Bloomington, IL

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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.

An official county seat for McLean was created when the county was formed. The statute, on the other hand, indicated that the location of Bloomington "would be located later." It was announced that James Allin, one of the proponents of the new county, had volunteered to give his property to the new town. Bloomington was planned out after his proposition was accepted. On July 4th, 1831, it was auctioned off to a large and boisterous crowd. Many new farmers came to settle in the newly constituted county because of the fertile soils that existed at that time, but there were few roadways for them to use.

First two decades of the 20th century saw Bloomington grow even faster than it did before. Farming, the construction of highways and railroads, and the growth of the insurance business (mostly State Farm Insurance) all helped Bloomington, IL and its downtown area grow. The downtown area became a shopping center for people from other counties. They became stronger.

There is a real estate company in the Bloomington, IL area called Denbesten Real Estate. It was started by Ray and Irene Denbesten back in 1977. Cathy Denbesten is now in charge. They can help you buy or sell your house: (309) 6662-4228.

One of Illinois' fastest-growing urban areas is Bloomington and McLean County. Between 1990 and 2006, the population of the region increased by 28%. Bloomington's population grew by 15.7 percent in less than six years, according to a special census performed by the U.S. Census Bureau in February 2006.

The Ladies' Library Association founded the Bloomington Public Library in 1857. Membership fees and book contributions mostly funded the modest library. 105 West North Street, 1871 (which is now West Monroe Street.) Locals gathered $1,100 to revive the library when it closed due to lack of money in 1880. Mrs. Sarah B. Withers donated property for a new two-story library in 1888. The library was christened "Withers Library." in recognition of the contribution.

There's a 24-mile (39-km) running, walking, cycling, and rollerblading route that runs through Bloomington-Normal. The route is separated from traffic by bridges and tunnels while crossing busy streets. From Kerrick Road in Normal to Grove Street in Bloomington, the path follows the abandoned Illinois Central Gulf (ICG) railroad.

Towanda-Barnes Road. The east–west stretch crosses the north segment near Normal City Hall Annex. The Liberty Branch runs from Commerce Drive to Old Farm Lakes. The Freedom Branch runs from Lincoln to Route 9 West. Parking is accessible at nearby lots. Users of all non-motorized modes of transportation are welcome on the path. During the winter, it is not cleaned of snow and is open to skiers.

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 Arts Center is one of the oldest arts groups in the Midwest. It has been serving Central Illinois for more than 130 years now. 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, highlighting the best amateur artists in the area. There are also a lot of community events that the Arts Center helps with, like the Sugar Creek Arts Festival in Uptown Normal and the Spring Bloom Arts Festival in Bloomington.

The Westbrook Auditorium at Illinois Wesleyan University serves around 200 music majors and a few hundred students each year. Every semester, a variety of musical performances from various time periods are presented, and public admission seating is free at most of them.

Every year, the City of Bloomington's Miller Park Outdoor Summer Theatre presents two major theatrical shows.

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.

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.

Each March, the McLean County Arts Center hosts the Spring Bloom Arts Festival. This indoor fine art festival features over 100 artists working in woodworking, glass, sculpture, paintings, prints, photographs, and jewelry.

The McLean County Fair is held annually in August at the McLean County Fairgrounds in Bloomington. 4-H events include livestock exhibitions, a film festival, and displays on food, nutrition, and health, plants, engineering, and technology. Featuring tractor pulls and musical performances.

The McLean County Museum of History was established in 1892, the same year as the McLean County Historical Society. The museum, which is housed within the ancient McLean County Courthouse, contains permanent and rotating exhibits about Central Illinois' history. The National Register of Historic Places has designated this site.

Miller Park

The Miller Park Pavilion & War Memorial was restored in 1977 and dedicated in May 1988. The black granite memorial is surrounded by red sidewalks that list the names of Central Illinois residents killed or missing in action in the Korean and Vietnam battles.

The Prairie Aviation Museum has a collection of preserved aircraft on display, including a Bell Sea Cobra, Huey helicopter, and F-14 Tomcat.

When the old Montefiore synagogue was destroyed, the building that used to be there is one of the few Moorish revival buildings in Illinois. It is also one of the oldest synagogue buildings in the United States.

Bloomington, IL

Docents from the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts lead Behind the Curtain Tours. Visitors may learn about all of the building's changes and improvements as well as its neo-Classical interior architecture.

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.

With two public school districts, Bloomington has a wide range of educational options. One high school, Bloomington High School, a junior high school, Bloomington Junior High School, six elementary schools, and a pre-school are all operated by Bloomington Public Schools District 87 on the city's inner outskirts. Sarah Raymond Pre-school serves the city's youngest residents (named for the first female superintendent for Bloomington).

McLean County Unit District No. 5 has expanded the city's limits to include a second district. The majority of Unit Five's pupils are now from Bloomington, despite the fact that the school was initially intended to serve the suburbs. School districts in Unit Five include two high schools, four junior high schools, as well as a slew of elementary and middle schools. George Evans Junior High School, or EJHS, was the fourth junior high school to be built by Unit Five in 2010. As of 2011, Unit 5 has completed the building of two new Bloomington primary schools and anticipates the need for a third high school in the near future.

In 1850, Illinois Wesleyan University opened its doors to 2,100 students with a student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1. It used to be linked with the Methodist Church. The University is divided into three colleges: Liberal Arts, Fine Arts, and School of Nursing. The Ames Library, the Center for Natural Science, and the Shirk Center for Athletics and Recreation have all been built in the last decade. Hairmasters Institute of Cosmetology, Inc. provides lessons in pivot point hair sculpting, hair design, long hair design, hair texture, hair color, people skills, and salon administration.

There are government buildings in downtown Bloomington, including those for the City of Bloomington and McLean County. There are also a lot of great specialty stores, bars, restaurants, and art galleries there, as well as government buildings.