Central Illinois is a region of the
U.S. state of
Illinois that consists of the entire central third of the state, divided from north to south. It is an area of mostly flat
prairie. The western section (west of the
Illinois River) was originally part of the
Military Tract of 1812 and forms the distinctive western bulge of the state. Also known as the
Heart of Illinois, it is characterized by small towns and mid-sized cities. Agriculture, particularly
corn and
soybeans, as well as educational institutions and manufacturing centers, figure prominently. Major cities include
Peoria,
Springfield (the state
capital),
Decatur,
Quincy,
Bloomington-
Normal,
Champaign-
Urbana,
Galesburg and
Danville.