#9: Illinois
Population: 12.830,632
Growth rate: 3.3%
Unemployment rate: 9.6%
Population growth was strongest in Illinois during the 19th century, when the state was young and many boosters expected Chicago to sprint past New York to become the nation's busiest.
Growth rate: 3.3%
Unemployment rate: 9.6%
Population growth was strongest in Illinois during the 19th century, when the state was young and many boosters expected Chicago to sprint past New York to become the nation's busiest.
Now, the "Second City" is third in population, having fallen behind Los Angeles. That reflects the stagtnant population growth of the state as a whole.
NEXT: #10: Pennsylvania
Last updated December 21 2010: 1:46 PM ET
