Maps of Illinois

Covering an area of 149,997 sq. km, the State of Illinois is located in the East-North-Central (Midwest and Great Lakes) region of the United States.

As observed on the map, the major portion of Illinois is mostly flat with irregular plains occupying the southern, western, and northern regions. From the Chicago suburbs, as one moves west toward the Iowa border, the land gradually rises into a hilly area in the far-northwest. The state’s highest point - Charles Mound, rising to an elevation of 1,235ft (376m), is located here.

The southern two-thirds of the state is rolling farmland [Central Plains], commonly called America's Corn Belt. This wide and fertile swath of land (hilly is some areas) stretches into the states of Iowa, Indiana, and Missouri. Situated just below the Central Plains is the Shawnee Hills region. This narrow strip of land extends across the southern part of Illinois from Elizabethtown to the Missouri border. About 40 miles wide and 70 miles long, this hilly woodland rises to nearly 1,000 feet.

The state's most important river is the Mississippi River – the longest river in Illinois that forms the entire western border of the state. Other rivers of note include the Illinois, Kaskaskia, Ohio, and Wabash. As marked on the map by an inverted yellow triangle, that stat’s lowest point is situated at the confluence of Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, at an elevation of 279ft.

Lake Michigan is the state’s largest lake. Other significant lakes include the Carlyle, Rend, Goose, Chautauqua, Clinton, Egypt, Shelbyville, Kinkard, and Upper Peoria.

Counties Map

The State of Illinois is divided into 102 counties. In alphabetical order, these counties are: Adams, Alexander, Bond, Boone, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Cook, Crawford, Cumberland, DeKalb, Dewitt, Douglas, DuPage, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, La Salle, Lake, Lawrence, Lee, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Massac, McDonough, McHenry, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Pope, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Richland, Rock Island, Saint Clair, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Whiteside, Will, Williamson, Winnebago, and Woodford.

With an area of 149,997 sq. km, Illinois is the 25^th largest and the 6^th most populous state in the USA. Located in the central part of the state along the shores of the Sangamon River is Springfield – the capital city of Illinois. It serves as a major financial and retail center of the state. Situated in the northeastern part of the state along the shores of Lake Michigan is Chicago – the largest and the most populous city in Illinois and the 3^rd most populous city in the United States. It serves as a major international hub for culture, education, finance, commerce, international trade, industry, telecommunications, and transport. The Chicago Metropolitan Area is the world’s 4^th largest metropolitan area.

Where is Illinois?

The State of Illinois is located in the East-North-Central (Midwest and Great Lakes) region of the United States. Illinois is bordered by the state of Indiana in the east; by Kentucky in the southeast; by Missouri in the west; by Iowa in the northwest and by Wisconsin in the north. It is also bounded by Lake Michigan in the northeast.

Regional Maps: Map of North America