Because its nearly 400 miles (644 km) distance from its northernmost and southernmost extremes, as well as its mid-continental situation, Illinois has a widely varying climate. Most of Illinois has a humid continental climate, with hot, humid summers and cold winters.

Illinois designated English as the official state language in 1969. The foreign languages most commonly spoken as the primary language in a home in Illinois are Spanish, Polish, German, Tagalog, Chinese, Italian, Korean, Greek, French, and Russian.

The United States dollar, denoted by USD or the symbol $, is the official currency used in the United States. Commonly referred to as the "American dollar, " the currency is divided into 100 cents (symbol ).

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Winkle (1992) examines the impact of migration on political participation in Springfield during the 1850s. Widespread migration in the 19th-century United States produced frequent population turnover within Midwestern communities, which influenced patterns of voter turnout and office-holding.

Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 116, 250 (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2010).