1. “Which One Is That Again?”
Falling plague to the common state of Midwest ambiguity, if someone isn’t from within driving distance of Illinois, there’s a good chance they’ll have a hard time putting this state on the map.
Despite its unique shape and position on the Great Lakes, its existence as a “flyover state” tends to get it ignored by out-of-towners when it comes to geography class.
2. “Do You Spend A Lot Of Time In Chicago?”
If someone discovers you’re from Illinois, they’ll automatically assume you’re from Chicago. That’s usually the only city they know in this state, after all.
3. “What Else Is There In Illinois?”
After an out-of-towner finds out you don’t have your roots in Chicago like they assumed, they’ll probably ask what else there really is in Illinois.
Sure, many of the residents here aren’t living the big city life like those in Chicagoland, but life in the Land of Lincoln is pretty awesome any way you cut it.
4. “What’s An Illinios?”
While most team nicknames have some sort of historical significance or inspiration, the term Illini was actually just coined by a student newspaper that needed a term to address their audience in 1874.
It took a couple decades to catch on, but it was soon adopted as the term for all University of Illinois fans.
5. “How Often Do You Eat Deep Dish Pizza?”
While this might be the dish that the Windy City is known for, people in this state aren’t eating these heavy, cheese-filled pies breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s more of a special occasion thing and the deep dish concept gets rarer the farther South you go.
6. “Is Everyone Here A White Sox Fan?”
It’s easy to assume that everyone cheers for this well-known Chicago team, but that’s far from the case around these parts in this state.
The Cubs actually have a larger fan base in the Chicagoland area and the closer you get to the southwest border, the more St. Louis Cardinals fans you’ll find.
7. “Are The Cubs Cursed?”
Ever since some dude and his stinky goat were asked to leave a World Series game at Wrigleyville decades ago, the Cubs post-season efforts have been pretty dismal.
Superstitious or not, many fans tend to blame losses on this furry critter instead of poor performance on the diamond.
8. “So You Just Sit Here And Float?”
A favorite past time in Illinois, nothing is more relaxing than taking a float trip down the river. All you need is some beer, a few friends with inner tubes, a warm day, and you’re set.
9. “Is That The Springfield From The Simpsons?”
Unfortunately, you’ve got the wrong place. Simpsons’ writer Matt Groening revealed in a relatively recent interview that the Springfield from the show is actually set in Oregon.
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10. “You’re All In The Mob, Right?”
If someone is unfamiliar with big cities, they automatically tend to assume that life in Chicago is like something from Scarface. While Chicago definitely has gang controlled areas, the average tourist won’t be able to tell.
11. “What’s ‘Knee High By The Fourth Of July’ Mean?’”
This one is a Midwest thing that always confuses outsiders. Put simply, if the corn in the fields has grown to a knee-high height by July, it’s gonna be a good farming year.
12. “How Do They Make The River Green?”
Using over 45 pounds of vegetable-based dye every year on St. Patrick’s Day, the green river of Chicago is quite an awesome sight to see. Just don’t jump in, regardless of how much holiday spirit you’ve got.
13. “What’s The Forecast Like Today?”
Falling victim to the Midwest weather cycle, trying to predict weather in Illinois can be a bit like playing Russian Roulette. You never really know what’s coming and every once in a while you’ll get caught in something you’re completely unprepared for.
14. “Doesn’t That Storm Siren Mean It’s Time To Hide?”
Big storms tend to happen pretty frequently in this state… so we’re pretty desensitized. If the storm is right above an Illinoisan’s house, they might head to the basement. However, until it gets that bad, they’ll probably be on the porch watching it roll in with a beer.
15. “Why Can’t I Put Ketchup On My Hot Dog?”
Practically a punishable offense in the Chicago area, the sweetness of the ketchup is said to take away from the flavor of the high-quality meat that’s often used. Even the simple act of asking for ketchup when you’ve ordered a hot dog is pretty taboo.
16. “You Eat Horseshoes Here!?”
Yes, but they’re not what you think they are. Instead of being a rusted metal ring, the “horseshoes” eaten in Illinois are open faced sandwiches consisting of Texas Toast, some sort of protein, plenty of fries, and then a generous portion of cheese sauce.
17. “What’s That Big Building Actually Called?”
Standing 1,451 feet tall, the Willis Tower is the most recognizable feature of the Chicago Skyline.
While it’s technically called the Willis Tower, most Chicagoans still call this building by its first name, the Sears Tower.
However, the recent sale of this skyscraper probably means another name change is coming soon.
18. “Is It All About The Bears Here?”
Pretty much, yes. Everyone absolutely goes nuts for the Bears regardless of who fills the starting lineup each year…unless someone is in the southern part of the state cheering on the Rams, that is.
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19. “What’s Considered Downstate?”
To people from Illinois, Chicagoland and the rest of the state should be considered completely different areas of the country. They’re absolutely nothing alike.
You’ll often here people joke that “downstate” Illinois starts where Chicago ends, while others consider “downstate” to start a little below the mid-state capital.
20. “What’s The Big Deal With Abe Lincoln?”
While Abe was born in Kentucky, his family soon travelled to Illinois where he spent his formative years. It’s also here where Honest Abe chose to start his political career making this state forever the Land of Lincoln.
21. “Is It Always This Cold?”
Winters can be rough in this state, especially when you consider how the lake effect brings extra snow to northern areas. But don’t worry, the cold months pass and the summer makes it completely worth it.
22. “What’s Up With The Big Bean?”
Known around the country for looking like a giant silver pinto bean, the Cloud Gate is said to be inspired by liquid Mercury and was made to reflect the city’s skyline. Your experience in Chicago isn’t complete until you grab a selfie with this mirrored feature in Millennium Park.
23. “Do Drives Always Take This Long?”
Outside of Chicago, Illinois is filled with a ton of farmland. That being said, getting from one town to another means a lot of long, flat driving.
24. “Does Everyone Here Have A Gun?”
Though Chicago is known for its skyscrapers, rural Illinois should be known for its forests. And with these forests come a ton of hunters. Don’t be too surprised when someone has a few deer heads on their wall in this state.
25. “Why Does Everyone Keep Talking About LSD?”
This acronym might be better known for its use in the drug world, but if you hear someone in the Chicago area talking about LSD, they’re probably talking about Lake Shore Drive, a famous road that runs alongside the lake.
26. “Is There Always This Much Construction?”
Thanks to the harsh winters in this state, all of the road crews seem to wait until summer to make their repairs. All of that orange can get pretty annoying.
27. “Do You Ever Wish You Lived Somewhere Else?”
When asked this question, very few born and raised Illinoisans will admit they want to leave. Blending the best of both the rural and metropolitan worlds, this state has something for everyone. Once you fall in love with the Land of Lincoln, you’ll be hooked for life.
What’s the question everyone asks you just because you’re from Illinois? Tell us in the comments below!
