UrbanaChampaign

Urbana-Champaign, commonly known as Champaign-Urbana, refers to the paired cities of Champaign and Urbana in Champaign County, Illinois. The area is anchored by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a major public research university whose campus straddles the boundary between the two cities. The two municipalities are part of the larger Champaign metropolitan area in east-central Illinois and lie roughly 135 miles south of Chicago.

History and development: Champaign and Urbana were settled in the 19th century and grew substantially after the establishment of UIUC in 1867, with the university shaping the region’s economy, education, and culture. The campus extends across portions of both cities and includes a number of research facilities and cultural venues.

Economy and institutions: UIUC is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois System and a major driver of local employment and research activity. The area also hosts healthcare facilities such as Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana and Parkland College in Champaign, along with tech startups and service industries tied to education and research.

Culture and transportation: Champaign-Urbana has a mid-sized arts scene with venues like Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and the Krannert Art Museum. Public transit is served by the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, and the Champaign-Urbana Amtrak station provides intercity rail access. The region is connected by Interstate 74 and regional roads.

Demographics: The two cities together have a population around 125,000 people, with a large student and faculty presence from UIUC.