Bloomington, Illinois

Wiki Article

McLean County had a seat when formed. "would be located later." the bill declared. Promoters of the new county offered James Allin's property for the new town. Bloomington was set out after his acceptance. On July 4, 1831, its lots were auctioned in a raucous auction. Few highways existed at the time, but excellent soils drew new farmers who set up shop in the new county.

Fire at a laundry across from the old city hall and police station was found in 1900. But the fire engulfed most of downtown, notably north and east of the courthouse. Rebuilt by local architects George Miller and Paul O. Moratz, the charred portion was rapidly restored.

Bloomington's population increased steadily over the first two decades of the twentieth century. As Bloomington and its downtown area expanded, so did the agricultural industry, as well as the development of roads and railways and the expansion of the insurance industry (primarily State Farm Insurance). Trade from neighboring counties began to flow into the city's central business district. The power of labor unions increased.

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.

The city has 76,610 inhabitants and 30,454 homes according to the 2010 census. 2,814.8 people per square mile (1,099.5/km2) was the population density. The average density was 1,261.5 per square mile (492.8/km2), with 34,339 dwelling units. 77.5 percent of the population 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, regardless of race.

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.

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.

A family's median income in the city was $81,166, while a household's median income was $58,662. Males earned $56,597 on average, while females earned $39,190. The city has a per capita income of $32,672 dollars. Around 5.7 percent of households and 11.0 percent of the population were poor, with 12.6 percent under the age of 18 and 6.3 percent of those 65 and over falling into this category.

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.

A previous home of the Central Hockey League's PrairieThunder and Blaze, the Grossinger Motors Arena (originally the U.S. Cellular Coliseum) opened in 2006 near southwest downtown Bloomington. As of 2014, it also hosts games for the Illinois State University club hockey team and area youth hockey programs. The Coliseum has a fixed seating capacity of 7,000 but can accommodate over 8,000 for special events. The venue may also be used as a theatre with a retractable curtain, seating 2,500-5,000 people. Since its inception, the Coliseum has staged concerts, family performances, ice shows, racing, and tradeshows.

This department is comprised of four sections: parks, recreation, golf, and the Miller Zoo. At least 44 park sites and three golf courses are maintained by the Department of Parks and Recreation: Airport Park, Alton Depot Park, Angler's Lake Nature Preserve; Atwood Wayside; Bittner Park; Brookridge Park; Buck-Mann; Clearwater; Eagle Crest; Emerson; Ewing; Fell Avenue; Franklin; Friendship; Highland Park Golf Course; Lincoln Leisure Center; Holiday Park; and the City of Alton.

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.

In 2007, as part of Illinois State University's 150th anniversary celebrations, the Genevieve Green Gardens at Ewing Cultural Center were dedicated. The late Bruce V. Green, an ardent gardener who pioneered the project with a generous $5.2 million contribution, was one of many architects and landscape designers that contributed to the arduous effort of developing the gardens. The gardens now include a new public entrance that leads to a formal plaza, the manor's entrance, a grass patio, a theater walk with enlarged walkways, and more plants.

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.

An yearly schedule of five Masterworks, two Pops and three Chamber Orchestra performances is held at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

On copyright Lane off Towanda Avenue, the Community Players Theater is one of the oldest community theaters that is entirely run by volunteers. When the theater first opened in 1923, it was the 88th time it had run.

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.

USA Ballet is an international ballet company that turned 21 in 2011. USA Ballet has workshops for kids and does outreach programs. They perform at Illinois Wesleyan University's McPherson Theater three times a year.

Each July in Downtown Bloomington, the Lincoln's Bloomington Festival comprises Civil War reenactments, traditional craft displays, children's activities, musical performances, presentations, and tours.

Ewing Manor was built by Bloomington architect Phil Hooten in the Channel-Norman style that was popular with the rich in the post-Victorian era. The surrounding gardens were created by noted landscape architect Jens Jensen, who also designed Springfield's Lincoln Memorial Gardens. The theatre on the grounds play host to the Illinois Shakespeare Festival each summer.

The McLean County Historical Society created the McLean County Museum of History in 1892. The museum contains permanent and changing exhibits that examine Central Illinois history. This site is on the NRHP.

Restored in 1977, the Miller Park Pavilion & War Memorial was dedicated in May of that year. Red walkways surround the black granite monument, which honors Central Illinoisans who died or went missing in action during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

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

More info

Both groups and individuals may take a tour of Judge David Davis's 36-room mansion at the David Davis Mansion. Visitors may learn more about the history of the American West by examining items and tales related to the Davis family. Family history (with an emphasis on children), servant life, domestic life and technology at the beginning of the industrial revolution, and Victorian architecture are some of the specific topics covered.

The house is a predecessor to contemporary residences and comfort systems, and a reminder of Illinois' significance in American history during Abraham Lincoln's presidency. A Tea Ladies Inc. presentation at the estate may also be arranged.

An audio driving tour named Lincoln's Bloomington and Normal, Illinois is available through the McLean County Museum of History. President Abraham Lincoln is portrayed as a returning guest on the CD-based audio tour, discussing the locations he visited and their significance. The audio tour covers Kersey Fell's Law Office, where Jesse Fell advised Lincoln run for president; the house of Asahel Gridley, Lincoln's friend and client in a defamation action; the Miller-Davis Building, where Lincoln practiced law; and 14 more places, all written and performed by James Keeran.

The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau conducts Twin City Excursions, which are monthly tours of Bloomington and Normal. The McLean County Museum of History is the starting point for tours.

Museums, banks, a legal and administrative center, residential housing, a strong artists' community, and a variety of specialized retail stores and related services may all be found in downtown Bloomington, IL. There are many restaurants to choose from, as well as a vibrant nightlife. Tour de Chocolat, Farmers' Market, Tour de Metro, Pub Crawl, and Once Upon a Holiday are just a few of the spectacular events that take place in the neighborhood. Downtown Bloomington is home to City of Bloomington and McLean County government buildings, as well as important businesses such as State Farm Insurance and a variety of specialized shops, pubs, restaurants, and art galleries.

There are two school districts that serve Bloomington. Bloomington Public Schools District 87 serves the city's interior, with one high school (Bloomington High School), one junior high school (Bloomington Junior High School), six elementary schools (Oakland, Washington, Bent, Irving, Sheridan, and Stevenson elementary schools), and one pre-school (Sarah Raymond Pre-School) (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.