Editing Champaign County, Illinois

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Champaign County
| native_name        = 
| other_name         = 
| settlement_type    = [[County (United States)|County]]
| image_skyline      = Champaign County Courthouse Urbana Illinois from north.jpg
| image_size         = 
| image_caption      = The Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana
| image_map          = Map of Illinois highlighting Champaign County.svg
| mapsize            = 125px
| map_caption        = Location within Illinois
| image_map1         = Map of USA IL.svg
| mapsize1           = 180px
| map_caption1       = Illinois' location within the United States
| coordinates        = {{coord|40|6|59|N|88|14|36|W}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_name1  = [[Illinois]]
| subdivision_type2  = Region
| subdivision_name2  = [[Central Illinois]]
| subdivision_type3  = Metro area
| subdivision_name3  = [[Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area|Champaign–Urbana Metropolitan]]
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = February 20, 1833
| seat_type          = [[County seat]]
| seat               = [[Urbana, Illinois|Urbana]]
| seat1_type         = Largest city
| seat1              = [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]]
| unit_pref          = US
| area_total_sq_mi   = 998
| area_land_sq_mi    = 996
| area_water_sq_mi   = 2.1
| area_rank          = [[List of counties in Illinois|5th]] largest county in Illinois
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_total   = 205,865
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| timezone           = [[Central Standard Time|Central]]
| utc_offset         = −6
| timezone_DST       = [[Central Daylight Time|Central]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −5
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]] prefixes
| postal_code        = 60949, 61801, 61802, 61815, 61816, 61820-61822, 61840, 61843, 61845, 61847, 61849, 61851-61853, 61859, 61862-61864, 61866, 61871-61875, 61877, 61878, 61880
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| area_code          = [[Area code 217|217]]/[[Area code 447|447]]
| blank_name_sec1    = Congressional district
| blank_info_sec1    = [[Illinois's 2nd congressional district|2nd]], [[Illinois's 13th congressional district|13th]], [[Illinois's 15th congressional district|15th]]
| website            = {{official url}}
}}
{{aligned table
| class=wikitable |style=float:right;clear:right;font-size:90%;margin-left:1em;
| abovestyle = background-color: #C1D8FF; text-align:center;
| above = Elected countywide officials<br>Champaign County, IL
| cols = 3 | col1header = yes | row1header = yes
| Office | Name | Party
| [[County Executive]] | Steve Summers | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| [[Tax assessment|Assessor]]  | Paula Bates | Democratic
| [[Auditor]]  | George P. Danos | Democratic
| [[County board|County Board Chair]]  | Jennifer Locke | Democratic
| [[County board|County Board Majority]]  | Jenny Lokshin | Democratic
| [[Court clerk|Circuit Clerk]]  | Susan W. McGrath | Democratic
| [[County clerk|County Clerk & Recorder]]  | Aaron Ammons | Democratic
| [[Coroner]]  | Laurie Brauer | Democratic
| [[Sheriffs in the United States|Sheriff]]  | Dustin Heuerman | Democratic
| [[State's attorney |State's Attorney]]  | Julia Rietz | Democratic
| [[Treasurer]]  | Byron Clark | Democratic
}}
'''Champaign County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Illinois]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 Census]], its population was 205,865,<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Champaign County, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US17019|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=October 5, 2021}}</ref> making it the 10th-most populous county in Illinois. Its [[county seat]] is [[Urbana, Illinois|Urbana]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>

Champaign County is part of the [[Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area]]. The twin cities of Urbana and [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]] are the only cities in the county, and they nearly surround the campus of the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]].

==History==
Champaign County was organized in 1833, having been previously a part of [[Vermilion County, Illinois|Vermilion County]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=John W. Vance: The "Father of Champaign County" {{!}} Urbana Free Library|url=https://urbanafreelibrary.org/blogs/2017/03/17/john-w-vance-%E2%80%9Cfather-champaign-county%E2%80%9D|access-date=February 9, 2022|website=urbanafreelibrary.org}}</ref> The development of the county was greatly furthered by the arrival of the Chicago Branch of the [[Illinois Central Railroad]], and even more by the establishment of the land-grant university. Later, the county also got an [[University of Illinois Willard Airport|airport]] and a [[Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District|mass transit district]]. The northern part of the county experienced an economic and demographic setback with the closing of [[Chanute Air Force Base]] in the 1990s. In the 2004 Presidential election, it was one of only 15 of the 102 Illinois counties where [[John Kerry]] received a majority of the vote (50.37%).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2004&fips=17019&f=0&off=0&elect=0|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections – 2004 Presidential General Election Results – Champaign County, Illinois|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 18, 2018}}</ref>
<gallery widths=180>
File:Champaign County Illinois 1833.png|Champaign County at the time of its creation in 1833
File:Rural Champaign County grain elevator.jpg|Country grain elevator in Champaign County
</gallery>

==Geography==
The county is 27 miles wide (east–west) and 36 miles long (north–south).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hopkins |first1=Cyril G. |last2=Mosier |first2=J. G. |last3=van Alstine |first3=E. |last4=Garrett |first4=P. W. |title=Champaign County soils |date=1918 |publisher=University of Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station |page=1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UDK8TNij-tkC}}</ref> Its area is {{convert|998|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|996|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.1|sqmi}} (0.2%) is water.<ref name="census-density" /> It is the fifth-largest county in Illinois by land area.

Because Champaign County is situated on a large and very flat [[plateau]], it had virtually no natural drainage, so that much of the County consisted of wetlands until drainage ditches were built, beginning in the 1870s. This was an example of an upland [[marsh]], which resulted in a high incidence of [[malaria]] before the late nineteenth century.

The topography of Champaign County was formed by the [[Wisconsin glaciation]] about 20,000 years before the present. Lobes of ice from what is now [[Lake Michigan]] crossed the county, creating a deep pile of glacial soil, up to 300 feet thick, topped by numerous [[moraine]]s forming small, flat watersheds with no outlets.

Champaign County is situated on the [[Drainage divide|divide]] between the [[Ohio River|Ohio]] and [[Mississippi River]]s. Rivers flow out of Champaign County to the east, west, and south. The [[Kaskaskia River]] has its origin to the northwest of [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]], draining the western side of that City. The Kaskaskia flows toward the southwest, joining the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]] south of [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]].

The [[Embarras River (Illinois)|Embarras River]], on the other hand, drains the south-central portion of [[Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area|Champaign–Urbana]], originating in southeastern Champaign and flowing through the experimental fields on the southern part of the campus of the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]]. The {{not a typo|Embarras}} is a tributary to the [[Wabash River]] and [[Ohio River]] systems. The northeast corner of Champaign, the central portion of the University campus, and the northern part of Urbana are drained by the [[Boneyard Creek]], which flows into the [[Saline Branch]], a tributary of the [[Vermilion River (Wabash River tributary)|Vermilion]] and [[Wabash River|Wabash]] rivers.
[[File:Champaign County Courthouse.jpg|right|thumb|Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[McLean County, Illinois|McLean County]] – northwest
* [[Ford County, Illinois|Ford County]] – north
* [[Vermilion County, Illinois|Vermilion County]] – east
* [[Edgar County, Illinois|Edgar County]] – southeast
* [[Douglas County, Illinois|Douglas County]] – south
* [[Piatt County, Illinois|Piatt County]] – west

==Transportation==
[[File:Corn fields near Royal, Illinois.jpg|thumb|center|600px|Corn and soybean fields dominate the rural parts of Champaign County]]

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[File:I-57.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 57]]
* [[File:I-72.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 72]]
* [[File:I-74.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 74]]
* [[File:US 45.svg|25px]] [[US Route 45]]
* [[File:US 136.svg|25px]] [[US Route 136]]
* [[File:US 150.svg|25px]] [[US Route 150]]
* [[File:Illinois 10.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 10]]
* [[File:Illinois 47.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 47]]
* [[File:Illinois 49.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 49]]
* [[File:Illinois 54.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 54]]
* [[File:Illinois 130.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 130]]
{{div col end}}

===Airports===
The following public-use airports are located in the county:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tollfreeairline.com/illinois/champaign.htm|title=Champaign County Public and Private Airports|website=www.tollfreeairline.com|access-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref>
* [[University of Illinois Willard Airport]] (CMI) – Champaign–Urbana
* [[Rantoul National Aviation Center]] (Frank Elliott Field) (TIP) – Rantoul
* [[Frasca Field]] (C16) – Urbana

===Rail===
There are two train stations in Champaign County: The [[Illinois Terminal]] in downtown Champaign and [[Rantoul station]] in Rantoul. Both stations are served by the Amtrak [[Illini and Saluki|''Illini'' and ''Saluki'']] trains, which operate once daily between Chicago and [[Carbondale, Illinois|Carbondale]]. The Illinois Terminal is also served by the [[City of New Orleans (train)|''City of New Orleans'']], which operates once daily between Chicago and [[New Orleans]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nerode |first=Nathanael |date=March 4, 2023 |title=City of New Orleans / Illini / Saluki Timetable |url=https://juckins.net/amtrak_timetables/archive/timetables_City_of_New_Orleans_Illini-Saluki_20230304_external.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411024027/https://juckins.net/amtrak_timetables/archive/timetables_City_of_New_Orleans_Illini-Saluki_20230304_external.pdf |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-format=PDF |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=Juckins.net}}</ref> Amtrak passenger trains in Champaign County use the former Illinois Central mainline, which is owned by the [[Canadian National Railway]] and also used by freight trains.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vandervoort |first=William |date=April 11, 2023 |title=Railroad Operating Information - Canadian National Chicago Subdivision |url=https://chicagorailfan.com/amtkmicw.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817035531/https://chicagorailfan.com/amtkmicw.html |archive-date=August 17, 2022 |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=Chicago Transit & Railfan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vandervoort |first=William |date=April 11, 2023 |title=Railroad Operating Information - Canadian National Champaign Subdivision |url=https://chicagorailfan.com/amtkmicx.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430185446/https://chicagorailfan.com/amtkmicx.html |archive-date=April 30, 2022 |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=Chicago Transit & Railfan}}</ref>

The [[Norfolk Southern Railway]] operates two branch lines in Champaign County: the Mansfield Line from Urbana to [[Mansfield, Illinois|Mansfield]] and the Lafayette District from [[Decatur, Illinois|Decatur]] to [[Peru, Indiana]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vandervoort |first=William |date=April 11, 2023 |title=Railroad Operating Information - Norfolk Southern Lafayette District |url=https://chicagorailfan.com/rfttnslf.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430185449/https://chicagorailfan.com/rfttnslf.html |archive-date=April 30, 2022 |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=Chicago Transit & Railfan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vandervoort |first=William |date=April 11, 2023 |title=Railroad Operating Information - Norfolk Southern Lafayette District |url=https://chicagorailfan.com/rfttnsli.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928072325/https://chicagorailfan.com/rfttnsli.html |archive-date=September 28, 2022 |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=Chicago Transit & Railfan}}</ref> Canadian National also operates branch lines from Champaign to [[Seymour, Illinois|Seymour]] and Rantoul to [[Dewey, Illinois|Dewey]]. Traffic on the branch lines is limited and consists primarily of freight.

===Intercity buses===
[[Amtrak Thruway|Amtrak]], [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]], and [[Peoria Charter Coach Company|Peoria Charter]] operate intercity buses from Champaign–Urbana to Chicago, [[St. Louis]], [[Indianapolis]], and other destinations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peoria Charter |url=https://peoriacharter.com/ |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=peoriacharter.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Greyhound: Affordable Bus Tickets Across US, Canada & Mexico |url=https://www.greyhound.com/ |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=www.greyhound.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Public transit===
The [[Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District]] operates public city buses in Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District |url=https://mtd.org/ |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=MTD |language=en}}</ref>

[[Champaign County Area Rural Transit System]] (C-CARTS) provides on-demand transportation services for those living in rural areas of the county. C-CARTS also operates fixed-route local bus service in the village of Rantoul, along with an additional route connecting Rantoul to Champaign–Urbana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://c-carts.com/deviated-fixed-routes/|title=Deviated Fixed-Routes|access-date=June 2, 2023}}</ref>

==Renewable energy==
In August 2018, the Champaign County Board voted to approve [[photovoltaic power station|solar farm]]s on certain agricultural properties. Solar farms produce [[photovoltaics|photovoltaic energy]], which is energy produced by cells that generate electricity when they are hit by light. The board approved solar farms in AG-1 and AG-2 agricultural zoning districts. In order to make the solar farms, developers must obtain a special permit from the county board first. At least seven applications for permits were submitted in the first month.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-08-24/champaign-county-board-approves-zoning-changes-solar-farms.html|title=Champaign County Board approves zoning changes for solar farms|access-date=August 25, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

==Climate and weather==
{{climate chart
|[[Urbana, Illinois]]
|16|32|1.90
|21|38|2.01
|30|49|3.21
|40|62|3.65
|51|74|4.80
|60|83|4.21
|64|85|4.67
|62|83|4.37
|54|78|3.22
|43|65|2.81
|33|50|3.45
|22|37|2.76
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name="weather">{{cite web
  |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL1191
  |title=Monthly Averages for Urbana, Illinois
  |access-date=January 27, 2011
  |publisher=The Weather Channel
}}</ref>}}
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Urbana have ranged from a low of {{convert|16|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|85|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-25|°F}} was recorded in January 1999 and a record high of {{convert|109|°F}} was recorded in July 1954.  Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|1.90|in}} in January to {{convert|4.80|in}} in May.<ref name="weather" />

==Demographics==
[[File:USA Champaign County, Illinois age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|2000 census age pyramid for Champaign County with a marked mode for college-aged individuals due to the presence of the University of Illinois.]]
{{US Census population
| 1840 = 1475
| 1850 = 2649
| 1860 = 14629
| 1870 = 32737
| 1880 = 40863
| 1890 = 42159
| 1900 = 47622
| 1910 = 51829
| 1920 = 56959
| 1930 = 64273
| 1940 = 70578
| 1950 = 106100
| 1960 = 132436
| 1970 = 163281
| 1980 = 168392
| 1990 = 173025
| 2000 = 179669
| 2010 = 201081
| 2020 = 205865
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 212374
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url= https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/champaigncountyillinois/PST045224l|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Champaign county, Illinois|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 4, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 4, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 4, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 4, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2019<ref name="QF" />
}}

As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 201,081&nbsp;people, 80,665&nbsp;households, and 42,737&nbsp;families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17019
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=July 11, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014430/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17019
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|201.8|PD/sqmi}}. There were 87,569 housing units at an average density of {{convert|87.9|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17019
  |access-date=July 11, 2015
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212203059/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17019
  |archive-date=February 12, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 73.4% white, 12.4% black or African American, 8.9% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.2% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.3% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 23.9% were [[Germans|German]], 12.2% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 11.5% were [[Americans|American]], and 8.9% were [[English people|English]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17019
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=July 11, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031145/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17019
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 80,665&nbsp;households, 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 47.0% were non-families, and 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 28.9 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median income for a household in the county was $45,262 and the median income for a family was $65,785. Males had a median income of $45,823 versus $35,321 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,553. About 9.7% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17019
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=July 11, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023044/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17019
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Champaign County, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: The US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 1980<ref>{{Cite web |title=Total Persons and Spanish Origins Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race - 1980 |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_ilAB-03.pdf |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 10, 2024 }}
</ref> 
!Pop 1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 Census of Population Social and Economic Characteristics- Illinois - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-2/cp-2-15-1.pdf |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 10, 2024 }}</ref>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Champaign County, Illinois |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US17019&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Champaign County, Illinois  |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US17019&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Champaign County, Illinois |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US17019&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 1980
!% 1990
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|146,970
|144,824
|139,143
|142,470
|style='background: #ffffe6; | 125,280
|87.28%
|83.70%
|77.44%
|70.85%
|style='background: #ffffe6; | 60.86%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|14,492
|16,534
|19,881
|24,553
|style='background: #ffffe6; | 28,215
|8.61%
|9.96%
|11.07%
|12.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13.71%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|269<ref>Compilation of Native and Alaska Native data</ref>
|429
|345
|360
|style='background: #ffffe6; |279
|0.16%
|0.25%
|0.19%
|0.18%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH) <ref>Grouped in with Pacific Islander in 1990 Census</ref>
|3,286 <ref>Added up data of Japanese, Asian Indian, Chinese, Korean, Filipino populations</ref>
|7,819 <ref>Grouped in with Pacific Islander in 1990 Census</ref>
|11,553
|17,879
|style='background: #ffffe6; |24,420
|1.95%
|4.52% <ref>Grouped in with NH Pacific Islander in 1990 Census</ref>
|6.43%
|8.89%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11.86%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|55 <ref>Added up Guamanian and Hawaiian populations</ref>
|76 <ref>Doesn't exclude Hispanic/Latino -- Figures for NH population are grouped with Asian Americans</ref>
|64
|129
|style='background: #ffffe6; |60
|0.03%
|0.04%
|0.04%
|0.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|915 <ref>Subtraction of "Other races of Spanish origin" (Hispanic/Latino people who identify as some other race)category and "Other races" category i potentially includes other ethnic groups that would usually be in another racial group</ref>
|130
|325
|387
|style='background: #ffffe6; |897
|0.54%
|0.08%
|0.18%
|0.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.44%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|—<ref>Not an option on the 1980 US Census</ref>
|—<ref>Not an option on the 1990 US Census</ref>
|3,155
|4,696
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,048
|—<ref>Not an option on the 1980 US Census</ref>
|—<ref>Not an option on the 1990 US Census</ref>
|1.76%
|2.34%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.88%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|2,405<ref>Listed as Spanish origin in 1980 Census</ref>
|1,637
|5,203
|10,607
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16,666
|1.43%
|0.95%
|2.90%
|5.27%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.10%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''168,392'''
|'''173,025'''
|'''179,669'''
|'''201,081'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''205,865'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

The Champaign County Economic Development Corporation (CHCEDC) produced a 2009 County Demographic Profile which includes information on the population, labor, housing, cost of living, education, taxes, retail sales, transportation, quality of life, utilities.<ref>[http://www.champaigncountyedc.org/ChampaignDemographicProfile110409.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930204429/http://www.champaigncountyedc.org/ChampaignDemographicProfile110409.pdf|date=September 30, 2011}}</ref> CHCEDC also conducts labor force studies every two years and labor shed studies every few years.<ref>[http://www.champaigncountyedc.org/Workforce.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120234456/http://www.champaigncountyedc.org/Workforce.html|date=November 20, 2011}}</ref>

==Economy==
Supported by the [[University of Illinois]], through backings such as the Research Park, and Champaign County leaders, the area has shown even more growth in Information Technology, Micro/Nanotechnology, Bio-Imaging, Healthcare, Logistics, Distribution, and [[Agribusiness]] in recent years.<ref>[http://www.champaigncountyedc.org/technology.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022053607/http://www.champaigncountyedc.org/technology.html|date=October 22, 2011}}</ref>

As of 2023, the top 15 employers in the county are the University of Illinois, Carle Foundation Hospital, Champaign Schools Unit 4, Kraft Heinz, OSF Healthcare, Parkland College, Kirby Foods, Christie Clinic, Champaign County Government, Urbana School District #116, FedEx, Plastipak, Rantoul Foods, Busey Bank, and SuperValu.<ref>[https://www.champaigncountyedc.org/area-facts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022033936/http://www.champaigncountyedc.org/TopEmployers.html|date=October 22, 2011}}</ref>

==Communities==
	
[[File:Map of Champaign County Illinois.png|thumb|Map of Champaign County]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Community<br />
! Community<br />type
! Population
! Total<br />Area
! Water<br />Area
! Land<br />Area
! Pop.<br />Density
|-
|[[Bondville, Illinois|Bondville]] || village || 388 || 0.25 || 0.00 || 0.25 || 1,545.82 ||
|-
|[[Broadlands, Illinois|Broadlands]] || village || 316 || 0.32 || 0.00 || 0.32 || 981.37 ||
|-
|[[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]] (largest city) || city || 88,302 || 23.14 || 0.15 || 22.99 || 3,800 ||
|-
|[[Fisher, Illinois|Fisher]] || village || 2,062 || 1.33 || 0.00 || 1.33 || 1,550.38 ||
|-
|[[Foosland, Illinois|Foosland]] || village || 75 || 0.07 || 0.00 || 0.07 || 1,086.96 ||
|-
|[[Gifford, Illinois|Gifford]] || village || 911 || 0.44 || 0.00 || 0.44 || 2,050 ||
|-
|[[Homer, Illinois|Homer]] || village || 1,073 || 0.98 || 0.00 || 0.98 || 1,094.90 ||
|-
|[[Ivesdale, Illinois|Ivesdale]] || village || 265 || 0.72 || 0.00 || 0.72 || 370.11 ||
|-
|[[Lake of the Woods, Illinois|Lake of the Woods]] || census-designated place || 2,403 || 1.77 || 0.08 || 1.68 || 1,428.66 ||
|-
|[[Longview, Illinois|Longview]] || village || 112 || 0.25 || 0.00 || 0.25 || 453.44 ||
|-
|[[Ludlow, Illinois|Ludlow]] || village || 308 || 0.40 || 0.00 || 0.40 || 775.82 ||
|-
|[[Mahomet, Illinois|Mahomet]] || village || 9,434 || 9.79 || 0.07 || 9.72 || 970.38 ||
|-
|[[Ogden, Illinois|Ogden]] || village || 729 || 0.59 || 0.00 || 0.59 || 1,239.80 ||
|-
|[[Penfield, Illinois|Penfield]] || census-designated place || 151 || 0.26 || 0.00 || 0.26 || 587.55 ||
|-
|[[Pesotum, Illinois|Pesotum]] || village || 550 || 0.58 || 0.01 || 0.57 || 966.61 ||
|-
|[[Philo, Illinois|Philo]] || village || 1,392 || 0.83 || 0.00 || 0.83 || 1,679.13 ||
|-
|[[Rantoul, Illinois|Rantoul]] || village || 12,371 || 8.59 || 0.10 || 8.49 || 1,457.13 ||
|-
|[[Royal, Illinois|Royal]] || village || 293 || 0.18 || 0.00 || 0.18 || 1,601.09 ||
|-
|[[Sadorus, Illinois|Sadorus]] || village || 402 || 1.03 || 0.00 || 1.03 || 391.43 ||
|-
|[[Savoy, Illinois|Savoy]] || village || 8,857 || 3.30 || 0.07 || 3.23 || 2,739.56 ||
|-
|[[Seymour, Illinois|Seymour]] || census-designated place || 317 || 0.09 || 0.00 || 0.09 || 3,500 ||
|-
|[[Sidney, Illinois|Sidney]] || village || 1,208 || 0.63 || 0.01 || 0.62 || 1,935.90 ||
|-
|[[St. Joseph, Illinois|St. Joseph]] || village || 3,810 || 2.10 || 0.02 || 2.08 || 1,829.09 ||
|-
|[[Thomasboro, Illinois|Thomasboro]] || village || 1,034 || 1.00 || 0.00 || 1.00 || 1,034.00 ||
|-
|[[Tolono, Illinois|Tolono]] || village || 3,604 || 2.06 || 0.00 || 2.06 || 1,748.67 ||
|-
|[[Urbana, Illinois|Urbana]] (seat) || city || 38,336 || 11.90 || 0.07 || 11.83 || 3,240.57 ||
|-
|'''Champaign County''' || county || 205,865 || 998 || 2.1 || 996 || 210 ||
|}

===Townships===
Township government was adopted on November 8, 1859.<ref>https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/archives/IRAD/champaign.html</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Ayers Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Ayers]]
* [[Brown Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Brown]]
* [[Champaign Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Champaign]]
* [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign City]]
* [[Colfax Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Colfax]]
* [[Compromise Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Compromise]]
* [[Condit Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Condit]]
* [[Crittenden Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Crittenden]]
* [[Cunningham Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Cunningham]]
* [[East Bend Township, Champaign County, Illinois|East Bend]]
* [[Harwood Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Harwood]]
* [[Hensley Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Hensley]]
* [[Kerr Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Kerr]]
* [[Ludlow Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Ludlow]]
* [[Mahomet Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Mahomet]]
* [[Newcomb Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Newcomb]]
* [[Ogden Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Ogden]]
* [[Pesotum Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Pesotum]]
* [[Philo Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Philo]]
* [[Rantoul Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Rantoul]]
* [[Raymond Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Raymond]]
* [[Sadorus Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Sadorus]]
* [[Scott Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Scott]]
* [[Sidney Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Sidney]]
* [[Somer Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Somer]]
* [[South Homer Township, Champaign County, Illinois|South Homer]]
* [[St. Joseph Township, Champaign County, Illinois|St. Joseph]]
* [[Stanton Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Stanton]]
* [[Tolono Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Tolono]]
* [[Urbana Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Urbana]]
{{div col end}}

===Other unincorporated places===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Augerville, Illinois|Augerville]]
* [[Block, Illinois|Block]]
* [[Bongard, Illinois|Bongard]]
* [[Dailey, Illinois|Dailey]]
* [[Deers, Illinois|Deers]]
* [[Dewey, Illinois|Dewey]]
* [[Dickerson, Illinois|Dickerson]]
* [[Dillsburg, Illinois|Dillsburg]]
* [[Flatville, Illinois|Flatville]]
* [[Fulls, Illinois|Fulls]]
* [[Gerald, Illinois|Gerald]]
* [[Giblin, Illinois|Giblin]]
* [[Glover, Illinois|Glover]]
* [[Jimtown, Champaign County, Illinois|Jimtown]]
* [[Leverett, Illinois|Leverett]]
* [[Lotus, Illinois|Lotus]]
* [[Mayview, Illinois|Mayview]]
* [[Mira, Illinois|Mira]]
* [[Parkville, Illinois|Parkville]]
* [[Pauline, Illinois|Pauline]]
* [[Prospect, Illinois|Prospect]]
* [[Rising, Illinois|Rising]]
* [[Rutherford, Illinois|Rutherford]]
* [[Sellers, Illinois|Sellers]]
* [[Staley, Illinois|Staley]]
* [[State Road, Illinois|State Road]]
* [[Tipton, Champaign County, Illinois|Tipton]]
* [[Tomlinson, Illinois|Tomlinson]]
* [[Wilbur Heights, Illinois|Wilbur Heights]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Like most of [[central Illinois]], Champaign County was powerfully Republican between [[American Civil War|the Civil War]] and the latter portion of the 20th century. From 1856 to 1988, it only supported a Democrat three times, in the national Democratic landslides of 1932, 1936 and 1964. Pockets of Democratic support existed in the cities of Champaign and Urbana, which frequently sent Democrats to the [[Illinois House of Representatives]].

Since 1992, Champaign County has been one of the few Democratic bastions in central Illinois, and has become one of the most Democratic counties in downstate Illinois. Since 2004, it has given a majority of the vote to Democratic candidates due to the county's liberalism, as home to the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]]. This tracks closely with the strong Democratic trend in other counties influenced by college towns since the 1990s. The county's more rural precincts are still heavily Republican, however, they are overpowered by the vote in Champaign and Urbana, which account for over 60 percent of the county's population. 

[[George H. W. Bush]] in 1988 was the last Republican to carry the county, and [[Barack Obama]]'s 2008 performance was the best by a Democrat until [[Joe Biden]]'s 2020 performance surpassed it. In 2024, Democrat [[Kamala Harris]] received over 60% of the vote in the county, the highest percentage ever received by a Democratic presidential nominee, despite losing the presidential election. Republican [[Donald Trump]] had particularly poor showings in the county, receiving less than 40% of the vote in 2016, 2020, and 2024, his third-worst showing in the state and his worst outside the Chicago area.

{{PresHead|place=<br>Champaign County, Illinois|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|32,965|54,314|2,977|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|35,285|57,067|3,221|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|33,368|50,137|8,123|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|35,312|40,831|2,466|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|33,871|48,597|1,940|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|39,896|41,524|1,014|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|34,645|35,515|4,125|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|28,232|32,454|5,743|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|27,096|35,003|13,993|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|33,247|29,733|519|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|39,224|27,266|435|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|33,329|21,017|11,014|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|34,546|26,858|1,703|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|33,700|24,743|236|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|26,027|18,425|4,196|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|22,010|25,792|0|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|27,793|17,115|533|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|28,190|13,799|51|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|27,188|13,951|112|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|19,156|11,572|737|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|18,935|13,842|177|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|20,314|17,563|267|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|15,808|18,203|524|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|13,995|16,474|601|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|19,494|8,915|141|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|14,244|5,221|3,212|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|15,573|5,247|861|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|14,632|9,601|1,071|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|3,220|4,454|4,896|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|7,162|4,830|539|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|6,954|3,754|674|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|6,660|5,015|420|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|6,780|4,643|335|Illinois}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|5,290|4,502|594|Illinois}}

==Education==
Here is a list of K–12 school districts with territory in the county, no matter how slight, even if the districts have their schools and/or administrative offices in other counties:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17019_champaign/DC20SD_C17019.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720184235/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17019_champaign/DC20SD_C17019.pdf |archive-date=July 20, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Champaign County, IL|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 20, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17019_champaign/DC20SD_C17019_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

K–12:
* [[Arthur Community Unit School District 305]]
* [[Bement Community Unit School District 5]]
* [[Champaign Community Unit School District 4]]
* [[Fisher Community Unit School District 1]]
* [[Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Community Unit School District 5]]
* [[Heritage Community Unit School District 8]]
* [[Mahomet-Seymour Community Unit School District 3]]
* [[Monticello Community Unit School District 25]]
* [[Paxton-Buckley-Loda Community Unit School District 10]]
* [[Tolono Community Unit School District 7]]
* [[Tuscola Community Unit School District 301]]
* [[Urbana School District 116]]
* [[Villa Grove Community Unit School District 302]]

Secondary:
* [[Armstrong Township High School District 225]]
* [[Rantoul Township High School District 193]]
* [[St. Joseph-Ogden Community High School District 305]]

Elementary:
* [[Armstrong-Ellis Consolidated School District 61]]
* [[Gifford Community Consolidated School District 188]]
* [[Ludlow Community Consolidated School District 142]]
* [[Prairieview-Ogden Community Consolidated School District 197]]
* [[Rantoul City School District 137]]
* [[St. Joseph Community Consolidated School District 169]]
* [[Thomasboro Community Consolidated School District 130]]

[[University of Illinois]] lies in the county.

==Notable people==

* [[Henry P. Rusk]], dean of the Department of Agriculture at the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]]

==See also==
{{portal|Illinois}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Champaign County, Illinois]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book
  |title=Early History and Pioneers of Champaign County
  |publisher=Champaign County Herald
  |location=Urbana, Illinois
  |year=1886
  |first1=Milton W
  |last1=Mathews
  |first2=Lewis A.
  |last2=McLean
  |url=https://archive.org/stream/earlyhistorypion00math#page/n5/mode/2up
  |access-date=November 29, 2010
}}
* {{cite book
  |title=A Standard History of Champaign County Illinois
  |publisher=The Lewis Publishing Company
  |location=Chicago and New York
  |year=1918
  |editor=Stewart, J. R.
  |volume=1
  |url=https://archive.org/stream/standardhistoryov1stew#page/n9/mode/2up
  |access-date=November 29, 2010
}}
* {{cite book
  |title=A Standard History of Champaign County Illinois
  |publisher=The Lewis Publishing Company
  |location=Chicago and New York
  |year=1918
  |editor=Stewart, J. R.
  |volume=2
  |url=https://archive.org/stream/standardhistoryov2stew#page/n5/mode/2up
  |access-date=November 29, 2010
}}
* {{cite book
  |title=Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Champaign County
  |publisher=Munsell Publishing Company
  |location=Chicago
  |year=1905
  |editor=Cunningham, Joseph O.
  |url=https://archive.org/stream/historicalencyclv2bate#page/n133/mode/2up
  |pages=631–1060
  |access-date=November 29, 2010
}}

==External links==
* [http://www.co.champaign.il.us/ Champaign County Official Page]
* [http://www.visitchampaigncounty.org/ Champaign County Visitors Information]
* [http://www.champaigncountyedc.org/ Champaign County Economic Development Corporation]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070310144543/http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/edgar.html United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles]
* [http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/ United States Board on Geographic Names (GNIS)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081205020547/http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ United States National Atlas]
* [https://archive.org/stream/dedicationofcham00cham#page/n0/mode/2up Book of the Champaign County Courthouse dedication from 1901]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Champaign County, Illinois
|North     = [[Ford County, Illinois|Ford County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Vermilion County, Illinois|Vermilion County]]
|Southeast = [[Edgar County, Illinois|Edgar County]]
|South     = [[Douglas County, Illinois|Douglas County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Piatt County, Illinois|Piatt County]]
|Northwest = [[McLean County, Illinois|McLean County]]
}}

{{Champaign County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|40.14|-88.20|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IL_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Champaign County, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:Illinois counties]]
[[Category:1833 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1833]]