Formed in 1833 out of part of
Vermilion County, Champaign county is located about 130 miles south of
Chicago, 160 northwest of
St Louis, 100 west of
Indianapolis, and 90 miles east of
Peoria. It is generally recognized that Runnel Fielder and his family were the first white dwellers within the county. He is also credited with planting the first orchard.
The main public institution of higher learning is the University of Illinois. Parkland College, a two-year institution is also located here.
Abraham Lincoln practiced law in the county in the mid-1850's prior to his running for the U.S. Senate in 1958 against Stephen A. Douglas.
The county population on July 1, 1999, was 170,272, a decrease of 2,753 over the 1990 census.
For information on county government, contact the National Association of Counties Web site.
Additional information is available at these pages:
