Even with our Midwestern charm, Illinoisans are not without our quirks. Some of the things we do leave outsiders scratching their heads. But, we like it that way; those of us from the Prairie State know that there’s really no better way to live! Here are some of the strangest things we do:

1. We use lawn chairs to save our parking spots.
meryddian/Flickr
Chicagoans specifically are known for laying claim to an area of the street that is "their spot". Once they do the work of shoveling their car out of the snow, they tend to believe they deserve to keep the spot.
2. We find a way to incorporate corn into nearly every meal.
Gavin Tapp/Flickr
We just cannot seem to get enough of the delicious yellow vegetable. From corn fritters to corn chowder to corn casserole, if there's a will, there's a way...to get it into our stomachs.
3. We treat our lakes like they're oceans.
Lucy Gray/Flickr
Since we don't live by the ocean, we make the best of what we have! We set up sand volleyball courts, build beautiful resorts, and purchase boats so we don't miss out on any of the fun that East and West coast Americans experience.
4. We wear ugly, puffy, extra long coats.
EM/Flickr
Do you have any idea how cold it gets up here in the winter? When the temperature drops, we officially give up on being stylish and opt for the warmest thing we can find.

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5. We always fight over the best type of pizza.
punctuated/Flickr
Some of us love deep dish, and some swear by thin crust. One thing is for certain: we absolutely love pizza.
6. We think spying a cardinal is a stroke of luck.
John Flannery/Flickr
Many of us are superstitious about our state bird, believing that spotting one will give us good luck. We know it isn't true, but sometimes we just like to believe in a little Illinois magic.
7. We truly believe you can never have too many attractions honoring Abraham Lincoln.
David Wilson/Flickr
You'd think the presidential museum and having an entire town named after him would be enough, but that is not the case. We have countless small memorials for him scattered across the state!
8. We like to make our corn fields into mazes.
H. Michael Miley/Flickr
Each Fall in Illinois, kids begin begging their parents to take them to the nearest farm with a corn maze. And yes, we actually pay to walk around in a corn field.
9. We go hunting even in the worst weather conditions.
USFWSmidwest/Flickr
Nothing stops Illinois hunters from heading out in the early hours of the morning. If it's freezing outside, they put on a warm hat and run out the door.

Are there any strange habits of Illinoisans that we left off the list? Let us know in the comments.

Illinois isn’t just home to people who do peculiar things; there are also some pretty strange places around here as well. In fact, here are 10 of the Weirdest Places You Can Possibly Go in Illinois.

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