Bloomington, Illinois

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Bloomington, the county seat of McLean County, Illinois, was founded in 1830. About midway between Chicago and St. Louis, Missouri, it is located next to 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 inhabited in 1822. Bloomington was renamed in 1831 when the town was built out and established. A plaque marks the location where Abraham Lincoln gave his "lost speech" against slavery at a Republican Party conference in Illinois in 1856. Farming (especially maize and soybeans), cattle husbandry, and the production of farm seeds are the city's primary sources of income, although insurance and the manufacturing of confectionery and vacuum cleaners are also significant.

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.

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.

People flocked from all around to trade and conduct business in the town's core, which is now known as Downtown Bloomington, including Abraham Lincoln, who worked as a lawyer in neighboring Springfield. Jesse W. Fell, the founder of the Bloomington Pantagraph and a key figure in local real estate, had proposed the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1854 and was instrumental in Lincoln's decision to run for President.

First two decades of the 20th century saw Bloomington grow even more than it already had. People in Bloomington and its downtown area grew because of agriculture, the building of highways and railroads, and the growth of the insurance business (especially State Farm Insurance). The downtown area became a place where people from other counties came to buy things. There were more labor unions and they became more powerful.

A Bloomington, IL real estate company called Denbesten Real Estate was started in 1977 by Ray and Irene Denbesten. Today, Cathy Denbesten is in charge. They can help you buy or sell your house: (309) 6662-4228. They can also help you with that.

Bloomington and McLean County make up Illinois' fastest-growing metro region. From 1990 to 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, up 15.7 percent in less than six years, according to a special census performed by the United States Census Bureau.

This population was evenly distributed, with 27.3 percent aged under 20; 9.0 percent between the ages of 18 and 24, 29.8 percent between the ages of 25 and 45; 23.8 percent between the ages of 45 and 64; 10.2 percent between the ages of 65 and over. The average age was 33 years. There were 95.4 men for every 100 females in the study.

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+.

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.

The Ladies' Library Association, which was founded in 1856, inaugurated Bloomington Public Library in 1857. Book contributions and membership fees were the primary sources of funding for the modest library. At 105 West North Street, the library was established in 1871. (which is now West Monroe Street.) The library was forced to close in 1880 because of a lack of funding, but locals contributed $1,100 to bring it back online. New two-story library was built in 1888 on property provided by Mrs. Sarah B. Withers at the junction of East and Washington streets. The library was christened "Withers Library." in recognition of the contribution.

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."

Alcoholic drinks, smoking, and dogs are all forbidden in the parks, which are open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. It's common for these amenities to have water spray parks and sophisticated playgrounds as well as miniature golf courses and baseball/softball pitches. Indoor tennis courts are available at the Evergreen Racket Club. O'Neil Park (west) and Holiday Park (north) both include outdoor public swimming pools (east). Indoor pools are available in YMCAs, YWCAs, and other non-profit organizations as well as commercial fitness clubs.

Numerous exhibits and encounters with zookeepers are available at Miller Park Zoo. Alligators, tortoises, bearded dragons, sun bears, sea lions, red pandas, lemus bald eagles, and wolves are just few of the animals that call the zoo home. Among the various exhibits of the zoo are the Katthoefer Animal Building, the Wallaby WalkAbout, ZooLab, and the Children's Zoo. It's the Tropical America Rainforest that's new to the Zoo.

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.

Five Masterworks, two Pops and three Chamber Orchestra performances are held each year by the Illinois Symphony Orchestra at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

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.

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.

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

The 21st anniversary of USA Ballet, a world-renowned dance group, will be commemorated in 2011. At Illinois Wesleyan University's McPherson Theatre, USA Ballet performs three times a year and offers classes for children and outreach initiatives.

The American Passion Play is now in its 92nd season. It is the oldest Passion Play in the United States that has been going on for that long. Each spring, the Passion Play is put on at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. It's set in Palestine and shows the whole life of Christ, from his birth to his death.

Each summer, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival stages plays in an outdoor, Elizabethan-style theater at historic Ewing Manor. 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.

The McLean County Arts Center hosts the Spring Bloom Arts Festival in March. A wide range of media are represented by over 100 artists, including woodworking and glass art.

Bloomington architect Phil Hooten created Ewing Manor in the post-Victorian Channel-Norman style, which was popular among the wealthy. Jens Jensen, the famed landscape architect who also developed Springfield's Lincoln Memorial Grounds, designed the surrounding gardens. Each summer, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival is held on the grounds' theatre.

Pavilion in 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.

A Bell Sea Cobra, a Huey helicopter, and an F-14 Tomcat are on exhibit at the Prairie Aviation Museum.

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 nomination for president. With its blend of Italianate and Second Empire design elements, completed in 1872, the Davis Mansion serves as a shining example of mid-Victorian aesthetic sensibility. 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 David Davis Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an important architectural and historical resource.

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 synagogues in the United States.

Bloomington Illinois

Specially qualified docents provide Behind the Curtain Tours at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. The building's neo-Classical interior architecture is highlighted in the tours, which also describe the building's repairs and modifications.

It is available on CD from the McLean County Museum of History. It features President Abraham Lincoln as a returning visitor, discussing his travels and their significance. The audio tour includes: Jesse Fell's law office; Asahel Gridley's home; the Miller-Davis Building; and 14 other sites.

The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau offers monthly tours of Bloomington and Normal titled Twin City Tours. Tours depart from the McLean County Museum of History.

Eastland Mall is the main shopping center in Bloomington. Featuring food, shopping and entertainment, Eastland Mall contains a variety of stores including Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Applebee's, Buckle, Finish Line, Limited, Old Navy, Rogers & Hollands, Talbot's, and more, in addition to a number of recreational activities. However, in recent years, the mall has entered into decline in keeping with the general decline of shopping malls across America.

A second district, McLean County Unit District No. 5, was created as a result of growth. Originally serving only suburban areas, including Normal, Unit Five now serves a majority of Bloomington-area students. Untiion Five runs two high schools, four junior highs, and many elementary schools. EJHS (George Evans Junior High School) was built in 2010 by Unit Five. On top of that, Unit 5 is planning to build two new elementary schools and a new high school in Bloomington by 2011.

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.