National Resource Inventory (NRI)

2003 Key Findings in Illinois

June 2007

Land Use:

• Illinois’ total surface area is approximately 36,058,700 acres.
• About 98.6% of this total (35,567,600 acres) is Non-Federal land.
• The dominant land use on private land is Cropland - 66.5% about (23,980,500 acres).
• Approximately 11% is Forestland (3,949,300 acres).
• Approximately 9.3% is Developed/Urban land (3,347,300 acres).
• Approximately 6.3% is Pastureland (2,254,000 acres).
• Approximately 2.0% is Water (725,800) acres).
• Approximately 1.9% is Other Rural land (675,500 acres).*
• Approximately 1.8% is Conservation Reserve Land (CRP) (635,200 acres).
• Approximately 1.4% is Federal land (491,100 acres).
• Water Erosion (Sheet and Rill) on Cropland is 4.0 tons/acre/year.

* Other Rural land includes farmsteads, field windbreaks, and other farm structures.
 

2003 NRI - Land Use in Illinois