Illinois County Map

Illinois County Maps

Alright, let’s talk Illinois. This state has 102 counties, because apparently, they couldn’t stop at an even 100. The Prairie State’s counties are sprinkled across a landscape that’s anything but boring. Rolling hills in the south, farmlands up north, Illinois has a little bit of everything…except mountains and oceans, of course.

Illinois Counties

The most populous county is Cook County, and it’s not even close. With Chicago taking center stage, this urban powerhouse is home to over 5 million folks. That’s nearly half the state’s population crammed into one county! On the flip side, there’s Hardin County, tucked away in the southeastern corner of the state. With just over 3,800 residents, it’s like a small town spread out over 178 square miles.

When it comes to size, McLean County has the largest landmass. It sprawls across 1,186 square miles of prime prairie land. Putnam County, on the other hand, is just 160 square miles. This makes it the smallest in size of all counties in Illinois.

Illinois counties have some quirky stories behind their names. Take Effingham County. It’s named after Lord Effingham, a British general who resigned rather than fight against the American colonies. And speaking of history, St. Clair County holds the title of oldest county in the state, established way back in 1790. That’s older than blue jeans and the light bulb!

From the Windy City to the cornfields, Illinois’ counties are like a dysfunctional family at Thanksgiving. They might not all get along, but they’re stuck with each other. At least they can agree on one thing: their roads need work.