Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Chicago. Support local journalism by becoming a member. Get a free daily summary of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Chicago. This marks one of the defining characteristics of Illinois: although it has a large urban population, it is spread over several smaller cities.
The total area of Illinois is 57,914 square miles, with a population density of 230 people per square mile. The language other than English spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 13.35% of the population. The population indicated for 1800 inhabitants is the total of two counties and one community in the current state of Illinois, which at that time was part of the Indiana Territory. In recent years, Illinois' white population has declined significantly, from 83.5% of the total population in 1970 to 63.3% just 40 years later.
When analyzing the population growth of the state of Illinois by county, the data shows that most counties have experienced a decline in population. QuickFacts provides statistics for all states and counties, and for cities and towns with a population of 5000 or more. In religious terms, Illinois shows its preferences, with 71% preference for Christian-based religions, 6% affiliation to non-Christian religions and 22% of the population not affiliated with any particular religion.
