Home to Abraham Lincoln and the hub of transportation in the Midwest, Illinois is a largely rural state that proudly boasts the third-largest city in the United States: Chicago. The state's western boundary is the Mississippi, where people may still gamble on paddle wheel river boats, while Chicago offers both beaches and vital harbors along Lake Michigan. Farms, towns, suburbs, and small cities punctuate the Illinois countryside. Universities and small colleges abound, as do world-class museums and unique architecture. With its range of lifestyles, Illinois offers great variety in the heart of the Midwest. Book jacket.