ABSTRACT
Illinois is described by all of the interesting facts and millions more, but much of the data is dynamic, requiring continuous updating. Over time, humans have tried to learn more about themselves and the space they occupy. Initially, they learn by observing. They then develop mental images of regional space, geographic ideas, classes of phenomena, and symbols in the environment so they can sort out the infinite detail of the geography around them. Because of the variety of historical, cultural, and political influences in Illinois, the perceptions of the state's political traditions and character range from stereotyped to objective. These perceptions are based on nearly 175 years of experience, media reports, and stories of political logrolling and manipulating of policies and voting. In 1976 Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford challenged each other in Illinois. The republicans won every county in northern and central Illinois except Cook and Rock Island; the Democrats won two-thirds of south-central and southern Illinois.
