Illinois

1818

Illinois Statehood

1818

Illinois Statehood

Illinois joined the Union on December 3, 1818, as the 21st state. The Illinois country had...

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1837

Chicago Incorporated

1837

Chicago Incorporated

Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837 and grew at a remarkable pace fueled by its pos...

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1858

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

1858

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

In the summer and fall of 1858, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debated the future of...

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1871

Great Chicago Fire

1871

Great Chicago Fire

In October 1871, a massive fire swept through Chicago, burning for two days and destroying...

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1893

World's Columbian Exposition

1893

World's Columbian Exposition

Chicago hosted the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, attracting millions of visitors t...

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1900

Chicago River Reversal

1900

Chicago River Reversal

In 1900, Chicago engineers completed one of the most audacious sanitation projects in hist...

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1920s

Great Migration

1920s

Great Migration

During the 1920s, hundreds of thousands of African Americans moved from the rural South to...

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1933

Century of Progress Fair

1933

Century of Progress Fair

Chicago hosted the Century of Progress World's Fair in 1933 and 1934, celebrating the city...

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1955

First McDonald's Franchise

1955

First McDonald's Franchise

The first McDonald's franchise restaurant opened in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955, markin...

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Modern Era

Finance, Industry, and Culture

Modern Era

Finance, Industry, and Culture

Today, Illinois is home to one of the largest and most diverse economies in the United Sta...

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