6 Critical Things You Must Know Living in Illinois, or You Should Just Leave

There's so much to learn in the "Land of Lincoln," or should I say the "Prairie State." See, two names for Illinois, you just learned something. Crazy, right? Provide

There are "important" things to know, like Illinois is 80% farmland...But then there's things that you can use playing bar trivia, like Illinois has the world's largest catsup, or Ketchup bottle. No matter how you spell it, it's 170 feet tall.

Now that we have separated the "important" from the good stuff, let's look at the good stuff.

Here's a list of:

6 Critical Things You Must Know Living in Illinois, or You Should Just Leave

Kinda seems harsh, put people are leaving all the time anyway so whatever.

• 1. The very first McDonalds was built in Des Plaines, Illinois - That's right, McD's was born here...Now make sure you get a Diet Coke with your #5 value meal.
• 2. Chicago's nickname "The Windy City" has NOTHING to do with weather or wind at all. It comes from an article describing long-winded politicians during a 1893 exhibition. - Go figure, Illinois politicians. 
• 3. Twinkies were first invented in River Forest, IL in 1930. - These things can last decades, taste delicious, and brought us Twinkie The Kid.
• 4. Chicago, IL is home to the world's largest public library. - Now people go there to sit and Google what they need to look up.
• 5. The Chicago River's direction of flow was reversed by man-made canals from 1892-1922. - Yep, we have a river that flows backwards, take that Texas.
• 6. Illinois is the largest producer of pumpkins in the country. Oddly enough, Illinois also the birth place of the band "Smashing Pumpkins." There's your yin and your yang.

Did you know these? Good you may stay. If not, memorize because there will be a test later.