1. Illinois became the 21st state in the United States on December 3, 1818. February 3, 1819, marks the first day that the state legislature convened, making it the official birthdate of the Illinois government.

2. In 1903, a fire broke out at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago during a matinee performance, killing 602 people. This tragedy remains the deadliest single-structure fire in U.S. history, and February 3 is designated as Iroquois Theater Fire Remembrance Day in Illinois.

3. February 3, 1947, was the coldest day in the history of Chicago, with temperatures plummeting to -27 degrees Fahrenheit (-33 degrees Celsius). As a result, the city's transportation system came to a halt, and emergency services were stretched to their limits.

4. On February 3, 2009, Illinois Senator Roland Burris was sworn in to fill the seat previously held by President Barack Obama. Burris's appointment was controversial, as he was appointed by then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was later impeached and removed from office for corruption.

5. The first African American to play in a professional basketball game was Earl Lloyd, a native of Alexandria, Virginia, who attended West Virginia State College. Lloyd made his debut on February 3, 1950, with the Washington Capitols, playing against the Rochester Royals.