Illinois is known as the Prairie State due to its abundance of prairie grasses. The state celebrates its prairie roots with a designated week in September. Illinois has various types of prairies with different grasses, including great bluestem and little bluestem. The state has other nicknames, including Lincoln Land, Garden of the West, The Corn State, and The Sucker State. The state was named after the Illinois River and the people who lived along it.
Illinois is called the state of the prairie because the state has an abundance of prairie grasses. The Illinois nickname probably dates from around 1842, possibly even earlier. Before the first European settlers arrived in Illinois, the state was mostly covered in prairies. Illinois has never forgotten its roots, and continues to celebrate the prairie, designating a week in September for just that purpose. During this holiday week, schools and townships hold events to pay homage to the native Illinois prairies.
Many different types of native grasses grow in Illinois and there are different types of prairies in different parts of the state. The central part of the state is where most of the tall grass prairies have been found, with great bluestem one of the major grasses in these prairies. In 1989, it was designated an official state prairie grass. Little bluestem has also been found in the Illinois prairies, along with eastern wild grass, Indian grass, and weed.
In addition to being called the prairie state, the official state slogan for Illinois is Lincoln Land. President Abraham Lincoln’s political career began in the state, even though he was born in the state of Kentucky. Lincoln was living on the Prairie State in 1832 when he ran for the General Assembly, as well as when he began his term as President of the United States.
Prairie State is one of Illinois’ nicknames, but it has a few other, less used nicknames. An older nickname for Illinois is the Garden of the West. This name has been used to describe the rolling prairies and farmlands of the state. The state was a major producer of soybeans and corn, which led to the occasional use of The Corn State moniker. The area often known as the Corn Belt is found in Iowa and Illinois.
The Sucker State is an interesting nickname for Illinois with a few possible origins. Some say the name refers to a common term for Illinois lead miners, or possibly a type of fish common in Illinois rivers. Others say the nickname refers to free slaves or “suckers” who are plucked from tobacco plants. Still others insist that the name comes from the travelers who suck the water out of the crayfish holes with long hollow rods.
The state was named by a French explorer for the Illinois River and the people who lived along it. Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle named the river in 1679. The name comes from “iliniwok,” meaning “warriors” or “men,” and Illinois is the French variation of this Peoria Indian word.
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