CHAMPAIGN  , a

city of Champaign county, Illinois, U.S.A., about 125 M . S. by W. of Chicago, on the head-waters of the Vermilion river . Pop . (189o) 5839; (1900) 9098, of whom 973 were foreign-born; (1910 census) 12,421 . It is served by the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St Louis, the Wabash, and the Illinois Central railways (the last having repair shops here), and by the Illinois (electric) Traction System from Danville, Illinois, to St Louis, Missouri . In 1906 the city covered 3.5 sq. m.; it is situated in a rich agricultural region, and has small manufacturing interests . Immediately east of Champaign is the city of Urbana, the county-seat of Champaign county, served by the Wabash and the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St Louis railways, with repair shops of the latter . In 1890 the population of Urbana was 3511; in 'goo, 5728 (300 foreign-born); in r91o, 8245 . Partly in Urbana and partly in Champaign is the University of Illinois (see ILLINOls); immediately south of its campus is the 400-acre farm of the university . Each city has a public library, and in Champaign are the Burnham Athenaeum, the Burnham hospital, the Garwood home for old ladies, and several parks, all gifts of former citizens . Champaign was founded in 1855, incorporated as a city in 186o, and re-chartered in 1883 . Urbana secured a city charter in 1855 .