On this day in 1818, Illinois became our 21st state! Indigenous cultures lived in present-day Illinois for centuries before French explorers arrived in the 17th century. The opening of the Erie Canal brought an increase in commercial activities in the Great Lakes and John Deere’s invention of the self-scouring steel plow turned the state’s prairie into the some of the world’s most valuable farmland. In fact, about 80% of the state’s land is farmland today. They’re the largest producer of pumpkins in the country, and also a top producer of popcorn, which became the official state snack in 2013. Learn more about our 21st state in the audio below!