The state name is derived from the Illinois, which was a loose confederation of Algonkian- speaking Indian tribes. B.C. Possibily the largest pre-Columbian community north of Mexico, was located at Cahokia, in southern Illinois.
Flat prairie makes up most of the state, with open hills in the southern part.
The deep black soil in central Illinois is among the finest in the world, in terms of agricultural quality. Which is the reason Illinois ranks number one in soy bean production in the world. Illinois is a leading industrial center and a focal point of many transportation networks with three navigable rivers. One, the mighty Mississippi is connected to Lake Michigan by a canal. Chicago's O'Hare airport is one of the two busiest in the nation.