The sky is usually clear and there is no pollution. The University campus occupies over 700 acres of land between the towns of Champaign and Urbana, and the College of Agriculture has several thousand acres of farmland south of the main campus. The U of I was founded in 1867 as a Land Grant university for the state of Illinois and is one of the most prestigious universities in the country. The U of I library, with over 9 million books, is the third largest university library in the United States. Heating in homes is usually required from mid-October to early April.
Some homes have air conditioning for the summer, but many people just use fans.
If you are not used to weather this cold, it is important that you remember to dress properly. Several layers of clothes are better than one heavy coat. It is important to cover your ears and fingers as they can freeze easily. Small children chill easily, so they should be dressed warmly. In addition to a coat, wear boots, a hat, gloves or mittens, and a scarf that you can wrap around your face. if you are traveling in a car and have mechanical problems or suddenly cannot see to drive, stay inside your car to remain protected from the cold.