Champaign

Raymond Bial

Arcadia Publishing, 2008 - History - 127 pages

The low-lying prairie on which Champaign came to be established was once described as "one vast pond where the mud turtle and water moccasin luxuriated, the mosquito wound his bugle, and the frogs gave a rival symphony." From humble origins as a stop on the Illinois Central Railroad called West Urbana, the cluster of buildings quickly became a bustling town of square storefronts, with horses and wagons hitched along wood-plank sidewalks. Gradually rising above muddy thoroughfares, Champaign grew into a charming city in which trolleys rumbled along brick streets. Elegant homes were built and churches established, along with shops and stores, and municipal services and utilities, not to mention parks, opera houses, and confectioneries.

Contents

• Acknowledgments: 6
• 18651890: 19
• 18901920: 37
• 1920 to Present: 93

About the author

Champaign provides a visual sampler of a vibrant city from its early days as a depot through World War II and into the 1970s. Raymond Bial has published more than 90 critically acclaimed, award-winning books of photographs for children and adults. He has lived in Champaign-Urbana with his wife, Linda, and their children for 30 years.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Champaign; Images of America; Images of America: a history of American life in images and texts
• Editor: Raymond Bial
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing, 2008
• ISBN: 0738551880, 9780738551883
• Length: 127 pages
• Subjects: History / United States / State & Local / Midwest (IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI); Photography / Subjects & Themes / Regional