Living Here
Welcome to Champaign County, home to the University of Illinois … and infinite opportunity. The quality of life here retains and attracts some of the brightest, hardest-working people on the planet with:
- Superb education, quality health care and affordable housing.
- World-class arts and entertainment, and vast sporting and recreational opportunities.
- Affordable living.
- Easy commuting.
It’s no wonder so many leaders in entertainment, sports and the sciences have strong ties with the area.
Education, Housing and Health Care Highlights
Arts and Entertainment Highlights
Sports and Recreation Highlights
Education, Housing and Health Care Highlights
Education
Champaign County features some of the country’s finest primary, secondary and higher education:
• The area’s urban center, Champaign-Urbana, ranked in the top 3 percent nationwide for education in the First Annual Mayor’s Challenge as reported in Expansion Management Magazine.
• The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is consistently ranked among the top schools in the United States in a number of disciplines.
• Parkland Community College offers over 100 academic, technical and vocational programs.
It’s no wonder more than 20 Nobel Prize winners are associated with the area, including two in 2003 alone.
Housing
From turn-of-the-century, ivy-clad classics to sparkling new communities, Champaign County offers ample housing at costs significantly lower than other high-tech centers such as San Jose, CA and Boston, MA.
Comprehensive Health Care
Carle Foundation Hospital – This regional, 295-bed, not-for-profit hospital located in Urbana is the primary teaching hospital for the UIUC College of Medicine. It features the area's only level 1 Trauma Center, a level III perinatal center, Carle Heart Center, Carle Cancer Center, and more.
Carle Clinic Association – As one of the largest private physician groups in the United States, Carle Clinic Association comprises more than 300 physicians practicing in more than 50 specialties and subspecialties.
Provena Covenant Medical Center – This top-flight, 288-bed hospital features a rich medical history that includes the area's first open-heart surgery. The hospital offers advanced cardiac care, innovative cancer treatment and a level III center for perinatal care.
Christie Clinic – For over 70 years, Christie Clinic has been providing the highest quality health care to the residents of Central Illinois. It is the oldest multi-specialty medical group practice in the state of Illinois.
Arts and Entertainment Highlights
With Krannert Center as its world-class centerpiece, a vibrant arts, entertainment and night life scene thrives in Champaign County. And, thanks to the 40 North/88 West Arts, Culture and Entertainment Council, this enriching environment will continue to flourish.
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Often compared to New York’s Lincoln Center, Krannert Center offers nearly 200 opera, dance, drama and musical productions per year.
Krannert Art Museum and Kinkhead Pavilion
As Illinois’ second largest art museum, this venue features a permanent collection of over 9,000 works of art dating from 4,000 B.C. to the present and displayed in 10 galleries.
University of Illinois Assembly Hall
Seating over 17,000, this dome venue plays host to some of the world’s hottest rock and pop stars, Broadway shows, ballets, operas and exhibitions.
University of Illinois Foellinger Auditorium
This versatile, intimate venue hosts cutting-edge musical artists, theatrical performances and stimulating lectures.
Other cultural venues include:
Virginia Theatre
Station Theatre
Champaign-Urbana Ballet Company
Parkland College Theatre
The Spurlock Museum
Orpheum Children’s Science Museum
John Philip Sousa Library and Museum
Sports and Recreation Highlights
With 19 Big Ten sports teams, superb recreational facilities, fun family attractions and thousand of acres of parks and forest preserve, there’s always a wonderful way to spend your time in Champaign County.
Spectator Sports
Fighting Illini – Whether you catch Illini football in Memorial Stadium with its new Jumbotron, Illini basket at the Assembly Hall, Illini tennis NCAA champs, or Parkland College sports, you’ll be part of a fun, long standing winning tradition.
Parks and Recreation
Champaign County Forest Preserve District – Opportunities to participate in outdoor sports and activities like swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, camping, biking, cross-country skiing, abound in Champaign County. Three major Forest Preserve parks feature these amenities and more:
- Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet – A 900-acre park with an 18-hole golf course, botanical gardens and the Early American Museum, which houses more than 3,000 nineteenth-century artifacts.
- Middle Fork River Forest Preserve, near Penfield – A 1,530-acre preserve of hardwood trees, lowlands, and grasslands.
- Salt Fork River Forest Preserve near Homer – A 798-acre park with boat rentals, picnicking and playgrounds.
Champaign Park District – With 58 parks, mini-parks, and greenbelts on more than 510 acres, the Champaign Park District offers an exciting year-round schedule of activities for all ages. Of special note is the Prairie Farm at Centennial Park which houses live farm animals and informative programs.
Urbana Park District – With 22 parks on more than 425 acres, the Urbana Park District offers fun and education for everyone. The crown jewel is Crystal Lake Park, a 90-acre park featuring a small lake. Nearby is the Anita Purves Nature Center which offers a variety of environmental programs.
Rantoul Recreation Department – With a state-of-the-art fitness center, golf course and the 14,000 sq. ft. Hap Parker Family Aquatic Center featuring two amazing slides and a zero depth pool, the Rantoul Park District provides a host of well-rounded activities.
Additional Information
Champaign County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Champaign County "Living Here" Brochure (pdf)
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