Bloomington, Illinois

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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.

First two decades of the 20th century saw Bloomington grow even faster than it did before. Farming, the construction of highways and railroads, and the growth of the insurance business (mostly State Farm Insurance) all helped Bloomington, IL and its downtown area grow. The downtown area became a shopping center for people from other counties. They became stronger.

Ray and Irene Denbesten established Denbesten Real Estate in 1977 in Bloomington, Illinois. Their daughter, Cathy Denbesten, is presently in charge of the business. You may reach them at (309) 6662-4228 if you need assistance with purchasing or selling a house.

In the city, 27.3 percent were under the age of 20, 9.0 percent were 18-24, 29.8 percent were 25-44, 23.8 percent were 45-64, and 10.2 percent were 65 or over. 33 was the median age. 95.4 men for every 100 females.

City: The median income for a household in the city was $58,662. For a family, the median income was $81,166. This is how it worked out: Males made $56,597 on average compared to $38,190 for women. The city had a per capita income of $32,672. Families: 5.7 percent of families and 11.0 percent of the population were living below the poverty line. This included 12.6 percent of people under 18 and 6.3 percent of people who were 65 and older.

Previously known as the U.S. Cellular Coliseum, the Grossinger Motors Arena in southwest downtown Bloomington debuted in 2006 and is now home to the Bloomington Edge of the Indoor Football League. To host certain games of ISU's club hockey team and local youth hockey programs as well as the USHL's Central Illinois Flying Aces since its opening in 2014 The Coliseum has a fixed seating capacity of 7,000 but can accommodate over 8,000 people for special events because to its 170,000 square foot (17,000 m2) of floor area. With a retractable curtain, the venue may also be used as a theatre, with seating for 2,500-5,000 people in a more intimate setting. Concerts, ice shows, racing, and trade exhibitions have all taken place at the Coliseum since its inauguration.

A group called the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department is made up of four groups: Parks, Recreation, Golf and the Miller Park Zoo. 44 parks and three golf courses make up the Department's 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) of land. They include: Airport Park, Atwood Wayside, Angler's Lake Nature Preserve, Bittner Park and Brookridge Park. They also include: Ewing Park 1, Ewing Park 2, EwingPark 3 and Fell AvenuePark. The Department also runs Lincoln Leisure Center and the Lincoln Recreation Center. The Department also runs the Lincoln Recreation Center and Lincoln Recreation 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.

Towanda-Barnes Road. The east–west stretch crosses the north segment near Normal City Hall Annex. The Liberty Branch runs from Commerce Drive to Old Farm Lakes. The Freedom Branch runs from Lincoln to Route 9 West. Parking is accessible at nearby lots. Users of all non-motorized modes of transportation are welcome on the path. During the winter, it is not cleaned of snow and is open to skiers.

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.

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

Located in McPherson Hall's Jerome Mirza Theatre, the Illinois Wesleyan University School of Theatre Arts showcases its students and faculty. From a playbill ranging from Shakespeare to musicals, four main stage plays are staged here each year. Theater, scene shop, classrooms and other facilities may be found in McPherson Hall, which was constructed in 1963 and named after IWU's 10th president, Harry W. McPherson.

Every year, the Miller Park Outdoor Summer Theatre, a Bloomington-based amateur theatre company, puts on two major theatrical shows.

USA Ballet is a 21-year-old worldwide ballet company. Throughout the year, USA Ballet performs at Illinois Wesleyan University's McPherson Theatre.

Currently in its 92nd season, American Passion Play is the country's longest-running Passion Play. The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts hosts the annual Passion Play, which depicts the life of Jesus Christ from beginning to end.

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.

During March, the McLean County Arts Center hosts the Spring Bloom Arts Festival, which is full of art. This indoor fine art festival features over 100 artists representing a wide range of media including woodworking, glass art, sculpture, paintings, prints, photographs and handcrafted jewelry.

Located in Bloomington, the McLean County Fair is billed as the "Home of the World's Largest County 4-H Fair" Animal shows, a film festival, and exhibits on food, nutrition, and health are just a few of the 4-H offerings. Evening Grandstand Entertainment includes tractor pulls and music.

This museum dates back to 1892, when the McLean County Historical Society was established. Museum of Central Illinois History, located in the old McLean County Courthouse. This site is on the National Register of Historic Sites.

The pavilion at Miller Park is called that.

Restored in 1977, the Miller Park Pavilion & War Memorial was dedicated in May of that year. Central Illinois people killed or missing in action in Korea and Vietnam are listed on red walkways around the black granite monument.

The Prairie Aviation Museum has a lot of planes that have been preserved, like a Bell Sea Cobra, a Huey helicopter, and an F-14 Tomcat.

Many notable Bloomington-Normal residents, including members of the Stevenson family, are buried at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery. Both Adlai E. Stevenson I, Grover Cleveland's vice president, and Adlai E. Stevenson II, Illinois governor, UN ambassador, and twice Democratic presidential candidate, are buried there. Among the others buried there are Stevenson's wife, Letitia Green Stevenson, and her sister, Julia Green Scott. Dorothy Gage, inspiration for the main character in The Wizard of Oz and niece of author L. Frank Baum, is also buried there.

The former Montefiore synagogue building is one of Illinois' rare Moorish Revival structures, as well as one of the country's oldest synagogues.

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Both groups and individuals may take a tour of Judge David Davis's 36-room mansion at the David Davis Mansion. Visitors may learn about America's western frontier's rich social and cultural history via objects 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.

And it reminds us of the importance of Illinois in American history during Abraham Lincoln's presidency. A Tea Ladies Inc. program at the mansion can be arranged as well.

Bloomington's major retail mall, Eastland Mall, is located in the city center. Eastland Mall offers a range of retailers, as well as a number of recreational activities, including Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Applebee's, Buckle, Finish Line, Limited, Old Navy, Rogers & Hollands, Talbot's, and more. However, the mall has been in decline in recent years, following the national trend of declining commercial malls.

It's a great place to live and work in the heart of Bloomington, IL. There are several restaurants to choose from, and the nightlife is vibrant. As a result of these and other unique events, visitors get an opportunity to get a taste of what it's like to live in this part of town. Bloomington's downtown area is home to the city's and McLean County's government buildings, as well as a slew of clubs, restaurants, and art galleries.

There are two public school districts in Bloomington, which are both located in the city. Schools in Bloomington's inner suburbs are part of Bloomington Public Schools District 87, which has a single high school (Bloomington High School), a single middle school (Bloomington Junior High School), and six elementary schools (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.

There are 2,100 students at Illinois Wesleyan University, which was established in 1850. The student/faculty ratio is 12 to 1. For a long time, it was a part of the United Methodist Church. The College of Liberal Arts has 17 academic departments; the College of Fine Arts has professional schools of art, music, and theatre; and the School of Nursing is part of the university. The College of Liberal Arts is divided into three divisions. The five-story Ames Library, the Center for Natural Science, and the Shirk Center for Athletics and Recreation have all been added at Illinois Wesleyan in the last decade. There have been more than 100 athletes from Illinois Wesleyan University elected to the Academic All-American team since 1970. Hairmasters Institute of Cosmetology offers classes in pivot point hair sculpture, hair design and long hair design, hair texture, hair color, people skills and salon management training.