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Coordinates: 40°08′N 88°12′W / 40.14°N 88.20°W / 40.14; -88.20
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{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Champaign County
| official_name = Champaign County
| native_name =
| native_name =
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[County (United States)|County]]
| other_name =
| image_skyline = Champaign County Courthouse Urbana Illinois from north.jpg
| settlement_type = [[County (United States)|County]]
| image_size =
| image_skyline = Champaign County Courthouse Urbana Illinois from north.jpg
| image_caption = The Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana
| image_size =
| image_caption = The Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana
| image_map = Map of Illinois highlighting Champaign County.svg
| mapsize = 125px
| image_map = Map of Illinois highlighting Champaign County.svg
| mapsize = 125px
| map_caption = Location within Illinois
| map_caption = Location within Illinois
| image_map1 = Map of USA IL.svg
| image_map1 = Map of USA IL.svg
| mapsize1 = 180px
| map_caption1 = Illinois' location within the United States
| mapsize1 = 180px
| coordinates = {{coord|40|6|59|N|88|14|36|W}}
| map_caption1 = Illinois' location within the United States
| subdivision_type = Country
| coordinates = {{coord|40|6|59|N|88|14|36|W}}
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_name1 = [[Illinois]]
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_type2 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = [[Illinois]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Central Illinois]]
| subdivision_type2 = Region
| subdivision_type3 = Metro area
| subdivision_name2 = [[Central Illinois]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area|Champaign–Urbana Metropolitan]]
| subdivision_type3 = Metro area
| established_title = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area|Champaign–Urbana Metropolitan]]
| established_date = February 20, 1833
| established_title = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date = February 20, 1833
| seat_type = [[County seat]]
| seat_type = [[County seat]]
| seat = [[Urbana, Illinois|Urbana]]
| seat = [[Urbana, Illinois|Urbana]]
| seat1_type = Largest city
| seat1_type = Largest city
| seat1 = [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]]
| seat1 = [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]]
| unit_pref = US
| area_total_sq_mi = 998
| unit_pref = US
| area_total_sq_mi = 998
| area_land_sq_mi = 996
| area_water_sq_mi = 2.1
| 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]]
| area_rank = [[List of counties in Illinois|5th]] largest county in Illinois
| population_total = 205,865
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| population_total = 205,865
| timezone = [[Central Standard Time|Central]]
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| utc_offset = −6
| timezone = [[Central Standard Time|Central]]
| timezone_DST = [[Central Daylight Time|Central]]
| utc_offset = −6
| utc_offset_DST = −5
| timezone_DST = [[Central Daylight Time|Central]]
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]] prefixes
| utc_offset_DST = −5
| 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
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]] prefixes
| area_code_type = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| 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
| area_code = [[Area code 217|217]]/[[Area code 447|447]]
| blank_info_sec1 = [[Illinois's 2nd congressional district|2nd]], [[Illinois's 13th congressional district|13th]], [[Illinois's 15th congressional district|15th]]
| blank_name_sec1 = Congressional district
| website = {{official url}}
| blank_info_sec1 = [[Illinois's 2nd congressional district|2nd]], [[Illinois's 13th congressional district|13th]], [[Illinois's 15th congressional district|15th]]
| website ={{URL|https://www.co.champaign.il.us/HeaderMenu/Home.php}}
}}
}}
{{aligned table
{{aligned table
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==Geography==
==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://www.google.com/books/edition/Champaign_County_Soils/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.
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.
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.
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{| 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>
|+'''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>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=DP1Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - 2000: DEC Summary File 4 Demographic Profile |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDPSF42000.DP1?q=2000%20in%20Champaign%20County,%20Illinois&g=160XX00US1712385 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 10, 2024 }}</ref>
!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 2010<ref>{{Cite web |title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Summary File 1 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1712385&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 10, 2024}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=P9: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P9?q=p9%20of%20Champaign%20County,%20Illinois&g=050XX00US17019 |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
!% 2000
!% 2010
!% 2010
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|-
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|139,527
|146,970
|144,824
|139,143
|142,470
|142,470
|style='background: #ffffe6; | 125,280
|style='background: #ffffe6; | 125,280
|77.66%
|87.28%
|83.70%
|77.44%
|70.85%
|70.85%
|style='background: #ffffe6; | 60.86%
|style='background: #ffffe6; | 60.86%
|-
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|19,965
|14,492
|16,534
|19,881
|24,553
|24,553
|style='background: #ffffe6; | 28,215
|style='background: #ffffe6; | 28,215
|11.11%
|8.61%
|9.96%
|11.07%
|12.21%
|12.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13.71%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13.71%
|-
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|269<ref>Compilation of Native and Alaska Native data</ref>
|390
|429
|345
|360
|360
|style='background: #ffffe6; |279
|style='background: #ffffe6; |279
|0.22%
|0.16%
|0.25%
|0.19%
|0.18%
|0.18%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14%
|-
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|[[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>
|11,559
|7,819 <ref>Grouped in with Pacific Islander in 1990 Census</ref>
|11,553
|17,879
|17,879
|style='background: #ffffe6; |24,420
|style='background: #ffffe6; |24,420
|6.46%
|1.95%
|4.52% <ref>Grouped in with NH Pacific Islander in 1990 Census</ref>
|6.43%
|8.89%
|8.89%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11.86%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11.86%
|-
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|x <ref>No data given about Pacific Islander in table</ref>
|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
|129
|style='background: #ffffe6; |60
|style='background: #ffffe6; |60
|0.03%
|0.03%
|0.04%
|0.04%
|0.06%
|0.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|[[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>
|705 <ref>Remainder of people not assigned into any racial group - Some other race (NH) data unavailable</ref>
|130
|325
|387
|387
|style='background: #ffffe6; |897
|style='background: #ffffe6; |897
|0.39%
|0.54%
|0.08%
|0.18%
|0.19%
|0.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.44%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.44%
|-
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|—<ref>Not an option on the 1980 US Census</ref>
|3,158
|—<ref>Not an option on the 1990 US Census</ref>
|3,155
|4,696
|4,696
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,048
|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%
|1.76%
|2.34%
|2.34%
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|-
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|2,405<ref>Listed as Spanish origin in 1980 Census</ref>
|4,933
|1,637
|5,203
|10,607
|10,607
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16,666
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16,666
|2.75%
|1.43%
|0.95%
|2.90%
|5.27%
|5.27%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.10%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.10%
|-
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''Total'''
|'''168,392'''
|'''173,025'''
|'''179,669'''
|'''179,669'''
|'''201,081'''
|'''201,081'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''205,865'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''205,865'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
Line 391: Line 432:


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

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Ayers Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Ayers]]
* [[Ayers Township, Champaign County, Illinois|Ayers]]
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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]].
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. It has supported a Democrat in the last eight presidential elections, and since 2004 has given a majority to Democratic candidates due to the county's cultural liberalism. 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. [[Donald Trump]] had a particularly poor showing in the county in both 2016 and 2020, receiving a little over 35% of the vote, his third-worst showing in the state and his worst outside the Chicago area.
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. [[Donald Trump]] had particularly poor showings in the county in 2016, 2020, and 2024, receiving less than 40% of the vote each time, 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>}}
{{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 should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|32,366|51,321|1,272|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|35,285|57,067|3,221|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|35,285|57,067|3,221|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|33,368|50,137|8,123|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|33,368|50,137|8,123|Illinois}}

Latest revision as of 22:53, 10 November 2024

Champaign County
County
The Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana
The Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana
Location within Illinois
Location within Illinois
Illinois' location within the United States
Illinois' location within the United States
Coordinates: 40°6′59″N 88°14′36″W / 40.11639°N 88.24333°W / 40.11639; -88.24333
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
RegionCentral Illinois
Metro areaChampaign–Urbana Metropolitan
IncorporatedFebruary 20, 1833
County seatUrbana
Largest cityChampaign
Area
 • Total
998 sq mi (2,580 km2)
 • Land996 sq mi (2,580 km2)
 • Water2.1 sq mi (5 km2)
 • Rank5th largest county in Illinois
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
205,865
 • Density210/sq mi (80/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (Central)
ZIP Code prefixes
60949, 61801, 61802, 61815, 61816, 61820-61822, 61840, 61843, 61845, 61847, 61849, 61851-61853, 61859, 61862-61864, 61866, 61871-61875, 61877, 61878, 61880
Area codes217/447
Congressional district2nd, 13th, 15th
Websiteco.champaign.il.us Edit this at Wikidata
Elected countywide officials
Champaign County, IL
Office Name Party
County Executive Steve Summers Democrat
Assessor Paula Bates Democrat
Auditor George P. Danos Democrat
County Board Chairman Kyle Patterson Democrat
County Board Majority Kyle Patterson Democrat
Circuit Clerk Susan W. McGrath Democrat
County Clerk Aaron Ammons Democrat
Coroner Duane E. Northrup Republican
Recorder Aaron Ammons Democrat
Sheriff Dustin Heuerman Democrat
State's Attorney Julia Rietz Democrat
Treasurer Cassandra Johnson Democrat

Champaign County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 Census, its population was 205,865,[1] making it the 10th-most populous county in Illinois. Its county seat is Urbana.[2]

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

[edit]

Champaign County was organized in 1833, having been previously a part of Vermilion County.[3] 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%).[4]

  • Champaign County at the time of its creation in 1833
    Champaign County at the time of its creation in 1833
  • Country grain elevator in Champaign County
    Country grain elevator in Champaign County

Geography

[edit]

The county is 27 miles wide (east–west) and 36 miles long (north–south).[5] Its area is 998 square miles (2,580 km2), of which 996 square miles (2,580 km2) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) (0.2%) is water.[6] 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 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 and Wabash rivers.

Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana

Adjacent counties

[edit]

Transportation

[edit]
Corn and soybean fields dominate the rural parts of Champaign County

Major highways

[edit]

Airports

[edit]

The following public-use airports are located in the county:[7]

Rail

[edit]

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.[8] 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.[9][10]

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.[11][12] 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

[edit]
Main article: List of intercity bus stops in Illinois

Amtrak, Greyhound, and Peoria Charter operate intercity buses from Champaign–Urbana to Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and other destinations.[13][14]

Public transit

[edit]

The Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District operates public city buses in Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy.[15]

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.[16]

Renewable energy

[edit]

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.[17]

Climate and weather

[edit]
Urbana, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
1.9
 
 
32
16
 
 
2
 
 
38
21
 
 
3.2
 
 
49
30
 
 
3.7
 
 
62
40
 
 
4.8
 
 
74
51
 
 
4.2
 
 
83
60
 
 
4.7
 
 
85
64
 
 
4.4
 
 
83
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3.2
 
 
78
54
 
 
2.8
 
 
65
43
 
 
3.5
 
 
50
33
 
 
2.8
 
 
37
22
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[18]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
48
 
 
0
−9
 
 
51
 
 
3
−6
 
 
82
 
 
9
−1
 
 
93
 
 
17
4
 
 
122
 
 
23
11
 
 
107
 
 
28
16
 
 
119
 
 
29
18
 
 
111
 
 
28
17
 
 
82
 
 
26
12
 
 
71
 
 
18
6
 
 
88
 
 
10
1
 
 
70
 
 
3
−6
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Urbana have ranged from a low of 16 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1999 and a record high of 109 °F (43 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.90 inches (48 mm) in January to 4.80 inches (122 mm) in May.[18]

Demographics

[edit]
2000 census age pyramid for Champaign County with a marked mode for college-aged individuals due to the presence of the University of Illinois.
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18401,475—
18502,64979.6%
186014,629452.2%
187032,737123.8%
188040,86324.8%
189042,1593.2%
190047,62213.0%
191051,8298.8%
192056,9599.9%
193064,27312.8%
194070,5789.8%
1950106,10050.3%
1960132,43624.8%
1970163,28123.3%
1980168,3923.1%
1990173,0252.8%
2000179,6693.8%
2010201,08111.9%
2020205,8652.4%
2023 (est.)205,644[19]−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]
1790–1960[21] 1900–1990[22]
1990–2000[23] 2010–2019[1]

As of the 2010 census, there were 201,081 people, 80,665 households, and 42,737 families residing in the county.[24] The population density was 201.8 inhabitants per square mile (77.9/km2). There were 87,569 housing units at an average density of 87.9 per square mile (33.9/km2).[6] 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.[24] In terms of ancestry, 23.9% were German, 12.2% were Irish, 11.5% were American, and 8.9% were English.[25]

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.[24]

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.[26]

Champaign County, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition
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.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[27] Pop 1990[28] Pop 2000[29] Pop 2010[30] Pop 2020[31] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
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[32] 429 345 360 279 0.16% 0.25% 0.19% 0.18% 0.14%
Asian alone (NH) [33] 3,286 [34] 7,819 [35] 11,553 17,879 24,420 1.95% 4.52% [36] 6.43% 8.89% 11.86%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 55 [37] 76 [38] 64 129 60 0.03% 0.04% 0.04% 0.06% 0.03%
Other race alone (NH) 915 [39] 130 325 387 897 0.54% 0.08% 0.18% 0.19% 0.44%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) —[40] —[41] 3,155 4,696 10,048 —[42] —[43] 1.76% 2.34% 4.88%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,405[44] 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.[45] CHCEDC also conducts labor force studies every two years and labor shed studies every few years.[46]

Economy

[edit]

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.[47]

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.[48]

Communities

[edit]
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

[edit]

Township government was adopted on November 8, 1859.[49]

Other unincorporated places

[edit]

Politics

[edit]

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. Donald Trump had particularly poor showings in the county in 2016, 2020, and 2024, receiving less than 40% of the vote each time, his third-worst showing in the state and his worst outside the Chicago area.

United States presidential election results for
Champaign County, Illinois[50]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 32,366 38.10% 51,321 60.41% 1,272 1.50%
2020 35,285 36.92% 57,067 59.71% 3,221 3.37%
2016 33,368 36.42% 50,137 54.72% 8,123 8.87%
2012 35,312 44.92% 40,831 51.94% 2,466 3.14%
2008 33,871 40.13% 48,597 57.57% 1,940 2.30%
2004 39,896 48.40% 41,524 50.37% 1,014 1.23%
2000 34,645 46.64% 35,515 47.81% 4,125 5.55%
1996 28,232 42.50% 32,454 48.86% 5,743 8.65%
1992 27,096 35.61% 35,003 46.00% 13,993 18.39%
1988 33,247 52.36% 29,733 46.82% 519 0.82%
1984 39,224 58.61% 27,266 40.74% 435 0.65%
1980 33,329 50.99% 21,017 32.16% 11,014 16.85%
1976 34,546 54.74% 26,858 42.56% 1,703 2.70%
1972 33,700 57.43% 24,743 42.17% 236 0.40%
1968 26,027 53.50% 18,425 37.87% 4,196 8.63%
1964 22,010 46.04% 25,792 53.96% 0 0.00%
1960 27,793 61.16% 17,115 37.66% 533 1.17%
1956 28,190 67.06% 13,799 32.82% 51 0.12%
1952 27,188 65.91% 13,951 33.82% 112 0.27%
1948 19,156 60.88% 11,572 36.78% 737 2.34%
1944 18,935 57.46% 13,842 42.00% 177 0.54%
1940 20,314 53.26% 17,563 46.04% 267 0.70%
1936 15,808 45.77% 18,203 52.71% 524 1.52%
1932 13,995 45.04% 16,474 53.02% 601 1.93%
1928 19,494 68.28% 8,915 31.23% 141 0.49%
1924 14,244 62.81% 5,221 23.02% 3,212 14.16%
1920 15,573 71.83% 5,247 24.20% 861 3.97%
1916 14,632 57.82% 9,601 37.94% 1,071 4.23%
1912 3,220 25.62% 4,454 35.43% 4,896 38.95%
1908 7,162 57.15% 4,830 38.54% 539 4.30%
1904 6,954 61.10% 3,754 32.98% 674 5.92%
1900 6,660 55.06% 5,015 41.46% 420 3.47%
1896 6,780 57.66% 4,643 39.49% 335 2.85%
1892 5,290 50.93% 4,502 43.35% 594 5.72%

Education

[edit]

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:[51]

K–12:

Secondary:

Elementary:

University of Illinois lies in the county.

Notable people

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Census - Geography Profile: Champaign County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "John W. Vance: The "Father of Champaign County" | Urbana Free Library". urbanafreelibrary.org. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  4. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections – 2004 Presidential General Election Results – Champaign County, Illinois". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  5. ^ Hopkins, Cyril G.; Mosier, J. G.; van Alstine, E.; Garrett, P. W. (1918). Champaign County soils. University of Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station. p. 1.
  6. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  7. ^ "Champaign County Public and Private Airports". www.tollfreeairline.com. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  8. ^ Nerode, Nathanael (March 4, 2023). "City of New Orleans / Illini / Saluki Timetable" (PDF). Juckins.net. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  9. ^ Vandervoort, William (April 11, 2023). "Railroad Operating Information - Canadian National Chicago Subdivision". Chicago Transit & Railfan. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  10. ^ Vandervoort, William (April 11, 2023). "Railroad Operating Information - Canadian National Champaign Subdivision". Chicago Transit & Railfan. Archived from the original on April 30, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  11. ^ Vandervoort, William (April 11, 2023). "Railroad Operating Information - Norfolk Southern Lafayette District". Chicago Transit & Railfan. Archived from the original on April 30, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  12. ^ Vandervoort, William (April 11, 2023). "Railroad Operating Information - Norfolk Southern Lafayette District". Chicago Transit & Railfan. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  13. ^ "Peoria Charter". peoriacharter.com. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  14. ^ "Greyhound: Affordable Bus Tickets Across US, Canada & Mexico". www.greyhound.com. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  15. ^ "Champaign–Urbana Mass Transit District". MTD. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  16. ^ "Deviated Fixed-Routes". Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  17. ^ "Champaign County Board approves zoning changes for solar farms". Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Urbana, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  19. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  20. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  21. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  22. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  23. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  24. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  25. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  26. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  27. ^ "Total Persons and Spanish Origins Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race - 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  28. ^ "1990 Census of Population Social and Economic Characteristics- Illinois - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  29. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Champaign County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau.
  30. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Champaign County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau.
  31. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Champaign County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau.
  32. ^ Compilation of Native and Alaska Native data
  33. ^ Grouped in with Pacific Islander in 1990 Census
  34. ^ Added up data of Japanese, Asian Indian, Chinese, Korean, Filipino populations
  35. ^ Grouped in with Pacific Islander in 1990 Census
  36. ^ Grouped in with NH Pacific Islander in 1990 Census
  37. ^ Added up Guamanian and Hawaiian populations
  38. ^ Doesn't exclude Hispanic/Latino -- Figures for NH population are grouped with Asian Americans
  39. ^ 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
  40. ^ Not an option on the 1980 US Census
  41. ^ Not an option on the 1990 US Census
  42. ^ Not an option on the 1980 US Census
  43. ^ Not an option on the 1990 US Census
  44. ^ Listed as Spanish origin in 1980 Census
  45. ^ [1] Archived September 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  46. ^ [2] Archived November 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  47. ^ [3] Archived October 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  48. ^ [4] Archived October 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  49. ^ https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/archives/IRAD/champaign.html
  50. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  51. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Champaign County, IL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022. - Text list

Bibliography

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[edit]

40°08′N 88°12′W / 40.14°N 88.20°W / 40.14; -88.20

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