Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Illinois License Plates

Illinois is rolling out a new license plate this year. Here's a well made video on it's evolution. 

Here's a handful of things I learned watching this video:

• The first plates were circular and you had to fill them out yourself.
• 1925 Illinois crossed the 1 million mark for registered vehicles
• 1933 was the first year the plates were made in prisons
• From 1943-48 we switched from metal to paperboard
• 1954 the Land of Lincoln was introduced
• 1961 was the first year letters were allowed (with some exceptions, sorry x and z)
• 1973 Illinois crossed the 5 million mark for registered vehicles
• 1978 was the last year plates were issued annually
• 1980 was the first year vanity plates were allowed

There's a whole bunch more information in this short video. I highly recommend a viewing.