Graphic: How People REALLY View Illinois

By John Dodge

CHICAGO (CBS) -- How do people actually view the Land of Lincoln?

The graphic shown above has a lot of truth to it.

Folks in Chicago and the four collar counties--McHenry, Lake, Will and DuPage--really do think most of the state is "Downstate" or Southern Illinois.

In fact, the Chicago Sun-Times at one point officially defined "Downstate" as any place not in the Chicago metro area- (Chicago and the four previously mentioned counties).

Even Rockford was considered "Downstate." It's true:

(Credit: Sun-Times)

When Chicagoans ask, "Where is Sparta?" or "I haven't heard of Eddyville," the response is typically, "They sound Downstate."

People from the rest of Illinois seem to have the most geographically accurate view of the state.

As for the graphic that shows how people from out-of-state view Illinois, it seems pretty spot on.

A post on Reddit, where this graphic was found, said some people don't even know where Illinois is on a map and shared the following conversation

"I'm from Illinois."

"Where's that?"

"In the Midwest."

"What is it near?"

"Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa."

"I've heard of it, but I really have no idea where it is."