According to allpubliclibraries, Illinois is one of the 50 states of the United States, located in the Midwest region. With its more than 12 million residents, it is the most populous state in the Midwest, and the fifth most populous in the country. About 65% of the state’s population lives in the Chicago metropolitan area, one of the largest industrial and financial centers in the world, the second largest industrial center in the country, and the second largest financial center in the United States; the capital of this state is Springfield.

Despite the fact that Illinois has a highly diversified economy, being one of the main financial centers of the United States, and a highly industrialized state, as of the economic crisis of 2008 – 2010 the State is in technical bankruptcy with a debt of more than of 5,000 million dollars and without paying the payments of the basic services. Geographically, Illinois is characterized by its generally uneven terrain and by its unstable climate. Agriculture, tourism and the provision of transport and telecommunications services are other important sources of income in the state.

Transport and telecommunications

Because of its central location and its proximity to the Rust Belt and the Grain Belt, Illinois is a national crossroads and major transportation hub, with its center being Chicago.

O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving numerous domestic and international flights. It is the nerve center of United Airlines and American Airlines. Currently, an airport expansion process is underway. Midway International Airport (MDW) is Chicago’s second largest airport. For its part, Belleville Mid-America Airport (BLV) serves the San Luis metropolitan area (eastern suburbs, belonging to Illinois).

Illinois has an extensive rail network (11,685 km of railroad in 2004, more than any other US state except Texas) that carries passengers and cargo. Chicago is a national hub for Amtrak, a company that provides rail service to nearly 40 cities in the state.

When it comes to trucking, Illinois’ road network is the third largest in the country, behind Texas and California. In 2003, it had 222,936 kilometers of public roads, of which 3,942 were interstate highways, considered part of the United States federal highway system. The main Interstates that pass through the state are: I-24, I-39, I-55, I-57, I-64, I-70, I-72, I-74, I-80, I-88, I-90, and I-94. In 2005, 1,355 fatalities occurred on Illinois roads, the lowest in more than 60 years.

In addition to the state rail lines, the Mississippi and Illinois rivers provide additional routes to the state’s agricultural interests. Lake Michigan connects Chicago and the rest of Illinois to all the waterways to the east.

The first Illinois newspaper, the Illinois Herald, was first printed in 1814, in Kaskaskia. Currently about 660 newspapers are published in the State, of which approximately 80 are daily. The first radio station in Illinois was founded in 1921, in Tuscola, and the first television station, in 1947, in Chicago. Currently, Illinois has about 278 radio stations (of which 95 are AM and 183 are FM) and 45 are television.

Chicago (United States)

Chicago, known colloquially as “Second City” or “Windy City”, is the third city with the largest population in the United States, behind New York and Los Angeles.

Communities in Chicago

The City of Chicago is divided into seventy-seven (77) communities. The Community designation is more useful as a historical curiosity, since they are considered more durable than the names of the neighborhoods, since these can change over time due to urban renewal, elitization and the constant absorption of the immigrant population.

Demography

In 2008, the city of Chicago had a population of 2,853,114 people, [2] of which are:

• 3% African Americans.
  * 30.6% white (Europeans or descendants of Europeans).
  * 28.2% Latin American
  * 4.9% Asian.

Transport

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is the operator of the second largest public transportation system in the United States (after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York) and covers the city of Chicago and 40 suburban suburbs. The CTA operates buses and the Chicago “EL”, [3] a rapid transit system for trains that serve the metropolitan area 24 hours a day.

Chicago has been recognized over the years as a bike-friendly city, and with over 100 miles (160 km) of bike lanes, Chicago is a bicyclist’s paradise. The Chicago Department of Transportation bike program recently installed 10,000 bike racks and 266 km (165 miles) of new bike routes. [4] Bicycles are allowed on all buses and trains at all times.

In the 20th century, Chicago earned the name of the nation’s transportation hub after the construction of three airports: O’Hare International Airport, Midway International Airport, and Meigs Field.

In the 21st century, Chicago is working to maintain its status as a transportation hub with the expansion of O’Hare International Airport. Additionally, a new airport has been proposed for Peotone, Illinois, and the city is working to expand its ties with the Gary / Chicago International Airport in Gary, Indiana.

Culture

Museums and art galleries

In 1998, the city of Chicago officially opened the Museum Campus Chicago, a 10-acre lakefront park that brings together the city’s three major museums: the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium. Museum Campus Chicago was built in the southern section of Grant Park. Some of the most important museums and art galleries are:

• Art Institute of Chicago
  * Chicago Cultural Center
  * Field Museum of Natural History.
  * Museum of Contemporary Art of Chicago
  * Oriental Institute
  * Shedd Aquarium
  * Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago
  * Adler Planetarium

Music

Chicago has made significant contributions to popular culture. In the field of music, Chicago is known for its Chicago blues, Chicago soul, Jazz and its Gospel music. It is also known as the birthplace of House, whose history is related to the development and adoption of techno-electronic music in Detroit. The Hip-Hop scene in Chicago is very influential, of which its greatest exponents are artists such as Kanye West and Common.

Chicago also presents the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, direct rivals of its simile in New York. The city’s opera company is the Chicago Lyric Opera.

In 1967 the band “The Big Thing” was born, being the first to incorporate metals (such as saxophone, trumpet and trombone) into the rock genre. In 1969 they released their first album, now under the name Chicago Transit Authority, which changed simply to “Chicago” at the end of the same year. Chicago in its long history (just over 35 years) has reaped countless hits such as “Saturday in the park”, “If you leave me now”, “Hard to say I’m sorry”, “You’re the inspiration”, among others.

Singer Minnie Riperton, with an impressive voice and a colorful and varied range, as well as being an icon of Soul, hails from Chicago. Another Chicago citizen singer is Anastacia and her unmistakable shaved voice and soul rock style of music.

One of the most influential musical groups of the mid-90s in alternative music was The Smashing Pumpkins, from Chicago.

In Chicago, what we know today as House was also born, the name comes from The Warehouse club, where it appeared, all current variants of the House come from the primitive House branch of the Chicago House.

Education

Primary and secondary education

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the controlling authority for about 600 public elementary and secondary schools in Chicago. It is currently the third largest authority in the United States, with more than 400,000 enrolled students. It is directed by Arne Duncan. The CPS also includes a number of screened schools, including some of the best in the country. Whitney Young Magnet High School (consecutive winners of the United States Academic Decathlon), Walter Payton College Prep, and Northside College Preparatory High School are some of their outstanding schools.

The Chicago Public Library has public libraries.

Higher education

Chicago Universities:

• Illinois Institute of Technology
  * University of Chicago
  * DePaul
  University * Loyola University Chicago

Health

The United States has the largest health system in the world and Chicago could be considered the capital of this system. It is home to the Illinois Medical District, which includes Rush University Medical Center, the University of Illinois Medical Center, Cook County Hospital, the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, the American Dental Association, and the American College of Surgeons The University of Illinois has one of the largest medical schools in the United States. Chicago is also home to numerous nationally recognized medical schools, including the University of Illinois School of Medicine, Rush Medical College, Chicago Medical School, University of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, and Northwestern. University.