Bloomington, IL
Wiki Article
Bloomington is the county seat of McLean County, Illinois. It is the larger of the two major municipalities in the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan region. 135 miles southwest of Chicago, and 162 miles northeast of St. Louis, Bloomington The city has 78,680 residents in the 2020 Census, making it the 13th most populous in Illinois and the sixth most populous outside the Chicago Metropolitan Area. The twin cities have a combined population of around 130,000. Illinois Wesleyan and Illinois State Universities are in Bloomington. It's also home to State Farm and Country Financial.
Bloomington is a city in central Illinois, United States, that serves as the seat of McLean county (1830). It is roughly midway between Chicago and St. Louis, Missouri, and is close to Normal (north). The region was called as Keg Grove and then as Blooming Grove because of the area's wildflowers when it was first colonized in 1822. Bloomington was called in 1831, when the town was set out. During a conference to form the Republican Party in Illinois in 1856, Abraham Lincoln gave his famous "lost speech" against slavery at Major's Hall in Bloomington; a plaque marks the location. The city is located in a fertile agricultural area, and its economy is mostly focused on agriculture (primarily maize and soybeans), cattle keeping, and the production of farm seeds; insurance, confectionery, and vacuum cleaner manufacturing are also significant.
A county seat was created when McLean County was formed. However, the law indicated that Bloomington's location "would be located later." One of the county's boosters, James Allin, proposed to contribute 60 acres (240,000 m2) of his property for the new town. Bloomington was planned out after his proposition was accepted. On the 4th of July 1831, its lots were auctioned off in a raucous and well-attended auction. There were few highways at the time, but fertile soils attracted new farmers, who started doing business in the newly constituted county.
People from all around, including Abraham Lincoln, who was practicing law in Springfield, Illinois, flocked to the town's heart, now known as Downtown Bloomington, to trade and transact business. For Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1854, Jesse W. Fell, who created the Bloomington Pantagraph and was a major Bloomington real estate developer, was a key figure in the campaign.
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 grew rapidly over the first two decades of the twentieth century. Growing up in Bloomington, IA was impacted by agriculture, highway and railroad construction, and insurance (primarily State Farm Insurance). In addition, the downtown area became a regional retail destination. Unions strengthened.
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 1997, Judy Markowitz became New York City's first Jewish and female mayor when she was elected to the post. Bloomington's performing arts complex had a major renovation during Mayor Markowitz's two years in office. Bloomington would also approve a gay rights ordinance in 2002. In 2021, Mboka Mwilambwe became the city's first black mayor when he was chosen by the residents.
The city has a population of 76,610 people in 2010, with a total of 30,454 dwellings. There were 1,099.5 people per square kilometer, or 2,814.8 people per square mile. At a density of 1,261.5 per square mile (492.8/km2), there were 34,339 dwellings. In terms of race, 77.5 percent of the city 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 of any race, regardless of ethnicity.
The City of Bloomington and McLean County, Illinois, make up the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the state of Illinois. People in the area have grown 28% from 1990 to 2006. When the US Census Bureau did a special census of Bloomington in February 2006, it found that the city had grown by 15.7 percent in less than six years. This is where the fastest growth has been, though.
City: The median income for a household in the city was $58,662. For a family, the median income was $81,166. This is how it worked out: Males made $56,597 on average compared to $38,190 for women. The city had a per capita income of $32,672. Families: 5.7 percent of families and 11.0 percent of the population were living below the poverty line. This included 12.6 percent of people under 18 and 6.3 percent of people who were 65 and older.
Previously known as the U.S. Cellular Coliseum, the Grossinger Motors Arena in southwest downtown Bloomington debuted in 2006 and is now home to the Bloomington Edge of the Indoor Football League. To host certain games of ISU's club hockey team and local youth hockey programs as well as the USHL's Central Illinois Flying Aces since its opening in 2014 The Coliseum has a fixed seating capacity of 7,000 but can accommodate over 8,000 people for special events because to its 170,000 square foot (17,000 m2) of floor area. With a retractable curtain, the venue may also be used as a theatre, with seating for 2,500-5,000 people in a more intimate setting. Concerts, ice shows, racing, and trade exhibitions have all taken place at the Coliseum since its inauguration.
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.
Recreation, Golf, and the Miller Park Zoo are the four sections of the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department. Atwood Wayside, Alton Depot Park, Angler's Lake Nature Preserve, Atwood Park, Bittner Park, Brookridge Park, Buck-Mann Park, Clearwater Park, Eagle Crest Park, Emerson Park, Evergreen Park, Ewing Park 1, Ewing Park 2, and Ewing Park 3 are just a few of the parks and golf courses that the Department of Public Works maintains on its 1,100-acre (4,5 km2) estate.
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.
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 of Towanda-Barnes Road, the east–west axis meets the north axis at the Normal City Hall Annex. Beginning at Commerce Drive and ending at the Old Farm Lakes Subdivision, the Liberty Branch is Lincoln Street is 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. Walking, running, in-line skating, skateboarding, and other non-motorized modes of mobility are permitted on the path. As long as the weather permits, it's open to skiers throughout the winter months.
While Illinois State University (1857) is located in Normal, Illinois Wesleyan University (1850) and a Heartland Community College campus (1990) are located in Bloomington. The American Passion Play is a popular springtime tradition. The home of Supreme Court associate judge David Davis, built in 1872, is a state historic monument. Bloomington has museums dedicated to history and aviation, a zoo, and a Shakespeare festival in the summer months. This cemetery is where both Adlai E. Stevenson, who served as vice president from 1893 to 1997, and his grandson (and two-time Democratic Party presidential candidate) Adlai E. Stevenson II, are laid to rest. Shirley, southwest of the city, is a gem and mineral museum. Inc. 1839, As of 2010 there were 76,000 people living in Bloomington-Normal and the Bloomington-Normal Metro Area, compared to 64,808 in 2000.
This is the heart of Bloomington's new Cultural District, which also includes the McLean County of Arts Center, a new festival park, and a new center for arts education. At the same time, the center is also home to more than twenty performing arts groups in the area. This is where more than 400 performances and community events take place each year.
To date, The McLean County Arts Center has served Central Illinois for more than 130 years. For almost 70 years, the annual Amateur Competition and Exhibition has been a showcase for the greatest amateur artists in Central Illinois, showcasing the best of the best each year. Sugar Creek Arts Festival in Uptown Normal and Spring Bloom Arts Festival in Bloomington are both sponsored by the Arts Center.
The Jerome Mirza Theatre in McPherson Hall is home to the Illinois Wesleyan University School of Theatre Arts. Featuring plays ranging from Shakespeare to musicals, four major stage plays are staged yearly. Construction of McPherson Hall began in 1963 and includes a 300-seat theatre, a scene shop and classrooms.
Each July in Downtown Bloomington, the Lincoln's Bloomington Festival comprises Civil War reenactments, traditional craft displays, children's activities, musical performances, presentations, and tours.
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.
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 Republican nomination for president. An example of mid-Victorian style and taste, the Davis Mansion was constructed in 1872 and incorporates Italianate and Second Empire architectural elements. 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 National Register of Historic Places lists the David Davis Mansion as a historic site.
The former building of the Montefiore synagogue in Illinois is one of the few Moorish Revival buildings in the state. It is also one of the oldest synagogues in the United States, making it one of the oldest in the country.
On the south side of town is a big artist's colony with a variety of specialized retail stores and related services. There are several restaurants and a busy nightlife. Tour de Chocolat, Farmers' Market, Tour de Metro, Pub Crawl, and Once Upon a Holiday are just a few of the district's notable events. Local, state, and federal government buildings are located downtown Bloomington, as are important companies like State Farm Insurance.
There is just one place in the world where Beer Nuts Brand Snacks are made: Bloomington, Illinois. In Bloomington, there are two locations of the Beer Nuts Company Stores that give a video tour of the facility and the history of the brand.
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 Bloomington students can also go to Metcalf Elm./Jr. School and University High School, which are both lab schools at Illinois State University.
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 United Methodist Church. The College of Liberal Arts has 17 academic departments; the College of Fine Arts has professional schools of art, music, and theatre; and the School of Nursing is part of the university. The College of Liberal Arts is divided into 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. There have been more than 100 athletes from Illinois Wesleyan University elected to the Academic All-American team since 1970. Hairmasters Institute of Cosmetology offers classes in pivot point hair sculpture, hair design and long hair design, hair texture, hair color, people skills and salon management training.
One can easily identify the McLean County Museum of History by its stately dome. The courthouse square is flanked by historic buildings. An array of businesses and services are available to visitors. Many restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.
Report this wiki page