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Region in the U.S. state of Illinois
Photo: Ryan from Toronto, Canada, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Northern Illinois is a region of Illinois generally located immediately along and north of I-80 and outside of Chicagoland. While largely rural, it does include Rockford, the third largest city in Illinois, as well as DeKalb, home of Northern Illinois University.
The Illinois Driftless Area is a region in Northern Illinois containing the sole portions of the Driftless Zone in Illinois. Like other portions of the Driftless Zone, the Illinois Driftless Area is noted for its high hills, deep river valleys and general scenic beauty.
The Kishwaukee Valley is a region in the greater Northern Illinois area primarily located near the Kishwaukee River's two branches. It includes the entirety of Boone and DeKalb Counties as well as western portions of McHenry County.
McHenry County is in Northern Illinois in the United States.
The Rock River Valley is a region in Northern Illinois comprised largely of the communities along and in close proximity to the Rock River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River.
By car
A number of different major routes run through Northern Illinois:
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Chicago/Rockford · Regional · RFD
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in the Rock River Valley and third-largest city in Illinois.
home to the inventor of barbed wire and to Northern Illinois University.
childhood home of US President Ronald Reagan, also known as the "Petunia City".
host to the second Lincoln-Douglas debate and home of many late 19th century homes and buildings.
home of Ulysses S. Grant and lots of late 19th century heritage.
Harvard is a small town (pop. 9500 as of 2010) in northeastern Illinois.
Peru and LaSalle are adjacent towns in Northern Illinois.
Ottawa is one of many towns in the Illinois River Valley of Northern Illinois.
neighboring cities split by the Rock River.
small town filled with history and home to J.L. Kraft's first cheese plant
DeKalb's "twin city" located to the northeast.
Utica is a city in Illinois. It's officially named North Utica, as it was established north of the original town of Utica that was located along the banks of the Illinois River; however, all signage official and otherwise refers to the town as just Utica.
near Oregon: a site along the Rock River with a statue of Black Hawk as the Eternal Indian - boating, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting.
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