{"id":5357,"date":"2021-03-09T17:38:06","date_gmt":"2021-03-09T17:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bellhopblog.com\/blog\/?p=5357"},"modified":"2024-10-25T17:35:36","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T17:35:36","slug":"best-places-to-live-in-illinois","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-illinois\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Places to Live in Illinois (Updated 2024)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_38 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Jump Ahead To: <\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-illinois\/#An_exploration_of_the_best_places_to_live_in_Illinois\" title=\"An exploration of the best places to live in Illinois\">An exploration of the best places to live in Illinois<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-illinois\/#Chicago\" title=\"Chicago\">Chicago<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-illinois\/#Springfield\" title=\"Springfield\">Springfield<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-illinois\/#Wheaton\" title=\"Wheaton\">Wheaton<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-illinois\/#Final_thoughts_on_the_best_places_to_live_in_Illinois\" title=\"Final thoughts on the best places to live in Illinois.\">Final thoughts on the best places to live in Illinois.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"h-an-exploration-of-the-best-places-to-live-in-illinois\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"An_exploration_of_the_best_places_to_live_in_Illinois\"><\/span>An exploration of the best places to live in Illinois<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you looking for the best places to live in Illinois? For most people who aren\u2019t from Illinois, what puts the state on the map is its prized gem\u2026 <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"Chicago\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" href=\"\/il\/chicago\/movers\/\">Chicago<\/a>. However, Illinois is known for other things, too. For example, it was the first state to abolish slavery, which was and still is a beautiful thing (oh, and by way of introduction, we\u2019re Bellhop\u2014movers in Illinois and particularly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/il\/chicago\/movers\/\">Chicago movers<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/il\/evanston\/movers\/\">Evanston movers<\/a> and throughout the country).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also home to the very first McDonald\u2019s. We\u2019re not sure if McDonald\u2019s is your jam but if it is, you can see an exact replica of the original (built in the exact spot of the original) in a small suburb outside of Chicago called Des Plaines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyway, Illinois is a quirky state rich with interesting history and a city that can go head to head with just about any city in the world. If you\u2019re looking to move to this wildly interesting state, you\u2019ve come to the right place. We\u2019ve got the low down on the best places to live in Illinois.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you&#8217;re looking to head here, we also do <a href=\"\/il\/chicago\/long-distance-movers\/\">long-distance moves to Chicago<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4179 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"chicago neighborhood skyline\" width=\"1880\" height=\"2820\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1880px) 100vw, 1880px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/chicago7.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/chicago7.jpg 1880w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/chicago7-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/chicago7-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/chicago7-683x1024.jpg 683w\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-chicago\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Chicago\"><\/span>Chicago<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Chicago is a fascinating city in nearly every regard. The state of Illinois is nearly made up completely of corn. Seriously. 85% of the state is covered in corn fields. It\u2019s corn from head to toe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet, somehow, someway, in this great sea of corn, a city was born so large and so vast you\u2019d have to see it to believe it. That city is Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After skyrocketing past St. Louis, becoming the fourth largest city in America, it was burnt completely to the ground in 1871\u2026 almost overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In The Great Chicago Fire that swept through the city, 300 people perished and 100,000 homes were consumed by scorching waves of flame\u2026 two nights after the fire had finished its massacre of the city, roughly a third of Chicago\u2019s residents didn\u2019t have a bed to sleep in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you consider that little over a century ago, Chicago was ash and dust you gain a deep amount of respect for the Midwestern gem that sits like a king, overlooking Lake Michigan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, Chicago has a gargantuan population of nearly 2.7 million, making it the third largest city in the United States\u2026 through resilience and heart and a level of tenacity that can only be found in Chicago natives\u2026 the city has grown at a break-neck pace despite the inferno. Some might call Chicago a Pheonix. But, we\u2019ll let you decide that for yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4177 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"historic chicago\" width=\"1880\" height=\"1410\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1880px) 100vw, 1880px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/chicago04.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/chicago04.jpg 1880w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/chicago04-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/chicago04-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/chicago04-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/chicago04-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-awesome-history-aside-what-makes-chicago-one-of-the-best-places-in-illinois-to-call-home\">Awesome history aside, what makes Chicago one of the best places in Illinois to call home?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>At just a stone\u2019s throw away from the 3 million mark, Chicago is the largest most compact city in the midwest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, unlike it\u2019s larger brother and sister, New York and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/ca\/los-angeles\/movers\/\">Los Angeles<\/a>, Chicago has a down to Earth, humble, hardworking vibe that the Midwest is known for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever lived in a large city, you just breathed a sigh of relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, with bigger cities, you get some stuffiness, some attitude, some arrogance and some entitlement. Every city is like this to a certain extent but perhaps it\u2019s more concentrated in the larger ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, with Chicago, you get the best of both worlds \u2013\u2013 a huge city with a small town type of friendliness. We can\u2019t say a small town \u201cfeel\u201d per se, because the city is just so dang big. But, certainly a friendliness.<\/p><div class=\"getbe-middle\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"getbe-520378356\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/book\/service\/\" aria-label=\"The Better Way to Move\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"The Better Way to Move\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" width=\"600\" height=\"160\" style=\" max-width: 100%; height: auto;\" class=\"lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/600x160.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/600x160.png 600w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/600x160-300x80.png 300w\"><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to this, Chicago is easily one of, if not the most, diverse cities in the Midwest with a vast array of wonderful cultures and ethnicities. This diverse culture gives newcomers a more worldly experience that perhaps isn\u2019t present in other Midwestern cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to this, no matter what your cuisine of choice is, you won\u2019t have any trouble finding it in Chicago. No trouble at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people are scared to move to Chicago because of the price, which is a very fair concern. But, when you compare Chicago to other larger cities in the United States \u2013\u2013 Los Angeles, New York City and San Francisco \u2013\u2013 it is extremely reasonable. The average apartment rent in Chicago clocks in at around $1,800 a month. Before you pass out, hear us out. The average rent in Los Angeles is $2,371\u2026 the average rent in Manhattan, New York City is $4,100\u2026 the average rent in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/ca\/san-francisco\/movers\/\">San Francisco<\/a> is $3,600. So, Chicago offers an interesting and very affordable opportunity for someone to live in one of America\u2019s greatest cities without spending an arm and a leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, with that said, Chicago isn\u2019t perfect. The traffic in this big city can be out of control at times. Fortunately, Chicago has some of the best public transportation in the nation. The Blue Line runs 24\/7 making every part of the city easily accessible. So, while the traffic can be pretty nasty, you don\u2019t necessarily even need a car to live in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The winters are cold\u2026 bone-chillingly cold. This past winter for example (depending on when you\u2019re reading this, we\u2019re referring to the winter of 2019)\u2026 the temperature in Chicago dropped to negative 23 degrees. That\u2019s cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For as cold as the winter gets, Chicago summers are something like a dream. Natives brag about how the summertime is the most magical season of the year as the whole city seems to crawl out from under a rock to cook-out, party, dance at music festivals, sip something strong and refreshing on rooftops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, to experience the wonder that is a Chicago summer, you have to earn it by making it through a Chicago winter. We think you\u2019re tough enough to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5349 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"springfield\" width=\"1880\" height=\"1410\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1880px) 100vw, 1880px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois2.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois2.jpg 1880w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois2-1024x768.jpg 1024w\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-springfield\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Springfield\"><\/span>Springfield<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Springfield, Illinois is the state\u2019s capital and it is perhaps most famous for the fact that Abraham Lincoln, America\u2019s most iconic president, spent two decades of his life there. While it\u2019s much much smaller than Chicago, it\u2019s a good and affordable option for folks moving to Illinois who aren\u2019t interested in taking on the behemoth on Lake Michigan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Springfield being a much smaller city, you get to enjoy the perks of living in a smaller city\u2026 like not having to constantly wrestle with crazy congested traffic. Not to mention, if you enjoy the outdoors, Springfield boasts 57 miles of shoreline along a massive reservoir located within the city\u2026 making it perfect for biking, hiking, fishing, and swimming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5348 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"wheaton Illinois \" width=\"1880\" height=\"1410\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1880px) 100vw, 1880px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois1.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois1.jpg 1880w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-wheaton\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wheaton\"><\/span>Wheaton<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Founded by a group of abolitionists in the 1850s, Wheaton\u2019s newspaper, The Wheaton Flag became an important anti-slavery newspaper. Today, by simply walking through the city\u2019s streets you get a feeling of the history that surrounds you and the close-knit community vibe that gives the city a warm feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At a population of 53,585, Wheaton, IL is under half the size of Springfield. However, it might be an even better option to raise a family. Not to mention, there are trees (literally everywhere) in Wheaton\u2026 this truth has given the city its nickname\u2026 \u201cTree City\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wheaton is the perfect place for folks who don\u2019t want to live in the big city of Chicago but want to be within driving distance. The heart of Chicago is just a 25-minute train ride which both residents and students of the Wheaton College adore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5350 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"rural Illinois \" width=\"1880\" height=\"615\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1880px) 100vw, 1880px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois3.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois3.jpg 1880w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois3-300x98.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois3-768x251.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Illinois3-1024x335.jpg 1024w\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_thoughts_on_the_best_places_to_live_in_Illinois\"><\/span>Final thoughts on the best places to live in Illinois.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re moving to Illinois, move to Chicago. While there are plenty of other wonderful cities in towns in Illinois, we can\u2019t make a strong argument in not moving in or around Chicago. We just can\u2019t. It\u2019s big. It\u2019s diverse. It\u2019s accessible. And, while the winters will send chills down your spine the summers will be like nothing you\u2019ve ever experienced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With that said, if a multi-million person city just isn\u2019t your jam, we would encourage you to take a strong look at other states in the midwest that offer a greater selection of smaller cities. Ohio is a great example, with wonderful mid-sized cities to choose from like Cincinnati, Colombus and Cleveland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you decide to move in or to Illinois, don\u2019t hesitate to reach out. We coordinate local and long-distance moving services in Tucson and we would love to help!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An exploration of the best places to live in Illinois Are you looking for the best places to live in Illinois? For most people who [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":3416,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1211],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.5 (Yoast SEO v19.10) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Best Places to Live in Illinois (Updated 2024) - Bellhop<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking for the best places to live in Illinois? Picking the perfect spot isn&#039;t easy. We&#039;re here to help with our 2021 guide.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-illinois\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Best Places to Live in Illinois (Updated 2024)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Bellhop allows you to choose from a variety of local, long-distance, and labor-only moving services that suit your needs and budget.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-illinois\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bellhop\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BellhopMoving\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-03-09T17:38:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-10-25T17:35:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/chicago-skyline.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"3465\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"2131\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Harrison Stevens\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@BellhopMoving\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@BellhopMoving\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Harrison Stevens\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-illinois\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-illinois\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Harrison Stevens\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/68169a05123d28430a4381b225df53e1\"},\"headline\":\"The Best Places to Live in Illinois (Updated 2024)\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-09T17:38:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-25T17:35:36+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-illinois\/\"},\"wordCount\":1408,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Living like a local\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-illinois\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-illinois\/\",\"name\":\"The Best Places to Live in Illinois (Updated 2024) - Bellhop\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-09T17:38:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-25T17:35:36+00:00\",\"description\":\"Looking for the best places to live in Illinois? 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