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Champaign, Illinois
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Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago and west of Indianapolis, Indiana. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with its sibling city of Urbana. Thanks to the university and a number of well known technology startup companies, it is often referred to as the hub of, or at least a significant landmark of the Silicon Prairie. Champaign houses offices for seven Fortune 500 companies, and two more are planned to arrive soon.
As reported in the 2000 U.S.
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Encyclopedia
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago and west of Indianapolis, Indiana. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with its sibling city of Urbana. Thanks to the university and a number of well known technology startup companies, it is often referred to as the hub of, or at least a significant landmark of the Silicon Prairie. Champaign houses offices for seven Fortune 500 companies, and two more are planned to arrive soon.
As reported in the 2000 U.S. Census, the city was home to 67,518 people. The city held a special census in 2007 that showed that its population had grown to 75,254. The mayor is Gerald Schweighart, whose term will expire in 2011.
History
Champaign was founded in 1855, when the Illinois Central Railroad laid its rail track two miles west of downtown Urbana. Originally called "West Urbana," it was renamed Champaign when it acquired a city charter in 1860. Both the city and county name were derived from Champaign County, Ohio.
On September 22, 1985, Champaign hosted the first Farm Aid concert at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium. The concert drew a crowd of 80,000 people and raised over $7 million for American family farmers.
In 2005, Champaign-Urbana (specifically the University of Illinois) was the location of the National Science Olympiad Tournament, attracting young scientists from all 50 states. The city also hosts the state Science Olympiad competition every year. The University of Illinois is next expected to host the National competition in 2010.
Geography
Champaign is located at (40.112981, -88.261227).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.0 square miles (44.1 kmē), of which, 17.0 square miles (44.0 kmē) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 kmē) of it (0.12%) is water.
Champaign shares a border with the neighboring city of Urbana; together they are home to the University of Illinois. Champaign, Urbana, and the bordering village of Savoy form the Champaign-Urbana Metropolitan Area also known as Urbana-Champaign or Champaign-Urbana. It may also be colloquially known as the "Twin Cities" or Chambana.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 67,518 people, 27,071 households, and 12,452 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,974.6 people per square mile (1,534.4/kmē). There were 28,556 housing units at an average density of 1,681.0/sq mi (648.9/kmē). The racial makeup of the city was 73.16% White, 15.62% African American, 0.24% Native American, 6.83% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.94% from other races, and 2.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.03% of the population.
There were 27,071 households out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.0% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 31.7% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 15.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,795, and the median income for a family was $52,628. Males had a median income of $36,574 versus $27,186 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,664. About 8.1% of families and 22.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
The 2005 median home value was $131,000, a 6.8% increase from 2004, according to Money Magazine.
Economy
In addition to the University of Illinois, Champaign is also home to Parkland College and Jimmy Johns. A Kraft Foods plant (and adjacent AC Humko plant), a Fed-Ex Ground hub, and Herff-Jones (formerly the Collegiate Cap and Gown) form part of the city's industrial base.
The city also features a large technology and software industry mostly focusing around research and development of new technologies. The Research Park, located in southern Champaign and backed by the University of Illinois, is home to many companies including iCyt (a biotechnology company), the Illinois Natural History Survey, the Illinois State Geological Survey, the Illinois State Water Survey, Yahoo!, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, Science Applications International Corporation, State Farm Research Center , Riverglass Inc. and Tekion (a fuel cell company). Numerous other software and technology companies also have offices in Champaign including Wolfram Research, AMD, Intel, IBM, Amdocs, Instarecon, Phonak, Power World, Caterpillar Simulation Center, and Volition, Inc.. The United States Army Corps of Engineers maintains the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) in Champaign.
Champaign is also home to nationally recognized record labels, artist management companies, booking agencies and recording studios. Polyvinyl Records, Undertow Music, Parasol Records, Great Western Record Recorders, Pogo Studios, and Nicodemus Booking Agency are all based in Champaign.
Champaign's major employers include The University of Illinois, Champaign Unit #4 School District, Kraft Foods, Parkland College, Kirby Foods, Carle Clinic Association and Carle Foundation Hospital, Christie Clinic, Devonshire Group LLC, Amdocs, City of Champaign, Hobbico and Horizon Hobby.
Partial list of mayors
- Gerald Schweighart (1999-present)
- Dannel McCollum (1987-1999)
- Robert Dodd (1983-1986)
- Joan Severns (1979-1983)
- O.B. Dobbins (1913-1914)
Landmarks and districts
Champaign City Building
The Champaign City Building serves as the City Hall and is a recognizable landmark. As one of the most visible buildings in the downtown district, it serves as a city symbol, with its likeness featured on the city seal. The ornate decoration, art deco architecture, and copper roof distinguish the building. The building was originally used by the city as the headquarters for the fire department. It later became the headquarters for the police department, complete with indoor shooting range, before becoming the current city offices.
The Tower at 3rd
The newly-renamed Tower at 3rd (formerly Champaign Hilton, Century 21, Quality Inn, University Inn, Presidential Tower) is located in the Campustown district and is over twenty stories high. A hotel until 2001, it currently houses student apartments and several University of Illinois offices, including the Office of Continuing Education. The Tower and a massive art-deco apartment complex a few blocks away form a scenic duo in the center of Campustown, giving it a city feel.
Downtown
In the 1980s part of the downtown Champaign area (Neil St.) was closed to vehicular traffic to create a pedestrian mall, but this short-lived experiment was scrapped when business declined. Initiated by Jon "Cody" Sokolski of One Main Development, the downtown area of Champaign was recently the target of a largely successful revitalization effort designed to bring more businesses into the area and return the downtown district to the center of city life. In addition to efforts which restored the facades on many of the historic buildings, additional construction projects including restaurants, bars, shops, office space, and condominiums, have recently increased the size of the downtown area, while still maintaining the distinct turn-of-the-century architecture associated with the city. The new growth in downtown Champaign has coincided with the larger growth of the "north Prospect" shopping district on the city's northern boundary. The growth in the north Prospect area relies, in part, on leapfrogging, moving out to the countryside and developing more remote farm land that eventually connects to the main development. Given the overwhelming success of such suburban shopping areas nationally, new development within any city center represents an alternative to the dominant movement out and away from the cities. In April 2007 One Main Development broke ground on a nine story $30 million dollar mixed use project, the largest ever for downtown Champaign, to be located at the corner of Neil and Church Street. M2 on Neil will feature ground floor retail, office and 50 condominiums. The project is expected to be complete in late 2008. The City of Champaign is also constructing a six story parking structure on Hill Street. Construction on this project is expected to begin in January and be completed by Fall 2008.
Boardman's Art Theatre
Boardman's Art Theatre, which shows critically-acclaimed independent and foreign films, was built in 1913 as the Park Theatre. It has since undergone several changes in name and repertoire, including a phase from 1969 to 1986, in which it showed adult films. The theatre is the only single-screen movie theater still in existence operating daily as a movie theatre in Champaign-Urbana.
Historic Virginia Theatre
The Historic Virginia Theatre is a recently-restored 1525-seat movie theater, dating back to the 1920s. It has an ornate, Spanish Renaissance-influenced interior, full stage and dressing rooms, and an elaborate Wurlitzer pipe organ. It hosts Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival and has a single 56' x 23' screen. The theater does not have a daily show schedule, but schedules special screenings and live performances several times each month.
Campustown
Located along Green Street, this commercial district serves as the entertainment and retail center for students at the University of Illinois. This area has been undergoing great change since 2002 with the completion of a new $7 million streetscape project. Campustown is now attracting new retail and entertainment stores as well as serving as the center for new construction projects. Several new projects will be opening in 2008 including the 18 story Burnham high-rise and grocery store at 4th and Springfield, and a new 24 story apartment building at 309 East Green Street.
Parks
There are 58 parks within the city of Champaign, totaling over 552 acres (2 kmē) of parkland.
Transportation
Champaign is served by I-57, I-72, I-74, two railroad lines, and the University of Illinois operated Willard Airport (CMI). The local bus system, which is supported by the taxpayers of the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) and the University of Illinois, serves Champaign, Urbana, Savoy, and surrounding areas. The C-U MTD has twice been named as the best local transit system in the United States.
The former Illinois Central Railroad line — now part of the Canadian National system — runs north to south through the city. A spur line from the Canadian National line provides service to several large industries, including two large food processing plants, on the west edge of Champaign and two grain elevators in outlying communities to the west. The Norfolk Southern operates an east to west line through Champaign. The NS line connects industries in eastern Urbana to the Norfolk Southern main line at Mansfield, Illinois, west of Champaign. The line now operated by Norfolk Southern is the former Peoria & Eastern Railway, later operated as part of the Big Four (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway), New York Central, Penn Central, and Conrail systems, being sold by Conrail to Norfolk Southern in 1996. Construction of the line was begun by the Danville, Urbana, Bloomington and Pekin Railroad. This short-lived entity became part of the Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western Railway before the railroad was completed.
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Champaign-Urbana. Amtrak Train 59, the southbound City of New Orleans, is scheduled to depart Champaign at 10:34 p.m. daily with service to Mattoon, Effingham, Centralia, Carbondale, Fulton, Newbern-Dyersburg, Memphis, Greenwood, Yazoo City, Jackson, Hazlehurst, Brookhaven, McComb, Hammond, and New Orleans. Amtrak Train 58, the northbound City of New Orleans, is scheduled to depart Champaign at 6:10am daily with service to Kankakee, Homewood, and Chicago. Champaign-Urbana is also served by Amtrak Train 390/391, the Saluki, daily in the morning, and Amtrak Train 392/393, the Illini, daily in the afternoon/evening. Both the Saluki and the Illini operate between Chicago and Carbondale.
Greyhound Lines, Illini Shuttle and Lex Lincolinland Express bus companies also serve Champaign. In 1999, a newly designed intermodal transportation center, aptly named Illinois Terminal by historic reference to the defunct electric interurban rail line that once ran through Champaign, was completed and serves as a central facility for intercity passenger rail and bus services as well as the MTD's local bus network. The terminal has within the last year experienced a 51% increase in passenger traffic.
Media
FM Radio
- 88.1 W201CK (Translates 90.7 KHRI) "Air 1", Christian CHR
- 88.7 WPCD, Parkland College College Radio
- 89.3 WGNJ, Religious
- 90.1 WEFT, Community radio
- 90.9 WILL, Classical music (RDS)
- 91.7 WBGL, Christian AC (RDS)
- 92.5 WCFF "92.5 The Chief", Adult Hits (RDS - Artist/Title)
- 93.5 WEBX "93.5 The Source" Modern Rock (RDS)
- 94.5 WLRW "Mix 94.5" Hot AC (RDS - Artist/Title) (HD Radio)
- 95.3 WLFH "95.3 The Wolf" Country (RDS)
- 96.1 WQQB "Q 96", CHR/Pop (RDS)
- 97.5 WHMS-FM "Lite Rock 97.5" Adult Contemporary
- 99.1 WXTT "Extra 99.1" Rock (RDS - Artist/Title)
- 100.3 WIXY "WIXY 100.3" Country (RDS - Artist/Title)
- 101.1 W266AF (Translates 90.9 WILL), Classical music
- 102.5 WGNN, Religious
- 103.9 W280DE (Translates 102.5 WGNN), Religious
- 104.5 WRFU "Radio Free Urbana", Variety
- 105.5 WCZQ "Hot 105.5" Hip Hop & R&B
- 105.9 WGKC, Classic rock (RDS)
- 107.1 WPGU, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Alternative College Radio
- 107.9 WUIL "107.9 JAMZ" Rhythmic contemporary
AM Radio
Analog Television
- 3 WCIA, CBS
- 7 W07DD, Three Angels Network
- 12 WILL, PBS
- 15 WICD "NewsChannel 15", ABC
- 17 WAND, NBC
- 23 WBUI, CW
- 27 WCCU "Fox 55/27"
- 34 W33AY, Trinity Broadcast Network
- 44 WBXC-CA, MTV 2
- 49 WCFN "My WCFN TV" My Network TV
- 51 WEIU, PBS
Digital Television (DTV)
- 9 WILL-DT, PBS
- 18 WAND-DT, NBC
- 22 WBUI-DT, CW
- 26 WCCU-DT, Fox
- 41 WICD-DT, ABC
- 48 WCIA-DT, CBS
- 50 WEIU-DT, PBS
Print
Famous people from Champaign
- Scott Anderson, physicist
- Bob Andrews (artist manager) Undertow Music
- John Bardeen, Electrical Engineer/Physicist - Nobel Prize in Physics (twice)
- Bonnie Blair, olympic gold-medalist speed skater
- Braid, rock band
- Roger Ebert, syndicated columnist and movie critic; holds annual movie festival in Champaign
- Bill Geist, CBS News correspondent
- Headlights, rock band
- Matt Herges, major league pitcher
- Reggie Hodges, New York Jets punter
- Hum, space rock/alternative rock group
- Michael H. Kenyon, nicknamed the "Enema Bandit"
- Alison Krauss, bluegrass singer
- JigGsaw, rock band
- Jimmy John Liautaud (Founder of restaurant Jimmy John's)
- Ludacris (Christopher Bridges), rapper
- Vashti McCollum won a U.S. Supreme Court case against religious teaching in public schools; her son Dannel would later be a mayor for Champaign three terms
- Poster Children, rock group
- Bob Richards, olympic gold-medalist pole vaulter
- Jerry Sanders Founder and former CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) W. J. (Jerry) Sanders, graduated from the U of I's Electrical Engineering Department (now Electrical and Computer Engineering Department) in 1958.
- Lewis Hastings Sarett, inventor of synthetic cortisone
- Adam Seward, Carolina Panthers linebacker
- REO Speedwagon, rock group
- Starcastle, rock group
- James Tobin, laureate of the Nobel prize in economics(1981)
- George Will, political columnist
- Douglas Wilson, interior designer and television personality.
Points of interest
External links
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