Bloomington, IL

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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 in the grove. 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 known as Blooming Grove.

McLean became a county when it was set up. The town of McLean became the county seat. Legislation, however, said that Bloomington would not be built until after the legislation was passed. James Allin, one of the people who wanted to start a new county, offered to give 60 acres (240,000 m2) of his land to the town. In the end, he agreed to the deal, and Bloomington was set up. A lot of it was sold at a noisy and well-attended auction on the 4th of July in 1831. 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 county.

Police found a fire in a laundry next to the old city hall and police station. There was a fire and he called the fire department. Most of the downtown was destroyed, especially the areas north and east of the courthouse, which were hit hard by the fire. George Miller and Paul O. Moratz, two architects in the area, quickly rebuilt the area that had been burned.

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.

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.

The City of Bloomington and McLean County, Illinois, make up the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the state of Illinois. People in the area have grown 28% from 1990 to 2006. When the US Census Bureau did a special census of Bloomington in February 2006, it found that the city had grown by 15.7 percent in less than six years. This is where the fastest growth has been, though.

Family income was $81,166 and family income was $58,662 in the city's median household income. Males earned $56,597 on average, compared to $39,190 for females. The city's average annual income was $32,672. An estimated 5.7% of households and 11.0% of the population lived in poverty, with 12.6% of those under the age of 18 and 6.3% of those 65 and over being among those at risk.

There is an indoor public ice skating facility called the Bloomington Ice Center, which was previously called the Pepsi Ice Center. It has a full-size sheet of ice: 200' x 85'. The facility has ice skating lessons, public skating sessions, a full hockey program, learn to curl and curling leagues, skate rental, and a concession stand where you can buy food and drink.

Until 2006, the U.S. Cellular Coliseum was called the Grossinger Motors Arena. It opened in 2006, and it is now home to the Bloomington Edge of the Indoor Football League. It was also home to the PrairieThunder hockey team and the Blaze hockey team. This rink has been home to the Central Illinois Flying Aces of the U.S. Hockey League since 2014. It also hosts some games for the club hockey team at Illinois State University and for youth hockey programs in the area. Since it has more than 180,000 square feet (17,000 m2) of space, the Coliseum can hold about 7,00 people in its fixed seating area, but it can also hold more than 8,000 people for events. When the facility is used as a theater with a retractable curtain, it can seat 2,500 to 5,000 people. Since the Coliseum opened, it has been used for a wide range of events, including concerts, family shows, ice shows, motorsports, and trade shows.

The east–west section joins the north segment near Normal City Hall Annex and continues east to Towanda-Barnes Road. Commerce Drive to Old Farm Lakes Subdivision is the Liberty Branch. It runs from Lincoln Street to Route 9 West. There are lots nearby for parking. Users of all non-motorized modes of transportation are welcome on the path including walkers, runners and skateboarders, among others. The slope is open to skiers throughout the winter months.

While Illinois State University (1857) is located in Normal, Illinois Wesleyan University (1850) and a Heartland Community College campus (1990) are located in Bloomington. The American Passion Play is a popular springtime tradition. The home of Supreme Court associate judge David Davis, built in 1872, is a state historic monument. Bloomington has museums dedicated to history and aviation, a zoo, and a Shakespeare festival in the summer months. This cemetery is where both Adlai E. Stevenson, who served as vice president from 1893 to 1997, and his grandson (and two-time Democratic Party presidential candidate) Adlai E. Stevenson II, are laid to rest. Shirley, southwest of the city, is a gem and mineral museum. Inc. 1839, As of 2010 there were 76,000 people living in Bloomington-Normal and the Bloomington-Normal Metro Area, compared to 64,808 in 2000.

An arts center in central Illinois has been around for more than 130 years. The McLean County Arts Center is one of the oldest arts groups in the Midwest. Each year there are 12 art shows, like the Holiday Treasurers exposition and sale and the annual Amateur Competition and Exhibition, which has been going on for more than 70 years. The Arts Center also helps out with a lot of community events, like the Sugar Creek Arts Festival in Uptown Normal and the Spring Bloom Arts Festival in Bloomington, which are both in the area.

Two main plays are produced each year by the Miller Park Outdoor Summer Theatre, an amateur theater company supported by the city of Bloomington, IN.

The American Passion Play, which is now in its 92nd season, is the oldest Passion Play in the United States that is still being played. 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 Jesus, from his birth to his death.

For more information about the Lincoln's Bloomington Festival, click here.

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 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.

Miller Park

In 1977, the Miller Park Pavilion & War Memorial was repaired, and in May 1988, it was re-dedicated. Red walkways surround the black granite monument, which display the names of Central Illinois people killed or missing in action during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

In addition to a Bell Sea Cobra, Huey helicopter, and F-14 Tomcat, the Prairie Aviation Museum has a collection of restored aircraft on exhibit.

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 Republican nomination for president. An example of mid-Victorian style and taste, the Davis Mansion was constructed in 1872 and incorporates Italianate and Second Empire architectural elements. 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 National Register of Historic Places lists the David Davis Mansion as a historic site.

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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 an audio driving tour offered by the McLean County Museum of History. President Abraham Lincoln appears as a returning guest on the CD-based audio tour, discussing the locations he visited and their significance. The audio tour, written and performed by James Keeran, visits Kersey Fell's Law Office, where Jesse Fell suggested Lincoln run for president; Asahel Gridley's home, where Lincoln was a friend and client in a slander suit; the Miller-Davis Building, where Lincoln practiced law; and 14 other locations.

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.

Beer Nuts Brand Snacks are solely produced in 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 Beer Nuts Snacks.

Central Catholic High School, Corpus Christi Catholic School Elm./Jr. School, Epiphany Elm./Jr. School, St. Mary's Catholic School, Trinity Lutheran School, and Cornerstone Christian Academy are among the private schools in Bloomington. Students from Bloomington may also attend Illinois State University's Metcalf Elm./Jr. School and University High School, which are both laboratory schools.

The magnificent dome of the McLean County Museum of History serves as a landmark to identify the city's historic centre. The courthouse plaza is flanked by turn-of-the-century buildings, many of which have unique histories. Museums, banks, a legal and governmental center, residential living, a large artists' community, as well as a variety of specialty retail businesses and supportive services are all available to visitors. There are many restaurants to choose from, as well as a vibrant nightlife.