Illinois River

For other rivers with this name, see Illinois River (disambiguation).The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 273 miles (439 km) long, in the state of Illinois in the United States. The river drains a large section of central Illinois, with a drainage basin of 40,000 square miles (104,000 km²). The river was important among Native Americans and early French traders as the principal water route connecting the Great Lakes with the Mississippi. The colonial settlements along the river formed the heart of the area known as the Illinois Country. After the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal and the Hennepin Canal in the 19th century, the river's role as link between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi was extended into the era of modern industrial shipping.
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Illinois is a state in the United States but may also refer to:Illinois Country, a region of colonial AmericaIllinois Territory, an organized territory of the USA from 1809 to 1818a river:Illinois River, a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of IllinoisIllinois River (Oklahoma) in Arkansas and OklahomaIllinois River (Oregon)Illinois River (Colorado)Illiniwek or Illinois Confederation, a tribe of North AmericaIllinois language, spoken by the Illiniwek
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Noun
1. a river in Illinois that flows southwest to the Mississippi River
(hypernym) river
(part-holonym) Illinois, Prairie State, Land of Lincoln, IL