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Bloomington is the county seat of McLean County, Illinois, and is the largest city in the county. It is the more populated of the two major municipalities in the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan region, and it is close to the town of Normal. Bloomington is located around 135 miles (217 kilometers) southwest of Chicago and 162 miles (261 kilometers) northeast of St. Louis. The city has a population of 78,680 people according to the 2020 Census, making it Illinois' 13th most populous city and the state's fifth most populous city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area. The twin cities, when combined with Normal, have a population of almost 130,000 people. Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University are both located in Bloomington. It's also where State Farm Insurance and Country Financial have their headquarters.

During the early 1800s, the Kickapoo people lived in a large grove near the Bloomington area. Before the first European settlers came to the area, the Kickapoo people lived there. On December 25, 1830, when McLean County was formed, Bloomington was chosen as the county seat. It came from the town of Keg Grove, which later became Blooming Grove.

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 an attorney in neighboring Springfield, Illinois. Jesse W. Fell, the founder of the Bloomington Pantagraph and a significant figure in local real estate, proposed the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1854 and was a driving force behind Lincoln's presidential campaign.

A patrol officer noticed a fire at a laundry across from the old municipal hall and police station in 1900. He raised the alarm, but the fire ravaged the city, particularly north and east of the courthouse. Repaired by local architects George Miller and Paul O. Moratz, the charred portion was rapidly rebuilt.

Bloomington's population grew steadily over the first two decades of the twentieth century. Bloomington and its downtown area grew as a result of the rise of agriculture, the building of highways and railways, and the expansion of the insurance industry (especially State Farm Insurance). When the downtown area was transformed into a regional shopping destination, it drew people from other counties to conduct their shopping there. A rise in the power of labor unions may be seen.

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.

This is how it worked in 2010: There were 34,339 households, and 28.8% had kids under 18. 46.7 percent of them were married couples living together, 9.1% were female householders who didn't have any husbands, and 41.1 percent were single people living alone. More than a third of all households were made up of just one person, and 9.2% had someone who was 65 or older living alone. The average size of a household was 2.41, and the average size of a family was 3.12

The population of the city was diverse, with 27.3 percent under the age of 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, and 10.2 percent above 65. The average age of the participants was 33. Males outnumbered females 95.4 to 100.

Families in the city made an average of $81,166, with a median family income of $58,662. The median income for men was $56,597, while the median income for women was $39,190. The city's average annual income was $32,672. 5.7 percent of households and 11.0 percent of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6 percent of those under the age of 18 and 6.3 percent of those over the age of 65, respectively.

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 sheet of ice measuring 200' by 85'. Ice skating classes, public skating sessions, a full 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 the Bloomington Public Library in 1857. Book contributions and membership fees were the primary sources of funding for the modest library. The library moved to 105 West North Street in 1871. (which is now West Monroe Street.) The library reopened when local citizens contributed $1,100 to sustain it after it closed owing to a lack of money in 1880. On property provided by Mrs. Sarah B. Withers, the library moved into a new two-story facility at the intersection of East and Washington streets in 1888. The library was christened "Withers Library." in recognition of the contribution.

Citizens for a New Public Library establishes a Friends of the Library organization in 1976 in order to generate funds for a new public library via bond issues. This campaign began in 1977. The effort was a success, and the library reopened as "Bloomington Public Library." in 1977 at 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 as the Library on Wheels.

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

We love the zookeeper interaction at Miller Park Zoo. Sun bears, reindeer, sea lions, red pandas, lemus, bald eagles, pallas cats, and red wolves are among the zoo's residents. ZooLab, Children's Zoo, Animals of Asia and the Katthoefer Animal Building are among the zoo's attractions. It is located in the Tropical America Rainforest.

At Normal City Hall Annex, the east–west section crosses the north segment and continues east to Towanda-Barnes Road. The Liberty Branch runs from Commerce Drive to the Old Farm Lakes Subdivision, starting at Commerce Drive and ending at Old Farm Lakes Subdivision. From Lincoln Street to Route 9 West, the Freedom Branch runs. Throughout the region, parking is accessible in adjacent lots. Walkers, runners, in-line skaters, skateboarders, cyclists, wheelchair users, and other non-motorized modes of transportation are welcome to utilize the path. It is not cleared of snow during the winter months and is open to skiers weather permitting.

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.

There are five Masterworks concerts, two Pops concerts, and three Chamber Orchestra concerts each year at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts in Bloomington, Illinois. This is where the orchestra plays.

The Jerome Mirza Theatre in McPherson Hall is home to the talented students of the Illinois Wesleyan University School of Theatre Arts. From a playbill ranging from Shakespeare to musicals, four main stage plays are staged here each year. Completed in 1963, Harry W. McPherson Hall at IWU is home to a 300-seat theater, a scene shop, and a variety of other amenities.

Each year, the Westbrook Auditorium at Illinois Wesleyan University hosts roughly 200 music majors and several hundred IWU students. Each semester, a variety of musical performances from various time periods are presented, with the majority of events being free and open to the public.

The McLean County Arts Center hosts the Spring Bloom Arts Festival in March every year. It's an indoor fine art festival with over a hundred artists showing everything from carpentry and glass art to sculpture and paintings. There are also prints and pictures and jewelry made by hand on display.

The McLean County Fair is billed as the '"Home of the World's Largest County 4-H Fair" taking place each August at the McLean County Fairgrounds in Bloomington. 4-H activities include: livestock shows, a film festival, and exhibits around food, nutrition & health, plant science, engineering & technology, and environment & natural resources. Evening Grandstand Entertainment has tractor pulls and different musical acts.

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

Abraham Lincoln's friend and mentor David Davis was a Supreme Court Justice who was instrumental in his 1860 presidential campaign. A mid-Victorian style and taste model, the Davis Mansion was built in 1872. It has a coal stove, gas lighting, and indoor plumbing, and has been in the Davis family for three generations. The David Davis Mansion is a National Register Historic Landmark.

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The house serves as a reminder of the pivotal role Illinois played in the nation's history during Abraham Lincoln's presidency, as well as a predecessor to contemporary dwellings and comfort systems. Special Tea Ladies Inc. events may also be arranged at the estate.

Lincoln's Bloomington and Normal, Illinois is a driving trip offered by the McLean County Museum of History. President Abraham Lincoln is shown in the CD-based audio tour as a returning guest who discusses his visits to various locations and the significance they have. With narration by James Keeran, the tour takes you to the law office of Jesse Fell, who first suggested that Lincoln run for president, the home of Asahel Gridley, a close friend and Lincoln's client when the latter was sued for slander, the Miller-Davis Building where Lincoln practiced law, and 14 other places of significance.

The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau conducts monthly Twin City Tours. Tours start at the McLean County Museum.

Downtown Bloomington offers museums, banks, a legal and governmental center, residential living, a large artists' community, plus an assortment of specialty retail businesses and supportive services. There is an abundance of restaurants and a lively night scene. A number of special events such as Tour de Chocolat, Farmers' Market, Tour de Metro, Pub Crawl, and Once Upon a Holiday, offer a chance to experience the district. Downtown Bloomington is home to government offices of the City of Bloomington, McLean County, and major employers including State Farm Insurance and several specialty stores, bars, restaurants and art galleries.

There is only one town in Illinois where Beer Nuts Brand Snacks are made. There are two Beer Nuts Company Stores in Bloomington. Each store has a video tour of the plant in Bloomington and a history of the snacks.

There are two public school districts in Bloomington, and they serve the city. Bloomington Public Schools District 87 runs one high school, Bloomington High School, one junior high school, Bloomington Junior High School, six elementary schools, and a pre-school, Sarah Raymond Preschool (named for the first female superintendent for Bloomington).

These include Central Catholic High School, Corpus Christi School Elm./Jr. school, Epiphany ELMS & JR SCHOOL, Trinity Lutheran SCHOOL, and Cornerstone Christian Academy in Bloomington. Metcalf Elm./Jr. School and University High School, both situated on the campus of Illinois State University, are available to Bloomington students.

There are 2,100 students at Illinois Wesleyan University, which was founded in 1850. It is a private residential university with a student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1. It used to be part of the United Methodist Church. College of Liberal Arts: There are 17 academic departments in the College of Liberal Arts. The College of Fine Arts: There are professional schools of art, music, and theater arts in the College of Fine Arts. There is also the School of Nursing. One thing that Illinois Wesleyan has done in recent years is build the five-story Ames Library and the Center for Natural Science. Also, the Shirk Center for Athletics and Recreation was built. Hairmasters Institute of Cosmetology, Inc., a school in Illinois that specializes in hair styling, hair design, long hair design, hair texture, hair color, people skills, and salon management classes, says it has been teaching these skills for more than 40 years.