Champaign, Illinois

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A view of Champaign from above (see wider view).

Champaign is a city located in Champaign County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 67,518. The mayor is Gerald Schweighart, whose term will expire in 2007.

Champaign is adjacent to the neighboring city of Urbana, Illinois. Because the two cities are so closely linked, the pair are often referred to together as Urbana-Champaign or Champaign-Urbana (or even Chambana). They are the site of the main campus of the University of Illinois.

Contents

1 Geography

2 History

3 Famous People From Champaign

4 Partial List of Mayors

5 Champaign Municipal Building

6 Champaign Park District

Geography

Champaign is located at Template:Coor dms (40.112981, -88.261227)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 44.1 km² (17.0 mi²). 44.0 km² (17.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.12% water.

Champaign shares a border with the neighboring town of Urbana, Illinois; the two together are often referred to as Urbana-Champaign (or Champaign-Urbana, or even Chambana). The joint town is the site of the main campus of the University of Illinois. Champaign, Urbana and the bordering village of Savoy, Illinois form the Champaign-Urbana Metropolitan Area.

History

Champaign was founded in 1855, when the Illinois Central Railroad laid its track two miles west of downtown Urbana. Originally called "West Urbana," it was renamed Champaign when it acquired a city charter in 1860. Both the city and county name were derived from Champaign County, Ohio.

Famous People From Champaign

Hum, rock group
Alison Krauss, bluegrass singer
Ludacris, rapper
REO Speedwagon, rock group
Lewis Hastings Sarett, inventor of synthetic cortisone
George Will, political columnist

Partial List of Mayors

Champaign Municipal Building

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The Champaign Municipal Building.

The Champaign Municipal Building is the City Hall, Court House, and several other buildings rolled into one recognizable landmark. Often considered the central landmark of Champaign and the most visible building in the downtown district the Municipal building is something of a city symbol and local tourist attraction. Its likeness are featured on both the city seal, police cars within the jurisdiction, city logos on all signs, and most brochures for the area. The ornate decoration, unique architecture and copper topped roof help distinguish the building from its 1900's train town surrounding.

Champaign Park District

Champaign, Illinois is known for its extensive city parks. Most houses in the city don't have sizable backyards by typical US standards, instead the city has zoned several large city parks to create common areas for recreation and relaxation of its citizens under the Champaign Park District [1] (http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/).

Economy

In addition to the University of Illinois, Champaign is also home to Parkland College. A Kraft Foods plant and the Collegiate Cap and Gown Company are part of the city's industrial base. The city also features a large technology and software industry mostly focusing around research and development of new technologies. The Research Park located in southern Champaign, and backed by the University of Illinois is home to many companies including iCyt (a biotechnology company), the Illinois Natural History Survey, the Illinois State Geological Survey, Motorola, State Farm Insurance, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, Phonak, Power World, and Science Applications International Corporation. Numerous other software and technology companies also have offices in Champaign, including Wolfram Research, Intel, and Volition. The United States Army Corps of Engineers maintains a Construction and Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) in Champaign.

Demographics

As of the census Template:GR of 2000, there are 67,518 people, 27,071 households, and 12,452 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,534.4/km² (3,974.6/mi²). There are 28,556 housing units at an average density of 648.9/km² (1,681.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 73.16% White, 15.62% African American, 0.24% Native American, 6.83% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.94% from other races, and 2.19% from two or more races. 4.03% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 27,071 households out of which 22.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% are married couples living together, 9.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 54.0% are non-families. 36.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.23 and the average family size is 2.95.

In the city the population is spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 31.7% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 15.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 25 years. For every 100 females there are 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 101.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $32,795, and the median income for a family is $52,628. Males have a median income of $36,574 versus $27,186 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,664. 22.1% of the population and 8.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.0% of those under the age of 18 and 5.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Transportation

Champaign is served by Interstate Highways 57, 72, and 74, by two railroad lines, and by Willard Airport (CMI), operated by the University of Illinois and located 5 miles south of town in Tolono Township. The local bus system, which is supported by the taxpayers of the Mass Transit District (MTD) and the University of Illinois, also serves Urbana, Savoy, and surrounding areas. The former Illinois Central railroad line--now owned by Canadian National--runs north to south through the city. A spur line from the Canadian National line provides service to industry and grain elevators to the west of the city. The Norfolk Southern Railway operates an east to west line through the city. The NS line connects an industrial area in east Urbana to the Norfolk Southern mainline at Mansfield, Illinois west of Champaign. The Norfolk Southern line was previously operated by Conrail and its predecessors: New York Central, Peoria & Eastern, Big Four (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad), Danville, Urbana, Bloomington and Pekin Railroad Company. Amtrak--using the Canadian National line--runs two trains daily northbound to Chicago, and two evening trains southbound, one to Carbondale, the other via Carbondale, Illinois to New Orleans. Greyhound Lines and Illini Swallow bus companies also serve Champaign. In 1999, a newly designed intermodal transportation center, aptly named Illinois Terminal by historic reference, was completed and presently consolidates all passenger rail and bus service for Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy.