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Illinois Trivia

Illinois Trivia Quizzes

The landscape of Illinois is dominated by the Central Plains, dotted by the Shawnee Hills, and touched by the Gulf Coastal Plain.

19 Illinois quizzes and 266 Illinois trivia questions.

Sub-Categories:

Chicago (7 quizzes)

Cities and Towns of the Great State of Illinois

Collection Quiz

15 Qns

Can you identify the municipalities that can be found in the U.S. state of Illinois?

Easier, 15 Qns, jcmttt, Jan 12 24

Recommended for grades: 10,11,12

Easier
jcmttt

Jan 12 24
556 plays

Illinois Outside of Chicago great trivia quiz

Photo Quiz

10 Qns

This is a quiz about the great state of Illinois, the part that lies outside of the city of Chicago.

Average, 10 Qns, daver852, Nov 17 14

Average
daver852

704 plays

I Indorse Illinois

Photo Quiz

10 Qns

The state of Illinois is lovely and has many interesting features. This historical state has many unusual factors. What do you know?

Average, 10 Qns, dcpddc478, Aug 15 22

Average
dcpddc478
Aug 15 22
376 plays

Chicago, the Windy City great trivia quiz

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

Chicago was one of the fastest growing of the major global cities. In sixty years it grew from a cluster of log cabins to a population of 1.7 million. In 1900, it was the fifth largest city in the world.

Average, 10 Qns, medvedok, May 04 25

Average
medvedok
May 04 25
2464 plays

In and Around Springfield, Illinois

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

This is a quiz about my hometown, Springfield, Illinois. How much do you know about it?

Average, 10 Qns, daver852, Oct 21 15

Average
daver852

305 plays

What do you know about Illinois?

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

A quiz on Illinois.

Average, 10 Qns, ashalia, Sep 20 04

Average
ashalia
3411 plays

Illinois Fun Facts popular trivia quiz

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

Here's my latest Fun Facts quiz. Enjoy.

Difficult, 10 Qns, bullymom, May 10 07

Difficult
bullymom
2707 plays

Illinois--Land of Lincoln

Multiple Choice

15 Qns

Welcome to Illinois--Land of Lincoln.

Average, 15 Qns, Morrigan716, May 25 05

Average
Morrigan716

3269 plays

Illinois Geography

Multiple Choice

15 Qns

A Quiz of Illinois Geography

Tough, 15 Qns, bryan_eh, Jul 31 16

Tough
bryan_eh
2705 plays

10.

Illinois Counties

Multiple Choice

20 Qns

How well do you know Illinois' counties? Can you name the County Seat of these selected counties?Each of your choices is an actual Illinois city, town, or village.

Average, 20 Qns, TaquilaTAb, Mar 21 23

Average
TaquilaTAb
Mar 21 23
1121 plays

Quick Question

A section of which Chicago Street is known as "the magnificent mile?"

From Quiz "Chicago, the Windy City"

11.

Illinois Test

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

Try this quiz if you think you know Illinois trivia.

Tough, 10 Qns, slugman, Jul 04 24

Tough
slugman
Jul 04 24
1516 plays

12.

Illinois Counties and County Seats

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

Here are ten questions concerning Illinois' 102 counties and county seats.

Difficult, 10 Qns, IlliniBob72, Jan 11 06

Difficult
IlliniBob72
1032 plays

Illinois Trivia Questions

1. Springfield is the capital of Illinois. But it is not the first city to serve in that capacity. How many other cities have served as the capital of Illinois?

From Quiz In and Around Springfield, Illinois

Answer: 2

Illinois became a state on December 3, 1818. The first capital was Kaskaskia, a small town in Randolph County in the southern part of the state. The capital was moved to Vandalia in 1819, and in 1837 was moved yet again, to Springfield, which has remained the capital ever since.

2. What tribe of native Americans lived in the immediate Chicago area?

From Quiz Chicago, the Windy City

Answer: Potowatomi

The Potowatomi lived along the shores of Lake Michigan in northern Illinois and Indiana. The Iroquois lived further east, the Cherokee were in the southeast, and the Shawnee were in southern Ohio and Kentucky.

3. Where was Ray Kroc's first McDonald's located?

From Quiz Illinois

Answer: Des Plaines, IL

Many say that the first McDonald's was located in California, but the first McDonald's was built by Ray Kroc in 1955 in Des Plaines, IL. The inspiration for the Mcdonald's chain was from a San Bernadino restaurant owned and run by the McDonald brothers, Dick and Mac.

4. What is the county seat of Alexander County?

From Quiz Illinois Counties

Answer: Cairo

Despite its spelling, the locals pronounce it Kay-Row.

5. What is NOT another nickname for Illinois?

From Quiz Illinois--Land of Lincoln

Answer: Twenty-First State

It is called Land of Lincoln because Abraham Lincoln grew up in Illinois. It is called The Prairie State because much of it is flat grassland; and it is called the Tall State because of its shape.

6. What is the county seat of Cook County?

From Quiz Illinois Counties and County Seats

Answer: Chicago

Chicago was made the county seat of Cook County when the county was formed in 1831

7. What county is the state capital of Illinois in?

From Quiz Illinois Geography

Answer: Sangamon

8. What franchise was first opened in Joliet, Illinois, on June 22, 1940?

From Quiz Illinois Fun Facts

Answer: Dairy Queen

The store was opened by J. F. and Alex McCullough. Thank you, JF and Alex!

9. In addition to being the capital of Illinois, Springfield is the county seat of which county?

From Quiz In and Around Springfield, Illinois

Answer: Sangamon

Sangamon County was named for the Sangamon River, the main river which flows through it. The waters of the Sangamon River are very muddy. It should not be surprising that Springfield is the county seat; of the 50 state capitals, Lansing, Michigan is the only one that is not also a county seat.

10. Chicago is an Indian word from which the name of the city is derived. What does the word mean?

From Quiz Chicago, the Windy City

Answer: Wild leek, or skunk cabbage

Shikaakwa is translated as "wild leek" or "skunk cabbage" from the abundance of such plants which grew in the area. Initially, the term applied to the river, but the city acquired the name.

11. What President was born in Illinois?

From Quiz Illinois

Answer: Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the U.S. was born Feb. 6, 1911 in Tampico, IL. Abraham Lincoln grew up in Illinois but was born in Kentucky. The other two were born in Ohio.

12. What is the county seat of Edgar County?

From Quiz Illinois Counties

Answer: Paris

Contrary to what you might think, this county was NOT named after the famous author Edgar Allan Poe.

13. What is the second largest city in Illinois?

From Quiz Illinois Geography

Answer: Aurora

Aurora, with a 2005 population of around 157,000 has taken over from Rockford as the largest city.

14. In 2000, Illinois was the _____ largest state by population.

From Quiz Illinois

Answer: 5th

In 2000, Illinois' population was 12,419,293. Illinois follows behind California, New York, Texas, and Florida.

15. How would one describe the topography of Springfield and the surrounding area?

From Quiz In and Around Springfield, Illinois

Answer: Mostly flat

Springfield was built on the Illinois prairie and is mostly flat; there are a few very small hills. Springfield lies in what is called the Lower Illinois River Basin. The land is very flat because it was leveled by glaciers during the last several ice ages. The glaciers also deposited a deep layer of very rich soil, which makes the farmland around Springfield some of the most fertile and valuable in the country.

16. What is unique about the Chicago River?

From Quiz Chicago, the Windy City

Answer: It flows out of Lake Michigan

The Chicago River flows out of Lake Michigan, which is a definite reversal since most rivers flow into larger bodies of water. After the Chicago fire in 1871, by a tremendous engineering feat, the river was dredged and its current was actually reversed. It connects by canal to the Illinois River, which flows into the Mississippi River, allowing for water commerce from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.

17. In what year was Illinois' current constitution written?

From Quiz Illinois

Answer: 1970

Illinois' current constitution was officially put into effect on Dec. 15, 1970.

18. What is the county seat of Johnson County?

From Quiz Illinois Counties

Answer: Vienna

In this southern Illinois town it's pronounced VI-enna not VEE-enna.

19. Who is the only US President to be born in Illinois?

From Quiz Illinois Fun Facts

Answer: Ronald Reagan & Reagan

Reagan, our 40th President, was born in Tampico in 1911. In case you were thinking of Lincoln, he was born in Kentucky. However, Illinois' nickname is 'Land of Lincoln', since he spent most of his life in this state. Ulysses Grant lived in Galena, but was not born there.

20. Illinois is the _____ largest state by land area.

From Quiz Illinois

Answer: 25th

Illinois land area is 57,918 sq. miles.

21. Although Springfield is not a large city by most standards, its population has been growing steadily, and passed the 100,000 mark in 1990. All those people use a lot of water. From where does the city of Springfield obtain its water supply?

From Quiz In and Around Springfield, Illinois

Answer: Lake Springfield

Lake Springfield is a man-made reservoir that covers 4,260 acres (17.2 square kilometers). It was created by damming Sugar Creek, a tributary of the Sangamon River. Work began in 1931 and was completed in 1935. In addition to supplying water to Springfield and many other smaller cities, Lake Springfield provides many recreational activities. It is a popular boating venue, and its waters contain over 20 varieties of game fish, including bass, catfish, trout, crappie, and bluegill.

22. What was the name of the fort built on the Chicago River in pioneer days?

From Quiz Chicago, the Windy City

Answer: Fort Dearborn

Fort Dearborn was built on the site of Chicago very early. It stood on the Chicago River in the heart of what is now downtown Chicago.

23. Erika Harold the 2002-2003 Ms. America winner was born in which Illinois city?

From Quiz Illinois

Answer: Urbana

Erika Harold was born in Urbana, IL in 1980.

24. What is the county seat of Monroe County?

From Quiz Illinois Counties

Answer: Waterloo

In 1787 Monroe County was annexed into the Union as part of the Northwest Territory.

25. What is Illinois's state fish?

From Quiz Illinois--Land of Lincoln

Answer: Bluegill

Bluegills have bright "ear flaps" on their gill covers.

26. What Illinois city is the furthest south?

From Quiz Illinois Geography

Answer: Cairo

27. What's unusual about Ahlgrim's Funeral Home in Palatine?

From Quiz Illinois Fun Facts

Answer: It has a miniature golf course

Believe it or not, there is actually a miniature golf course in the basement of this funeral home. It was started over 35 years ago as a pastime for staff and family, and as word of its existence spread, it became an attraction in its own right. You need to call for a reservation to play- people are DYING to play. (sorry, I couldn't resist)

28. What is Illinois' official state mineral?

From Quiz Illinois

Answer: Fluorite

This was established in 1965. Illinois is the largest producer of Fluorite in the U.S.

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Last Updated Jul 26 2025 5:46 AM

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