The 1854 Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin shows:

CHAMPAIGN, a county in the E. part of Illinois, has an area of about 880 square miles. It is drained by the head streams of the Kaskaskia, Embarras, and Vermilion rivers, and traversed in the N. W. part by the N. fork of Sangamon river. The surface, as the name indicates, consists of an open plain or prairie, interspersed with small groves of good timber. This county comprises a part of the Grand Prairie. The soil is deep, fertile, and durable. Indian corn, oats, hay, and pork are the staples. In 1850 the county produced 441,060 bushels of corn; 38,850 of oats; 1406 tons of hay, and 53,710 pounds of butter. It contained 3 churches. The Chicago branch of the Central railroad is located through the county. Capital, Urbanna. Population, 2649.