CHAMPAIGN

city, Champaign county, east-central Illinois, U.S., adjoining Urbana, with which it shares the University of Illinois. The cities are often called ChampaignUrbana. In 1853 Illinois Central Railroad tracks were laid and a depot built 2 miles (3 km) west of Urbana. In 1855 a bill incorporating Urbana and including the depot within its limits was defeated in the state legislature. The settlement around the depot was incorporated in 1857 as West Urbana, which in 1860 was reincorporated and renamed for the county (which in 1833 had derived its name from Champaign County, Ohio). The University of Illinois (founded in 1867) is the community's chief economic asset, but agriculture (mainly corn , soybeans, livestock, and dairy foods) and related industries are also important. Light manufacturing has also developed. Parkland (junior) College was opened in 1966. A memorial (relief-sculpture plaque with an eternal light) to Abraham Lincoln was erected in 1964 in the shopping district. Pop. (1990) city, 63,502; Champaign-Urbana-Rantoul MSA, 173,025.