Northern Illinois
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.Essential Destinations
Top destinations include Rockford and DeKalb.
Rockford
Photo: jim simonson, CC BY 2.0.
Rockford is a city in the Rock River Valley in Northern Illinois. With a population of over 145,000, it is the third largest city in the state.
DeKalb
Photo: Zcarstvnz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,290 at the 2020 census. The city is named after decorated Franconian-French war hero Johann de Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War.
Dixon
Photo: Zcarstvnz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Dixon is called "The Petunia City" but is probably best known as the boyhood home of former US President Ronald Reagan.
Destinations to Discover
Explore places such as Rock River Valley and McHenry County.
Rock River Valley
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.
McHenry County
McHenry County is located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 Census, it had a population of 310,229, making it the sixth-most populous county in Illinois.
Illinois Driftless Area
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.
Kishwaukee Valley
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.
Ottawa
Photo: IvoShandor, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Ottawa is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. It is located at the confluence of the navigable Fox River and Illinois River, the latter being a conduit for river barges and connects Lake Michigan at Chicago to the Mississippi River.
Barrington
Photo: bogdanstepniak, CC BY 3.0.
Barrington is a village in Cook and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 10,722 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area.
Utica
Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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.
Northern Illinois
- Type: Region
- Description: region in the U.S. state of Illinois
- Also known as: “North Illinois”
- Location: Illinois, Midwest, United States, North America
- View on OpenStreetMap
This page is based on GeoNames, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikivoyage.
We’d love your help improving our open data sources. Thank you for contributing.
Satellite Map
Discover Northern Illinois from above in high-definition satellite imagery.
In Other Languages
From Chinese to Slovenian—“Northern Illinois” goes by many names.
- Chinese: “伊利諾州北部”
- Hebrew: “צפון אילינוי”
- Slovenian: “North Illinois”
- Slovenian: “Northern Illinois”
- Slovenian: “Severni Illinois”
Illinois: Must-Visit Destinations
Delve into Chicago, Springfield, Loop, and Peoria.
Explore These Curated Destinations
Discover places selected for their distinct character and enduring appeal.