Illinois is known as "The Land of Lincoln" because it is the state where Abraham Lincoln lived and began his political career.

Illinois is nicknamed "The Land of Lincoln" in honor of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, who spent much of his adult life in the state. Lincoln moved to Illinois in 1830, and it was here that he began his career as a lawyer and politician, eventually serving as a U.S. Congressman and the state's legislator. The state's capital, Springfield, is where Lincoln lived and where he gave many of his most famous speeches. The nickname celebrates Lincoln's lasting impact on the state and the nation, as well as his leadership during the American Civil War.