A state that feels more like a large city surrounded by farmland. Most people who live in this state feel that it is divided into two areas--
Chicago and Downstate. Although the official state capital is Springfield, just about everything gets done in
Chicago. In fact, some out-of-staters actually believe that the capital of Illinois is
Chicago. Because of this, and many other things, most "downstaters" resent everything and everyone from Chicago.
Visitor: Where are you from?
Illinois Guy: I'm from Peoria, Illinois.
Visitor: Where's that? Near
Chicago?
Illinois Guy: No, it's about 50 miles
west of Bloomington.
Visitor: Where's Bloomington?
Illinois Guy: Oh, forget it. It's near
Chicago.