Illinois Land Cover Maps

The Illinois Land Cover Database is the most current and comprehensive inventory of the state’s surface cover.

1999-2000 Land Cover Maps
Here is the most recent land cover map based on 1999-2000 satellite imagery.
http://www.agr.state.il.us/gis/landcover99-00.html#stats

1991-1995 Land Cover Maps
Land Cover Atlas
Land Cover Map

Illinois Natural Resources Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
This site is a gateway to GIS data and imagery for Illinois. Available data sets include: geology, water resources, nature preserves, wildlife areas, land use, political boundaries, roads, census information, Public Land Survey, and much more

These maps illustrate historical urbanization trends for several metropolitan regions of Illinois. These trend maps come from various sources. The Illinois Natural History Survey used aerial photography to estimate urban growth trends for Champaign-Urbana and the Peoria region. The University of Illinois' LEAM team did the analysis for the St; Louis Metropolitan area using historical municial boundaries. A couple of local organizations have done historical and future urban trend analysis for the Chicago region.

Chicago Region
Under Pressure: Land Consumption in Illinois (Openlands Project) http://www.openlands.org/reports/LANDCONSUM.PDF

The Metropolis Plan (Chicago Metropolis 2020) http://www.metropolisplan.org/main.htm

Champaign-Urbana

• 1973 Aerial Photograph of Champaign-Urbana
• 1998 Aerial Photograph of Champaign-Urbana
• Land Use Conversion Between the 1973 and 1998 Urban Boundary
• Land Use/Cover Between 1998 Urban Boudary and a two Mile Buffer
• Champaign Urbana Land Use Conversion Data

Peoria

• Land Use Change from 1969 to 1998
• Existing Land Use Within Comprehensive Plan Boundaries

St. Louis Metro East
Regional Historical Mapping - Showing change over time in the St. Louis Metro East area

• 1954
• 1968
• 1974
• 1979
• 1985
• 1993
• 2000

Animation of Regional Historical Mapping (600kb animation)

Rockford

Springfield

Bloomington-Normal

Quad Cities

For information on development patterns in the Chicago area go to the Open Lands Project home page and download their report, Under Pressure: Land Consumption in Chicago. This report includes maps of current and projected changes in land use in the Chicago region.

At some point in the future, the Department hopes to conduct a more detailed forecasts of urban expansion in the other urban centers of Illinois.

Contact: Tom Heavisides
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, Illinois 62702


Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Office of Realty and Environmental Planning