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City of Bloomington
City
Logo
Country United States
State Illinois
County McLean
Elevation 797 ft (242.9 m)
Coordinates 40°29′03″N 88°59′37″W / 40.48417°N 88.99361°W / 40.48417; -88.99361
Area 22.5 sq mi (58.3 km2)
 - land 22.5 sq mi (58 km2)
 - water 0.0 sq mi (0 km2)
Population 74,975 (2006)
Density 2,880.3 /sq mi (1,112.1 /km2)
Founded 1857
Mayor Steve Stockton
Timezone CST (UTC-6)
 - summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Postal code 61701, 61704, 61705
Area code 309
Location of Bloomington within Illinois
Location of Illinois in the United States
Website: http://www.cityblm.org

Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area[1] which is often referred to simply as "Bloomington-Normal." A 2006 special census indicated that Bloomington's population was 74,975 [2]. Bloomington is the host of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, which is a nationally recognized Shakespearean festival.[3]

Contents

Geography

Bloomington is located at 40°29′03″N 88°59′37″W. The city is at an elevation of 797 feet (243 m) above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.5 square miles (58.3 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census[4] of July 2007, there were 72,416 people, 26,642 households, and 15,718 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,880.3 people per square mile (1,112.1/km²). There were 28,431 housing units at an average density of 1,263.6/sq mi (487.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.92% White, 8.64% African American, 0.18% Native American, 3.02% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.42% from other races, and 1.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.32% of the population.

The City of Bloomington and McLean County comprise the fastest-growing metropolitan area in Illinois. The area's population has grown 28% from 1990 through 2006. The fastest growth has been in Bloomington, as the U.S. Census Bureau conducted a special census of that city in February, 2006, showing a population of 74,975, a 15.7% increase in less than six years.

In 2000, there were 26,642 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.0% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,496, and the median income for a family was $61,093. Males had a median income of $41,736 versus $29,077 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,751. About 4.3% of families 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

History

Looking northwest from the east side of the downtown square, about 1910

Prior to the 1820s, the area of today's Bloomington was at the edge of a large grove enjoyed by the Kickapoo people before the first Euro-American settlers arrived in the early 1820s.[5] Springing from the settlement of Keg Grove, later called Blooming Grove, Bloomington was named as county seat on December 25, 1830, when McLean County was created.[6]

When the County of McLean was incorporated a county seat was established. However, the legislation stated the site of Bloomington "would be located later." James Allen, who was one of the promoters of the new county, offered to donate 60 acres (240,000 m2) of his own land for the new town. His offer was accepted and Bloomington was laid out. Its lots were sold at a big party on the 4th of July 1831. At this time there were few roads, but rich soils brought new farmers who began commerce by conducting their business in the newly formed county. People came from all over to trade and do business at the town's center, known today as Downtown Bloomington, including Abraham Lincoln who was working as a lawyer in nearby Springfield.[5]

In 1900 an officer on patrol discovered a fire in a laundry across the street from the old City Hall and Police Station. He sounded the alarm but the fire eventually destroyed the majority of the downtown, especially the areas north and east of the courthouse. However, the burnt area was quickly rebuilt from the designs of local architects George Miller, Paul O. Moratz and A.L. Pillsbury.

During the first two decades of the 20th century Bloomington continued to grow. Agriculture, the construction of highways and railroads, and the growth of the insurance business (mainly State Farm Insurance) all influenced the growth of Bloomington and its downtown area. The downtown area became a regional shopping center attracting trade from adjoining counties. Labor unions grew in strength. This trend has continued to the present day, where expansion has included many restaurants and other businesses.[citation needed]

Economy

The downtown State Farm Insurance Building, part of the Bloomington Central Business District.

The top ten employers located in Bloomington include State Farm Insurance, which was founded in the city, COUNTRY Financial, Electrolux North America, Normal based Unit 5 schools, AFNI Inc., OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, County of McLean, and the City of Bloomington.[7] Bloomington is also home to Illinois Wesleyan University, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, a convention center at the McLean County Fairgrounds, U.S. Cellular Coliseum, and Beer Nuts.

Education

Bloomington's public school district, District 87, has one high school, Bloomington High School, one junior high school, Bloomington Junior High School, and numerous elementary schools. Bloomington is also home to several private schools, including Central Catholic High School, Holy Trinity Elm./Jr. School, St. Mary's Catholic School, Trinity Lutheran School, and Cornerstone Christian Academy.

The city of Bloomington is home to one university:

  • Illinois Wesleyan University, founded in 1850, is a private residential university with an enrollment of 2,100 and a student/faculty ratio of 12 to 1. Historically, it was affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The University consists of the College of Liberal Arts , with 17 academic departments; the College of Fine Arts, comprising professional Schools of Art, Music, and Theatre Arts; and the School of Nursing. In the past decade, Illinois Wesleyan has added the five-story Ames Library, the Center for Natural Science, and the Shirk Center for Athletics and Recreation. An NCAA Division III school, Illinois Wesleyan has had more than 100 athletes elected into the Academic All-American team since 1970.[8],[9]

Transportation

Statue of statesman Adlai Stevenson in the CIRA terminal

Interstates 39, 55 and 74 intersect at Bloomington, making the city a substantial transportation hub. US highways 51 and 150 and Illinois state route 9 also run through Bloomington. The former highway, U.S. Route 66, once ran directly through the city's downtown and later on a bypass to the east. The Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System operates Bloomington-Normal's internal bus system, and several intercity bus lines operate both north-south and east-west service through the city.

Bloomington is serviced by passenger rail.

  • Amtrak, from its Bloomington-Normal station, operates five daily trains each way, both north to Chicago and south to St. Louis, with one southbound train (the "Texas Eagle") continuing on to San Antonio TX and connecting to Los Angeles CA (as the "Sunset Limited"). The Amtrak passenger count in Bloomington-Normal is fourth-highest in the region, behind Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Louis (Amtrak statistics for 4th quarter, 2007). The station is located just east of the Illinois State University campus in Normal.

Central Illinois Regional Airport provides Bloomington with commercial airline service.

Retail

Most of the city's retail is concentrated in downtown and east of town on Veterans Parkway, including Eastland Mall.

Recreation and entertainment

Entertainment

Beer-nuts.jpg
  • The Shirk family began producing Beer Nuts in Bloomington in 1937. Today, Beer Nuts are produced using the same unique formula at its 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) manufacturing facility.[8]
  • The Challenger Learning Center at the Heartland Community College offers an interactive, simulated space/science experience through scheduled team missions for students, public and corporate groups.[8]
  • Grady’s Family Fun Park is Bloomington-Normal’s only amusement park. It features an 18-hole miniature golf course, batting cages, bumper boats, go carts and kiddie rides. Also included is a restaurant with a full menu, soft serve ice cream and an arcade.[8]
  • The Pepsi Ice Center is an indoor public ice skating facility operated by the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department, featuring a full-size sheet of ice: 200’ x 85’. The facility offers ice skating lessons, public skating sessions and a comprehensive hockey program, along with skate rental and a concession stand.[8]
  • The U.S. Cellular Coliseum in downtown Bloomington hosts a variety of sporting events, concerts, ice shows, family shows, conferences and much more. It is also home to the Bloomington Extreme of the Indoor Football League and the PrairieThunder of the International Hockey League. With over 180,000 square feet (17,000 m2) of space, the Coliseum boasts a fixed seating capacity of 7,000 for sporting events but can seat over 8,000 for concerts and other special events.[8]
  • Upper Limits Indoor Rock Climbing Gym has more than 21,000 square feet (2,000 m2) of climbing, including routes up to 110 feet (34 m) tall, a wave wall, bi-level cave and a unique outdoor bouldering area. Upper Limits accommodates all ages and skill levels, offering introductory and advanced classes, parties, group rates, scout programs, team building exercises and portable walls.[8]

Nature and wildlife

  • The Bloomington-Normal Constitution Trail is a 24-mile (39 km) jogging, walking, cycling, and rollerblading trail. The north-south segment of the trail follows the abandoned Illinois Central Gulf (ICG) railroad from Kerrick Road in Normal to Washington Street in Bloomington. The east-west segment intersects the north segment at Normal City Hall Annex and continues east to Towanda-Barnes Road. The Liberty Branch begins at Commerce Drive and ends at Old Farm Lakes Subdivision. The Freedom Branch begins at Lincoln Street and ends at Route 9 West. Parking is available at adjoining lots throughout the area. The trail is open to walkers, runners, in-line skaters, skateboarders, cyclists, wheelchair users, and other non-motorized forms of transportation. During winter months, it is not cleared of snow, and is available to skiers; weather permitting.[8]
  • Miller Park Zoo offers many exhibits and zookeeper interaction opportunities such as a Wallaby WalkAbout, ZooLab, Children’s Zoo, Animals of Asia, and the Kattheoefer Animal Building. The Zoo’s newest exhibit is the Tropical America Rainforest.[10]
  • The Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department is composed of four divisions: Parks, Recreation, Golf, and the Miller Park Zoo. The Department maintains over 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) of land including 44 park sites and 3 golf courses. Parks are open from 6:00am to 10:00pm, alcoholic beverages and smoking are prohibited and pets are allowed in all parks on a leash.[11]

Golf

Bloomington-Normal has been ranked the “Fifth Best American City for Golf” by Golf Digest for two consecutive years.[8]

The golf course at the Bloomington Country Club.
  • The Den at Fox Creek: 6,926 yards (6,333 m), Par 72, 18 holes.

The Den at Fox Creek is a 4-star, Arnold Palmer Signature Designed Golf Course that opened in 1997, and features bent grass tees, greens and fairways. Amenities include GPS-equipped carts, club rental, pro shop and snack bar. There are nine holes with water hazards, 131 sand traps and a unique alternative shot closing the 18th hole on this par 72 course. Practice facilities include a large bent grass driving range and tees with practice chipping and putting greens. The Den is home to both the IHSA Boy’s Golf State Tournament and COUNTRY Youth Classic.[8]

  • Highland Park Golf Course: 5,725 yards (5,235 m), Par 70, 18 holes.

Located in South Bloomington, the Highland Park Golf Course has numerous challenges including creeks, three lakes, well-placed sand traps and tree-lined fairways. Highland Park sports a pro shop, carts, club rental and snack bar, and offers individual or group lessons.[12]

  • The Links at Ireland Grove: 1,590 yards (1,450 m), Par 29, 9 holes.

The Links at Ireland Grove is Bloomington’s newest public golf facility and first executive course. This nine hole course consists of seven par 3’s and two par 4’s. The driving range has weather protected hitting bays, plus over 1-acre (4,000 m2) of target greens, several bunkers, two fairways and nearly 2 acres (8,100 m2) of natural grass hitting area. In addition, The Links Golf Academy offers a 4-acre (16,000 m2) short game practice facility. The Links’ complex also includes Golf Etc., a pro shop selling everything golf related. The Links is also home to the COUNTRY Contest portion of the COUNTRY Youth Classic.[13]

  • Prairie Vista Golf Course: 6,745 yards (6,168 m), Par 72, 18 holes.

Prairie Vista sports 16 water hazards, a wave bunker, two-level greens and fairways, lots of sand, a pro shop, carts, club rental, snack bar, banquet room and driving range. In addition to annually hosting the COUNTRY Youth Classic and IHSA Boy’s Golf State Finals, Prairie Vista hosted the 1997 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf East Regional.[14]

  • Bloomington Indoor Golf Club offers full swing golf simulators. Players use their own clubs, driver to putter, playing challenging courses from around the world. The Bloomington Indoor Golf Club features six golf simulators along with beer, wine and a limited menu. Players have the choice of playing nine or 18 holes, seven days a week. The Indoor Golf Club offers private lessons and golfing parties. Specials include weekly meal specials, senior breakfast specials, lunch, family night and late night specials.[15]

There are two private country clubs within Bloomington: Bloomington Country Club and Lakeside Country Club. A third, Crestwicke Country Club, is just south of the city. All three have golf courses.

Arts and theatre

A bronze Abraham Lincoln statue, created by the well-known local artist, Rick Harney, sits on the grounds of the Old McLean County Courthouse.

According to creativeclass.org, Bloomington-Normal is ranked in the top 1% among national creative workforces.[8]

  • American Passion Play, now in its 85th season, is the oldest continuously performed Passion Play in the United States. Performed at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, the Passion Play is set in Palestine, 30 AD, and portrays the life of Christ in its entirety. The play runs March through April.[16]
  • The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts is the centerpiece of the city’s new Cultural District, which also includes the neighboring McLean County of Arts Center, and forthcoming festival park and creativity center for arts education. Featuring a 1,200 seat auditorium, the new center has state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment as well as a variety of improved patron services. Currently presenting a season of nationally acclaimed touring artists, the center is also home to over twenty area performing arts ensembles. More than 400 performances and community events take place at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts each year.[17]
  • The Illinois Shakespeare Festival includes productions performed in an open-air, Elizabethan-style theatre within historic Ewing Manor. The audience is encouraged to picnic on the grounds before each performance to be entertained by strolling Madrigal singers, jesters, and other entertainers as well as a Green Show performance.[18]
  • The Illinois Symphony Orchestra performs at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts where they hold five Masterworks concerts, two Pops concerts and three Chamber Orchestra concerts annually.[19]
  • The McLean County Arts Center is one of the oldest arts organizations in the Midwest, serving Central Illinois for over 130 years. Each year 12 art exhibitions are held including the Holiday Treasurers exposition and sale, and the annual Amateur Competition and Exhibition which, for over 70 years, has showcased the best amateur artists in Central Illinois. The Arts Center also sponsors a number of community events, such as the Sugar Creek Arts Festival in Uptown Normal and the Spring Bloom Arts Festival in Bloomington.[20]
  • The Community Players theater located on Robinhood Lane off of Towanda Avenue is the only community theater in the twin cities. Opened in 1923, the theater celebrated its 86th season in 2008.[21]

Attractions

Historic sites

  • Ewing Manor, located on the Sunset Hill estate of the late Hazle Buck Ewing, sits majestically in the wooded landscape at the northwest corner of Towanda Avenue and Emerson Street. Completed in 1929, Ewing Manor was designed by Bloomington architect Phil Hooten in the Channel-Norman style so favored by the affluent in the post-Victorian period. 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.[8]
  • The McLean County Museum of History traces its roots back to 1892, the year the McLean County Historical Society was founded. Housed inside the old McLean County Courthouse, the Museum features permanent and rotating exhibits that explore the history of Central Illinois. The Museum also offers educational programming, library and archive resources, and sponsors many community events. Being showcased now through August 2010 is A Turbulent Time: Perspectives of the Vietnam War. [1] The Museum also provides a driving audio-tour highlighting Lincoln historic sites in Bloomington-Normal as part of their inclusion in the Looking For Lincoln attraction listing. [2] This location is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[8]
Miller Park Pavilion
  • The Miller Park Pavilion & War Memorial was restored in 1977 and was 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.[8]
  • The Prairie Aviation Museum has a collection of preserved aircraft on display, revolving aviation exhibits and memorabilia, a mini-theatre, and much more. Exhibit highlights include a Bell Sea Cobra, Huey Helicopter, the only F-14 Tomcat on display in Illinois, as well as T-33, T-38, A-4, A-7, F-4 and F-100 aircraft.
  • The Evergreen Memorial Cemetery also known as the Evergreen Cemetery is the burial site of many notable Bloomington-Normal citizens including the Stevenson family. Adlai E. Stevenson I was Vice President to Grover Cleveland and Adlai E. Stevenson II was Governor of Illinois, Ambassador to the United Nations and twice Democratic candidate for the United States Presidency. Also buried there are Adlai’s wife, Letitia Green Stevenson, who was the second National President-General of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and her sister, Julia Green Scott, the seventh National President-General of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Other historical figures buried there include David Davis, friend and mentor to Abraham Lincoln; Charles Radbourn, 19th Century baseball’s greatest pitcher; and Dorothy Gage, inspiration for the main character in the Wizard of Oz and niece of author L. Frank Baum.[8]
  • The David Davis Mansion offers a glimpse into the life friend and mentor to Abraham Lincoln, David Davis who served as a United States Supreme Court Justice and was a key component during Lincoln’s bid for the 1860 Presidential nomination. The Davis Mansion, completed in 1872, combines Italianate and Second Empire architectural features and is a model of mid-Victorian style and taste. His Bloomington home, which remained in the Davis family for three succeeding generations, contains the most modern conveniences of that era; a coal-burning stove, gas lighting and indoor plumbing. Groups of ten or more must pre-arrange a visit. [3] The David Davis Mansion is listed as a Looking For Lincoln location [4] as well as a historic landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.[8]
  • The Vrooman Mansion, built in 1869, is available for special events, including weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, showers, reunions, etc. The Mansion also holds cooking classes, fashion shows, and an annual Holiday Open House. Group lunches are available with advanced reservations, which include a tour. [5] This location is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [6] [8]
  • Other historical landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
    • Rubin Benjamin House
    • George H. Cox House
    • David Davis III House
    • Robert Greenlee House
    • John M. Hamilton House
    • Holy Trinity Rectory
    • McLean County Courthouse
    • George H. Miller House
    • Miller-Davis Law Building
    • Stevenson House
    • White Building

Sister Cities

Sports

Club League Venue Established Championships
Bloomington Extreme IFL Indoor football U.S. Cellular Coliseum 2006  
Bloomington PrairieThunder IHL Ice hockey U.S. Cellular Coliseum 2006  

Media

FM Radio

TeleCourier Tower in Downtown Bloomington

AM Radio

Analog Television

Digital Television (DTV)

  • 28 WYZZ-DT (43.1 - High Definition) "Fox 43", Fox
  • 40 WHOI-DT (19.1 - High Definition), ABC
  • 40 WHOI-DT (19.2 - Standard Definition), The CW Television Network
  • 46 WTVP-DT (47.1 - Standard Definition), PBS
  • 46 WTVP-DT (47.2 - High Definition), PBS HDTV
  • 46 WTVP-DT (47.3 - Standard Definition), Create
  • 56 WEEK-DT (25.1 - High Definition) "News 25", NBC
  • 56 WEEK-DT (25.2 - Standard Definition), NBC Weather Plus

Print

Notable companies

Bloomington is home to Beer Nuts[23] and State Farm Insurance. [7]

Notable people

Sports teams

References

  1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  2. ^ M.K. Guetersloh (2006-06-16). "Bloomington grows by 10,000". Pantagraph. http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/06/16/news/doc449338a9f298f188018042.txt. Retrieved 2008-02-15. 
  3. ^ "About Us: Illinois Shakespeare Festival". http://www.thefestival.org/aboutus/. Retrieved 2008-02-08. 
  4. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ^ a b History of Bloomington, History of Bloomington
  6. ^ History of Bloomington (City Website), History of Bloomington (from city website)
  7. ^ "2006 Demographic Profile Bloomington-Normal, McLean County, Illinois" (pdf). http://www.cityblm.org/upload/images/sitewide/pdfs/demographics2006.pdf. Retrieved 2008-03-03. 
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB Website)
  9. ^ Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU Website)
  10. ^ City of Bloomington | Miller Park Zoo
  11. ^ City of Bloomington | Parks & Recreation
  12. ^ Highland Park Golf Course
  13. ^ The Links at Ireland Grove
  14. ^ Prairie Vista Golf Course
  15. ^ Bloomington Indoor Golf Club - Bogies Indoor Golf Club
  16. ^ The American Passion Play, Inc
  17. ^ Bloomington Cultural District | Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts
  18. ^ Illinois Shakespeare Festival
  19. ^ Home Page
  20. ^ The McLean County Arts Center
  21. ^ Community Players Theatre
  22. ^ Normal, Illinois website, Sister City Partnership
  23. ^ Beer Nuts located in Bloomington, Official Website

External links

Municipalities and communities of
McLean County, Illinois
County seat: Bloomington
Cities

Bloomington | Chenoa | El Paso‡ | Le Roy | Lexington
Town
Villages
Townships
Unincorporated
communities

Barnes | Bentown | Bloomington Heights | Covell | Fletcher | Funks Grove | Gillum | Glen Avon | Hilltop | Holder | Kerrik | Kumler | Lyttleville | Meadows | Merna | Padua | Sabina | Shirley | Weston | Yuton
Ghost town
Footnotes

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

 
State of Illinois
Springfield (capital)
Topics
Regions
Major cities
Counties

Adams · Alexander · Bond · Boone · Brown · Bureau · Calhoun · Carroll · Cass · Champaign · Christian · Clark · Clay · Clinton · Coles · Cook · Crawford · Cumberland · DeKalb · DeWitt · Douglas · DuPage · Edgar · Edwards · Effingham · Fayette · Ford · Franklin · Fulton · Gallatin · Greene · Grundy · Hamilton · Hancock · Hardin · Henderson · Henry · Iroquois · Jackson · Jasper · Jefferson · Jersey · Jo Daviess · Johnson · Kane · Kankakee · Kendall · Knox · LaSalle · Lake · Lawrence · Lee · Livingston · Logan · Macon · Macoupin · Madison · Marion · Marshall · Mason · Massac · McDonough · McHenry · McLean · Menard · Mercer · Monroe · Montgomery · Morgan · Moultrie · Ogle · Peoria · Perry · Piatt · Pike · Pope · Pulaski · Putnam · Randolph · Richland · Rock Island · Saline · Sangamon · Schuyler · Scott · Shelby · St. Clair · Stark · Stephenson · Tazewell · Union · Vermilion · Wabash · Warren · Washington · Wayne · White · Whiteside · Will · Williamson · Winnebago · Woodford

Redirecting to Bloomington, Illinois


Travel guide

Up to date as of January 14, 2010
(Redirected to Bloomington-Normal article)

From Wikitravel

Bloomington [1], pop. 64,808 (2000 census), is a city in the Midwest state of Illinois in the United States of America, on the classic Route 66 highway across the country. With neighboring Normal (pop. 45,386 2000 census), it forms a combined community of over 110,000 known locally as the Twin Cities. Illinois Wesleyan University is in Bloomington, and is not to be confused with Illinois State University in Normal.

The community is located in the heart of Central Illinois, approximately 125 miles southwest of Chicago, 155 miles northeast of St. Louis, and 64 miles northeast of Springfield, the State Capital. Bloomington is the County Seat of McLean County, the largest county in Illinois (approximately 762,240 acres). Interstates 39, 55 and 74 converge on Bloomington-Normal, as well as US Route 51 and State Route 9.

Bloomington-Normal is also serviced by four major railroad lines and Amtrak, as well as air transportation at the Central Illinois Regional Airport, one of the fastest growing airports in the country, which services commuter, corporate, and private aircraft.

The Twin Cities are located in one of the most productive agricultural areas in the nation, but the economy is diverse and well-balanced. In addition to the major manufacturers and industries, there are two universities, three hospitals, a convention center, two indoor malls, an outdoor outlet mall, and many banks and Savings & Loan Associations located in Bloomington-Normal. The City of Bloomington is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Illinois with an estimated 20.25% increase in population between 1986 and 1995. New construction continues to enhance residential, industrial and commercial growth.

Get in

By plane

The Bloomington airport (IATA: BMI) has daily arrivals from Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and Dallas, along with 4-times-a-week service from Orlando. Greater Peoria Regional Airport (PIA) is 45 minutes away and offers arrivals from additional cities. Parking is free at both airports.

By car

Interstate highways 39, 55 and 74 converge on the south side of Bloomington and divide again on the north side of Normal. I-55 follows the historic route of Route 66 through central Illinois, except that Route 66 bypassed Bloomington-Normal on the east rather than on the west as the interstates do. Veterans Parkway, the east-side bypass (formerly called "Belt Line Road", was renamed in the 1980's), was the Route 66 route in the immediate pre-Interstate period. Earlier, 66 passed through downtown Bloomington and into residential Normal. The route given in the Route 66 page reflects this original alignment, known as "Business 66" after Veterans Parkway was built.

By train

You can easily take an Amtrak train from Chicago or Saint Louis, with 6-7 daily departures.

  • Greyhound [2] buses serve Bloomington-Normal from Indianapolis, Chicago, and Saint Louis.
  • Megabus, [3]. Discount bus carrier offers service to Normal from Chicago and St. Louis once daily in each direction, fares start at $1 when reserved well in advance. Bus stop is located near the Amtrak station in the parking lot on the south side of Parkinson Street.
  • Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System, [4]. Busses cover most of the community. Downtown Bloomington is well walkable, but most shopping, etc., is on the eastern side of the towns and is best reached by car or bus.
  • Children's Discovery Museum, 101 East Beaufort St, ☎ +1 309-433-3444, [5]. Tu, W, Sa: 9AM-5PM: Th & F: 9AM-8PM; Su: 9AM-5PM; Also open M: 9AM-5PM in June-August. Full of hands-on exhibit for children. Features an agricultural exhibit, a clock tower, science exhibits, and much more. $4.  edit
  • David Davis Mansion, 1000 East Monroe Drive, ☎ +1 309-828-1084, [6]. W-Su: 9AM-4PM. An elegant, ornate mansion that dates back to 1872. Suggested donation: $2/1 (Adults/Children).  edit
  • Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Ewing Manor - 48 Sunset Road, ☎ +1 309-438-8110 (, fax: +1 309-438-5806), [7]. Considered has some of the best renditions of Shakespeare in the nation.  edit
  • McLean County Museum of History, 200 North Main St (Bloomington), ☎ +1 309-827-0428, [8]. M-Sa: 10AM-5PM; Tu: 10AM-9PM; Also open Su: 1PM-5PM (Sept. - May). Allows one to see the customs and work practices of settlers to McLean county, along with exhibits featuring residents such as Abraham Lincoln and Adlai Stevenson. $5/4/Free (Adults/Seniors/Children & Students).  edit
  • Miller Park Zoo, 1020 South Morris Ave (Bloomington), ☎ +1 309-434-2250 (, fax: +1 309-434-2823), [9]. Daily 9:30AM-4:30PM (Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas). A pleasant place for a picnic and hosts a small but interesting zoo, with a good rain-forest exhibit. $4.50/3.50/Free (Adults/Children 3-12 & Seniors 60+/Children under 3).  edit
  • Bloomington is the county seat of McLean County, the largest and most prosperous county in downstate Illinois farming territory, and as such hosts the McLean County Fair, a particularly durable example of the county-fair genre. Fairgrounds are on the west side of town just off the interstate. Vast quantities of livestock on display, if you're into that sort of thing, with other Midwestern things to see/do/eat. Check locally for dates, typically in early August.
  • Most of Normal's activities revolve around Illinois State University (ISU) in one way or another. See the link under "Learn" for current information on what's happening at the university.
    • The well-reviewed Illinois Shakespeare Festival [10] is associated with ISU and runs from late June until early August, with multiple performances of (usually) three of the Bard's plays. Performances are on the grounds of Ewing Manor in east Bloomington. Tickets are $20 and up for one performance, with package deals and various discounts available.
  • Central Illinois is not usually thought of as much of a place for hiking, to put it mildly, but a very pleasant and popular parkway for walking, biking and blading, the Constitution Trail, follows the former route of the Illinois Central Railroad north from the ISU campus in Normal to the outskirts of town.
  • Bloomington is home to one of the nation's best indoor climbing gyms, Upper Limits. Upper Limits has over 20,000 square feet of climbing area. Built in a set of old grain elevators, this is a great indoor climbing gym. The climbing includes: 65' tall silo routes, a 30' main room with plenty of overhanging climbing (including the Wave Wall with at least three lead-only routes), slab routes, a climbing cave, training area, 110' outdoor routes, and an outdoor bouldering area. Route difficulties ranges from 5.5 to 5.13-, with boulder from V0 to V6+.
  • The U.S. Cellular Colliseum was built in 2006 and features arena football (the Extreme) and minor league hockey (the Prairie Thunder). Additionally, many bands and artists come to perform, such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sheryl Crow.
  • Community Players Theatre, 201 Robinhood Lane, Bloomington, IL (Across from Eagle Post Office), ☎ 309/663-2121, [11]. It is one of the oldest community theatres completely staffed by volunteers. Community Players has been able to present many shows shortly after their Broadway run and, on many occasions, presented the first amateur production of these shows in the United States. It is a not-for-profit community theatre dedicated to promoting the performing arts. Contact the Box Office (309/663-2121) or Website (www.communityplayers.org) for information about their current season.  edit
  • Illinois State University, [12]. The town of Normal grew up around this school, long a teachers college and formerly known as "Illinois State Normal University" (a "normal" school being one dedicated to educating teachers). It expanded enormously in the 1960s and is now a major university, at least in size. The basketball program is strong, although most other sports are at the 1-AA ("sub-major") level. Admission is relatively easy to achieve, but that is changing. A trivium: the Watterson Towers complex on campus is, at nearly 300 feet high, the tallest college dormitory in the world.
  • Illinois Wesleyan University, [13]. Considerably smaller and more selective than its neighbor, with strong liberal-arts programs. Illinois Wesleyan often appears on lists of the nation's best "regional" small colleges.
  • Heartland Community College, [14]. Community college founded in 1991.
  • Lincoln College-Normal, 715 W, Raab RD, [15]. An extension of Lincoln College-Lincoln offering bachelors and associates degrees.  edit

Buy

Main Street has several shops that sell beads, crafts, used books, used clothes and other funky items. For more mainstream shopping, most of what you want can be found on the stores lining Veteran's Parkway.

  • The Coffeehouse & Deli, 114 E Beaufort St (Normal) (1 block East of ISU), ☎ (309) 452-6774, [16]. M-S, 7am-10pm; Sun, 8am-9pm. A vegetarian restaurant with many vegan options. Local art work is displayed on the wall, and changes every few months. Live music and poetry slams are held during the evenings.  edit
  • Lancaster's, 513 N. Main St. (Bloomington), +1 309 827-3333, [17]. Standard (if eclectic) American cuisine. Dinner M-Sa starting at 5PM (reservations advised).
  • Lucca Grill, 116 E. Market St. (Bloomington), +1 309 828-7521. Italian; a long-time community standard. Call for hours.
  • Micheleo's Pizza Best deep thick crust this side of Chicago

Located in "uptown" Normal.

  • Avanti's Italian Restaurant, 407 S Main St or 3302 E. Empire St, [18]. Pizza, pasta, salads and sandwiches. Everything is good and cheap, no matter what, try the bread.  edit

Drink

All bars close at 1:00AM Sunday - Thursday 2:00AM Friday and Saturday, no smoking

Downtown Bloomington

The following downtown bars are all walking distance from each other...Townie populated.

  • Daddio's, 527 North Main Street, Bloomington. Offers live music.
  • Fat Jack's, 511 North Main Street, Bloomington. Offers live music, has a small, overcrowded dance floor where you can dance to current mainstream music, as well as a room for private functions.
  • Illinois Brewing Company: Offers live music and karaoke twice a week. Large! 102 North Center Street. Bloomington.
  • Loft: Upscale by Bloomington standards. Features live music. 220 East Front Street, Bloomington.
  • McLean County Bar: A local dive bar, heavily country-flavored. 107 West Front Street, Bloomington.
  • Rhino's: Dance club. Features Latin Night on Wednesdays. 602 North Main Street, Bloomington.
  • Rosie's: Quaint atmosphere. Offers a high-priced food menu. 106 East Front Street, Bloomington.
  • The Illinois State Hookah Lounge, 202 North St. Suite A, two blocks from Watterson Towers, [19]. Tu-Sa 5PM-3AM. The only indoor place to smoke in Normal. Within three blocks of both Campus and the Bar Scene! Elegant and mainstream, the lounge offers a wide variety of entertainment; including live shows, luxury seating, and a luscious variety of hookah flavors. A must for any pre-game or post-game event. Good pricing and great staff.

Party

All bars close at 1:30, no smoking allowed

  • Pub II: Good for earlier fun, but later on it gets a bit crowded. Offers upbeat sportsbar atmosphere with ample seating.
  • Killarneys Pub: Irish Bar themed, with the stout atmosphere of any Irish pub!
  • Lunkers Tavern: Great eats and a good atmosphere, Lunkers is inexpensive and enjoyable.
  • Medici:A visual experience, this restaurant-bar offers a two tiered atmosphere and a breezy sundeck.
  • NV Lounge: Dance the night away in this hip nightclub atmosphere. If temperature is a question, this place is hot.
  • Foul Shots, 706 1/2 West Beaufort Street, Normal. Your typical frat bar: loud, current mainstream music, overcrowded late at night.
  • Kegler's Pub, 804 North Hershey Road. Small bar, homey atmosphere. Offers karaoke on Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays.
  • Shooter's Lounge, 503 North Prospect Road Suite 304. Large bar, wide selection of food. Karaoke. Has a large room for playing pool.
  • Slick Rick's Motor City Lounge, 907 East Oakland Avenue. Biker bar.
  • Windjammer's Lounge, 2303 Stern Drive. Features karaoke twice a week.
  • Comfort Inn Bloomington Hotel, 50 Brock Dr. Phone: (309) 828-6000 Fax: (309) 829-4325. [20] Located at exit #160A of Interstate Highways 55 and 74. Also at this exit are a multitude of restaurants: fast food, not so fast food, and some 24-hour food. Walk to McDonalds or Cracker Barrel, or drive merely minutes to other popular eateries.
  • Econo Lodge Bloomington Hotel, 403 Brock Dr. Phone: (309) 829-3100 Fax: (309) 827-4716. [21] Real value and convenience for both business and leisure travelers. Secure Online Reservations.
  • Hawthorn Suites Bloomington, One Lyon Court Phone: (309) 829-8111. [22] Guest amenities include a complimentary hot breakfast buffet each morning and an evening reception each Wednesday. Each guest room includes a queen size bed(s), microwave, refrigerator and wet bar or full kitchen, 25" television, hairdryer, iron, ironing board and a full size sofa sleeper, plus complimentary high-speed Internet access. For enjoyment, our indoor swimming pool and patio area as well as our exercise facility are available for all guests.
  • Quality Inn & Suites Bloomington Hotel, 401 Brock Dr. Phone: (309) 829-7602 Fax: (309) 827-4716. [23] Located on the East side of the intersection of Illinois Highway 9 and Interstate 74 and 55 on the West side of the city. Full service restaurants and shopping are in the immediate area. Truck and bus parking is available.
  • Country Inns & Suites Bloomington Normal West, 923 Maple Hill Road. checkin: 2:00 PM.   edit
  • Best Western University Inn, 6 Traders Circle. checkin: 3:00 PM-11:00 AM.  edit
  • Hampton Inn & Suites, 320 South Towanda Ave, ☎ (309) 452-8900‎.  edit
  • Lake Bloomington and Evergreen Lake are two man-made lakes north of town that offer fishing, camping, and boating opportunities.
  • If you're doing the Route 66 tour northbound, the next significant bit of Americana is in the small town of Pontiac, which hosts a large summertime "tractor pull." Southbound, stop in McLean at the Dixie Truckers Home, a prototypical (and, according to some, the nation's first) truck stop.
This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!
Routes through Bloomington-Normal
END ←  S Image:I-39.png N  → Rockford
Springfield ← McLean ←  S noframe N  → Chicago
Peoria ←  W noframe E  → Champaign-Urbana
Springfield ← McLean ←  S noframe N  → Gardner → Joliet







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