Illinois or Vermont.

2002: Rod Blagojevich Elected Governor

The 2002 election brought Democrat Rod Blagojevich to the governor's mansion. Future president Barack Obama also entered a committee leadership position in the Illinois Senate, where he drafted the Health Care Justice Act.

January 2003: Ryan Commutes Death Sentences

Near the end of his term in January 2003, Illinois Republican Governor George Ryan commuted all death sentences in the state, following a string of high-profile exonerations.

2003: U.S. Open at Olympia Fields

In 2003, Olympia Fields hosted the U.S. Open.

2004: Southern Illinois Music Festival

Each summer since 2004, Southern Illinois University Carbondale has played host to the Southern Illinois Music Festival, which presents dozens of performances throughout the region.

2005: Illinois oil production

In 2005, Illinois was ranked 14th in oil production among states, with a daily output of approximately 28,000 bbl (4,500 m).

2005: Chicago White Sox win the World Series

In 2005, the Chicago White Sox won the World Series, their first since 1917.

2006: Chicago Fire FC play in Bridgeview

From 2006 to 2019, Chicago Fire FC played in Bridgeview, adjacent to Chicago.

2006: PGA Championship at Medinah

In 2006, Medinah hosted the PGA Championship.

2006: Manufacturing in Illinois in 2006

In 2006, annual value added productivity by manufacturing in Illinois was over $107 billion. Leading manufacturing industries in Illinois were chemical manufacturing ($18.3 billion), machinery manufacturing ($13.4 billion), food manufacturing ($12.9 billion), fabricated metal products ($11.5 billion), transportation equipment ($7.4 billion), plastics and rubber products ($7.0 billion), and computer and electronic products ($6.1 billion).

2006: George Ryan convicted of racketeering and bribery

In 2006, former governor George Ryan was convicted of racketeering and bribery, leading to a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

2006: Chicago Sky established

The Chicago Sky have played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) since 2006.

2007: Wind energy in Illinois and renewable resources mandate

As of 2007, wind energy represented only 1.7% of Illinois's energy production. Also, in 2007, the Illinois General Assembly mandated that by 2025, 25% of all electricity generated in Illinois is to come from renewable resources.

2007: Nuclear power in Illinois

In 2007, 48% of Illinois's electricity was generated using nuclear power.

2008: Barack Obama elected president

Following his victory in the 2008 presidential election, Illinois senator Barack Obama became the first Black president of the United States.

2008: Illinois coal exports

In 2008, Illinois exported three million tons of coal and was projected to export nine million in 2011 as demand for energy grows in places such as China, India, and elsewhere in Asia and Europe.

2008: Illinois Soybean Harvest in 2008

In 2008, Illinois had a soybean harvest of 427.7 million bushels (11.64 million metric tons).

2008: O'Hare Remains Busiest Airport

In 2008, O'Hare consistently remains one of the two or three busiest airports globally, and in some years still ranks number one in total flights with 59.3 million domestic passengers annually, along with 11.4 million international passengers.

January 15, 2009: Temperature Recorded at Rochelle

Prior to the Mount Carroll record, a temperature of −37 °F (−38 °C) was recorded on January 15, 2009, at Rochelle, but at a weather station not subjected to the same quality control as official records.

September 2009: Wind power capacity in Illinois

As of September 2009, Illinois had 1116.06 MW of installed wind power nameplate capacity with another 741.9 MW under construction, ranking ninth among U.S. states in installed wind power capacity and sixteenth by potential capacity.

2009: Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms

In 2009, Rich Harvest Farms hosted the Solheim Cup.

2009: Chicago Red Stars formation

The Chicago Red Stars have played at the top level of U.S. women's soccer since their formation in 2009, except in the 2011 season.

August 2010: Top Ranked Universities

As of August 2010, six Illinois universities ranked in the "first tier" among the top 500 National Universities in the U.S. News & World Report rankings.

2010: Illinois ranked third in recoverable coal reserves

As of 2010, Illinois was ranked third in recoverable coal reserves at producing mines in the nation.

2010: Hispanic Population Growth Begins

From 2010 Illinois saw a growth of 15% to the Hispanic population and up to 2020 overall population of the state declined.

2010: Minority population under age 18 in Illinois in 2010

In 2010, 47% of children in Illinois were minorities.

2010: Catholic population in Illinois in 2010

In 2010, Catholics in Illinois numbered 3,648,907.

2010: Illinois ranked first in nuclear capacity and generation

In 2010, Illinois ranked first in the nation in both nuclear capacity and nuclear generation, accounting for 12% of the nation's total.

2010: Mattoon backs out of FutureGen project

In 2010, after a number of setbacks, the city of Mattoon backed out of the Department of Energy's FutureGen project.

2010: Temporary increase in Illinois income tax rate

In 2010, the Illinois General Assembly voted for a temporary increase in the state income tax rate to 5%.

2010: Population Change from 2010 Census

In 2020, The population of Illinois slightly declined from the 2010 United States census by just over 18,000 residents.

2010: Mark Kirk wins Senate seat

Mark Kirk won a Senate seat in Illinois in 2010.

January 1, 2011: New Illinois state income tax rate goes into effect

On January 1, 2011, the new Illinois state income tax rate of 5% went into effect.

December 7, 2011: Rod Blagojevich sentenced to prison

On December 7, 2011, former governor Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison for allegations that he conspired to sell the vacated Senate seat left by President Barack Obama to the highest bidder.

2011: LPGA State Farm Classic ends

From 1976 to 2011, the LPGA State Farm Classic was an LPGA Tour event.

2011: Projected increase in Illinois coal exports

In 2008, Illinois exported three million tons of coal and was projected to export nine million in 2011 as demand for energy grows in places such as China, India, and elsewhere in Asia and Europe.

2011: Illinois Manufacturing Ranking in 2011

In 2011, Illinois was ranked as the 4th-most productive manufacturing state in the country.

2011: Quad Cities Population

In 2011, the Quad Cities region along the Mississippi River in northern Illinois had a population of 381,342.

2011: Chicago Red Stars not playing

In the 2011 season, the Chicago Red Stars did not play at the top level of U.S. women's soccer.

2011: Illinois ethanol production in 2011

With a production capacity of 1.5 billion gallons per year, Illinois ranked third in the United States in ethanol production in 2011.

2012: Ryder Cup at Medinah

In 2012, Medinah hosted the Ryder Cup.

2013: Encompass Championship begins

Since 2013, the Encompass Championship has been a Champions Tour event.

2014: Decline in Illinois' prison incarceration rate since 2014

Illinois' prison incarceration rate has declined by almost 50% since 2014.

2014: Bruce Rauner Elected Governor

In the 2014 election, Republican Bruce Rauner defeated Pat Quinn to become the governor of Illinois.

January 1, 2015: Partial sunset of personal income tax rate in Illinois

The Illinois personal income tax rate partially sunset on January 1, 2015, to 3.75%, while the corporate income tax fell to 5.25%.

2015: Start of Illinois Budget Impasse

In 2015, disagreements over budgetary policy between the governor and legislature led to the Illinois Budget Impasse, a period in which the state had no budget.

2015: Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup

In 2015, the Chicago Blackhawks won their sixth Stanley Cup.

2016: Donald Trump wins presidency without carrying Illinois

In 2016, Donald Trump repeated the feat of George W. Bush and 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 of the $62 billion in venture capital funded in the U.S. economy. Also in FY 2016, Illinois-based companies received approximately $8.7 billion of the $461 billion the federal government spent on contracts in the U.S.

2016: Chicago Bandits win league title

In 2016, the Chicago Bandits of the NPF, a women's softball league, won their fourth league title.

2016: Chicago Cubs win the World Series

In 2016, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, ending the longest championship drought in all of major American sport.

August 28, 2017: Rauner signs Immigration Bill

On August 28, 2017, Illinois Governor Rauner signed a bill into law prohibiting state and local police from arresting anyone solely due to their immigration status or federal detainers.

2017: Chicago sales tax rate and Illinois real estate tax rate

As of 2017, Chicago had the highest state and local sales tax rate for a U.S. city with a population above 200,000, at 10.250%. Also in 2017, the state of Illinois had the second-highest rate of real estate tax in the U.S.: 2.31%.

2017: Illinois budget passed after impasse

In 2017, after a 736-day budget impasse, a budget was passed in Illinois after lawmakers overturned Governor Bruce Rauner's veto, raising the personal income rate to 4.95% and the corporate rate to 7%.

2017: Demolition of McDonald's Replica

In 2017, the replica of the original McDonald's restaurant was demolished due to repeated flooding.

2018: End of Illinois Budget Impasse

In 2018, the Illinois Budget Impasse, which began in 2015, came to an end after 793 days.

2018: Top countries of origin for immigrants in Illinois in 2018

In 2018, the top countries of origin for immigrants in Illinois were Mexico, India, Poland, the Philippines and China.

2018: J. B. Pritzker Elected Governor

In the 2018 election, J. B. Pritzker replaced Bruce Rauner as governor of Illinois, returning the state government to a Democratic trifecta.

January 2019: North American Cold Wave

In January 2019, Illinois experienced the North American cold wave, during which the all-time low temperature was recorded.

January 31, 2019: All-Time Low Temperature Recorded

On January 31, 2019, the all-time low temperature in Illinois was recorded at -38 °F (-39 °C) near Mount Carroll during the January 2019 North American cold wave.

February 2019: Unemployment rate in Illinois in February 2019

As of February 2019, the unemployment rate in Illinois reached 4.2%.

March 5, 2019: All-Time Low Temperature Confirmed

On March 5, 2019, the all-time low temperature recorded on January 31, 2019, near Mount Carroll, Illinois, was confirmed.

May 1, 2019: Illinois Senate approves constitutional amendment for graduated income tax

On May 1, 2019, the Illinois Senate voted to approve a constitutional amendment that would have stricken language from the Illinois Constitution requiring a flat state income tax, allowing for a graduated income tax.

May 27, 2019: Governor approves bill for graduated income tax amendment

On May 27, 2019, Governor J. B. Pritzker approved the bill for a constitutional amendment allowing a graduated income tax, which was scheduled for a 2020 general election ballot vote.

2019: LGBTQ adults in Illinois in 2019

According to a Gallup survey from 2019, 4.3% of adults in Illinois identify as LGBTQ.

2019: Rauner and Sanguinetti leave office

In 2019, Bruce Rauner and Evelyn Sanguinetti left office.

2019: Chicago Fire FC move to Soldier Field

In 2019, Chicago Fire FC moved to Soldier Field in Chicago.

January 2020: Marijuana Legalized

In January 2020, the state of Illinois legalized marijuana.

March 9, 2020: Disaster Proclamation Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

On March 9, 2020, Illinois Governor Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Illinois Population Distribution

As of 2020, the Chicago metropolitan area in Illinois contains 65% of the state's residents, with 21.4% of Illinois' population living in the city of Chicago itself.

2020: Hispanic Population Growth Ends

By 2020 Illinois saw a growth of 15% to the Hispanic population from 2010, however, overall population of the state declined.

2020: Chicago Population

In 2020, Chicago's population was 2,746,388, making it the largest city in Illinois and the third-most populous city in the United States.

2020: Illinoisans reject graduated income tax amendment

In 2020, Illinoisans did not approve the constitutional amendment allowing a graduated income tax, with 55.1% of voters voting "No" and 44.9% voting "Yes".

2020: Largest Protestant denominations in Illinois in 2020

In 2020, the largest Protestant denominations in Illinois were the United Methodist Church with 235,045 members and the Southern Baptist Convention with 222,589.

2020: Catholic population in Illinois in 2020

In 2020, the number of Catholics in Illinois had declined to 3,099,544.

2020: Illinois ranked as 4th easiest state to vote in

In a 2020 study, Illinois was ranked as the 4th easiest state for citizens to vote in.

2020: 2020 United States Census

In the 2020 United States census, the population of Illinois was found to be 12,812,508, moving it from the fifth-largest state to the sixth-largest state.

2021: Hispanic Population with European Ancestry

2021 estimates show that almost 10% of the state's Hispanic population in Illinois also reported a non-Spanish European ancestry, making up 1.7% of the state's total population.

2021: Chicago Sky win WNBA Championship

In 2021, the Chicago Sky won their first WNBA Championship.

2022: Incarcerated population in Illinois in 2022

According to 2022 data from the Prison Policy Initiative, an estimated 53,000 people were imprisoned in local jails, state prisons, federal prisons, or detention centers in Illinois.

2022: Ancestry estimates in Illinois in 2022

According to 2022 estimates from the American Community Survey, 16% of the population of Illinois had German ancestry, 14% had Mexican ancestry, 10.4% had Irish ancestry, 7.1% had English ancestry, 6.2% had Polish ancestry, 5.2% had Italian ancestry, 3.4% listed themselves as American, 2.3% had Indian ancestry, 1.7% had Puerto Rican ancestry, 1.7% had Swedish ancestry, 1.4% had Filipino ancestry, 1.4% had French ancestry, and 1.2% had Chinese ancestry.

2022: Transgender adults in Illinois in 2022

According to a 2022 study from the Williams Institute, an estimated 0.44% of adults in Illinois identify as transgender.

2022: Gross State Product for Illinois in 2022

As of 2022, the gross state product for Illinois reached US$1.0 trillion.

2022: Foreign-born inhabitants in Illinois in 2022

At the 2022 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 1,810,100 foreign-born inhabitants of Illinois, or 14.4% of the population.

2022: Population age distribution in Illinois in 2022

In 2022, 11.2% of Illinois's population was reported as being under the age of 9, 12.9% were between 10 and 19 years old, 13.4% were 20–29 years old, 13.6% were 30–39 years old, 12.6% were 40–49 years old, 12.7% were 50–59 years old, 11.9% were 60–69 years old, 7.7% were 70–79 years old, and 4% were over the age of 80.

2022: Human Development Index in Illinois in 2022

In 2022, Illinois scored 0.932 on the UN's Human Development Index.

2022: Non-Hispanic white population in Illinois in 2022

In 2022, the non-Hispanic white population in Illinois had declined to 58.5%.

May 2023: End of COVID-19 State of Emergency

In May 2023, Illinois Governor Pritzker ended the state of emergency that was issued in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023: Racial Composition of Illinois

According to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the population of Illinois was 60.7% White, 13.3% Black or African American, 6.0% Asian, and 19.0% Hispanic-Latino (of any race).

2023: Population under age 18 in Illinois in 2023

As of 2023, 21.5% of the population in Illinois is under the age of 18.

2023: Catholic population in Illinois in 2023

As of 2023, Catholics account for nearly 25% of the state's population in Illinois.

2023: Fertility rate in Illinois in 2023

As of 2023, Illinois' total fertility rate is the 11th lowest of all US states, with a lifetime average of 1.50 births per woman.

2023: Income and poverty in Illinois in 2023

As of 2023, the per-capita income in Illinois is $45,043, and the median income for a household in the state is $80,306. 11.6% of the population lives below the poverty line.

2023: Black Americans in Illinois in 2023

In 2023, 1,922,259 Illinoisans identified as Black alone or in combination, making up 15.3% of the state's population. Most of the state's Black population resides in the Chicago metropolitan area.