The most populous city in Illinois is Chicago, located along Lake Michigan. Most of the state lives in Chicago or in its suburbs. Three major geographical divisions comprise the state. The first is ChicagoLand, made up of Chicago and its surrounding metropolitan area; it is urban, ethnically diverse, densely populated, industrialized and supports a booming economy. The second sector is southward and westward. It is known as Central Illinois and is comprised of smaller towns, gentle hills and flat prairies. The third division is Southern Illinois, or Little Egypt. It distinguished from the other two by its warmer climate, more exotic mix of crops, more rugged terrain, coal mining, and proximity to the juncture of the Mississippi River and Ohio River.
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