Illinois
Illinois is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash and Ohio rivers to its south. Of the fifty U.S. states, Illinois has the fifth-largest gross domestic product (GDP), the sixth-largest population, and the 25th-most land area. Its largest urban areas include Chicago and the Metro East of Greater St. Louis, as well as Peoria, Rockford, Champaign–Urbana, and Springfield, the state's capital.
Some of the key events about Illinois
- 1812The Fort Dearborn Massacre resulted in the deaths of numerous American soldiers and settlers during the War of 1812.
- 1818Illinois was admitted as the 21st state of the United States
- 1848The Illinois and Michigan Canal opened, connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River
- 1865The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, abolishing slavery, was ratified by Illinois
- 1871The Great Chicago Fire destroyed much of the city, leaving 100,000 residents homeless.
- 1893The World's Columbian Exposition, a major world's fair, was held in Chicago
- 1900The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal was completed, reversing the flow of the Chicago River
- 1909The Cherry Mine disaster killed 259 men and boys in one of the worst coal mining accidents in U.S. history.
- 1915The SS Eastland disaster in Chicago killed 844 passengers when the ship rolled over while still moored to its dock.
- 1919The Chicago Race Riot resulted in 38 deaths and over 500 injuries, highlighting racial tensions in the city.
- 1929The St. Valentine's Day Massacre saw seven men brutally murdered, epitomizing Chicago's violent gangster era.
- 1933The Century of Progress International Exposition, celebrating Chicago's centennial, opened
- 1942The world's first controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction was achieved at the University of Chicago
- 1949The Peoria State Hospital, known for its alleged hauntings and controversial treatments, was closed down.
- 1955The first McDonald's franchise restaurant opened in Des Plaines
- 1968Violent protests erupted at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, leading to numerous injuries and arrests.
- 1974The Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) was completed, becoming the world's tallest building at the time
- 1979American Airlines Flight 191 crashed shortly after takeoff from O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 people on board.
- 2003A deadly nightclub stampede at E2 in Chicago resulted in 21 deaths and over 50 injuries.
- 2016The Chicago Cubs won the World Series, ending a 108-year championship drought
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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