Bloomington, Illinois

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Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, in the United States. It is the county seat and the home of McLean College. In terms of population, Bloomington is the second-largest city in the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area. It is next to the town of Normal. People who live in Bloomington are about 135 miles (217 km) southwest of Chicago and about 162 miles (261 km) northeast of St. Louis, so it's not far from both cities. There were 78,680 people living in the city at the time of the 2020 Census. This made it the 13th-most populated city in Illinois, and the fifth-most populated city in the state outside of the Chicago area. About 130,000 people live in the twin cities, which are called Normal and Twin Cities. The Bloomington area is home to Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University, both of which are in the state. It also serves as the headquarters for State Farm Insurance and Country Financial, two companies that make insurance.

During the early 1800s, the Kickapoo people lived in a large grove near the Bloomington area. Before the first European settlers came to the area, the Kickapoo people lived in the grove. On December 25, 1830, when McLean County was formed, Bloomington was chosen as the county seat. It came from the town of Keg Grove, which later became known as Blooming Grove.

Even Abraham Lincoln, a lawyer in neighboring Springfield, Illinois, came to trade and transact business at the town's core, which is now called Downtown Bloomington. John W. Fell, founder of the Bloomington Pantagraph and major local real estate developer, proposed the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1854 and urged Lincoln to run for President.

During a 1900 patrol, an officer noticed a fire at a laundry located just across the street from the municipal hall and police station. It was too late for him to save most of the city's downtown, notably the districts north and east of the courthouse, which were devastated by the blaze. When it came to rebuilding the neighborhood that had been destroyed, local architects George Miller and Paul O. Moratz came to the rescue.

Bloomington, IL grew steadily over the first two decades of the twentieth century. Agriculture, highway and railroad building, and the expansion of the insurance industry (primarily State Farm Insurance) all affected Bloomington's growth and downtown area. The downtown area grew into a regional retail destination, drawing visitors from neighboring counties. The power of labor unions expanded.

A Bloomington, IL real estate company called Denbesten Real Estate was started in 1977 by Ray and Irene Denbesten. Today, Cathy Denbesten is running it. They can help you buy or sell your house: (309) 6662-4228. They can also help you find a home.

As mayor of New York City in 1997, Judy Markowitz became the city's first Jewish woman and first mayor to be female. As Mayor, Markowitz built an arena in downtown Bloomington and started to fix up the city's performing arts center during his two terms in the office. In 2002, Bloomington would also pass a law that protects gay rights. In 2021, Mboka Mwilambwe became the first black mayor of the city.

In 2010, there were 34,339 homes, 28.8% of which had children under the age of 18, 46.7 percent of which were married couples, 9.1 percent of which had a female householder without a husband present, and 41.1 percent of which were non-families. Individuals made up 32.6 percent of all households, and 9.2 percent included someone living alone who was 65 years old or older. The average family size was 3.12, and the average household size was 2.41.

People in the city were spread out, with 27.3 percent under the age of 20, 9.0 percent from 18 to 24, 29.8 percent between the ages of 25 and 45, and 23.8 percent between the ages of 45 and 64. It was the middle age of 33 years. When there were 100 women in the group, there were 95.4 males in the group.

The city's median household income was $58,662, while the family's median income was $81,166. Males had a median income of $56,597, while females had a median income of $39,190. The city's per capita income was $32,672. Around 5.7 percent of households and 11.0 percent of the population were poor, with 12.6 percent of those under 18 and 6.3 percent of those 65 and over falling into this category.

There is an indoor public ice skating facility called the Bloomington Ice Center, which was previously called the Pepsi Ice Center. It has a full-size sheet of ice: 200' x 85'. The facility has ice skating lessons, public skating sessions, a full hockey program, learn to curl and curling leagues, skate rental, and a concession stand where you can buy food and drink.

The Bloomington-Normal Constitution Track is a 24-mile (39-kilometer) running, walking, cycling, and rollerblading trail that runs across most of the city on dedicated right-of-way. When traversing the main streets, the route is separated from traffic by bridges and tunnels. From Kerrick Road in Normal to Grove Street in Bloomington, the path follows the abandoned Illinois Central Gulf (ICG) railroad north–south.

They were opened in 2007 as part of Illinois State University's 150th anniversary celebration. The Genevieve Green Gardens are at the Ewing Cultural Center in Springfield. Bruce V. Green, an avid gardener who gave $5.2 million to start the project, helped with the project. Architects and landscape designers from all over the world worked together to make the gardens. The gardens have a new public entrance that leads people to a formal plaza, the manor's entrance, a grass patio, a theater walk with a wider walkway, and more trees and plants.

Bloomington is home to Illinois Wesleyan University (1850) and a Heartland Community College campus (1990), whereas Normal is home to Illinois State University (1857). The American Passion Play is an annual spring event. Bloomington has museums dedicated to history and aviation, a zoo, and a summer Shakespeare festival, and the residence (1872) of Supreme Court associate judge David Davis is a state historic monument. Both Vice President Adlai E. Stevenson (1893–97) and his grandson, Illinois Governor Adlai E. Stevenson II, are buried at Evergreen Cemetery. In Shirley, southwest of the city, there is a gem and mineral museum. 1839 was the year of incorporation. (2000) 64,808 people; Bloomington-Normal Metro Area 150,433 people; (2010) 76,601 people; Bloomington-Normal Metro Area 169,572 people

The McLean County Cultural Center, which has been serving Central Illinois for more than 130 years, is one of the Midwest's oldest arts institutions. The annual Holiday Treasurers display and sale, as well as the annual Amateur Competition and Exhibition, which has been showcasing the greatest amateur artists in Central Illinois for over 70 years, are held each year. The Sugar Creek Arts Festival in Uptown Normal and the Spring Bloom Arts Festival in Bloomington are two of the many community activities that the Arts Center organizes.

On Robinhood Lane off Towanda Avenue, the Community Players Theater is one of the oldest community theaters that is completely run by volunteers. When the theater first opened in 1923, it was the 88th time it had been open.

At McPherson Hall, the Illinois Wesleyan University School of Theatre Arts has a theater called the Jerome Mirza Theater. During the year, there are four main stage plays that are shown. They are chosen from a playbill that includes everything from Shakespeare to musicals. IWU's 10th president, Harry W. McPherson, was the name of the building that was finished in 1963. It has a 300-seat theater, a scene shop, classrooms and other things.

At least 200 music majors and a few hundred IWU students use the Westbrook Auditorium each year. During each semester, there are a lot of musical performances from all different time periods. Most concerts are free and open to the public with general seating.

For more information, visit the Lincoln's Bloomington Festival website.

An F-14 Tomcat and Bell Sea Cobra are on display at the Prairie Aviation Museum.

The David Davis Mansion offers a glimpse into the life friend and mentor to Abraham Lincoln, David Davis, who served as a United States Supreme Court Justice and was a key component during Lincoln's bid for the 1860 presidential nomination. The Davis Mansion, completed in 1872, combines Italianate and Second Empire architectural features and is a model of mid-Victorian style and taste. His Bloomington home, which remained in the Davis family for three succeeding generations, contains the most modern conveniences of that era: a coal-burning stove, gas lighting and indoor plumbing. The David Davis Mansion is a historic landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.

The former Montefiore synagogue building is one of Illinois' rare Moorish Revival structures and one of the country's oldest synagogues.

Bloomington Illinois

There is an audio tour of Lincoln's Bloomington and Normal, Illinois, by the McLean County Museum of History. In this CD-based audio tour, President Abraham Lincoln talks about the places he visited and how important they were to him when he was there. It was written by James Keeran and narrated by him. It includes Kersey Fell's law office, where Jesse Fell told Lincoln to run for president; the home of Asahel Gridley, Lincoln's friend and client in a slander suit; the Miller-Davis Building, where Lincoln practiced law; and 14 other places.

The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau conducts monthly Twin City Tours. Tours start at the McLean County Museum.

Bloomington's primary retail district is Eastland Mall. With a range of shops and restaurants including Aeropostale and American Eagle Outfitters as well as a number of amusement options, Eastland Mall is a one-stop destination for all of your retail and entertainment needs. Although the mall has been in decline in recent years, it is consistent with the overall fall of retail malls in the United States.

At the heart of Bloomington's cultural district is a plethora of art galleries and museums as well as a number of banks and other financial institutions. As a result, there are several restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. A variety of activities, including as the Tour de Chocolat, Farmers' Market, Tour de Metro, Pub Crawl, and Once Upon a Holiday, allow visitors to get a taste of the neighborhood. Bloomington's downtown area is home to the city's and McLean County's government buildings, as well as a slew of clubs, restaurants, and art galleries.

There is only one place in Bloomington, Illinois, where Beer Nuts Brand Snacks are made, and it is there. Beer Nuts has two stores in Bloomington. Each store has a video tour of the plant and a history of Beer Nuts snacks.

Two public school districts 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 Elementary School (named for the first female superintendent for Bloomington).

The McLean County Museum of History, capped by a stately dome, serves as a landmark to identify the historic core of the city. Turn-of-the-century buildings, many with interesting historical pasts, flank the courthouse square. A visitor can find museums, banks, a legal and governmental center, residential living, a large artists’ community, plus an assortment of specialty retail businesses and supportive services. There is an abundance of restaurants and a lively night scene.

Downtown Bloomington is home to the City of Bloomington's and McLean County's government buildings, as well as a variety of specialized shops, pubs, restaurants, and art galleries.