Urbana, Illinois
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| Urbana, Illinois |
|
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Champaign County |
| Founded | 1833 |
| Mayor | Laurel Lunt Prussing |
| Area | |
| - City | km² |
| Elevation | 222 m (728 ft) |
| Population | |
| - City (2000) | 37,362 |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Website: www.city.urbana.il.us | |
Urbana (pronounced [ɝbænə]) is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2005 population estimates, the population was 38,463. It is the county seat of Champaign CountyGR6. The city was named after Urbana, Ohio. The current mayor is Laurel Lunt Prussing.
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[edit] Geography
Urbana is located at (40.109665, -88.204247)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.2 km² (10.5 mi²), of which 0.10% is water body.
Urbana shares a border with the neighboring town of Champaign. Together the two cities are often referred to as Urbana-Champaign, Champaign-Urbana, or Chambana. The joint cities are the site of the main campus of the University of Illinois. Urbana, Champaign, and the nearby village of Savoy form the Champaign-Urbana Metropolitan Area.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 36,395 people, 14,327 households, and 6,217 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,339.6/km² (3,468.3/mi²). There were 15,311 housing units at an average density of 563.5/km² (1,459.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.01% White, 14.34% African American, 0.18% Native American, 14.24% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.76% from other races, and 2.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.54% of the population.
There were 14,327 households out of which 20.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.2% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.6% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city the population was spread out with 14.9% under the age of 18, 36.2% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 13.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 111.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,819 , and the median income for a family was $42,655. Males had a median income of $32,827 versus $26,349 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,969. About 13.3% of families and 27.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Transportation
Downtown Urbana is located southwest of the intersection of its two busiest streets: U.S. Highway 150 (University Avenue) and U.S. Highway 45 (Vine Street/Cunningham Avenue). US 150 runs west to Champaign and east to St. Joseph. US 45 runs north to Rantoul, and south to Tuscola and Arcola.
Most of Urbana lies south of I-74. There are three exits (from west to east): Lincoln, Cunningham and University. The Lincoln exit is closest to the University of Illinois, while the Cunningham exit goes to downtown Urbana. The University exit goes to downtown Urbana as well as Illinois 130 to Philo.
[edit] Culture
[edit] Urbana Free Library
The Urbana Free Library is located in the downtown area. The library is one of the first public libraries in Illinois and was founded in 1874. The library houses historical archives of Champaign County which can be used for genealogical research. The historic building which houses the library was built in 1918. A major new addition was opened in 2005.
Their web site can be found at urbanafreelibrary.org
The library is publicly funded and receives additional support from about 600 people who have joined "The Friends of the Urbana Free Library".
[edit] Lincoln Hotel
The Lincoln Hotel is connected to Lincoln Square Mall, an indoor walking mall, in the center of Urbana. The hotel was built in 1924 in a mixture of classic European styles. It was completely remodeled in 1977, and a number of new rooms were added to the top floor.
[edit] Points of interest
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- University of Illinois Arboretum
- University of Illinois Conservatory and Plant Collection
- Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center
[edit] Urbana in film
In the 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Urbana was named as the location where the malfuctioning HAL 9000 computer of the ill fated Discovery Mission to Jupiter was programmed. The 1959 comedy Some Like it Hot also mentions Urbana. Near the beginning of this film, Jack Lemmon's character, an unemployed bass player, suggests to Tony Curtis, a saxophone player, that the two visit Urbana to play at the University of Illinois. Instead, the two musicians elected to join a women's band in Florida.
[edit] Urbana in literature
Spanish writer Javier Cercas uses Urbana as the geographical background of two of his novels ("La velocidad de la luz" (2005) and "El inquilino" (1989)).
[edit] Education
In addition to the UIUC campus, Urbana has three high schools, two of which are part of the Urbana School District.
[edit] Urbana High School
Urbana High School's original building was built in 1914. It was designed by architect Joseph Royer who also designed many other area buildings such as the Urbana Free Library and the Champaign County Court House. The architecture is of the Tudor style defined primarily by the towers over the main entrance and flattened point arches over the doors.
An addition was built in 1916, which included a gymnasium and swimming pool. Due to increasing enrollment, other additions were built in 1955 and in 1965. In 1988, an enclosed athletic area was added and the old gymnasium/pool wing was converted into classrooms. The entire building was also renovated to meet safety codes. The Urbana Park District Indoor Aquatic Center was built in 2003, adjoining Urbana High School and bringing the building to its current visage.
Film critic and Urbana native Roger Ebert is a graduate of Urbana High School. During his senior year he was co-editor of the school newspaper, the Echo.
[edit] University Laboratory High School
Not part of the Urbana School District, University Laboratory High School is a publicly funded laboratory school located on the campus of the University of Illinois in Urbana.
[edit] Urbana Middle School
Urbana Middle School was first used as Urbana Junior High School in 1953. Since then, the school has been renovated for space in 2003. The school currently serves 1047 students from grades 6 to 8. The school is renowned for its band program, which went to the Illinois State Band Competition (Superstate) twelve years in a row from 1994-2006.
[edit] Test scores
While all the elementary schools in the Urbana School District pass their Adequate Yearly Progress, determined by scores in the Illinois Standards Achievement Test , both the Middle School (by way of the Illinois Standards Achievement Test also) and the High School (by way of the Prairie State Achievement Examination) do not.
[edit] Parks
Meadowbrook Park is located southeast of the Race Street and Windsor Road intersection. It has a sculpture garden with about twenty sculptures from local artists. Around the prairie restoration center of the park loops a wide concrete path suitable for walking, running, and bicycling. Several small hills make it unsuitable for inexperienced rollerbladers. The park has two entrances: one on Race Street and one on Windsor Road. A playground and shelter are located near the Windsor Road entrance. A community garden, a herbal garden, and a shelter are located near the Race Street entrance. The park also contains many streams which are among the first tributaries of the Embarras River.
The Urbana Park District operates two swimming pools: one outside pool and one inside pool (a shared resource with the Urbana School District). The Urbana Dog Park, located on East Perkins Road, is a place to walk one's dog without a leash.
[edit] Media
[edit] FM Radio
- 88.1 W201CK (Translates 90.7 KHRI) "Air 1", Christian CHR
- 88.7 WPCD, College Radio
- 89.3 WGNJ, Religious
- 90.1 WEFT, Variety
- 90.9 WILL, Classical music (RDS)
- 91.7 WBGL, Christian AC (RDS)
- 92.5 WCFF "92.5 The Chief", Adult Hits (RDS - Artist/Title)
- 93.5 WEBX "93.5/95.3 The Rock" Alternative (RDS)
- 94.5 WLRW "Mix 94.5" Hot AC (RDS - Artist/Title) (HD Radio)
- 95.3 WEVX "93.5/95.3 The Rock" Alternative (RDS)
- 96.1 WQQB "Q 96", CHR/Pop (RDS)
- 97.5 WHMS "Lite Rock 97.5" Adult Contemporary
- 99.1 WXTT "Extra 99.1" Rock (RDS - Artist/Title)
- 100.3 WIXY "WIXY 100.3" Country (RDS - Artist/Title)
- 101.1 W266AF (Translates 90.9 WILL), Classical music
- 102.5 WGNN, Religious
- 103.9 W280DE (Translates 102.5 WGNN), Religious
- 104.5 WRFU "Radio Free Urbana", Community [1]
- 105.5 WCZQ "Blazin Hip Hop and R&B
- 105.9 WCKG, Classic Rock (RDS)
- 107.1 WPGU, Alternative
[edit] AM Radio
- 580 WILL, Public Radio
- 1400 WDWS, News/Talk (AM Stereo)
- 1460 WJCI, Sports
- 1580 WBCP, Urban Adult Contemporary
- 1660 Latino Radio Service Latino [2]
[edit] Analog Television
- 3 WCIA, CBS
- 7 W07DD, Three Angels Network
- 12 WILL, PBS
- 15 WICD "NewsChannel 15", ABC
- 17 WAND, NBC
- 23 WBUI, The WB (To be CW)
- 27 WCCU "Fox 55/27"
- 34 W33AY, Trinity Broadcast Network
- 44 WBXC-CA, MTV 2
- 49 WCFN "My WCFN TV" UPN (To be My Network TV)
- 51 WEIU, PBS
[edit] Digital Television (DTV)
- 9 WILL-DT, PBS
- 18 WAND-DT, NBC
- 22 WBUI-DT, WB
- 26 WCCU-DT, Fox
- 41 WICD-DT, ABC
- 48 WCIA-DT, CBS
- 50 WEIU-DT, PBS
[edit] Print
- The News-Gazette, daily local newspaper
- Daily Illini
- Buzz Weekly
- The Hub Weekly
- The Booze News
[edit] Famous Urbanites
- Braid (band) - emo/indie rock band
- Roger Ebert - movie critic
- Jennie Garth - actress (What I Like About You, Beverly Hills, 90210)
- HAL 9000, who, in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey claims he was made operational in Urbana.
- Erika Harold - Miss America 2003
- Robert W. Holley, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968 for describing the structure of alanine transfer RNA, linking DNA and protein synthesis.
- Patrick Norton - technology host (formerly of The Screen Savers)
- Mark Roberts - Writer-Producer for Two and a Half Men on CBS
- Chic Sale, author
- Carl Woese, who identified Archaea as a kingdom of life.
- George Will, conservative columnist and panelist for ABC's This Week (USA)
[edit] External links
- City of Urbana (official website)
- Urbana Free Library
- Urbana Park District
- Eye On Urbana
- Lincoln Square Mall
- Historic Lincoln Hotel
- Boardman's Art Theatre
- Urbana School District
- University Laboratory High School
- Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network (CUWiN)
- OJC Technologies
- Early History of Urbana
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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