Bloomington, IL

Wiki Article

Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, in the United States. It is also the county seat of McLean County. If you live in Bloomington, you're next door to Normal. It's the bigger of the two main cities in the Bloomington-Normal metro area. Bloomington is 135 miles (217 km) southwest of Chicago, and 162 miles (261 km) northeast of St. Louis, so it's in the middle of two states. 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 Metropolitan Area. Together, the twin cities have about 130,000 people. There are two big universities in the Bloomington area: Illinois Wesleyan and Illinois State, both in the state. It also serves as the headquarters for State Farm Insurance and Country Financial, two of the companies.

Before the first Euro-American settlers came in the early 1820s, the Bloomington region was at the edge of a huge grove populated by the Kickapoo people. Bloomington was established on December 25, 1830, from the town of Keg Grove, afterwards known as Blooming Grove.

Police found a fire in a laundry next to the old city hall and police station. There was a fire and he called the fire department. Most of the downtown was destroyed, especially the areas north and east of the courthouse, which were hit hard by the fire. George Miller and Paul O. Moratz, two architects in the area, quickly rebuilt the area that had been burned.

Ray and Irene Denbesten established Denbesten Real Estate in 1977 in Bloomington, Illinois. Their daughter, Cathy Denbesten, is presently in charge of the business. You may reach them at (309) 6662-4228 if you need assistance with purchasing or selling a house.

The city has 76,610 inhabitants and 30,454 homes according to the 2010 census. 2,814.8 people per square mile (1,099.5/km2) was the population density. The average density was 1,261.5 per square mile (492.8/km2), with 34,339 dwelling units. 77.5 percent of the population was White, 10.1 percent African American, 0.3 percent Native American, 7.0 percent Asian, 1.42 percent from other races, and 2.9 percent from two or more races. 5.6 percent of the population was Hispanic or Latino, regardless of race.

Bloomington and McLean County are the fastest-growing urban areas in the state of Illinois. Between 1990 and 2006, the population of the region increased by 28%. Bloomington has had the most rapid expansion, with a population of 74,975 in February 2006, a 15.7 percent rise in less than six years, according to a special census performed by the United States Census Bureau.

A total of 34,339 homes were found in 2010; 28.8% of these had children under the age of 18, 46.7 percent of these were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder without a husband present, and 41.1 percent were non-families. A total of 32.6% of all households were made up of single people, and of them, 9.2% had a resident over the age of 65. There were 2.41 households and 3.12 families in the United States.

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

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.

Citizens for a New Public Library forms a Friends of the Library organization in 1976 to lobby for voter approval of bonds to fund a new public library. The effort was successful, and the library reopened as "Bloomington Public Library." in 1977, at 205 East Olive Street. Currently, the library provides a variety of public services, including a Bookmobile that distributes to local areas, which was initially established in 1926 as Library on Wheels.

The Parks, Recreation, Golf, and Miller Park Zoo departments make up the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department. Airport Park, Alton Depot Park, Angler's Lake Nature Preserve, Atwood Wayside, Bittner Park, Brookridge Park, Buck-Mann Park, Clearwater Park, Eagle Crest Park, Emerson Park, Evergreen Park, Ewing Park 1, Ewing Park 2, Ewing Park 3, Fell Avenue Park, Forrest Park, Franklin Park, Friendship Park, Highland Park Golf Course, Holiday Park are just a few of the parks and golf courses that the Department of Parks and Recreation manages.

The Miller Park Zoo has a lot of different animals and zookeepers you can meet and talk to. There are a Sumatran tiger, an Amur leopard, sun bears, reindeer, sea lions, red pandas, lemus, bald eagles, pallas cats and red wolves in the zoo, too. This is one of the many things you can see at the zoo. There are many things to see at the zoo, like the Wallaby WalkAbout. New to the Zoo is the Tropical America Rainforest, which is a new place to visit.

Jogging, walking, cycling, and rollerblading are all good ways to get around on the Bloomington-Normal Constitution Trail, which runs for 24 miles (39 km) through the city. It runs on dedicated right-of-way through most of the city. In places where the trail and traffic are close together, bridges and tunnels separate the trail and traffic by building bridges and tunnels. The trail runs from Kerrick Road in Normal to Grove Street in Bloomington. It follows the abandoned Illinois Central Gulf (ICG) railroad from Kerrick Road to Grove Street.

East–west intersects north at Normal City Hall Annex and continues east to Towanda-Barnes Road. Beginning at Commerce Drive and ending at the Old Farm Lakes Subdivision, the Liberty Branch is Lincoln Street serves as the starting point of the Freedom Branch, which finishes at Route 9 West. There are many adjacent parking lots in the vicinity where you may park. Wheelchair and other non-motorized users are welcome on the path. The trail is available to walkers, runners and other non-motorized users. Skiers may use it if the snow isn't too deep and the weather cooperates throughout the winter months.

As part of Illinois State University's 150th anniversary celebration, the Genevieve Green Gardens were dedicated in 2007. The gardens were created with the help of several architects and landscape designers, notably the late Bruce V. Green, an ardent gardener who donated $5.2 million to the project. They feature a new public entrance leading to a formal plaza, the manor entrance, grass patio, theater walk with wider pathway and more vegetation.

Bloomington has Illinois Wesleyan University (1850) and Heartland Community College (1990), whereas Normal has Illinois State University (1857). The American Passion Play is staged every spring. Bloomington has a zoo, a history museum, a zoo, and a Shakespeare festival in the summertime. They are joined at Evergreen Cemetery by their grandson, Adlai E. Stevenson II, former Illinois governor and Democratic Party contender for president in 1992 and 1996. Shirley, to the southwest of town, is a gem and mineral museum. 1839 In 2000, the city had 64,808 residents; in 2010, it had 76,601 residents.

It is the centerpiece of Bloomington's new Cultural District, which also includes the McLean County of the Arts Center, a festival park, and a center for the arts in education that will open in 2017. Over twenty local performing arts groups call the facility home. The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts hosts more than 400 performances and community activities each year.

In the Midwest, the McLean County Arts Center is one of the oldest arts groups. It has been serving Central Illinois for more than 130 years and is one of the oldest. Holiday Treasurers is one of 12 art shows that happen each year. The annual Amateur Competition has been showcasing amateur artists in Central Illinois for more than 70 years. There are also a lot of community events that the Arts Center helps put on, like the Sugar Creek Arts Festival in Uptown Normal and the Spring Bloom Arts Festival in Bloomington.

Located on copyright Lane, off Towanda Avenue, the Community Players Theater is one of the oldest volunteer-staffed community theaters in the area. The theater, which opened in 1923, celebrated its 88th season last year.

A 1,000-seat theater called the Castle Theatre opened in 1916. It was built by the famous theater builders Balaban & Katz, who were the first to think of the classic movie palace. For a long time, the property was one of the best places to go in the area. The Castle has just had a $1.5 million renovation to bring it back to its former glory. Today, the Castle has live music, corporate events, public events, and private events going on at the same time.

The Jerome Mirza Theatre in McPherson Hall is home to the talented students of the Illinois Wesleyan University School of Theatre Arts. From a playbill ranging from Shakespeare to musicals, four main stage plays are staged here each year. Completed in 1963, Harry W. McPherson Hall at IWU is home to a 300-seat theater, a scene shop, and a variety of other amenities.

At least 200 music majors and a few hundred other IWU students use the Westbrook Auditorium each year. During each semester, there are a lot of musical performances of all kinds, and most concerts are free and open to the public.

USA Ballet is a 21-year-old worldwide ballet company. Throughout the year, USA Ballet performs at Illinois Wesleyan University's McPherson Theatre.

Currently in its 92nd season, American Passion Play is the country's longest-running Passion Play. The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts hosts the annual Passion Play, which depicts the life of Jesus Christ from beginning to end.

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival has shows in an outdoor, Elizabethan-style theater at historic Ewing Manor every summer. It's a good idea for people to bring their own food to eat on the grounds before each show so they can be entertained by strolling Madrigal singers, jesters, and other performers, as well as a Green Show.

A Civil War reenactment, traditional craft displays, children's activities, musical performances, presentations, and tours are all part of the Lincoln's Bloomington Festival each July in Downtown Bloomington.

Located in Bloomington, the McLean County Fair is billed as the "Home of the World's Largest County 4-H Fair" Animal shows, a film festival, and exhibits on food, nutrition, and health are just a few of the 4-H offerings. Evening Grandstand Entertainment includes tractor pulls and music.

Ewing Manor was built by Bloomington architect Phil Hooten in the Channel-Norman style that was popular with the rich in the post-Victorian era. The surrounding gardens were created by noted landscape architect Jens Jensen, who also designed Springfield's Lincoln Memorial Gardens. The theatre on the grounds play host to the Illinois Shakespeare Festival each summer.

Many notable Bloomington-Normal residents, including members of the Stevenson family, are buried at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery. Both Adlai E. Stevenson I, Grover Cleveland's vice president, and Adlai E. Stevenson II, Illinois governor, UN ambassador, and twice Democratic presidential candidate, are buried there. Among the others buried there are Stevenson's wife, Letitia Green Stevenson, and her sister, Julia Green Scott. Dorothy Gage, inspiration for the main character in The Wizard of Oz and niece of author L. Frank Baum, is also buried there.

More information

An audio driving tour dubbed Lincoln's Bloomington and Normal, Illinois is offered by the McLean County Museum of History. Abraham Lincoln returns to the sites he previously visited on the CD-based audio tour to discuss their significance. Asahel Gridley, Lincoln's friend and a client in a defamation claim, was a friend and client in Lincoln's slander suit, as well as 14 other venues. The audio tour was written and performed by James Keeran and covers these locations:

The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau runs Twin City Tours of Bloomington and Normal every month. The McLean County Museum of History is where the tours start and end.

Downtown Bloomington has museums, banks, a legal and governmental center, residential living, a lot of artists, and a lot of businesses and services for people who live there and work there. There are a lot of restaurants and a lively nightlife in this city. Tour de Chocolat, Farmer's Market, Tour de Metro, Pub Crawl, and Once Upon a Holiday are just a few of the special events that give people a chance to see the area. Bloomington's downtown area is home to government offices for the City of Bloomington and McLean County. It also has a lot of big businesses, like State Farm Insurance and a lot of small businesses like bars, restaurants, and art galleries.

Many private schools are located in Bloomington, including Central Catholic High School, Corpus Christi Catholic School Elm/Jr, Epiphany Elm/Jr, Trinity Lutheran School, and Cornerstone Christian Academy. Metcalf Elm./Jr. School and University High School, both situated on the campus of Illinois State University, are available to Bloomington students.

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.