Urbana-Champaign

[Rudolph C Troike]

The usual local usage is indeed, as Lynne pointed out, "Champaign-Urbana",
which, as Dennis noted, is much easier to say than the awkward reverse.
I'm quite sure that the usage "Urbana-Champaign" arose when, because the
Navy Pier Extension Division morphed into the UofI-Chicago, a new "system"
level administration came into being, at great expense, and the original
campus had to be retronymed (as had happened to the University of Texas
earlier). It was more euphonious to abbreviate this UIUC than UICU, whence
the peculiar "Urbana-Champaign" sequence.
        For those who don't know, the line between the two cities runs
through the library, and some buildings are in Champaign, though the
original campus and most of the present campus is in Urbana. The line even
bisects the cemetary, so one can choose on which side to be buried.

        Rudy