Rockford, the largest city in Illinois outside the Chicago metropolitan area, is the fifth-largest city in the state and the 171st most populous in the United States. On a map made in 1778 by Thomas Hutchins, the location of the current Waukegan was shown as Old Fort River and Wakaygagh under the name of Rivière du Vieux Fort. Champaign was formed in 1855, two miles west of downtown Urbana, when the Illinois Central Railroad erected its railroad route. When it received a municipal charter in 1860, it was renamed Champaign instead of “West Urbana”.
The city also has a significant technology and software industry, with a concentration on research and development of new technologies. Many companies are located in the Research Park, which is located in south Champaign and is supported by the University of Illinois. Peoria, Illinois, is a major port on the Illinois River and a commercial and maritime center for a large agricultural area that produces corn, soybeans and animals. Despite the city's diverse economy, classic industrial companies are still prominent.
According to the Illinois State Archaeological Service, Peoria was founded in 1691 by French adventurer Henri de Tonti and is the state's first permanent European colony. Abraham Lincoln, the most prominent former resident, lived in Springfield from 1837 to 1861, before being elected president. Despite its difficulties over the years, Rockford has become one of the most attractive cities to live in Illinois. Residents can now find everything they need to feel at home, including health services, well-maintained streets, and beautiful parks.
Rockford was noted for its elm trees, which gave rise to the nickname “Forest City”. The patterns of parks and boulevard streets are notable in specific regions of the city. The city has a history of significant progress in education in the United States, as Joliet Junior College is the first public community college in the country. The places of worship highlight the Joliet community by showcasing some of the best examples of Roman, Gothic, Byzantine and Renaissance architecture in the surrounding area.
Naperville is the sixth largest city in Illinois, with an estimated population of around 151,000 people. When Joseph Naper arrived in 1831 and built a farm on the banks of the DuPage River, the city was born. The Chicago and Aurora Railroads built a station in the city in 1852, leading to rapid expansion. In 1919, three railroad lines connected Naperville with neighboring cities.
Naperville now has a thriving business community, as well as a diverse population. Naperville has several annual festivals. The community organizes the annual Ribfest, an open-air culinary festival held the days before Independence Day inclusive, as well as Last Fling, a Labor Day celebration and a circus. Chicago Heights was once the 841 largest city in the U.S.
In the US, but now it's the 1447th largest. After Chicago, home to more than 2.6 million people, no other city in Illinois has more than 200,000 people. Here's a look at the largest cities in Illinois with key information and demographics from U.S. Census data.
UU. Among the 100 largest cities in Illinois, the fastest-shrinking city is Chicago Heights, whose population has declined 17.8% since 2000. Before exploring Illinois cities by population, it's helpful to understand the population and demographics of the state as a whole. Aurora was also one of the first cities in the United States to have a public lighting network powered by electricity in the 1880s.
It also houses the offices of many Fortune 500 companies, with many technology startups that have made it the center of Illinois's Silicon Prairie. Despite being one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in Illinois, Elgin preserves some of the variety of natural habitats that drew residents to the area in the first place. The second largest city is Aurora, with a population of 179,266, and it is the 144th largest city in the U.S. Champaign may not feature prominently if you list the populations of Illinois cities with a population of less than 100,000.
Still, you'll find everything from safe, family-friendly suburbs and small towns surrounded by nature and recreation to exciting urban areas. Chicago is located on Lake Michigan and is the third largest city in the United States with a metropolitan population of 9.6 million. It is the largest city on the Illinois River and the second largest in central Illinois, behind Springfield, which is 74 miles to the south. .
