How Big Is Illinois? See Its Size in Miles, Acres, and How It Compares to Other States

Illinois is a state in the Midwestern United States and its capital is Springfield. The states bordering Illinois are Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, and Indiana. The state’s nickname is “the Prairie State” because of its grassy, treeless terrain. Illinois is known for its abolition of slavery and its role in the underground railroad. Compared to the other 49 states, this is a decent size state, but how big is it? Illinois is also known as the “Land of Lincoln” because Lincoln was a representative in the U.S House of Representatives between years 1847-1849. This article will outline how large the state is and how it compares to the other states.

Illinois Size in Acres and Square Feet

Illinois is 37,065,264.45 acres in total. To visualize how large that is, let’s consider a football field. One football field is about one acre (48,000 square feet). One acre is equal to 43,560 square feet. Illinois is the size of 770 football fields altogether. In regards to square miles, Illinois is 57,913.55 square miles. New York is 302.6 square miles. The state of New York can fit inside Illinois 191 times. This large enormous state makes up about 1.46% of the United States’ size.

The History of Illinois

European explorers Louis Jolliet and Jesuit Father Jacques Marquetter discovered Illinois in 1673. The explorers discovered Illinois by floating down the Mississippi River, returning to the Illinois River, and then crossing the Portage to Lake Michigan where Chicago now stands today. After the American Revolution, Illinois officially became a U.S. territory and achieved statehood in 1818, establishing it as the 21st state. In 1871, a massive fire swept through Chicago, causing major reconstruction. As a result of the fire, Chicago turned into a modern city containing the world’s first skyscrapers.

State Comparison

Illinois is one of the most populated states, holding over 12.8 million people. This amazing state is 310 miles long at its longest point and 210 miles wide at its widest point. In kilometers, the chart below will compare how big Illinois is to the other states.

Summary

Illinois is a big, beautiful state to explore and visit. Chicago is famous for its 24.5-acre park, which contains a reflective “Bean” sculpture reflecting the massive skyscrapers. This state is also home to the first-ever Mcdonald’s and the world’s largest ketchup bottle. Illinois is home to both city and country lovers! If you want to enjoy wildlife, there are quite a few common ones you will find here.

• Bobcat
• Red/Grey Fox
• Coyote
• Eastern Mole
• Badger
• Black Bears