Illinois

One of the Central States of the United States, in the valley of the Upper Mi i ippi, and one of the most fertile in the Union, having scarcely any soil which is uncultivable. It was originally settled by the French, but fell into the hands of the English in 1763, becoming the property of the United States at the Revolution. It was organized as a State December 3, 1818, and during the civil war was a staunch supporter of the Union.