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Champaign

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Champaign, University city in Illinois, United States

Description

Champaign is a city in Champaign County in Illinois in the United States and covers about 60 square kilometers (23 square miles) of flat land with tree-lined streets. Residential areas, commercial zones and educational facilities including the University of Illinois connect through a network of roads across the entire municipal territory.

History

The settlement began in 1855 as West Urbana along the Illinois Central Railroad tracks and took its present name when it gained city status in 1860. The University of Illinois was founded in 1867 and has shaped the development and growth of the community since then.

Culture

The Virginia Theatre opened in 1921 and still shows films, concerts and stage performances while keeping its original architecture intact. Visitors can see the historic interior with its preserved details during regular events throughout the year.

Practical

The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District runs regular bus routes connecting all major areas including the university campus and downtown. Most streets follow a simple grid pattern that makes navigation easier for visitors.

Did you know?

The Research Park at the university houses many technology companies and startups working on innovations in fields like computer science and biotechnology. This concentration of research facilities has earned the area the nickname Silicon Prairie.

Location
Inception
1855
Elevation above the sea
225 m
GPS coordinates
40.11639,-88.24361
Latest update
December 15, 2025 04:30

AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Champaign County).

« Champaign - University city in Illinois, United States » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

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