McLean County, Illinois, is home to the city of Bloomington, which also serves as the county seat. The Bloomington-Normal metropolitan region includes both this town and the neighboring town of Normal, the latter of which has a larger population. To the southwest of Bloomington lies Chicago, while to the northeast of St. Louis is Bloomington 135 miles (217 kilometers). The city has a population of 78,680 in 2020, making it the 13th-largest city in Illinois and the fifth-largest city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area. Around 130,000 people live in the twin cities of Bloomington and Normal together. Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University are located in the Bloomington region. State Farm Insurance and Country Financial have their headquarters here as well.
Bloomington, Illinois, 1830, U.S. In between Chicago and St. Louis, it is near Normal (north). The location was first called Keg Grove and then Blooming Grove due to the abundance of wildflowers in the region. Bloomington was platted in 1831. The legendary “lost speech†against slavery was given in 1856 at Major's Hall in Bloomington at a Republican Party conference. Due to its location, the city's economy is heavily reliant on agriculture (mostly maize and soybeans), cattle and farm seed production. Insurance, confectionery and vacuum cleaner manufacturing are other key industries in the city.
During a 1900 patrol, an officer noticed a fire at a laundry located just across the street from the municipal hall and police station. In spite of his heroic efforts to raise awareness, the blaze decimated most of downtown, particularly to its north and east, where the county courthouse stood. However, local architects George Miller and Paul O. Moratz swiftly reconstructed the burned-out neighborhood.
At least for the next two decades, Bloomington's population grew. Rise in Bloomington's downtown area was also affected by agriculture, the development of roads and rail lines, as well as the growth of the insurance industry (especially State Farm Insurance). The downtown area was transformed into a regional retail destination, bringing in customers from neighboring counties as a result. The power of labor unions increased.
Ray and Irene Denbesten established Denbesten Real Estate in 1977 in Bloomington, Illinois. Their daughter, Cathy Denbesten, is presently in charge of the business. If you're interested in buying or selling a house, call (309) 6662-4228 now.
In 2010, the city had 76,610 residents and 30,454 homes. The density was 2,814.8/sq mile (1,099.5/km2). 34,339 dwelling units at 1,261.5/sq mile (492.8/km2). The city's racial composition was 77.5 percent white, 10.1 percent black, 0.3 percent Native American, 7.0 percent Asian, 1.42 percent other, and 2.9 percent mixed. Latinos of any race made up 5.6% of the population.
There were 34,339 homes in 2010, with 28.8% having children under the age of 18, 46.7 percent being married couples, 9.1 percent having a female householder without a husband, and 41.1 percent being non-families. Individuals made up 32.6 percent of all households, with 9.2 percent having someone 65 or older living alone. The average family size was 3.12 members, with a household size of 2.41 members.
Bloomington Ice Center (Formerly Pepsi Ice Center) is an indoor public ice skating rink managed by the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department, with a full-size sheet of ice measuring 200' by 85'. Ice skating classes, public skating sessions, a full hockey program, learn to curl and curling leagues, skate rental, and a snack stand are all available at the facility.
The Grossinger Motors Arena (formerly the U.S. Cellular Coliseum) in southwest downtown Bloomington opened in 2006 and is home to the Bloomington Edge of the Indoor Football League. It was formerly the home of the Central Hockey League's PrairieThunder and Blaze. Since 2014, it has served as the home rink for the United States Hockey League's Central Illinois Flying Aces, as well as hosting games for Illinois State University's club hockey team and local youth hockey programs. The Coliseum has a set seating capacity of 7,000 people but can accommodate over 8,000 people for special events because to its 180,000 square feet (17,000 m2) of area. The venue may also be set up as a theatre with a retractable curtain, allowing concerts to be seated in a more intimate setting for 2,500-5,000 people. Concerts, family entertainment, ice performances, racing, and tradeshows have all taken place at the Coliseum since it first opened.
A group called the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department is made up of four groups: Parks, Recreation, Golf and the Miller Park Zoo. 44 parks and three golf courses make up the Department's 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) of land. They include: Airport Park, Atwood Wayside, Angler's Lake Nature Preserve, Bittner Park and Brookridge Park. They also include: Ewing Park 1, Ewing Park 2, EwingPark 3 and Fell AvenuePark. The Department also runs Lincoln Leisure Center and the Lincoln Recreation Center. The Department also runs the Lincoln Recreation Center and Lincoln Recreation Center.
There are several exhibits at Miller Park Zoo, as well as chances for visitors to interact with zookeepers. Among the animals you'll see in the San Diego Zoo are a Sumatran tiger, an otter, a Galapagos tortoise, an Amur leopard, a sun bear, reindeer, a sea lion, and red pandas. ZooLab, Children's Zoo, Asia's Animals, and The Katthoefer Animal Building are just a few of the numerous attractions available to visitors. Tropical America Rainforest is the Zoo's newest exhibit.
At Normal City Hall Annex, the east–west section crosses the north segment and continues east to Towanda-Barnes Road. The Liberty Branch runs from Commerce Drive to the Old Farm Lakes Subdivision, starting at Commerce Drive and ending at Old Farm Lakes Subdivision. From Lincoln Street to Route 9 West, the Freedom Branch runs. Throughout the region, parking is accessible in adjacent lots. Walkers, runners, in-line skaters, skateboarders, cyclists, wheelchair users, and other non-motorized modes of transportation are welcome to utilize the path. It is not cleared of snow during the winter months and is open to skiers weather permitting.
Both Illinois Wesleyan University (1850) and Heartland Community College (1990) have campuses in Bloomington. The American Passion Play is an annual spring event. Bloomington has a zoo, a history and aviation museum, and a summer Shakespeare festival. Former Vice President Adlai E. Stevenson and Illinois Governor Adlai E. Stevenson II are buried at Evergreen Cemetery. Shirley, southwest of town, is a gem and mineral museum. 1839. (2000) 64,808; (2010) 76,601; Bloomington-Normal Metro Area 169,572.
Every year, the City of Bloomington's Miller Park Outdoor Summer Theatre puts on two major plays.
The Illinois Shakespeare Festival includes productions performed in an open-air, Elizabethan-style theatre within historic Ewing Manor each summer. Every time there is a Green Show, the audience can enjoy a picnic on the grounds before the show. They will be entertained by strolling Madrigal singers and other entertainers.
During March, the McLean County Arts Center hosts the Spring Bloom Arts Festival, which is an event for artists. Inside there are more than 100 artists who work in a wide range of mediums, from woodworking to glass art to sculpture to paintings and handcrafted jewelry.
The McLean County Museum of History traces its roots back to 1892, the year the McLean County Historical Society was founded. Housed inside the old McLean County Courthouse, the museum features permanent and rotating exhibits that explore the history of Central Illinois. This location is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Miller Park
In addition to a Bell Sea Cobra, Huey helicopter, and F-14 Tomcat, the Prairie Aviation Museum has a collection of restored aircraft on exhibit.
It provides a look into the life of Abraham Lincoln's friend and mentor, David Davis, who served as a Supreme Court Justice and was an important part in Lincoln's campaign for the 1860 nomination for president. With its blend of Italianate and Second Empire design elements, completed in 1872, the Davis Mansion serves as a shining example of mid-Victorian aesthetic sensibility. Coal-burning stoves, gas lights, and indoor plumbing are all found in his Bloomington house, which has been in the Davis family for three generations. The David Davis Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an important architectural and historical resource.
When the old Montefiore synagogue was destroyed, the building that used to be there is one of the few Moorish revival buildings in Illinois. It is also one of the oldest synagogues in the United States.
Both groups and individuals may take a tour of Judge David Davis's 36-room mansion at the David Davis Mansion. Visitors may learn about America's western frontier's rich social and cultural history via objects and tales related to the Davis family. Family history (with an emphasis on children), servant life, domestic life and technology at the beginning of the industrial revolution, and Victorian architecture are some of the specific topics covered.
The house is a forerunner of today's contemporary residences and comfort systems, and it serves as a reminder of Illinois' significance in American history during Abraham Lincoln's presidency. A customized Tea Ladies Inc. event may also be organized at the estate.
It's called Twin City Tours by the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. They have monthly tours of Bloomington and Normal called Twin City Tours. McLean County Museum of History is the place where the tours start.
Bloomington's main mall is Eastland Mall. There's also a lot to do at Eastland Mall. Although the mall has recently declined, it is part of a nationwide trend.
Downtown Bloomington has museums, banks, a legal and governmental center, residential living, a lot of artists, and a lot of businesses and support services. There are a lot of restaurants and a lot of people out at night. Tour de Chocolat, Farmer's Market, Tour de Metro, Pub Crawl, and Once Upon a Holiday are just some of the special events that give people a chance to see the area. People who work for big businesses in downtown Bloomington, like State Farm Insurance, live there. There are also government offices for the city of Bloomington and McLean County.
Bloomington, Illinois is the only town where Beer Nuts Brand Snacks are made. There are two Beer Nuts Company Stores in Bloomington, each offering a video tour of the Bloomington plant and history of Beer Nuts Brand Snacks.
There are two school districts that serve Bloomington. Bloomington Public Schools District 87 serves the city's interior, with one high school (Bloomington High School), one junior high school (Bloomington Junior High School), six elementary schools (Oakland, Washington, Bent, Irving, Sheridan, and Stevenson elementary schools), and one pre-school (Sarah Raymond Pre-School) (named for the first female superintendent for Bloomington).
McLean County Unit District No. 5 has expanded the city's limits to include a second district. The majority of Unit Five's pupils are now from Bloomington, despite the fact that the school was initially intended to serve the suburbs. School districts in Unit Five include two high schools, four junior high schools, as well as a slew of elementary and middle schools. George Evans Junior High School, or EJHS, was the fourth junior high school to be built by Unit Five in 2010. As of 2011, Unit 5 has completed the building of two new Bloomington primary schools and anticipates the need for a third high school in the near future.
Some of Bloomington's private schools are also there, like Central Catholic High School, Corpus Christi Catholic School, Epiphany Elm./Jr. School, St. Mary's Catholic School, St. Mary's Catholic School, Trinity Lutheran School, and Cornerstone Christian Academy, among others. Bloomington students can also go to Metcalf Elm./Jr. School and University High School, both of which are lab schools at Illinois State University, if they want to.
There are 2,100 students at Illinois Wesleyan University, which was established in 1850. The student/faculty ratio is 12 to 1. For a long time, it was a part of the Methodist Church. Of addition to the 17 academic departments in the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Fine Arts, which includes the professional Schools of Art, Music, and Theater Arts, and the School of Nursing, the University has three divisions. The five-story Ames Library, the Center for Natural Science, and the Shirk Center for Athletics and Recreation have all been added at Illinois Wesleyan in the last decade. Hairmasters Institute of Cosmetology, Inc. provides programs in pivot point hair sculpting, long hair design, hair texture, hair color, people skills and salon management teaching. Illinois Wesleyan has had more than 100 players voted to the Academic All-American team since 1970.
The McLean County Museum of History, with its majestic dome, marks the city's historic centre. The courthouse plaza is surrounded by historic structures. An array of speciality retail companies and related services are available to visitors. There are several restaurants and a busy nightlife.