Urbana, Illinois

Urbana (pronounced ^*) is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 36,395 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Champaign County. The city was named after Urbana, Ohio. The current mayor is Laurel Prussing.

Geography

Urbana is located at (40.109665, -88.204247).

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.

Demographics

As of the census 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.

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.

Culture

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.

The library is publicly funded and receives additional support from about 600 people who have joined "The Friends of the Urbana Free Library".

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.

Points of interest

Urbana in film

In the 1968 film, A Space Odyssey (film), 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.

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)).

Urbana School District

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.

The school is also known for its great drama programs. With 3 shows a year, the variety is present. The general public is invited and many people enjoy watching the students display talent on the auditorium stage.

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.

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) ten years in a row from 1994-2004.

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.

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.

Famous Urbanites

Braid (band) - emo/indie rock band
Roger Ebert - movie critic
Jennie Garth - actress (What I Like About You, Beverly Hills, 90210)
Erika Harold - Miss America 2003
Patrick Norton - technology host (formerly of The Screen Savers)
Chic Sale, author
Carl Woese, who identified Archaea as a kingdom of life.
HAL 9000, who, in the film A Space Odyssey (film) claims he was made operational in Urbana.
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.
Mark Roberts - Writer-Producer for Two and a Half Men on CBS
George Will, conservative columnist and panelist for ABC's This Week (USA)

External links

Cities in Illinois | Champaign County, Illinois

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