where is illinois

Illinois is a state in the Midwestern United States. It borders Wisconsin to the north, Indiana to the east, Missouri and Iowa to the west, Kentucky to the southeast, and Lake Michigan to the northeast.

Main city

• Capital: Springfield.

• Largest city: Chicago.

Simple way to picture it

Think of Illinois as sitting in the central U.S., just south of Wisconsin and west of Indiana, with a small shoreline on Lake Michigan.

Would you like a simple map-style description of Illinois relative to nearby states?