Bloomington, IL

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Bloomington, Illinois, is the county seat of McLean County. It is the larger of the two major cities in the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan region. Normal lies close to Bloomington. Bloomington is 135 miles south of Chicago and 162 miles northeast of St. Louis. This made it the state's 13th most populous city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area. The twin cities have a combined population of over 130,000 people. Illinois Wesleyan and Illinois State Universities are located in Bloomington-Normal. It's also home to State Farm and Country Financial Insurance.

When the County of McLean was formed, a county seat was set up. However, the legislation said that the site of Bloomington "would be located later." James Allin, one of the people who wanted to start a new county, offered to give 60 acres (240,000 m2) of land to the new town. In the end, he agreed to the deal, and Bloomington was laid out. A lot of it was sold at a noisy auction on July 4, 1831. This was a time when there were few roads, but rich soils attracted new farmers who started farming in the new county. They did their business in the county.

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.

Ray and Irene Denbesten established Denbesten Real Estate in Bloomington, Illinois, in 1977. Cathy Denbesten, their daughter, now runs the business. For assistance in purchasing or selling a house, call (309) 6662-4228.

The city had a population of 76,610 people and a total of 30,454 homes in the 2010 census. 2,814.8 people per square mile (1,099.5/km2) was the population density. At an average density of 1,261.5 units per square mile (492.8/km2), there were 34,339 dwelling units. There were 77.5 percent White residents, 10.1% African Americans, 0.3 percent Native Americans, 7.0% Asian, 1.42 percent other races, and 2.9% people who identified as two or more races in the city as a whole. 5.6 percent of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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.

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.

An average family earned $81,166, while a typical household earned $58,662. Males made $56,597 compared to $39,190 for women. The city has a $32,672 per capita income. One in five households and one in ten people were poor, with 12.6 percent under 18 and 6.3 percent 65+.

At the Bloomington Ice Center (formerly known as Pepsi Ice Center), the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department operates an indoor public skating rink, which is 200 feet wide by 85 feet long. Recreational and competitive programs are available at the venue. Skate rental is also available as well as a snack stand.

The first Bloomington Public Library was built in 1857 by the Ladies' Library Association, which was formed in 1856. The Ladies' Library Association built the library. The small library was mostly funded by donations of books and fees for becoming a member. At 105 West North Street in 1871, the library moved to a new place (which is now West Monroe Street.) People in the area raised $1,100 to keep the library open after it closed in 1880 because of a lack of money. In 1888, the library moved into a new two-story building at the corner of East and Washington streets. The land was given to the library by Mrs. Sarah B. Withers, and the library moved in. The library was renamed "Withers Library." in honor of the money.

To gather funds for a new public library, Citizens for a New Public Library forms the Friends of the Library organisation in 1976. When the campaign was successful in 1977, "Bloomington Public Library." reopened in its present location at 205 East Olive Street. Public services offered by the library include a Bookmobile that distributes to nearby areas and was initially introduced in 1926 under the name "Library on Wheels."

Located in Bloomington and Normal, Illinois, the Bloomington-Normal Constitution Trail is a 24-mile (39 kilometer) running, walking, cycling, and rollerblading path that runs on a designated right of way. Use bridges and tunnels to isolate the route from traffic while crossing major highways. From Normal's Kerrick Road to Bloomington's Grove Street, the trail's north–south section follows the Illinois Central Gulf (ICG) train bed.

Normal City Hall Annex is where the east–west segment meets the north segment. Towanda-Barnes Road is where the east–west segment goes east and ends. The Liberty Branch starts at Commerce Drive and ends at the Old Farm Lakes Subdivision, so it's called that. The Freedom Branch starts at Lincoln Street and ends at Route 9 West. This is where the branch ends. It's possible to park in nearby lots all over the area. Walkers and runners, as well as skateboarders and cyclists, are welcome on the trail. Wheelchair users, in-line skaters, skateboarders, and other non-motorized transportation are also welcome. During the winter, it isn't cleaned of snow, and skiers can use it, if the weather is good.

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 Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts is the heart of the city's new Cultural District, which also includes the McLean County of Arts Center, a new festival park, and a center for arts education that is still in the works. At the same time, the center is also home to more than 20 performing arts groups in the area. This is where more than 400 performances and community events happen each year.

Central Illinois' McLean County Cultural Center is one of the Midwest's oldest arts organizations, having been in existence for more than 130 years already. 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 Community Players Theater, on copyright Lane off Towanda Avenue, is one of the oldest volunteer-run community theaters in the country. The theater, which first opened its doors in 1923, is now in its 88th season.

The Castle Theatre was built by famed theater builders Balaban & Katz, the original creators of the traditional movie palace, and initially opened in 1916 as a 1,000-seat theater. The property was one of the area's most popular tourist sites for decades. With a $1.5 million refurbishment, the Castle was just brought back to its former splendour. Live music, corporate, public, and private events are all held at the Castle these days.

The Jerome Mirza Theatre in McPherson Hall houses the Illinois Wesleyan University School of Theatre Arts. Every year, four major stage plays are chosen from a repertoire ranging from Shakespeare to musicals. Built in 1963, McPherson Hall has a 300-seat theatre, a scene shop, classes, and other amenities.

Currently in its 92nd season, American Passion Play is the United States' 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.

An open-air Elizabethan theatre at historic Ewing Manor hosts the Illinois Shakespeare Festival every summer. Pre-show entertainment includes strolling Madrigals, jesters, and other performers, as well as a Green Show.

As the "Home of the World's Largest County 4-H Fair" the McLean County Fair is held in August in Bloomington, Illinois, at the McLean County Fairgrounds. Exhibits on food and nutrition & health; plant science; engineering technology; and the environment & natural resources are all part of 4-H activities. Tractor pulls and numerous musical groups are part of the evening entertainment at the Grandstand.

Bloomington architect Phil Hooten created Ewing Manor in the Channel-Norman style popular among the wealthy in the post-Victorian era. Famous landscape architect Jens Jensen developed the surrounding grounds, which include the Lincoln Memorial Gardens in Springfield. Every summer, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival is held at the on-site theater.

The McLean County Museum of History was created in 1892, the same year as the McLean County Historical Society. The museum, which is housed within the former McLean County Courthouse, contains permanent and rotating exhibitions that examine Central Illinois' history. The National Register of Historic Places recognizes this place.

Miller Park Pavilion is located at Miller Park, Chicago, Illinois.

When it was completed in May of that year, the Miller Park Pavilion & War Memorial was re-dedicated after being repaired in 1977. Central Illinois people killed or missing in action in Korea and Vietnam are listed on red walkways around the black granite monument.

Preserved aircraft from the Prairie Aviation Museum include the Bell Sea Cobra and the Huey helicopter.

People who were important in Bloomington-Normal are buried there, including members of the Stevenson family. Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, also known as the Evergreen Cemetery, is the burial place for many of these people. Both Adlai E. Stevenson I, Grover Cleveland's vice president, and Adlai E. Stevenson II, governor of Illinois, ambassador to the United Nations, and two times Democratic candidate for president of the United States, are buried in the same place. People who are also buried there are Letitia Green Stevenson's husband and Julia Green Scott. Letitia was the second President-General of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Julia is her sister, the seventh President-General, and both are buried there. Other historical figures who are buried there include David Davis, a friend and mentor of Abraham Lincoln; Charles Radbourn, one of the best pitchers in 19th-century baseball; and Dorothy Gage, the niece of author L. Frank Baum and the inspiration for the main character in the Wizard of Oz.

When it came time for Abraham Lincoln's presidential campaign in 1860, the David Davis Mansion functioned as a crucial part of Lincoln's team of advisers and lifelong friend, Supreme Court Justice David Davis. Davis Mansion, built in 1872, has Italianate and Second Empire architectural elements and is a shining example of mid-Victorian aesthetics and elegance. The coal-burning stove, gas lighting, and indoor plumbing at his Bloomington house, which was passed down through three generations of the Davis family, are among the most advanced features of that period. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the David Davis House.

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

Bloomington, Illinois

Docents from the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts lead Behind the Curtain Tours. During the visits, you'll learn about the building's neo-classical interior architecture as well as its many additions and modifications.

The David Davis Mansion provides group and private tours of Judge David Davis' 36-room house. Through portray the rich social and cultural history of America's western frontier from the 1850s to the 1880s. Family history (with an emphasis on children) and Victorian architecture are among the subjects covered.

Monthly tours of Bloomington and Normal are offered by the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau under the name Twin City Tours. At the McLean County Museum of History, tours begin.

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.

Only Beer Nuts Brand Snacks are made in Bloomington, Illinois. A video tour of the Bloomington plant and history of Beer Nuts Brand Snacks are available at both Beer Nuts Company Stores in Bloomington.

Illinois Wesleyan University, founded in 1850, is a private residential university with an enrollment of 2,100 and a student/faculty ratio of 12 to 1. Historically, it was affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The University consists of the College of Liberal Arts, with 17 academic departments; the College of Fine Arts, comprising professional Schools of Art, Music, and Theatre Arts; and the School of Nursing. In the past decade, Illinois Wesleyan has added the five-story Ames Library, the Center for Natural Science, and the Shirk Center for Athletics and Recreation. An NCAA Division III school, Illinois Wesleyan has had more than 100 athletes elected into the Academic All-American team since 1970.,sHairmasters Institute of Cosmetology, Inc. offers classes in pivot point hair sculpture, hair design, long hair design, hair texture, hair color, people skills and salon management instruction.

As a landmark, the McLean County Museum of History, with its magnificent dome, helps to identify the city's historical heart. The courthouse plaza is surrounded by a number of historic buildings from the turn of the century. You'll discover a wide range of attractions, including art galleries and studios, as well as a variety of specialized shops and support services, including museums, banks, a courthouse, and a government building. There are a wide variety of eateries and a vibrant nightlife in the city.