Illinois has 1,294 incorporated cities, towns and villages, home to 11,111,139 of the state’s 12,719,141 residents in 2025. Aria builds small business websites for companies in any of them for $89 a month, with domain, business email and hosting included and no setup fee.

No setup fee: you only pay the $89 monthly fee, after you approve your website.

The largest Illinois cities

By population, the largest municipalities in Illinois are Chicago (2,731,585), Aurora (181,505), Naperville (153,114), Joliet (152,241), Rockford (147,384), Elgin (115,476), Springfield (112,989), Peoria (110,920), Champaign (91,195) and Waukegan (87,940).

Illinois rules for a business with a website

  • A corporation or LLC is formed by filing with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Business Services department; a business whose name carries a corporate designator must be incorporated. Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services
  • Illinois splits the DBA filing: a sole proprietorship or general partnership registers the assumed business name with the county clerk, while a corporation, LLC or LLP registers an assumed name with the Secretary of State. Assumed Business Name Act, 805 ILCS 405
  • Illinois has no statewide general business license; cities and counties impose their own taxes and may require zoning permits, so the city or county clerk is the place to check. Official source
  • Illinois taxes general merchandise at a 6.25% state Retailers’ Occupation Tax rate, with a preferential 1% rate on qualifying drugs and medical appliances; municipalities and counties add local rates. Illinois Department of Revenue

This is general information, not legal advice.

Web design in every Illinois city

Pick your city to see local numbers, nearby towns and the Illinois rules for a business with a website.

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Sources for the numbers on this page
  • Population: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates for incorporated places.
  • List of municipalities: U.S. Census Bureau 2025 Gazetteer (incorporated places).