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Champaign County, Illinois

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Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Template:Aligned table Champaign County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 Census, its population was 205,865,<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> making it the 10th-most populous county in Illinois. Its county seat is Urbana.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref>

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

History

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Champaign County was organized in 1833, having been previously a part of Vermilion County.<ref>Template:Cite web</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 airport and a 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>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

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The county is 27 miles wide (east–west) and 36 miles long (north–south).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Its area is Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (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 moraines forming small, flat watersheds with no outlets.

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

The Embarras River, on the other hand, drains the south-central portion of Champaign–Urbana, originating in southeastern Champaign and flowing through the experimental fields on the southern part of the campus of the University of Illinois. The Template:Not a typo 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 and Wabash rivers.

File:Champaign County Courthouse.jpg
Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana

Adjacent counties

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Transportation

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File:Corn fields near Royal, Illinois.jpg
Corn and soybean fields dominate the rural parts of Champaign County

Major highways

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Airports

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The following public-use airports are located in the county:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rail

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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 trains, which operate once daily between Chicago and Carbondale. The Illinois Terminal is also served by the City of New Orleans, which operates once daily between Chicago and New Orleans.<ref>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Norfolk Southern Railway operates two branch lines in Champaign County: the Mansfield Line from Urbana to Mansfield and the Lafayette District from Decatur to Peru, Indiana.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Canadian National also operates branch lines from Champaign to Seymour and Rantoul to Dewey. Traffic on the branch lines is limited and consists primarily of freight.

Intercity buses

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Amtrak, Greyhound, and Peoria Charter operate intercity buses from Champaign–Urbana to Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and other destinations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Public transit

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The Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District operates public city buses in Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy.<ref>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref>

Renewable energy

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In August 2018, the Champaign County Board voted to approve solar farms on certain agricultural properties. Solar farms produce 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>Template:Cite news</ref>

Climate and weather

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Template:Climate chart In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Urbana have ranged from a low of Template:Convert in January to a high of Template:Convert in July, although a record low of Template:Convert was recorded in January 1999 and a record high of Template:Convert was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from Template:Convert in January to Template:Convert in May.<ref name="weather" />

Demographics

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File:USA Champaign County, Illinois age pyramid.svg
2000 census age pyramid for Champaign County with a marked mode for college-aged individuals due to the presence of the University of Illinois.

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As of the 2010 census, there were 201,081 people, 80,665 households, and 42,737 families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 87,569 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">Template:Cite web</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 German, 12.2% were Irish, 11.5% were American, and 8.9% were English.<ref name="census-dp2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 80,665 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">Template:Cite web</ref>

Champaign County, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition
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Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980<ref>Template:Cite web

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Pop 1990<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 Template:Partial
White alone (NH) 146,970 144,824 139,143 142,470 125,280 87.28% 83.70% 77.44% 70.85% 60.86%
Black or African American alone (NH) 14,492 16,534 19,881 24,553 28,215 8.61% 9.96% 11.07% 12.21% 13.71%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 269<ref>Compilation of Native and Alaska Native data</ref> 429 345 360 279 0.16% 0.25% 0.19% 0.18% 0.14%
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 24,420 1.95% 4.52% <ref>Grouped in with NH Pacific Islander in 1990 Census</ref> 6.43% 8.89% 11.86%
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 60 0.03% 0.04% 0.04% 0.06% 0.03%
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> 130 325 387 897 0.54% 0.08% 0.18% 0.19% 0.44%
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 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% 4.88%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,405<ref>Listed as Spanish origin in 1980 Census</ref> 1,637 5,203 10,607 16,666 1.43% 0.95% 2.90% 5.27% 8.10%
Total 168,392 173,025 179,669 201,081 205,865 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 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>[1] Template:Webarchive</ref> CHCEDC also conducts labor force studies every two years and labor shed studies every few years.<ref>[2] Template:Webarchive</ref>

Economy

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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>[3] Template:Webarchive</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>[4] Template:Webarchive</ref>

Communities

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

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

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Other unincorporated places

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Politics

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Like most of central Illinois, Champaign County was powerfully Republican between 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.

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Education

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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>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

K–12:

Secondary:

Elementary:

University of Illinois lies in the county.

Notable people

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See also

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References

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Bibliography

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