Politics of Illinois in 1983
In 1983, Illinois politics were dominated by the Democratic Party, which had been in control of the state for decades. The Republican Party held a minority presence in the state legislature and had not had a governor since 1977. In 1983, Democrat James R. Thompson was serving his fourth consecutive term as governor and would go on to serve until 1991.
Thompson was a popular figure among both Republicans and Democrats due to his moderate stance on issues such as abortion and gun control. He was also known for being an aggressive advocate for economic growth through job creation and investment in infrastructure projects such as Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport expansion project.
The Democratic Party also held a majority in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly during this time period. This allowed them to pass legislation that favored their interests such as increased funding for education, Medicaid expansion, and environmental protection laws.
Despite its dominance in the state legislature, the Republican Party still managed to make some headway in 1983 with the election of two Republicans to Congress from Illinois: Lynn Martin (IL-16) and John Porter (IL-10). This marked the first time since 1967 that Republicans had won congressional seats from Illinois.
In addition to its success at the federal level, Republicans also made gains in local races throughout Illinois during this time period. In 1983, Republican Jim Ryan was elected mayor of Rockford while Republicans also won several county board seats across the state including Cook County Board President George Dunne’s reelection bid that year.
According to Topbbacolleges, politics in Illinois during 1983 were dominated by the Democratic Party but there were still some signs of life from Republicans who were beginning to make gains at both local and federal levels throughout the state. These gains would eventually lead to more success for Republicans over time but in 1983 they were still far behind Democrats who held most of the power in Illinois politics at this time period.
Population of Illinois in 1983
In 1983, the population of Illinois was estimated to be around 11 million people. The largest cities were Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Joliet, Naperville, and Springfield. Most of the population was concentrated in the northeastern region of the state near Chicago due to its proximity to Lake Michigan and its growing business and industrial sectors. The majority of people living in Illinois were white (83%) with African Americans accounting for 14% of the population. Hispanics made up 3% while Asians accounted for 1%.
The majority of people living in Illinois were born in the state (71%) while 16% were born outside of it. People from other states made up 8% of the population while 5% were born abroad. The most common foreign countries of origin were Mexico, India, Poland, Germany, China and Canada.
Illinois’s economy was largely centered around manufacturing and agriculture at this time period with manufacturing accounting for 24% of its GDP while agriculture accounted for 7%. Other major industries included finance and insurance (14%), trade (13%), transportation and utilities (11%), professional services (9%), construction (8%), government services (7%), mining and logging (4%) as well as education and healthcare which each accounted for 3%.
In 1983 unemployment in Illinois stood at 8%, slightly higher than the national average at that time period(7%). Median household income was $31,233 which was slightly lower than the national median household income ($33,107). Poverty rates stood at 13%, slightly higher than the national poverty rate at that time period(12%).
According to Justinshoes, in 1983 Illinois had a diverse population with a strong manufacturing sector along with other industries such as finance and insurance that contributed to its economic success. Despite having slightly higher poverty rates than other states it still had a strong middle class which helped drive economic growth throughout this time period.
Economy of Illinois in 1983
In 1983, the economy of Illinois was driven by manufacturing and agriculture, with the two industries accounting for nearly one-third of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP). Manufacturing accounted for 24% of the GDP while agriculture accounted for 7%. Other major industries included finance and insurance (14%), trade (13%), transportation and utilities (11%), professional services (9%), construction (8%), government services (7%), mining and logging (4%) as well as education and healthcare which each accounted for 3%. Illinois had a strong manufacturing sector due to its central location in the Midwest, with many companies such as Caterpillar Inc. and Motorola having their headquarters in the state. The agricultural sector was also important to the economy of Illinois, with corn, soybeans, hogs, dairy products, and wheat being some of its most important crops.
The financial sector was also an important part of Illinois’ economy in 1983. Chicago is one of the major financial centers in the United States and has been since its early days when it became known as a railroad hub. In 1983 Chicago had a large number of banks, brokerage firms, insurance companies, venture capital firms and other financial institutions that provided jobs to thousands of people. The city also had a vibrant stock exchange which allowed businesses to raise capital by selling shares to investors.
According to Paradisdachat, the transportation sector was another key part of Illinois’ economy in 1983. The state has an extensive network of railroads that connect it to other parts of the country as well as several airports that allowed people to travel easily within the state or outside it. Additionally, there were several ports on Lake Michigan that allowed goods from around the world to be shipped into or out of Illinois easily.
Finally, there were several other industries that contributed to Illinois’ economy in 1983 such as education and healthcare which each accounted for 3% of GDP; leisure & hospitality which accounted for 2%; government services which made up 7%, mining & logging 4%, professional services 9%, construction 8%, trade 13%, transportation & utilities 11%, finance & insurance 14%. All these sectors combined created thousands upon thousands jobs for people living in Illinois at this time period providing them with necessary income needed for them to support themselves and their families.
Events held in Illinois in 1983
In 1983, Illinois was host to a number of exciting events. The Chicago Marathon took place on October 30th and was attended by over 4,500 runners. The marathon course began in Grant Park and ran through the city’s historic neighborhoods including the Old Town district, the Gold Coast, and Chinatown. Participants were treated to a festive atmosphere with music, food, and entertainment provided along the course. On August 14th, the world’s longest picnic table was set up in Grant Park to celebrate Chicago’s 150th birthday. The picnic table stretched for 1,200 feet and hosted over 4,000 attendees who enjoyed a day of music, dancing, food tasting, games and more. Also in August of 1983 was the Taste of Chicago food festival which featured some of the city’s best restaurants offering samples of their signature dishes. This event drew thousands of visitors who were able to sample everything from Italian beef sandwiches to deep dish pizza. To end the summer season there was Navy Pier’s Festival Hall which had carnival rides and live music performances throughout August.