Our Community

Champaign-Urbana is perhaps best known as home to the University of Illinois. But while the University figures largely in our demographic profile, this twin-city community has more than higher education to offer its approximately 100,000 residents.

The University of Illinois provides Champaign-Urbana residents with cultural enrichment and diverse educational opportunities unequaled in other towns our size. Known worldwide as one of the nation’s outstanding institutions of higher learning, the U of I has long played a leading role in science, engineering, agriculture, business, the social sciences and the humanities.

This Big Ten school with an enrollment of approximately 38,000 is a drawing card for sporting events and cultural attractions from throughout the world. Each year, the Assembly Hall plays host to a variety of entertainers, including everything from classical to pop. And every fall, our stadium is filled to overflowing with football fans who come to cheer for their home team, the Fighting Illini.

The University of Illinois’ Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is recognized worldwide as one of the most exceptional arts facilities on any campus, anywhere. It attracts internationally known performers and orchestras and is home to the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra and the Sinfonia da Camera.

In addition, Champaign-Urbana and surrounding communities offer numerous cultural opportunities including the professional repertory theater at Urbana’s Stations Theater and the Virginia Theater; the Railway Museum in nearby Monticello, and the Champaign County Historical Museum; the Planetarium at Parkland Community College; the Spurlock Museum and the Krannert Art Museum at the University of Illinois and the magnificent home, sculptures and landscaping of the wooded estate at Allerton Park.

Whether your interests tend toward shopping or golf, the community affords plenty of opportunities. Shopping attractions extend far beyond the ordinary, to include a large number of unique and interesting antique shops, boutiques and shops for collectors. And there’s a wide variety of challenging and beautifully maintained public and private golf courses as well as the Urbana Indoor Aquatics Center for year-round indoor swimming.

Easy to Get Away, Easy to Get Around

If you crave small-town living with an occasional break to the big city, Champaign-Urbana is your place. Rand McNally ranked our area as one of the ten most accessible communities. Positioned at the intersection of three interstate highways, we’re a short two hours away from Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis. Amtrak rail service links us to Chicago, Carbondale, New Orleans and all points in between. In addition, four airlines serve the area from the University of Illinois’ Willard Airport, providing nonstop flights to Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Detroit.

For more information about the Champaign-Urbana area, visit the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce.