Our City’s History

Champaign was founded in 1855, when the Illinois Central Railroad placed its tracks 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.

After a little more than a decade of meeting in private or semi-private locations, the Champaign City Council decided upon a more formal setting for its deliberations.  Learn about the history of the two “City Buildings” that City leaders used to conduct business both then…and today.

Downtown Champaign, the heart of our vibrant and growing city, has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last several decades. Learn how Downtown Champaign first developed, how economic and consumer shopping changes in the mid-20th century led to challenging times, and how the City’s deliberate planning and investment in public infrastructure led to the amazing resurgence and revitalization of Downtown Champaign.

The link below is to the article “Transforming Downtown Champaign” that was written by T.J. Blakeman (Senior Planner for Economic Development) and published in the August 2023 issue of the Illinois Municipal League (IML) Review. An excerpt of that issue is shared here courtesy of IML.

Several Champaign buildings and residences are designated as either local landmarks or are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Learn more about Champaign’s important historical landmarks.

Champaign supports the preservation and restoration of local historic buildings and landmarks.  Use the link below to see more historical information, photos, and other resources for residents interested in researching the history of a home or business, or nominating their property for landmark status.

To help the City celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2010, local PBS station WILL-TV produced the series “Illinois Pioneers”, which examines different aspects of Champaign’s rich history. Click on an image below to watch any of these informative videos.

The Illinois Central Railroad

Downtown Department Stores

Theatres

Media

Schools

Vice and Bootlegging

Streetcars and the Interurban

History of the University of Illinois

Presidential Visits

History of Parkland College

African American History

Athletics

Business and Industry