1. First Things First—The S Is Silent In Illinois
Nothing annoys an Illinoisan more than when someone pronounces the “s” in their state’s name. This is a dead giveaway that someone is from out-of-town. For the record it’s “il-uh-noi,” never “il-uh-noiz.”
2. Every Illinoisan Has An Important Decision To Make: Cubs Or Cardinals. Choose Wisely
The state of Illinois is hugely divided in a bitter baseball rivalry. People from the northern area tend to cheer for the Chicago Cubs, while people down south cheer for the St. Louis Cardinals. When the two teams play each other, the games are electric. Of course, there’s also the Chicago White Sox, but their fan base is pretty restricted to people within the city of Chicago. If you’re moving to Illinois, be ready to pick either red or blue and stick with your decision for life.
3. Never, Ever Put Ketchup On Your Chicago Dog
Certain parts of the state might get away with it, but in most areas, putting ketchup on a hot dog is basically a crime. This rule stems from the idea that ketchup smothers the flavor of the dog. If you’re anywhere near Chicago, the only things that should be on top of your dog are yellow mustard, chopped white onions, neon green relish, a pickle spear, tomato slices, sport peppers, and a little celery salt.
4. Bears Vs. Rams, A State Divided
Once again, Illinois fandom exemplifies how different people in Chicago are than the people in the rest of Illinois. When it comes to professional football, Chicagolanders are diehard Bears fans, while the further south one goes, the more St. Louis Rams fans come out of the woodworks.
5. In The Land Of Lincoln Summer Means Music Festivals
Illinois is home to some of the best music festivals in the country, like Summer Camp, Spring Awakening, and of course Lollapalooza. Any music lover would be happy in the state, especially in Chicago, where venues are a dime a dozen and awesome live performances take place every night.
6. In Illinois Horseshoes Don’t Always Go On Horses
Originating in Springfield, the Horseshoe is open-faced sandwich topped with nearly anything someone would ever want.
It starts off with a layer of thick sliced Texas toast, on top of that, there’s a burger which is topped with fries, all before the entire thing is smothered in cheese sauce. Yum!
7. No Matter What Anyone Says, It Will Always Be The Sears Tower
One of the tallest buildings in the world, Chicago’s Sears Tower technically got its name changed several years ago to the Willis Tower. Not surprisingly, Illinois residents refuse to call the state icon by its new name. It will always be known as the Sears Tower, regardless of who owns it.
8. Illinois Has A Deep, Deep Affection For Pizza Pie
Chicago-style deep dish makes all other types of pizza look like a joke. There’s nothing more delicious than snagging a pie that weighs several pounds from Giordano’s or Lou Manti’s, stuffed to the brim with meat, cheese, and thick tomato sauce. Anyone else suddenly very hungry?
9. Illinoisans Go Crazy For The Fighting Illini
Most people in Illinois bleed Orange and Blue. There are a ton of awesome universities in the state, but U of I is the largest and one of the most central. By the time basketball season hits, expect the people of Illinois to chant along with the crowd, “Hail to the Orange! Hail to the Blue!”
10. Unless They’re Cheering For Northwestern
Set in the heart of Chicagoland, a lot of locals would rather don their purple gear on game day. One of the Fighting Illini’s rivals in the Big Ten, Northwestern is regularly ranked as one of the top universities in the country, consistently outranking several Ivy League schools with their physical and life sciences program.
11. In Illinois You’re Definitely Going To Want To Order Your Italian Beef Dipped
There are three options when it comes to Italian beef in Illinois: dry, wet, or dipped. But really from those, only two are acceptable: wet or dipped; and as long as you’re not in your nicest suit or trying to impress a hot date, dipped is always the right answer. Basically this means your Italian beef sandwich takes a dive head first into beef juice, producing delicious results.
12. Illinoisans Love Their Hockey So Much You’ll Think You’re In Canada
While most places in the Midwest aren’t into the sport, in Illinois there are plenty of diehard hockey fans. With Chicago cheering on the Blackhawks and Southern Illinois cheering on the Blues, make sure you know what bar you’re in before you ask to turn the game on. If you want to avoid the rivalry altogether, Peoria Rivermen are always a safe bet.
13. Folks In Illinois Are Total Winter Warriors
In the heart of the Midwest, Illinois has some crazy weather. The winters are harsh, the summers are hot, and several different seasons can show their face in a single day. Every Illinoisan knows the importance of learning how to drive in snow and knows how to survive if their city gets shut down for a couple days.
14. When It Comes To Beer Illinois Is A “Head” Of The Crowd
Ever since Goose Island gained popularity, Chicago has gotten a lot of publicity nationwide for putting out great local brews, as the number of downtown breweries is well into double-digits.
The craft beer movement in Illinois doesn’t stop there, with cities like Peoria and Springfield also having their fair share of craft brewers capable of producing a pint that can compete with the best of them.
15. There Is Chicago, Then there is Chicagoland
Never trust someone when they say they’re from Chicago, there’s a good chance it means they’re actually from Chicagoland. People in Illinois might live an hour and a half away from the city, but they’ll still tell people that’s where they’re from. It might have something to do with the huge suburban sprawl or the fact that Chicago is a pretty neat place to be, but if someone says they’re from Chicago, it probably just means they’re from the northern part of the state.
16. There Is Plenty More To The Land Of Lincoln Than Just Chicago
Anyone living outside of Chicagoland will tell you that Chicago should really be a state of its own. It makes up a very small part of Illinois and is 100 percent different than most other places in the state.
Illinois should really be divided into four areas, Chicagoland, North, Central, and South. With over 80 percent of the state consisting of farmland, the nationwide stereotype that Illinois is all about Chicago couldn’t be more wrong.
17. The Roads In Illinois Turn Orange In The Summer
If it’s not a winter month, expect roads around Illinois to be covered in orange construction tape and traffic cones. Road repairs during the warm months are a nuisance, but most people are thankful by the time the harsh winter months roll around.
18. Illinoisans Know The Secret To Getting Some Good Luck Is To Rub Abe’s Nose
It’s no secret that Abe Lincoln spent a lot of time in Illinois, where he became a lawyer and got a jumpstart on his political career. There’s a statue of good ole’ honest Abe in Springfield that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year hoping to rub his nose for a little good fortune of their own.
19. If You’re Cruising Around Illinois, Always Have Your Toll Change Ready
If you’re driving anywhere in Northern Illinois, always have your bag of quarters easily accessible. Over 250 miles of toll roads operate in 12 northern counties of the state. If you’re planning on being upstate a lot, an I-Pass will may your life exponentially easier.
20. An LSD Trip Has Nothing To Do With Drugs In Illinois
In Illinois, LSD refers to Lake Shore Drive, the downtown Chicago road famous for running alongside the Lake. As long as traffic isn’t too overwhelming, it’s a great way to get from one end of the city to the other.
21. Yes The Rumors Are True, Illinois Is Flat
Behind only Florida and Louisiana, it’s the third flattest state in the country, meaning it doesn’t have a ton of awesome hiking or natural vistas that might be found in other places around the nation. The highest point in the state is only 1,235 feet above sea level and it’s on private property.
22. But The Whole State Isn’t Flat
There are a few parts of Illinois that have a little elevation to them, including Southern Illinois’ Garden of the Gods, which is home to some of the most stunning rock formations in the country. The park covers 3,300 acres of forest and is overflowing with plant and animal life.
23. The Pizza Isn’t The Only Thing That’s’ Deep In Illinois
The Starved Rock State Park in Central Illinois is home to tons of canyons, waterfalls, and rock formations that can’t be seen anywhere else in the Midwest. Attracting over 2 million visitors every year, a visit is definitely something that can take your breath away.
24. The Simpsons’ Springfield Is Not Springfield, Ill.
Sorry “Simpsons” fans, in a 2012 interview with the Smithsonian, “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening admitted that the town was named after Springfield, Ore.
25. Illinoisans Are Totally Spoiled By Their Amazing Farmer’s Markets
Illinois is one of the top agricultural states in the country, ranking as one of the top producers of corn, soybeans, and pumpkins every year. Needless to say, there’s always plenty of fresh produce and livestock in Illinois to go around. Farmers’ markets are huge in the state, as they offer a one-stop grocery experience with unbeatable quality.
26. Folks In Illinois Spend A Lot Of Time Getting Their Kicks On Route 66
Often called the “Mother Road of America,” Route 66 stretches from Chicago all the way to California. It cuts directly through the state of Illinois, offering an easy way to get from point A to point B with plenty of roadside attractions to make the trip more interesting along the way.
27. Speaking Of Names People In Illinois Refuse To Use… The Bean Is Actually Named The “Cloud Gate”
Most tourists and newcomers don’t realize that the Bean is actually called the Cloud Gate. It doesn’t help that everyone in Chicago calls it “the Bean” regardless of whether they know its real name. Maybe at some point during its expected 1,000 year lifespan, its real name will catch on… though it’s doubtful.
28. Speed Limits In Illinois Seem To Be More Like Suggestions
People in Illinois drive fast, especially in Chicago, where traffic can move 20 miles per hour over the speed limit without drivers batting an eye. Turn signals and limiting lanes changes to a single lane at a time seem to be a thing of the past as well. Illinois drivers are always aware of their surroundings, usually forced to evade at least one car totaling collision in each daily commute.
29. Everyone In Illinois Is A Friend To Animal Nation
Animal lovers should head straight for Wildlife Prairie State Park where tons of animals native to Illinois roam a 2,000 acre park. Visitors can see bison, elk, cougars, black bears, and more.
30. Folks In Illinois Are Happy To Leave The Navy Pier To The Tourists
Navy Pier is one of those things that should be visited once, unless there’s a special event or friends that have never seen it before are in town visiting. It’s packed every day with tons of tourists from all around the world. It isn’t a good way to experience what makes Chicago a special city.
31. Illinois Is Where The American Ideal Of A Melting Pot Is A Reality
It doesn’t get much more diverse than Illinois. Home to one of the largest cities in North America, as well as one of the largest agricultural operations in the country, no two Illinoisans are alike. People come from all over the world to settle in this state, and it’s very apparent. Someone is just as likely to speak with a Chicago accent as they are to speak with a Southern twang. But Illinois does well with diversity, embracing the different aspects that make every unique culture so special.
32. No Matter Where You Are, Illinois Sunsets Are Unbeatable
It’s easy to say that nothing can beat the sun fading away behind the buildings in Chicago, until the sunsets while you’re driving down 66. Regardless of where you’re at in the state, the end of the day will remind you why Illinois is one of the coolest places to be in the entire world.
What do you love about living in Illinois? Leave a comment and let us know!
