1. Illinois Becomes a State in 1818: March 1st marks the day that Illinois officially became a state. Prior to this, the area was part of the Northwest Territory and later the Illinois Territory. Illinois is known as the "Land of Lincoln" due to Abraham Lincoln's connection to the state.

2. Chicago is Incorporated in 1837: On March 1, 1837, the city of Chicago was officially incorporated. At the time, the population was around 4,000 people. Today, Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States.

3. The First Railway in Illinois is Completed in 1848: The first railroad in Illinois, the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, was completed on March 1, 1848. This railroad connected Chicago with the lead-mining region around Galena, Illinois.

4. The Illinois State Flag is Adopted in 1915: On March 1, 1915, the Illinois state flag was officially adopted. The design is a combination of the state seal on a white background with the word "Illinois" written underneath in blue.

5. The Illinois Lottery is Established in 1974: In 1974, the Illinois Lottery was established as a way to generate revenue for the state. Today, the Illinois Lottery offers a variety of games, including Powerball and Mega Millions.