Bloomington, Illinois

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Bloomington, a city in central Illinois, and the county seat of McLean County since 1830. It's roughly midway between Chicago and St. Louis, Missouri, and next to Normal, Illinois (to the north). For its wildflowers, the region was renamed Keg Grove in 1822 and then Blooming Grove. The town was called Bloomington when it was set out in 1831. A plaque commemorating Abraham Lincoln's famous "lost speech" against slavery, which he made in 1856 at Major's Hall in Bloomington during a conference to create the Republican Party in Illinois. An large part of the economy is focused on farming (especially maize) and livestock husbandry, as well as the manufacturing of farm seeds. The city is also a major producer of confectionery, including candies and vacuum cleaners.

Before the arrival of the first Euro-American immigrants in the early 1820s, the Bloomington region was populated by the Kickapoo people. Bloomington, born of Keg Grove, became the county seat of McLean County on December 25, 1830.

People from all around, including Abraham Lincoln, who was practicing law in Springfield, Illinois, flocked to the town's heart, now known as Downtown Bloomington, to trade and transact business. For Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1854, Jesse W. Fell, who created the Bloomington Pantagraph and was a major Bloomington real estate developer, was a key figure in the campaign.

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

The city has a population of 76,610 at the 2010 census, with 30,454 homes. 2,814.8 people per square mile (1,099.5/km2) was the population density. At an average density of 1,261.5 units per square mile (492.8/km2), there were 34,339 dwelling units. 7.75% White; 10.1% African American; 0.3 % Native American; 7.0 % Asian; 1.42 % other races; 2.9% two or more races; and 2.9 percent from two or more races. 5.6 percent of the population was of Hispanic or Latino origin.

Bloomington and McLean County are the fastest-growing urban areas in the state of Illinois. Between 1990 and 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, a 15.7 percent rise in less than six years, according to a special census performed by the United States Census Bureau.

Citizens for a New Public Library forms a Friends of the Library organization in 1976 to lobby for voter approval of bonds to fund a new public library. The effort was successful, and the library reopened as "Bloomington Public Library." in 1977, at 205 East Olive Street. Currently, the library provides a variety of public services, including a Bookmobile that distributes to local areas, which was initially established in 1926 as Library on Wheels.

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.

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.

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra presents five Masterworks, two Pops, and three Chamber Orchestra performances yearly at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

The 21st anniversary of USA Ballet, a world-renowned dance group, will be commemorated in 2011. The McPherson Theatre at Illinois Wesleyan University hosts USA Ballet three times a year for performances and seminars for youngsters.

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, which takes place in August at the McLean County Fairgrounds in Bloomington, is advertised as the "Home of the World's Largest County 4-H Fair" In addition to livestock exhibitions and a film festival, 4-H members may participate in exhibits on topics such as food, nutrition, and health, plant science, engineering, and natural resources management. Tractor pulls and different musical groups are part of the evening grandstand entertainment.

Ewing Manor was created by Bloomington architect Phil Hooten in the post-Victorian Channel-Norman style. Jens Jensen, who developed Springfield's Lincoln Memorial Gardens, designed the surrounding gardens. Every summer, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival is held on the grounds.

The McLean County Historical Society was established in 1892 and is the ancestor of the McLean County Museum of History. In the ancient McLean County Courthouse, the museum houses a collection of exhibits that chronicle the region's past. The National Register of Historic Places recognizes this place.

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.

The David Davis Mansion gives visitors a look into the life of Abraham Lincoln's friend and mentor, David Davis, who served on the United States Supreme Court and was a crucial figure in Lincoln's 1860 presidential campaign. The Davis Mansion, built in 1872, is a model of mid-Victorian design and elegance, combining Italianate and Second Empire architectural aspects. His Bloomington house, which was passed down through three generations, had all of the contemporary amenities of the time: a coal-burning furnace, gas lights, and indoor plumbing. On the National Register of Historic Places, the David Davis Mansion is a historic landmark.

The former building of the Montefiore synagogue in Illinois is one of the few Moorish Revival buildings in the state. It is also one of the oldest synagogues in the United States, making it one of the oldest in the country.

Bloomington, Illinois

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.

As the city grows, it has pushed into another district in McLean County, Unit District No. 5. Unit Five used to serve only suburban areas like Normal, but now most of its students come from Bloomington, which is where the school is located. Unit Five runs two high schools and four junior high schools. There are also a lot of elementary schools in the Unit Five area. As of 2010, Unit Five was building its fourth junior high school, which is called George Evans Junior High School or EJHS. There were two new elementary schools built in Bloomington in 2011 as well as the new high school. Unit 5 is also planning to build another high school in Bloomington.

The magnificent dome of the McLean County Museum of History serves as a marker for locating 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 administrative center, residential housing, a major artists' colony, as well as a variety of specialist retail companies and supporting services are all available to visitors. There are several restaurants to choose from, and the nightlife is vibrant.