State Nickname of Illinois
The Prairie State
IL is the Two-letter or Postal Abbreviation and Ill. is the Traditional or Standard Abbreviation for the State of Illinois. It’s nickname is the “Prairie State.” It has been know as that since about 1842. Prairies are actually ecosystems that are enormous stretches of flat grassland with moderate temperatures, moderate rainfall, and few trees.
Illinois prairies have become endangered because of urbanization, lack of prairie management, among other reasons. Illinois has about 6,100 acres of praise left, about only 0.01 percent of the state’s original prairie acreage.
Illinois sets aside the third full week in September each year as Illinois Prairie Week to demonstrate the value of preserving, conservation, and reestablishing native Illinois prairies.