Champaign, IL Summary

photo by gusto

Champaign-Urbana, separated only by a single street (Wright Street), are commonly referred to as one entity, although it did not start out that way. Champaign, with a population of 67,518, is the larger of the two cities. Urbana, which has a smaller population, at 36,395, is somewhat more of a commercial and industrial center. Urbana houses most of the campus of the University of Illinois.Established in 1867, the University of Illinois (36,000 students) is one of the largest in the nation, and has one of the country’s leading schools of architecture along with an influential computer department. Most historians credit the invention of the Internet to a few computer experts at the University of Illinois.On campus grounds, you will find the John Philip Sousa Library and Museum, which houses a music library along with authentic band costumes and instruments dating from Sousa’s day. The Krannert Art Museum has sculpture and other art dating back to 4,000 BC.Champaign-Urbana can easily be reached in several ways. Trains and buses serve the area, which can also be reached by taking I-57 south from Chicago.