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.