Illinois Celebrates BiCentennial

1818 - 2018

      Illinois, with 34,620 residents, becomes the twenty-first state.  Kaskaskia is the  capital.  Most people live in the south along rivers and forested areas. The  prairies are largely unsettled and Chicago is a village.  Rockford was not yet established.

1918 the Year NIBCA was Founded

      Illinois celebrated its 100th year with close to 6,000,000 residents.  The State Capital is located in Springfield.  Chicago was no longer a village, with a population of 2,000,000.  Rockford's population was approximately 65,000.