Located in the east-central part of the state of Illinois and city in Champaign County, the city sits in the southwest of Chicago which adjoins Urbana in the east. The cities were often referred to as Champaign-Urbana and the tracks for the Illinois Central Railroad were laid and a depot was established at about 2 miles to the west of Urbana. A bill was incepted in 1855 that will incorporate Urbana and include the depot within its limits that were greatly opposed by the residents of the depot area and fought successfully so that it will remain separate.