Illinois became the twenty-first state of the United States on December 3, 1818. Located in the Midwest, it is bordered by Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, and Lake Michigan. Known as the “Prairie State,” Illinois developed rapidly thanks to fertile farmland, major rivers, and later Chicago’s rise as a national transportation and industrial hub. The state played important roles in westward expansion, the Civil War era, and U.S. politics, serving as the home of Abraham Lincoln. Its capital is Springfield, and Chicago is its largest city.