Illinois and Hawaii

Some of the similarities between Illinois and Hawaii are that Illinois uses water transportation for its agricultural products as does Hawaii. It is also true that the majority of the population in both Hawaii and Illinois are of European ancestry. 

Primary Shipping Method

Since the Hawaiian Islands are just that, islands, they rely solely on shipping and air transportation transport their agricultural products as well as imported products from the mainland. This in turn makes the cost of living on the islands expensive. Illinois also used water transportation to get its agricultural products shipped. The state takes advantage of its access to the Mississippi River, the Illinois River, and Lake Michigan. Illinois also uses air transportation to get its products farther, but it uses rail transportation as well which is not present on the islands.

Hawaiians

The population of Hawaii consists of two main groups which are Asian and European. Although there are more people of Asian descent on the islands, the European population is the most dominant. This is the case in Illinois as well as people of European descent are the majority of the population. In Illinois, more than three quarters of the population is considered white which is quite remarkable. The Asian population isn't as dominant in Illinois as it is in Hawaii. 

On a final note, I would just like to point out that both Hawaii and Illinois are tourist oriented as Chicago is a main tourist destination. Tourism is as much a part of the economy of Illinois as it is for Hawaii. 

Welcome to Illinois

Illinois and the North Pacific Coast

It is difficult to find a direct connection between Illinois and the North Pacific Coast, but some things that they both have in common are their distribution of population and the agricultural aspects of both of their economies. 

Population Distribution in Illinois

The North Pacific Coast is home to more than 10 million people. More than half of those 10 million people live in three main urban centers which are Vancouver, Portland, and Seattle. These three urban centers have populations of about 1.9 million each and the rest of the population is distributed along the lowland from the Fraiser River to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Illinois is similar in that there are small population clusters centered around transportation corridors as opposed to natural features. The main urban clusters are in Chicago and the Metro-East Area which I have mentioned already. As the population moves further away from the urban clusters, the small towns and cities along the major transportation corridors in Illinois begin to resemble those in the North Pacific Coast. 


A main part of the North Pacific Coast's economy is agriculture which is also prevalent in Illinois. In the North Pacific Coast, the main agricultural products include apples, pears, strawberries, dairy products hops, grass for turf seed, cherries, spearmint, and grapes. I have already mentioned the main agricultural products of Illinois. 

Rolling Hills in Northern Illinois

Lastly, a striking similarity between Illinois and the North Pacific Coast is the presence of rolling hills which are present in Illinois. The region also receives a healthy amount of rain which helps its agricultural areas as the vast amount of rivers in Illinois help the state with their agriculture industry.

Illinois and California

Illinois and California are two of the top agriculturally rich areas in the United States, but California dwarfs Illinois in terms agricultural production. According to the text, California's agricultural productivity, valued at over $30 billion annually, is greater than any other state in the country. Some of the major agricultural products grown in California include almonds, apricots, artichokes, avocados, broccoli, celery, dates, figs, grapes, kiwifruit, plums, and walnuts. All of the agricultural products mentioned are grown only in California. 


In Illinois, the major products are corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, dairy products and wheat. The state is known for its major soybean industry as well as its major corn industry. Illinois is also home to many major food manufacturers and meat processing industries. Chicago is said to be the global center for food manufacturing and meat processing. Illinois also has a wine industry, but California's wine industry is dominant.

Los Angeles Rail Map

Something else that is common between California and Illinois is the similarities between both of their urban centers. In California, there are three main urban clusters which are the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, San Diego, and the San Francisco/ Bay Area. The rest of California is mainly open and contains low density communities. The rest of the state is dedicated to agriculture, nature, or is too rugged/arid to settle. The Los Angeles and San Diego areas are heavily dependent on the automobile for its citizens main transportation while the bay area is more conducive to alternative forms of transportation such as the BART light rail system. There has been a surge in light rail use in the Los Angeles area in recent years with several new lines opening in the past decade such as the Metro Gold Line, Orange Line, and the recent addition of the Expo Line which cuts through the heart of downtown Los Angeles and extends to the heavily congested west side.

Roads leading to Chicago

In Illinois, the Chicago Metropolitan area is the largest urban area in the state and there are also clusters of population located through the state, although they are not as large as Chicago. In recent years, an area southwest of the state has become increasingly urban as it lies just across the river from St. Louis. This area is known as Metro-East. Within Chicago, the city spreads out from a central node known as the loop which is where the central business district lies. Just like the major urban center of Los Angeles in California, Chicago has also been shaped by the automobile and also transportation corridors which all lead to the downtown area. From an aerial view of the city, one can see how the roads and rail lines disperse in all directions away from downtown which is the case in Los Angeles as well. The Chicago areas boasts an incredible transportation network that is similar to those found on the East coast of the United States, but the region also has the feel of a California urban area.  

Chicago Rail Map

Illinois and The Southwest Border Area

Although there is little in common between Illinois and the Southwest border area of the United States, there are a few similarities between the two areas. For starters, the southwest border area has a great Latino population and in recent decades, the Latino population in Illinois has begun to increase and is set to become the second largest ethnic group in Illinois within a matter of years, surpassing African Americans. Secondly, Illinois and the Southwest border both share an economy with another country. Lastly, Illinois is also home to a great amount of ethnic diversity as is the border area. 

Both the Southwest border area and Illinois have an increasing Latino presence. In Illinois, according to the 2011 United States Census, the Latino population is 15.8% of the total population which is more than the African American population which is 14.5% of the total population. The Latino presence is mostly felt in Chicago as it has the nations third largest Mexican population after Los Angeles and Houston. It also has the nations third largest Puerto Rican population in the United States. 

Illinois also shares an economy with another country, that being Canada which lies just across Lake Michigan. What is different from the Southwest border area though is that Canada is not in the same shape as Mexico. In the Southwest border area, the U.S. cities do business with a poorer Mexico because of the maquiladora industry. In Illinois, the state does business with Canada which is well off and they normally trade raw materials, agricultural products, and finished goods. 


Illinois has a large ethnic diversity that can be found in the great city of Chicago. Chicago is home to nearly 3 million people, but its ethnic diversity is remarkable. The city is home to Irish, German, Italian, Mexican, Arab, English, Black, Korean, Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Dutch, and Puerto Rican residents. In the southwest, the population mostly consists of Anglo Americans, Mexican Americans, and Native Americans. Illinois is a melting pot of culture and it is well represented in Chicago. 

Illinois and the Empty Interior

Illinois does not have much in common with the Empty Interior other than tourism, mining, and ranching are part of the Illinois economy as well as part of the economy in the Empty Interior. Another aspect that is similar to the Empty Interior is the control of water which is evident in Chicago with the control of the Chicago River and in the Empty Interior with the control of the Colorado River. 

Illinois Cattle Ranch

In Illinois, tourism is important to the economy of Chicago because many people visit the "windy city". Illinois' economy is also dependent on mining, especially on coal mining. The Empty Interior is more focused on mining for minerals than coal however. The Empty Interior also depends on ranching for its economy to flourish. The Empty Interior and Illinois ranchers focus their efforts on cows which produce meat, dairy products, and other valuable commodities which can be sold. 

Illinois Mining 

The control of the Chicago River in and around the Chicago area has been a remarkable feat as has been the control and management of the Colorado River in the Empty Interior. In fact, the Chicago Rivers flow was reversed from flowing into Lake Michigan to flowing into the state of Illinois in order to help the transportation of goods from Chicago to the Mississippi and its tributaries. Also like the Empty Interior, Illinois' farmland has been irrigated using the vast amount of rivers within the state. This is similar to the Colorado River where water has been shared by many states for agricultural and personal use.

Chicago River

 

Illinois and the Great Plains and Prairies

Illinois' Prairies

Illinois is a lot like the Great Plains and Prairies of the United States in that it's economy depends greatly on agriculture, its topography has minor variations throughout the state, and the state is hit by severe weather as are the great plains and prairies. 

Illinois depends on its agricultural industry to sustain a healthy economy which was mentioned in more detail in the last blog on the agricultural core. Diving a little bit more into agriculture in order to tie Illinois to Chapter 12, Illinois also has large farms, but they are nowhere close to the size of the farms located within the great plains and prairies. According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, a typical Illinois farm is about 368 acres whereas farms in the great plains and prairies exceed 1000 acres and some are even as large as 2000 acres. Illinois' agricultural industry is also healthy because of its 1,118 miles of navigable waterways which is similar to the great plains and prairies. They both are on top of issues regarding water use for irrigation of crops and the water debate continues in both the great plains and in Illinois as well. Agriculture also flourishes in the state because there is relatively little change in the topography of Illinois which makes it easy to plant crops.

Illinois is also hit by severe weather from time to time as are the great plains. Illinois averages about 51 thunderstorm days a year and averages about 35 tornadoes per year. This is similar to the great plains and prairies which is located within Tornado Alley. Illinois is at the top end of Tornado Alley, but it is not spared from tornadoes whatsoever. In fact, some of the deadliest tornadoes on record have occurred in Illinois due to the fact that it is one of the more populated states within Tornado Alley.

Illinois Thunderstorm

Illinois: The Heart of the U.S. Agricultural Core

 

U.S. Agricultural Core 

At the heart of the United States Agricultural Core, there lies Illinois. Illinois is one of the nations most important agricultural states because of its corn and soybean production. Illinois is a leading producer of soybeans, corn and swine. The state's climate and varied soil types enable farmers to grow and raise many other agricultural commodities, including cattle, wheat, oats, sorghum, hay, sheep, poultry, fruits and vegetables. Illinois also produces several specialty crops, such as buckwheat, horseradish, ostriches, fish and Christmas trees. Illinois is also one of the leading producers of soybeans in the nation only surpassed by Iowa. The state also ranks second in corn production. Lastly, in terms of agricultural products, the state is home to two American viticultural areas which produce a great amount of wine.

According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois has some 76,000 farms covering about 80 percent of the state which is approximately 28 million acres. Agricultural products account for more than $9 billion in revenue for the state.

Illinois has a competitive edge over many other states due to its central location and superior transportation system. More than 2,000 miles of interstate highway and 34,500 miles of other state highway make trucking of goods fast and efficient. Chicago is home to the largest rail gateway in the nation, connecting eastern and western United States. The state boasts some 1,100 airports, landing areas and heliports, including Chicago's O'Hare International, through which more than 65 million travelers pass annually. Illinois' 1,118 miles of navigable waterways, including the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, make barge traffic an excellent option for shipment of grain to the Gulf of Mexico.

Illinois ranks second nationally in the export of agricultural commodities with nearly $4 billion worth of goods shipped to other countries each year. Exports from Illinois account for nearly 7 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports. Illinois is the nation's second leading exporter of both soybeans and feed grains and related products. More than 44 percent of grain produced in Illinois is sold for export.

Illinois and the Southern Coastlands

Just like in the Southern Coastlands, Illinois is an important part to the U.S. trade network due to its vast amount of railroads. Illinois is also important to the U.S. trade network because of its industrial production and its agricultural output as well. Illinois is also important financially because of its largest city, Chicago, which houses many financial firms, banks, federal buildings, etc. in its Central Business District.

Chicago during the Winter

In the Southern Coastlands, the region succumbs to natural disasters such as winter freezes and hurricanes which affect the whole region. Illinois also faces natural disasters in the form of blizzards and also some winter freezes as well which affect agricultural production. The effects of blizzards, storms, and winter freezes not only affect agriculture, but they affect other portions of the economy as well.

Southern Part of Illinois

Northern Part of Illinois

Illinois is the leading refiner of petroleum in the American Midwest which is similar to the Southern Coastlands as the Gulf Region is important in refining petroleum. Illinois is also divided into two halves as is the Southern Coastlands. Illinois' northern half is more oriented to manufacturing, entertainment, and tourists whereas the southern portion is more dedicated to agriculture, it is sparsely populated, and its economy is dependent on the crops the land yields. 

Illinois and the Changing South

Great Migration

As is the case with the Changing South, Illinois has continued to have a large African American presence ever since the Great Migration out of the Southern United States took place. After slavery was abolished, many African Americans left the South in search of better opportunities in the industrialized cities of the North and also on the West Coast. Also prevalent in Illinois that is similar to the Changing South is the recent growth of the southern portion of the state in and around the Metro-East Area. This area, in recent decades, has grown substantially into Illinois' second most cosmopolitan region. Cities within this metropolitan area include Belleville, Granite City, Alton, East St. Louis, and Collinsville. 

African Americans in Illinois:
The African American population in Illinois continues to be dominant as African Americans are the second demographic group in the state after Whites. Hispanics are close behind at third and might overtake African Americans at the second spot. Racism has also plagued African Americans in Illinois, but it has not been as great as in the Southern United States. African Americans have had better opportunities in seeking jobs in Illinois than they did in the South and they also have a lot more mobility than African Americans in the South. 

Illinois' Metro-East Area

Metro-East Area: 
As is the case with the Changing South, The Metro-East Area continues to grow over the years. It was once dominated by agriculture, but today the Metro-East Area continues to grow exponentially becoming more urban in nature. The reason behind Metro-East's growth lies just across the river in Missouri in the city of St. Louis. St. Louis has grown into a fairly large city with demand for more space for workers, housing, transportation, industry, etc. spilling into Illinois. Metro-East is now home to more than 700,000 residents and has become another cosmopolitan region in Illinois. The region includes four counties which are Clinton County,  Jersey County, Madison County, and St. Clair County. There are several colleges and universities in the area as well as a diverse transportation network. The region is also home to some major employers such as U.S. Steel, National Steel, Boeing, Anheuser-Busch, and ConocoPhillips. Just as it is in the Changing South, this region has changed the rural character of the areas within the region.

Appalachia, The Ozarks, and Illinois

Captain Mine, Illinois

As is the case with Appalachia and the Ozarks, coal mining is particularly important to the Illinois economy and it is often referred to as "Black Treasure". The state also has distinct differences between it's northern areas and its southern areas.

Coal:
Illinois' recoverable reserves of coal are larger than those of any state east of the Mississippi River and the third largest in the country, behind only Montana and Wyoming. About 200 billion tons of coal are estimated to lie underground in the state. Only about 38 billion tons of that coal can be recovered economically, however. There are four main reasons why the remainder of the coal is not recoverable: unfavorable geologic conditions, surface developments, such as towns and roads, inefficient mining processes, limitations of current technology. Coal is mined by surface or underground methods. In surface mining, where the coal lies close to the surface, large earth-moving equipment is used to remove the earth materials above the coal seam. The coal is then scooped up, processed, and transported. The remaining earth materials are put back into the hole, and the surface is restored to its original shape and land use. Just like Appalachia and the Ozarks, mining in Illinois has had its share of controversy and Illinois law now requires that coal mining be done only if it does not cause serious damage to the land. 

Chicago in Northern Illinois

Southern Illinois

Northern and Southern Illinois:
Northern Illinois is more industrialized, populated, cosmopolitan in the Chicago area, and it is more diverse. Southern Illinois, on the other hand, is more agricultural, the population is more spread out, and they rely on more mining and oil related jobs. Although Southern Illinois is home to the second cosmopolitan area in Illinois, it is nowhere near the size of Chicago Metro Area. 

There are also differences in the geography of the two. Northern Illinois tends to be more flat while in the southern portion of the state, there are more rolling hills and it is not so flat. Culturally, Southern Illinois is more uniform than the north. There is also more low paying jobs in the south hence there is more poverty. 

The Illinois Connection to the Bypassed East

Illinois Fishing Rivers Map

Just like the Bypassed East, Illinois boasts some of the best fishing opportunities in the nation because of its easy access to Lake Michigan and the availability of rivers, ponds, and smaller lakes within the state. Some of the rivers within the state include the Illinois River, Mississippi River, Ohio River, Fox River, etc. Fishing lakes include Lake of Egypt, Siloam Springs Lake, Lake Mingo, and of course Lake Michigan.


Unlike the Bypassed East, Illinois continues to thrive agriculturally. It is the nations second largest corn producing state producing 1.5 billion bushels of corn annually. The agricultural industry in Illinois also produces a great amount of soybeans, hogs, cattle, dairy products, and wheat. Illinois also has a great wine industry and the state houses two American viticulture areas.


Illinois and the Bypassed East also have a connection in terms oil production as the Bypassed East has one of the worlds largest oil drilling platforms and Illinois is the Midwest's leading refiner of petroleum. Illinois does not have a great amount of oil reserves though. It is ranked 14th in the United States in terms of oil production.  

Illinois Manufacturing

Top 10 Manufacturing Sectors in Illinois as of 2009 (in billions)

As of 2009, manufacturing accounted for $77 billion value added productivity by manufacturing in Illinois alone. It has become on of the nations leading manufacturing states in the 21st century. Within the Northeastern Opportunity Return Region, there are three-quarters of the state's manufacturers. As of 2009, there were nearly 15,000 manufacturing facilities in Illinois employing more than 360,000 workers with the majority being in Cook County. There are currently seven major manufacturing sectors in Illinois and they include: chemical manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, food manufacturing, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, plastic and rubber products, and computer and electronic parts.

Illinois Manufacturing Output (1997-2009) in billions

 2006 Statistics:


Chemical Manufacturing- 18.3 billion
Machinery Manufacturing- 13.4 billion
Food Manufacturing- 12.9 billion
Fabricated Metal Products- 11.5 million
Transportation Equipment- 7.4 billion
Plastic and Rubber Products- 7.0 billion
Computer and Electronic Parts- 6.1 billion