Illinois

Champaign

205,865
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Champaign

Champaign, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 1,475. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 205,865.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Kickapoo War (Illinois), and 61 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020205,865
2010201,081
2000179,669
1990173,025
1980168,392
1970163,281
1960132,436
1950106,100
194070,578
193064,273
192056,959
191051,829
190047,622
189042,159
188040,863
187032,737
186014,629
18502,649
18401,475
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Champaign

Military engagements that took place in Champaign, Illinois.

Kickapoo War (Illinois)
1819

Historic places in Champaign

National Register of Historic Places listings in Champaign, Illinois.

Building at 203-205 North Market Street
Champaign
Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity House
Champaign
Altgeld Hall, University of Illinois
Urbana
Morrow Plots, University of Illinois
Urbana
Greek Revival Cottage
Urbana
Metal Shop
Urbana
Wee Haven
Champaign
Hazen Bridge
Mohomet
Alpha Xi Delta Sorority Chapter House
Urbana
New Orpheum Theatre
Champaign
Inman Hotel
Champaign
Delta Upsilon Fraternity House
Champaign
Cattle Bank
Champaign
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House
Champaign
Kappa Sigma Fraternity House
Champaign
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity House
Champaign
U.S. Post Office
Champaign
Downtown Urbana Historic District
Urbana
Burnham Athenaeum
Champaign
Library-University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana
Mattis, George and Elsie, House
Champaign
Building at 201 North Market Street
Champaign
Smith, Tina Weedon, Memorial Hall
Urbana
Virginia Theater
Champaign
Browse all Illinoishistoric sites ›

Other counties in Illinois

Explore census history and historic records for more Illinois counties.

DeKalbDouglasDuPageEdgarEdwardsEffinghamFayetteFordFranklinFultonGallatinGreeneGrundyHamiltonHancockHardinHendersonHenryIroquoisJackson
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Everything a full report reveals about Champaign County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Champaign County, Illinois. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Illinoishistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Illinois›

Frequently asked about Champaign

When does Champaign first appear in the US census?
Champaign, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 1,475.
What is the population of Champaign?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Champaign had a recorded population of 205,865.
Were any battles fought in Champaign?
1 documented military engagement took place in Champaign, including Kickapoo War (Illinois).
How many historic places are in Champaign?
61 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Champaign, Illinois.
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