Illinois 2014
The capital city of Illinois is Springfield, located in the central part of the state. It is known as the home of Abraham Lincoln, and it also boasts a vibrant arts and culture scene. The city has a population of 116,250, making it the sixth most populous city in Illinois. According to countryaah.com, the largest city in Illinois is Chicago with a population of 2.7 million people. It is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan and is one of the most populous cities in the United States. As a major metropolitan area, Chicago offers world-class attractions such as museums, galleries, theaters and entertainment venues as well as numerous restaurants and shopping districts. The city also has an extensive public transportation system that serves its vast population, making it easy to get around.
Politics of Illinois in 2014
In 2014, Illinois politics was dominated by the upcoming gubernatorial election. Incumbent Governor Pat Quinn was up for re-election against Republican challenger Bruce Rauner. Throughout the campaign, Quinn emphasized his commitment to increasing education funding and raising the minimum wage while Rauner focused on his business background and promised to bring fiscal responsibility to the state government.
The gubernatorial race wasn’t the only one on the ballot in 2014. A number of state legislative seats were also up for election, as well as a U.S. Senate seat held by incumbent Democrat Dick Durbin. In addition, several local races also took place throughout Illinois in 2014, including mayoral elections in Chicago and other major cities around the state.
The political landscape in Illinois was further complicated by a number of controversial issues that were being debated at both the state and federal level during this time period. One of these issues was same-sex marriage, which had recently been legalized at a national level but was still being debated in Illinois due to a law passed by Governor Quinn allowing civil unions rather than full marriage rights for same-sex couples.
Other controversial topics included abortion rights and gun control laws which had become increasingly contentious following numerous high-profile shootings around the country during this time period. These debates often split along party lines with Democrats supporting more restrictive gun laws while Republicans argued that such measures would infringe on Second Amendment rights.
Overall, 2014 saw an intense political climate in Illinois as candidates battled for votes leading up to several important elections throughout the year while also debating some of the most controversial issues facing both state and national politics at that time period.
Population of Illinois in 2014
In 2014, according to beautyphoon, Illinois had a population of 12,859,995 people according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This population was spread across 102 counties and included a wide variety of ethnicities, languages and religions. The largest demographic group in the state was white non-Hispanic individuals, making up nearly two thirds of the population at 66%. African Americans were the next largest demographic group at 15%, followed by Hispanics at 13%. The remaining 6% of the population was made up of a variety of other ethnic groups including Asian Americans, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders.
The majority of Illinois’ population lived in urban areas in 2014 with Chicago being the most populous city in the state with over 2.7 million people. Other major cities included Aurora, Rockford and Joliet which each had populations over 100,000 people. In addition to these urban centers, there were also numerous suburban townships throughout Illinois that contributed to its Overall, population density.
The largest ancestry groups reported by Illinois residents in 2014 were German (17%), Irish (15%) and Polish (10%). Other notable ancestries included Italian (8%), English (7%) and American Indian (2%). In terms of language spoken at home, 84% spoke only English while 8% spoke Spanish as their primary language and 3% spoke another language such as Chinese or Tagalog.
The religious makeup of Illinois in 2014 was predominantly Christian with Protestants making up 42%, Catholics accounting for 32% and other Christians representing 8%. Other religions included Judaism (3%), Islam (2%), Buddhism (1%) and Hinduism (1%). The remaining 11% reported no religious affiliation or declined to answer the question on religion.
Economy of Illinois in 2014
In 2014, according to ablogtophone, Illinois had a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $764 billion, making it the fifth largest economy in the United States. Its main industries included manufacturing, finance and insurance, real estate, and professional and technical services. Agriculture also played an important role in the state’s economy with corn being its most valuable crop.
Manufacturing was one of Illinois’ most important industries in 2014 with over 890,000 people employed in the sector. This industry contributed to more than 18% of the state’s GDP that year and featured major companies such as Boeing and Caterpillar Inc. The finance and insurance sector was also a major contributor to Illinois’ economy with over 500,000 people employed in this sector.
The real estate industry was another significant contributor to Illinois’ economy in 2014 with a total of 540,000 people employed across the sector. This industry contributed to over 10% of the state’s GDP that year and featured major companies such as Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated and Cushman & Wakefield Incorporated. Professional and technical services were also an important source of income for many residents in 2014 contributing nearly 8% to the state’s GDP that year.
Agriculture was another key component of Illinois’ economic success in 2014 with corn being its most valuable crop followed by soybeans, hogs, cattle and dairy products. Other important crops included wheat, oats, hay and sorghum grain while specialty crops included apples, sweet corn and pumpkins. Livestock production was also an important part of agriculture with beef cattle being at the forefront followed by sheep/lambs and dairy cows.
Overall, Illinois had a strong economic foundation in 2014 due largely to its diverse range of industries from manufacturing to finance and agriculture which provided jobs for hundreds of thousands of residents throughout the state.
Events Held in Illinois in 2014
In 2014, Illinois hosted a wide variety of events and activities for visitors and residents alike. From music festivals to sports tournaments to art exhibitions, there was something for everyone in the Land of Lincoln.
The Chicago Blues Festival was held in Grant Park from June 13-15, with performances by some of the biggest names in blues music such as Keb’ Mo’ and Shemekia Copeland. The festival also included food vendors and artisans selling their wares.
The Illinois State Fair took place from August 7-17 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. This event featured carnival rides, live entertainment, livestock shows, competitions, and much more. The fair also featured a variety of food options ranging from classic carnival fare to gourmet dishes.
The Taste of Chicago was held on July 11-13 at Grant Park. This event included live music performances from local artists as well as food vendors serving up some of the best cuisine that Chicago has to offer. The event also included a variety of activities such as cooking demonstrations and family-friendly games.
The Chicago Marathon was held on October 12th with over 45,000 runners participating in the race through the city’s streets and neighborhoods. Along with being one of the largest marathons in the world, it is also one of the most scenic races as it passes through some iconic landmarks like Soldier Field and Buckingham Fountain.
The International Art Expo was held at Navy Pier from April 11-13 with over 500 artists displaying their work from around the world. Visitors had an opportunity to view a wide range of mediums including paintings, sculptures, photography and more while enjoying live musical performances throughout the weekend long event.
Illinois also hosted several sporting events throughout 2014 including professional baseball games at Wrigley Field for Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs; professional hockey games at United Center for National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks; professional basketball games at United Center for National Basketball Association’s Chicago Bulls; professional football games at Soldier Field for National Football League’s Chicago Bears; and college football games throughout various universities across the state such as Northwestern University in Evanston or University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).
Overall, 2014 was filled with plenty of events taking place across Illinois that provided both entertainment and economic benefits to its residents while showcasing some amazing talent from around the world.
