RESEARCH Business Illinois

FACTS AND FIGURES
Abstract – now on the Web – covers all things Illinois

Mark Reutter, Business Editor
(217) 333-0568; mreutter@uiuc.edu

2/1/03

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A valued source of facts and figures about the state has become easier to use: The Illinois Statistical Abstract is now on the Web.

The Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) at the University of Illinois has made the 2002 version of the document, equal to about 800 published pages, available to any user at no charge on the Web. A CD version of the abstract is also available for purchase.

The site features the most complete economic and demographic data on the state, with material ranging over 28 categories, including population, housing, manufacturing, agriculture, retail sales, wholesale trade, health, recreation and education, arranged by county and sometimes by city and metropolitan area.

"The abstract is designed to meet the needs of business, government, educators, journalists, students and the general public," said Robert W. Resek, a professor of economics at Illinois and chief editor of the Web site.

Resek said the material was gathered from many different databases and contains some of the most recent data available. Whenever possible, data go back five or 10 years to provide historical perspective. There are also links telling users where to find more information.

A sampler from the new Web-based edition:

The number of divorces in Illinois dropped from 43,352 in 1994 to 39,529 in 2000. The greatest downward shift was in Cook County, while the highest jump (as a percent of population) was in rural Macoupin, Logan and Effingham counties.

Per capita income increased statewide from $25,379 in 1995 to $31,856 in 2000. The income gap between urban and rural areas also rose, with per capita income in the Chicago area at $35,336 in 2000, and at $17,604 in far south Pope County.

The average daily prison population decreased from 44,100 in 1999 to 42,962 in 2002. Both totals, however, are far above the official state capacity of 29,090 inmates.
o Riverboat casino revenues rose from $1.1 billion in 1998 to $1.8 billion in 2001, with the highest 2001 revenues recorded at the Elgin casinos ($417 million) and the lowest revenues at Rock Island ($36 million).

Illinois farmers purchased $1.5 billion worth of fertilizer in 2000, down from $1.6 billion in 1998, but up from $1 billion in 1990.

In the 2000-01 academic year, public universities in Illinois conferred 30,896 bachelor’s degrees, 10,453 master’s degrees, and 2,175 doctoral and professional degrees.

The abstract is available on CD for $50 from the University of Illinois, IGPA, 1007 W. Nevada St., Urbana, IL. 61801 or through igpa-abstract@uiuc.edu.