Illinois

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Illinois Population News Articles

Population Density

Historic & Projected Growth

Population by County

POPULATION DENSITY

People per square mile, 2010:   231.1

People per square mile, 2020:  230.8

HISTORIC & PROJECTED GROWTH 1790 TO 2040

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census & Weldon Cooper Center, Demographics Research Group
(The Census Bureau and Weldon Cooper Center have not yet provided updated State projections to reflect 2020 census numbers.)

Population by County

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census

Illinois Population News Articles

Goodbye, snowy Illinois winters? New climate report offers dry projections – November 20, 2023

Illinois earmarks $160 million to keep migrants warm in Chicago as winter approaches – November 17, 2023

Illinois takes major step toward lowering emissions, thanks to Ventura – November 16, 2023

The 8 Biggest Cities Located on the Shores of Lake Michigan – November 8, 2023

Report Examines Unequal Effects of Climate Change on Lake County Communities – October 26, 2023

Illinois EPA Invites 5th & 6th Grade Student Writers and Artists to Compete in Annual Poster, Poetry, and Prose Contest – October 25, 2023

Illinois has had the most tornadoes in the U.S. this year. Here’s why. – July 28, 2023

Chicago’s air quality: ‘We’re in the crosshairs.’ Wildfires and wind push region’s air to worst in the world, global pollution index shows. – June 27, 2023

State of Illinois expands air quality alert messaging statewide – Jul 25, 2023

Millions in Illinois Are Drinking Contaminated Water – June 29, 2023

Activists call for Chicago to rule out natural gas in new buildings, citing health risks, costs and climate change – January 19, 2023

Illinois making effort to reduce shoreline erosion – January 16, 2023

New State Water Plan spotlights 13 critical water-related challenges for Illinois – January 11, 2023

A 3M Plant in Illinois Was The Country’s Worst Emitter of a Climate-Killing ‘Immortal’ Chemical in 2021 – December 29, 2022

Illinois is leading in clean electricity, but it’s falling behind elsewhere, study says – July 30, 2022

From the Farm: Losing farmland – July 20, 2022

Illinois is converting coal plants to solar projects – July 14, 2022

Illinois Poised to Improve Public Health & Economy by Adopting Clean Truck Policies – July 11, 2022

8M Illinoisans get drinking water from a utility where forever chemicals have been detected, investigation finds – July 11, 2022

The Most Traveled Bridge in Illinois That Doesn’t Meet Safety Standards – March 27, 2022

Illinois AG files suit against Marathon over crude oil spill in Cahokia Creek – March 21, 2022

Farm Bureau opposes nutrient loss bill as negotiations continue – March 2, 2022

Chicago is no safe haven from climate change – March 1, 2022

Illinois — a major feeder to the Gulf of Mexico dead zone — falls behind federal goal to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen flowing into its waterways – December 20, 2021

Little Village residents slam city for failing to reduce influx of industry: ‘As if we don’t deserve clean air’ – December 16, 2021

Fall is heating up in Illinois cities – November 29, 2021

1 million EVs: Inside the state’s plan for electrifying the transportation sector – November 23, 2021

Fertilizer Runoff In Illinois Is Still On The Rise, Despite Program Designed To Slow It Down – September 24, 2021

Habitat Loss, Traffic Noise, Runoff: 143 St. Project Concerns – September 17, 2021

Illinois Passes Nation-Leading, Equitable Climate Bill – September 12, 2021

Sierra Club demands Springfield, CWLP establish an alert system for pollution incidents – September 7, 2021

As Climate Change Ramps Up Heat, Farmers Struggle To Keep Animals Cool – Aug 30, 2021

IL mosquito populations explode in wet summer after dry spring – July 13, 2021

ICC approves Ameren’s electric vehicle charging tariff – July 10, 2021

Lakefront Dump Site Opposed By Park Advocates, Southeast Siders Hasn’t Had A Valid Pollution Permit Since May 31 – June 30, 2021

As legislature reconvenes, Illinois is poised to become the first state in the Midwest to ban coal-burning power plants – June 15, 2021

This is How Much Renewable Energy Illinois is Producing – April 1, 2021

“Climate change is real;” Researchers warn extreme weather events could impact Illinois agriculture – March 31, 2021

Lax Oversight Of Coal Plant Demolitions Could Leave Illinois Communities Vulnerable – March 3, 2021

Federal officials say monarch butterflies qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act, but they won’t get it this year – December 16, 2020

Illinois’ Congressional Delegation looks to Biden to help combat climate change – December 9, 2020

The Seeds of a Climate Change Defense Are Being Planted in Lake County – December 9, 2020

Illinois EPA announces Centreville flooding relief plan; residents want more answers – November 30, 2020

Illinois approves expansion of Dakota Access oil pipeline – October 16, 2020

Gov. Pritzker promised clean energy, but only 3 states mined more coal than Illinois in 2019 – October 8, 2020

Butterflies are free: Illinois Monarch Action Plan takes flight – September 29, 2020

They’re not otters, but endangered mussels in Illinois play a crucial role as environmental sentinels. ‘They all have a story to tell.’ – September 25, 2020

IL Facing Lumber Shortage, Uptick In New Construction – September 24, 2020

Illinoisans demand stricter coal ash rules, denounce state proposal – August 14, 2020

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign starts solar project construction, expects to turn on this winter – August 10, 2020

An urban farm to bring green energy, jobs to South Side – August 7, 2020

Chicago unveils citywide air quality reform agenda – July 28, 2020

Chicagoans swamp city with flood complaints after spring’s record rain – July 20, 2020

Illinois EPA honors young environmentalists for poster, poetry and prose – May 26, 2020

Illinois farmers, PepsiCo partner to reduce CO2 emissions – May 27, 2020

Offshore Wind Turbines Are Popping Up On The East Coast. Could They Help The Great Lakes? – June 18, 2020

Turtles on the roads means love is in the air – June 21, 2020

Expanded Drug Takeback Program Aims to Keep Pharmaceutical Pollutants Out of Our Water – February 13, 2020

Chicago aldermen declare ‘state of climate emergency’ – February 10, 2020

Illinois EPA Awards Nearly $954,000 to Heartlands Conservancy for Water Quality Protection – February 4, 2020

Gov. Pritzker Sets the Stage for Illinois to Lead on Climate – January 29, 2020

Restaurants worry about cost of proposed limits on single-use plastics and foam food containers – January 15, 2020

Illinois EPA public hearing scheduled in December for Pond Creek Mine permit – November 5, 2019

Bats live mostly out of sight and out of mind. But their falling numbers are a reason to look up and worry, scientists say. – October 31, 2019

Illinoisans Want Lawmakers To Make Climate Change A Priority – October 16, 2019

Illinois AG Raoul, Chicago Intervene in Lawsuit Over Coal-Plant Emissions – October 11, 2019

Two-thirds of bird species face extinction due to climate change, new report finds – October 10, 2019

Bill could phase out ethylene oxide by 2022; ban not soon enough, activists say – Sept 13, 2019

IEPA wants your thoughts on how to regulate coal ash – Sept 11, 2019

Group Calls on Illinois, Great Lakes States to Take Action on ‘Forever Chemicals’ – Sept 10, 2019

Nearly 22 million pounds of plastics enter the Great Lakes each year – Sept 7, 2019

Routine water tests are uncommon for many Illinois wells – Sept 7, 2019

Study Finds High Levels of Fecal Bacterial at Chicago-Area Beaches – July 23, 2019

Andersonville Neighbors Hope State Rule Change Can Save Chicago Trees – July 11, 2019

Illinois Pollution Control Board finds NRG liable for coal ash at power plants – June 26, 2019

Illinois directs Vistra to retire 2 GW coal by 2020 – June 24, 2019

$5.3M grant set to ease Watseka flood woes – May 18, 2019

Blackburn breaks ground on massive solar project – May 18, 2019

Illinois’ Agriculture Sector Pitching In To Save The Monarch Butterfly – April 23, 2019

Potential plant closures reignite nuclear debate – February 14, 2019

Solar seen as bright career path at Illinois community colleges – February 11, 2019

Evanston passes plan that aims for 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030 – January 14, 2019

Midwesterners are being forced to face up to climate change – January 11, 2019

Elwood, Illinois (Pop. 2,200), Has Become a Vital Hub of America’s Consumer Economy. And It’s Hell. – January 9, 2019

New Midwest governors spur hope for regional fight against climate change – January 9, 2019

Illinois AG Demands EPA Enforce Rule Limiting Landfill Pollution – January 7, 2019

Of Teflon and A-bombs, Chicago’s buried river and other great reads – January 4, 2019

Advocate Aurora makes renewable electricity pledge – January 3, 2019

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