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County fair season: More than funnel cakes and carnival rides
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County fair season is in full swing across Illinois, bringing residents closer to agriculture and history.
Steeped in rich history and tradition, county fairs have been a staple of showcasing the innovation and techniques of modern farming. In 1841, the Union Agricultural Society held its first annual fair in Naperville and shortly later, other counties began hosting their own fairs including Knox in 1851 and McHenry in 1852. Illinois held its first state fair in 1853. Activities at the fairs included livestock judging, plowing contests and horse races. As technology progressed, it was also common to see car races and airplane demonstrations.
Illinois named among top states for business
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The Consumer News and Business Channel ranked Illinois at No. 12 in their 2026 Top States for Business list, the highest ranking in the state’s history.
Since 2019, the state has risen in annual ranking from No. 30 to No. 12, one of the largest improvements any state in the country has seen during this period.
Illinois ranks high in major categories including No. 3 in infrastructure, No. 7 in education and No. 12 in technology and innovation and access to capital, allowing the state to climb near the top.
Celebrating the Route 66 Centennial
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The iconic Route 66 turns 100 years old this year, and Illinois is celebrating with major events, festivals and more.
Established in 1926, Route 66, also known as the “Mother Road”, connects Chicago to Santa Monica, California, stretching 2,448 miles across nearly two-thirds of the country. The origins of Route 66 trace back to trails used by Native Americans, which later evolved into smaller roads that often paralleled railway lines.
Illinois’ lakes and rivers
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Illinois is bordered by 880 miles of rivers and has 87,110 miles of rivers and streams within its borders. The Mississippi River, Ohio River and Wabash River are the bordering rivers of the state. The Mississippi River forms the western border of Illinois in a 581 mile stretch of its course and, as such, is the longest river in the state.
The Ice Age had major impacts on Illinois and its rivers. Glaciers blocked and buried some rivers and created new ones. Some ancient rivers, such as the Teays, Cumberland, Paw Paw and Ticona, no longer exist. The Missouri River once flowed in much of what is now the Mississippi River bed but was blocked and filled during the Kansas glacier and diverted to a new channel. The Teays River was diverted south of the glacier and became the Ohio River.
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