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Illinois' McLean County is home to Bloomington, a city and the county seat. Bloomington-Normal is the second-largest city in the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan region and is located next door to Normal. 135 miles southwest of Chicago and 162 miles northeast of St. Louis, Bloomington is the second-largest city in Illinois. The city's population was estimated at 78,680 people in the 2020 Census, making it Illinois' 13th most populous city and the state's fifth most populous 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 both have their headquarters here, making it a convenient location for both.

Bloomington, Illinois, U.S. county seat since 1830, is a city in McLean County, Illinois. Between Chicago and St. Louis, Missouri, it is sandwiched by Normal (north). Originally known as Keg Grove, the property was renamed Blooming Grove due to the abundance of wildflowers in the region when it was first colonized in 1822. Bloomington was renamed in 1831, when the town was set out and called after it. A plaque marks the location where Abraham Lincoln gave his "lost speech" against slavery at a Republican Party conference in Illinois in 1856. In addition to farming (mostly maize and soybeans), cattle keeping, and the production of farm seeds, the city's economy also relies heavily on insurance, candy manufacturing, and vacuum cleaner manufacturing.

When the County of McLean was formed, there was a county seat. In fact, the legislation said that Bloomington "would be located later." James Allin, one of the people who wanted to start a new county, offered to give the town 60 acres (240,000 m2) of land. When he made his offer, Bloomington was laid out in front of him. At a noisy auction on July 4, 1831, it sold its lots. At this time, there were few roads, but rich soils attracted new farmers who started farming in the new county. They did their business in the new county.

Ray and Irene Denbesten founded Denbesten Real Estate in 1977. Cathy Denbesten, their daughter, now runs it. Call them at (309) 6662-4228 for assistance purchasing or selling a house.

Judy Markowitz, the first female and Jewish mayor of the city, was elected in 1997. During Markowitz's two stints as mayor, a new arena was erected in downtown Bloomington, and work on the city's performing arts complex started. In 2002, the city of Bloomington would likewise pass a gay-rights ordinance. The city's first black mayor, Mboka Mwilambwe, was elected in 2021.

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.

As a whole, the City of Bloomington and McLean County are the fastest-growing metro area in Illinois. Over the years from 1990 to 2006, the population of the area has grown by 28%. There has been the most growth in Bloomington, where the U.S. Census Bureau did a special census of the city in February 2006, and found that the population had grown by 15.7% in less than six years.

With 27.3% under 20, 9.0% 18-24, 29.8% 25-45, 23.84% 45-64 and 10.2% 65+, the city's population was evenly distributed. It was 33 years old. Males outnumbered females 95.4 to 100.

The 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 ice sheet of 200' by 85'. Ice skating classes, public skating sessions, a complete hockey program, learn to curl and curling leagues, skate rental, and a snack stand are all available at the facility.

In 1976, Citizens for a New Public Library starts a group called "Friends of the Library." They want to get voters to let the city build a new public library. The campaign was successful and, in 1977, the library reopened in its current home at 205 East Olive Street as "Bloomington Public Library." Currently, the library has a number of public programs, including a Bookmobile, which was first called "Library on Wheels" in 1926. The Bookmobile delivers books to people in their own neighborhoods.

This department is divided into four sections: Parks, Recreation, Golf and the Miller Park Zoo. 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, 2, 3, Fell Avenue Park, Forrest Park, Franklin Park, Friendship Park, Highland Park Golf Course, Holiday Park, Lincoln Leisure 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.

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.

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.

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.

the McLean County Arts Center, a future festival park, and a creative center for arts education are all part of the city's new Cultural District. It also houses approximately twenty local performing arts groups. Every year, the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts hosts over 400 events.

Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts hosts the Illinois Symphony Orchestra's five Masterworks, two Pops, and three Chamber Orchestra performances each year.

For nearly 130 years, the McLean County Arts Center has been serving Central Illinois as an arts institution. Over 70 years, the yearly Amateur Competition and Exhibition has highlighted the greatest amateur painters in Central Illinois, and the Holiday Treasurers Exhibit and Sale has included over 100 artists. The Arts Center also organizes community events including the Uptown Normal Sugar Creek Arts Festival and the Bloomington Spring Bloom Arts Festival

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 theater. For a long time, the property was one of the best places to visit in the area. The Castle has just had a $1.5 million makeover. Today, the Castle has live music, corporate events, public events, and private events going on at the castle.

In McPherson Hall's Jerome Mirza Theatre, the Illinois Wesleyan University School of Theatre Arts showcases its skills. Every year, four main stage plays are chosen from a playbill that includes anything from Shakespeare to musicals, and they are produced here. McPherson Hall, was opened in 1963 and is named after IWU's 10th President, Harry W. McPherson, has a 300-seat theater, a scene shop, classrooms, and other amenities.

In 2011, the USA Ballet celebrated its 21st year as an international ballet company. Three times a year, USA Ballet performs at Illinois Wesleyan University's McPherson Theatre, providing children's classes and outreach activities.

The American Passion Play is the country's oldest continually performed Passion Play. The Passion Play, set in Palestine, is performed each spring at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

In addition to members of the Stevenson family, the Bloomington-Normal community is buried in the Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, popularly known as the Evergreen Cemetery. Among those buried there are Adlai E. Stevenson I, Grover Cleveland's vice president, and Adlai E. Stevenson II, Illinois governor, ambassador to the United Nations, and two-time Democratic presidential contender. Stevenson's wife, Letitia Green Stevenson, and her sister, Julia Green Scott, the sixth National President-General of the Daughters of the American Revolution, are both buried there as well. There are also the graves of Abraham Lincoln's friend and mentor David Davis, baseball great Charles Radbourn, and Dorothy Gage, the inspiration for the main heroine in The Wizard of Oz and the niece of author L. Frank Baum, all of whom are buried there.

The David Davis Mansion gives visitors a glimpse into the life of Abraham Lincoln's friend and mentor, David Davis, who was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court and played a big role in Lincoln's bid for the 1860 presidential nomination. The Davis Mansion, which was finished in 1872, has a mix of Italianate and Second Empire architectural features. It is a good example of what was popular in the middle of the 19th century. His Bloomington home, which has been in the Davis family for three generations, has all the modern conveniences of the time: a coal-burning stove, gas lights, and indoor plumbing. The David Davis Mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places, which is a list of places that are important to history.

There are just a few examples of Moorish Revival architecture in Illinois, and the Montefiore synagogue is one of the oldest synagogues in the United States.

Bloomington Illinois

Behind the Curtain Tours are led by specially trained docents at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. All of the building's updates and renovations are explained during the tours.

The 36-room home of Judge David Davis may be toured by groups or individuals at the David Davis Mansion. It is through the tales of the Davis family that docents tell the rich social and cultural history of the American frontier from the 1850s through 1860. Family history (with a particular emphasis on children), servant life, domestic life and technology at the advent of the industrial revolution, and Victorian architecture are some of the specific subjects.

Bloomington's primary retail destination is Eastland Mall. Shops like Aeropostale and American Eagle Outfitters can be found at Eastland Mall along with restaurants like Applebee's and Buckle. There are also several recreational activities to be found at Eastland Mall. Although the mall has been in decline in recent years, it is consistent with the overall fall of retail malls in the United States.

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.

Bloomington is served by two public school districts. The interior of the city is served by Bloomington Public Schools District 87, which operates one high school, Bloomington High School, one junior high school, Bloomington Junior High School, and six elementary schools (Oakland, Washington, Bent, Irving, Sheridan, and Stevenson elementary schools) and one pre-school, Sarah Raymond (named for the first female superintendent for Bloomington) (named for the first female superintendent for Bloomington).

The community has grown into a second district, McLean County Unit District No. 5. Originally serving primarily suburban communities, including Normal, Unit Five currently has a majority of students from Bloomington. Unit Five runs two high schools, four junior highs, and countless primary schools. In 2010, Unit Five began construction on its fourth junior high school, George Evans Junior High School (EJHS). Unit 5 built two new elementary schools in Bloomington and anticipates the need for another high school.

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