Champaign, IL

About Champaign

• • Alison Krauss, the bluegrass-country singer and musician, was born in Champaign, IL.
• • Mosaic, the web browser that popularized the internet, was developed at the University of Illinois.
• • The Illinois Central Railroad's expansion through the area established Champaign in 1855.
• • The Virginia Theatre's 'ghost light' is said to be haunted by a former stagehand.
• • The Great Fire of 1871 destroyed much of downtown, leading to widespread rebuilding.
• • Named for the French region, Champaign was incorporated in 1860.
• • With nearly 90,000 residents, it's smaller than Peoria but larger than Decatur.
• • At 741 feet above sea level, Champaign is relatively flat, ideal for cycling.
• • Education and healthcare are major employers, thanks to the University of Illinois.
• • Champaign feels like a vibrant college town with a blend of innovation and Midwestern charm.
• • The Chicago Bears are the closest NFL team, winning Super Bowl XX in 1986.
• • Illinois' Fighting Illini basketball team reached the NCAA championship game in 2005.
• • The area's soil is primarily fertile prairie soil developed under grassland vegetation.
• • The Embarras River flows through Champaign County.
• • The Greater Prairie Chicken, though endangered, can sometimes be found in nearby managed prairie habitats.
• • Tallgrass prairies were historically dominant ecosystems in the Champaign area.
• • The land was historically inhabited by the Illini Confederacy.
• • In 1914, Robert Zemecki was lynched downtown after being accused of attacking a white woman.
• • The Virginia Theatre, a restored 1921 movie palace, hosts performances and film screenings.
• • Interstate 57 runs north-south near Champaign, connecting Chicago to southern Illinois.

Artists From Champaign

Songs About Champaign

Nearby Places