He or she talks normally. This is probably the French adaptation of the word ilenweewa from the language of the Algonquian Indians (Miami) who lived in the Illinois area. Occasionally, however, the name is also attributed to the people of the Illiniwek (“tribe of the superior”). However, this interpretation is controversial. The country was explored by the French in the second half of the 17th century and was part of the French Empire until 1763. It then passed to Great Britain, although the small French settlements survived. A few British soldiers were stationed in Illinois, but neither British nor American settlers have settled there. In 1778 the Virginia area was claimed and incorporated into the Northwest Territory. American settlers came to the country around 1810. Illinois joined the Union in 1818 as the 21st state. Chicago was founded around 1830 on the banks of the Chicago River. Farmers from Germany and Sweden came to the country, the fertile soil was cultivated and central Illinois developed into one of the most productive and valuable agricultural regions on earth. In the 20th century, Illinois rose to become one of the most important states in the USA. It is the most populous state in the Midwest and ranks fifth out of the 50 states. With the largest city of Chicago in the Northeast serving as a transportation hub on Lake Michigan, smaller industrial towns and large, productive agricultural areas in central and western Illinois, and rich natural reserves (lumber, coal and petroleum), the state has a broad economic base. Check topschoolsoflaw.com for brief history of the state of Illinois.