Alternate State Capitals: Illinois

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Bloomington

Population (city): 132,600
Population (metro): 188,715

Bloomington is the fifth-most populous city in the state outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.  Adjacent to its twin city, Normal, Illinois, Bloomington is home to numerous historic and culture sites.

Champaign-Urbana
"C-U"

Population: 231,891

The Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area is located in east-central Illinois, composed of three counties: Champaign, Ford, and Piatt.  Though anchored by the principal cities of Champaign and Urbana, the area is frequently treated as just one city.  The outlying parts of the metropolitan area differ from the suburban areas of many other metropolitan areas. Instead of a sprawling suburban skirt that encircles the urban area, the urban area abuts large swaths of farmland, with small to medium sized villages that originated as farming communities. But, as the willingness of professionals to commute longer distances has increased in recent decades, new residential developments have arisen on their edges, dotting the surrounding landscape. Some of these villages are home to as many as 5,000 residents or more, but most are significantly smaller.

Chicago
"The Windy City"

Population (city): 2,714,856
Population (metro): 9,522,434

Chicago is the largest city in Illinois and the third most populous city in the United States.  Today, the city is an international hub for finance, commerce, industry, technology, telecommunications, and transportation, with O'Hare International Airport being the second-busiest airport in the world; it also has the largest number of U.S. highways, and railroad freight entering its region.  In 2012, Chicago hosted 46.37 million international and domestic visitors, an overall visitation record. Chicago's culture includes contributions to the visual arts, novels, film, theater, especially improvisational comedy, and music, particularly jazz, blues, soul, and the creation of house music. The city has many nicknames, which reflect the impressions and opinions about historical and contemporary Chicago.

Decatur

Population: 76,122

Decatur is located in central Illinois and is the county seat of Macon County.  The city is home of private Millikin University and public Richland Community College and has vast industrial and agricultural processing production.  Historically, Decatur was the first home of President Abraham Lincoln.

Joliet
"City of Steel"

Population: 148,402
Joliet is located 40 miles southwest of Chicago and is the county seat of Will County.  It is the fourth-most populated city in Illinois and is one of the state's fastest growing cities.  Like many Midwestern cities dependent on manufacturing industries, Joliet has experienced past economic troubles, with the unemployment rate reaching as high as 85% in the early 80s.  However, current rates of unemployment in Joliet are around 8.6%.  Over the last several decades, the city has been increasingly evolving from its status as a steel-town to an exurb.

Peoria
"The River City"

Population (city): 119,698
Population (metro): 373,590

Peoria was established in 1691 by French explorer Henri de Tonti and is the oldest European settlement in Illinois.  As of 2010, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois.  Points of interest include the Civil War Monument at County Courthouse Plaza, Grandview Drive, and Wildlife Prarie State Park.

Rockford
"The Forest City"

Population (city): 152,871
Population (metro): 339,178

Rockford is located on the banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois and is the most populous city in the state outside of the Chicago metropolitan area.  This city is a popular outdoor destination, especially during the non-winter months, with numerous forest preserves surrounding the Kishwaukee River valley.  Of note are the parks and boulevard street layouts in certain parts of the city.

Winners
Birmingham, AL
Anchorage, AK
Tucson, AZ
Fayetteville, AR
San Francisco, CA
Boulder, CO
New Haven, CT
Wilmington, DE
Tampa, FL
Savannah, GA
Hilo, HI
Idaho Falls, ID

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

chicago (obviously) and urbana-champaign.

[dead0man]

NOTA...somewhere in the south (Homer)

[Boris]

Chicago, Champaign-Urbana, and Carbondale are the only three cities worth visiting in Illinois, so one of those. Probably CU to have more state government unpaid internship opportunities for people still majoring in political science in 2014.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

NOTA...somewhere in the south (Homer)

Homer's not in southern IL...

[TNF]

The Greatest City in America (Chicago)

[ElectionsGuy]

Chicago, Champaign-Urbana, and Peoria

[Miles]

Sticking to my rule of wherever the largest public college is, Champaign-Urbana.

[Gass3268]

Sticking to my rule of wherever the largest public college is, Champaign-Urbana.

That's a good rule