| |
| |
World Almanac for Kids |
 | | ILLINOIS, one of the East North Central states of the U.S., bordered on the N by Wisconsin, on the NE by Lake Michigan, on the E by Indiana, on the S by Kentucky, and on the W by Missouri and Iowa. |
 | | The state usually leads the nation in mining fluorite and also is a notable producer of cement, peat, clay, lead, zinc, natural gas, copper, gemstones, and tripoli (a type of diatomaceous earth). |
 | | The present boundaries of Illinois were established on Dec. 3, 1818, when it became the 21st state of the Union; the remainder of the Illinois Territory was attached to that of Michigan. |
| www.worldalmanacforkids.com /explore/states/illinois.html (4250 words) |
|