Bloomington, Illinois
Encyclopedia
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 area. When mentioned together, they are known as the "Twin Cities", "Bloomington-Normal", "B-N", "Blo-No," or "BNorm." On its own, Bloomington is known affectionately as "Bloomtown" or "B-Town", and residents are "Bloomies". The mayor of Bloomington is Steve Stockton.
The 2010 census showed the city had a population of 76,610, making it the 12th most populated city in Illinois, and the fifth-most populous city in the state outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
, the city has a total area of 22.5 square miles (58.3 km²), all of it land.
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. 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.
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 Allin, who was one of the promoters of the new county, offered to donate 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of his own land for the new town. His offer was accepted and Bloomington was laid out. Its lots were sold at a well-attended and noisy auction on the 4th of July
1831. At this time there were few roads, but rich soil
s 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, Illinois
.
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
and Paul O. Moratz.
During the first two decades of the 20th century, Bloomington continued to grow. Agriculture
, the construction of highway
s 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.
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 per square mile (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.
A large percentage of Bloomington residents are employed by State Farm Insurance
(Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington
), Illinois State University
, COUNTRY Financial
(Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington
), Unit 5 schools, Advocate BroMenn Medical Center and the Mitsubishi Motors North America
manufacturing facility.
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
.
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
, bus service, and several airlines
.
ranked Bloomington-Normal as the Fifth Best American City for Golf in their "Best in America" Metro Golf Rankings. Golf Digest ranked America's largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas on four different criteria: access to golf, weather, value of golf, and quality of golf.
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 each summer.
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. The Highland Park Golf Course hosts the COUNTRY Youth Classic each summer.
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 acres (4,046.9 m²) of target greens, several bunkers, two fairways and nearly 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) of natural grass hitting area. In addition, The Links Golf Academy offers a 4 acres (16,187.4 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 Skills Challenge portion of the COUNTRY Youth Classic each summer.
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.
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.
is an economist who wrote the book The Rise of the Creative Class, in which he explained the key to economic growth lies in translating the power of the creative class
into “creative economic outcomes in the form of new ideas, new high-tech businesses, and regional growth.” Bloomington-Normal ranked competitively in Richard Florida’s creativity ranking. Most noteworthy is Bloomington-Normal’s creative class share of the workforce, which resulted in a No. 1 rating for Bloomington-Normal’s creativity rank.
Growth has taken the city well into the boundaries of a second district, McLean County Unit District Five. Although Unit Five originally served only suburban areas, including Normal, the majority of its students now are from Bloomington itself. Unit Five operates two high schools (Normal Community High School and Normal Community West High School), three junior high schools, and numerous elementary schools. As of 2010, Unit Five is constructing its fourth junior high school and two new elementary schools in Bloomington, and was projecting the need for another high school.
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. Bloomington students also may enroll at University High School, a laboratory school located at Illinois State University.
The city of Bloomington is home to one university and one trade school:
Neighboring Normal Illinois is home to:
. http://www.statefarm.com/about/careers/locations.asp, Country Financial
, and Beer Nuts
. The original Steak 'n Shake restaurant was opened in Normal, Bloomington's adjoining city, in 1934. http://www.steaknshake.com/default-home.asp
McLean County, Illinois
McLean County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 169,572, which is an increase of 12.7% from 150,433 in 2000. Its county seat is...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois
Normal, Illinois
Normal is an incorporated town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It had a population of 52,497 as of the 2010 census. Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area. When mentioned together, they are known as the "Twin Cities", "Bloomington-Normal", "B-N", "Blo-No," or "BNorm." On its own, Bloomington is known affectionately as "Bloomtown" or "B-Town", and residents are "Bloomies". The mayor of Bloomington is Steve Stockton.
The 2010 census showed the city had a population of 76,610, making it the 12th most populated city in Illinois, and the fifth-most populous city in the state outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
Geography
Bloomington is located at 40°29′03″N 88°59′37″W. The city is at an elevation of 797 feet (242.9 m) above sea level. According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 22.5 square miles (58.3 km²), all of it land.
History
McLean County, Illinois
McLean County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 169,572, which is an increase of 12.7% from 150,433 in 2000. Its county seat is...
was created.
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 Allin, who was one of the promoters of the new county, offered to donate 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of his own land for the new town. His offer was accepted and Bloomington was laid out. Its lots were sold at a well-attended and noisy auction on the 4th of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
1831. At this time there were few roads, but rich soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
s 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
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
who was working as a lawyer in nearby Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
.
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
George Miller
- Arts :*George Miller , Australian film and television screenwriter, film director, and producer*George T. Miller , Australian film and television director and producer*George Bures Miller , Canadian artist...
and Paul O. Moratz.
During the first two decades of the 20th century, Bloomington continued to grow. Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, the construction of highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s and railroads
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
, and the growth of the insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
business (mainly State Farm Insurance
State Farm Insurance
State Farm Insurance is a group of insurance and financial services companies in the United States. The company also has operations in Canada....
) 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.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of July 2007, there were 72,416 people, 26,642 households, and 15,718 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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 per square mile (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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Economy
State Farm Insurance
State Farm Insurance is a group of insurance and financial services companies in the United States. The company also has operations in Canada....
(Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington
Bloomington, Illinois
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 area...
), Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
, COUNTRY Financial
COUNTRY Financial
Country Financial is a group of US insurance and financial services companies. Its corporate headquarters are in Bloomington, Illinois.-History:...
(Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington
Bloomington, Illinois
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 area...
), Unit 5 schools, Advocate BroMenn Medical Center and the Mitsubishi Motors North America
Mitsubishi Motors
is a multinational automaker headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. In 2009 it was the fifth-largest Japan-based automaker and the 17th-largest in the world measured by production...
manufacturing facility.
Bloomington is also home to Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate university located in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 1850, the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856...
, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, a convention center
Convention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
at the McLean County Fairgrounds, U.S. Cellular Coliseum
U.S. Cellular Coliseum
U.S. Cellular Coliseum is an arena in downtown Bloomington, Illinois that opened to the public on April 1, 2006. It is on the southwest corner of Madison Street and Front Street. It hosts the Bloomington Extreme of the Indoor Football League, the Bloomington Blaze of the Central Hockey League,...
, and Beer Nuts
Beer Nuts
Beer Nuts is a brand of snack food building on the original product, peanuts with a "unique" sweet-and-salty glazing made to a "secret recipe". According to the manufacturer's website, the ingredients comprise "Peanuts, Vegetable Oil , Corn Syrup and Salt".In spite of their name, Beer Nuts do not...
.
Transportation
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 legendary highway U.S. Route 66U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
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
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
, bus service, and several airlines
Passenger airline
A passenger airline is an airline dedicated to the transport of passengers. Cf. cargo airline. Passenger airlines usually operate a fleet of passenger aircraft which, rather than being owned outright, are usually leased from commercial aircraft sales and leasing companies such as GECAS and...
.
- AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, from its Bloomington-Normal stationBloomington-Normal (Amtrak station)The Bloomington-Normal Amtrak station is a train station in Normal, Illinois, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. The current terminal was built in 1990. The station is also served by connecting busses for passengers going to Davenport, Galesburg, Peoria,...
, operates five trains in each direction between St. Louis and ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
each day. The station also serves connecting bus service to PeoriaPeoria, IllinoisPeoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
and AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
stations in GalesburgGalesburg, IllinoisGalesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
and Champaign/Urbana. It is the second busiest Amtrak station in the state of Illinois after Chicago, servicing more than 209,000 passengers in fiscal year 2010. - Greyhound LinesGreyhound LinesGreyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
provides service to/from Chicago and St. LouisSt. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. Burlington TrailwaysBurlington TrailwaysBurlington Trailways is an inter-city bus company based in West Burlington, Iowa.Burlington Trailways was founded in 1929 as the Burlington Transportation Company, a subsidiary of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad...
offers service from the Amtrak station and the Greyhound station to/from PeoriaPeoria, IllinoisPeoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
, Quad Cities, Illinois/IowaQuad CitiesThe Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
, ChampaignChampaign, IllinoisChampaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
, and IndianapolisIndianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S... - The Central Illinois Regional AirportCentral Illinois Regional AirportCentral Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal is a public use airport located three nautical miles east of the central business district of the city of Bloomington and southeast of the town of Normal, in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It is owned by the Bloomington-Normal...
is located on Route 9. The airport is served by four airlines, five rental car agencies, and has direct daily flights to Atlanta, ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Detroit, and Minneapolis/St. PaulMinneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. A record 559,481 passengers few to or from CIRA in 2010. - The Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System has 11 color-coded fixed routes in the area; a lift-assisted paratransit service called NiteRide, which operates when Illinois State University is in session; and a campus shuttle for ISU called Redbird Express.
Recreation and entertainment
- Grady’s Family Fun Park is Bloomington-Normal’s only amusement park, aside from indoor arcades and indoor attractions like Chuck E. Cheese. It features an 18-hole miniature golfMiniature golfMiniature golf, or minigolf, is a miniature version of the sport of golf. While the international sports organization World Minigolf Sport Federation prefers to use the name "minigolf", the general public in different countries has also many other names for the game: miniature golf, mini-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.
- 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, a comprehensive hockey program, learn to curl and curling leagues, skate rental and a concessions stand.
- Upper Limits Indoor Rock Climbing Gym has more than 21000 square feet (1,951 m²) of climbing space, including routes up to 110 feet (33.5 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.
- The U.S. Cellular ColiseumU.S. Cellular ColiseumU.S. Cellular Coliseum is an arena in downtown Bloomington, Illinois that opened to the public on April 1, 2006. It is on the southwest corner of Madison Street and Front Street. It hosts the Bloomington Extreme of the Indoor Football League, the Bloomington Blaze of the Central Hockey League,...
in southwest downtown Bloomington opened in 2006 and home to the Bloomington ExtremeBloomington ExtremeThe Bloomington Extreme are a professional indoor football team and a member of the Indoor Football League. The team's name is derived from a naming rights deal with local auto dealer Extreme Motors. The Extreme play their home games at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington,...
of the Indoor Football LeagueIndoor Football LeagueThe Indoor Football League began in 1999 as an offshoot of the troubled Professional Indoor Football League. Keary Ecklund, the owner of the Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs, left the PIFL after its first, financially-troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an...
and formerly the home of the PrairieThunder of the Central Hockey LeagueCentral Hockey LeagueThe Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
. The Prairie Thunder Organization seized to exist after the 2010 season but, beginning in 2011 the US Cellular Coliseum will be home to the Bloomington BlazeBloomington BlazeThe Bloomington Blaze is a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Turner Conference and scheduled to begin play for the 2011-12 season. Based in Bloomington, Illinois, the Blaze will play its home games at the U.S...
hockey team of the Central Hockey LeagueCentral Hockey LeagueThe Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
. With over 180000 square feet (16,722.5 m²) of space, the Coliseum boasts a fixed seating capacity of 7,000 but can seat over 8,000 for special events. The facility can also be set up as a theatre with a retractable curtain, and enables shows to seat 2,500-5,000 in a more intimate atmosphere. Since the Coliseum’s opening, the facility has hosted an array of events including concerts, family shows, ice shows, motorsports and tradeshows.
Nature and wildlife
- The Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department is composed of four divisions: Parks, Recreation, Golf, and the Miller Park Zoo. The Department maintains over 1100 acres (4.5 km²) of land including 44 park sites and 3 golf courses including: Airport Park, Alton Depot Park, Angler’s Lake Nature Preserve, Atwood Wayside, Bittner Park, Brookridge Park, Buck-Mann Park, Clearwater Park, Eagle Crest Park, Emerson Park, Evergreen Park, Ewing Park 1, Ewing Park 2, Ewing Park 3, Fell Avenue Park, Forrest Park, Franklin Park, Friendship Park, Highland Park Golf Course, Holiday Park, Lincoln Leisure Center, Marie Litta Park, McGraw Park, Miller Park, Miller Park Zoo, Northpoint School Park, Oakland School Park, O’Neil Park, Pepperidge Park, Pepsi Ice Center, PJ Irvin Park, Prairie Vista Golf Course, R.T. Dunn Fields, Rollingbrook Park, Sale Ban Soccer Fields, Stevenson School Park, Suburban East Park, Sunnyside Park, The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course, Tipton Park, White Oak Park and Withers Park. 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. These facilities often contain water spray parks, elaborate playgrounds, miniature golf, baseball/softball diamonds, soccer fields, cricket grounds, and lighted tennis courts. The Evergreen Racket Club provides indoor tennis courts. Outdoor public swimming pools are located at O'Neil Park (west) and Holiday Park (east). The YMCA, YWCA, and private health clubs operate indoor pools.
- Miller Park ZooMiller Park ZooMiller Park Zoo is a zoo located in Miller Park; a public park in Bloomington, Illinois, USA. It is administered by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Bloomington.-History:...
offers many exhibits and zookeeper interaction opportunities. Zoo inhabitants include a Sumatran tiger, river otter, Galapagos tortoise, Amur leopard, sun bears, reindeer, sea lion, red pandas, lemus, bald eagles, pallas cats and red wolves. The zoo features many exhibits including Wallaby WalkAbout, ZooLab, Children’s Zoo, Animals of Asia, and the Katthoefer Animal Building. The Zoo’s newest exhibit is the Tropical America Rainforest.
- The Bloomington-Normal Constitution TrailConstitution TrailThe Constitution Trail is a multi-use rail trail located in Illinois. It occupies an abandoned Illinois Central Gulf Railroad corridor that runs through the 'Twin Cities' of Bloomington and Normal in McLean County, Illinois....
is a 24 miles (38.6 km) jogging, walking, cycling, and rollerblading trail that operates on dedicated right-of-way through much of the city. Bridges and tunnels are used to separate the trail from traffic when crossing the busiest streets. The north-south segment of the trail follows the abandoned Illinois Central Gulf (ICG) railroad from Kerrick Road in Normal to Grove 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.
- The Genevieve Green Gardens at Ewing Cultural Center were dedicated in 2007 as part of the Illinois State University’s 150th anniversary celebration. Several architects and landscape designers contributed to the extensive project of creating the gardens, including input from the late Bruce V. Green, an avid gardener whose generous $5.2 million donation spearheaded the project. The gardens include a new public entry which directs visitors to a formal plaza, the entrance to the manor, grass patio, theater walk with a widened walkway and additional plantings.
Golf
In 2005, Golf DigestGolf Digest
Golf Digest is a monthly golf magazine published by Condé Nast Publications in the United States. It is a generalist golf publication covering recreational golf and men's and women's competitive golf. Condé Nast Publications also publishes the more specialized , and Golf World Business. The...
ranked Bloomington-Normal as the Fifth Best American City for Golf in their "Best in America" Metro Golf Rankings. Golf Digest ranked America's largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas on four different criteria: access to golf, weather, value of golf, and quality of golf.
- The Den at Fox Creek: 6926 yards (6,333.1 m), Par 72, 18 holes.
The Den at Fox Creek is a 4-star, Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
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
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
Boy’s Golf State Tournament and COUNTRY Youth Classic each summer.
- Highland Park Golf Course: 5725 yards (5,234.9 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. The Highland Park Golf Course hosts the COUNTRY Youth Classic each summer.
- The Links at Ireland Grove: 1590 yards (1,453.9 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 acres (4,046.9 m²) of target greens, several bunkers, two fairways and nearly 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) of natural grass hitting area. In addition, The Links Golf Academy offers a 4 acres (16,187.4 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 Skills Challenge portion of the COUNTRY Youth Classic each summer.
- Prairie Vista Golf Course: 6745 yards (6,167.6 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
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
Boy’s Golf State Finals, Prairie Vista hosted the 1997 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf East Regional.
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
Richard FloridaRichard Florida
Richard Florida is an American urban studies theorist.Richard Florida's focus is on social and economic theory. He is currently a professor and head of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the Rotman School of Management, at the University of Toronto. He also heads a private consulting firm, the...
is an economist who wrote the book The Rise of the Creative Class, in which he explained the key to economic growth lies in translating the power of the creative class
Creative class
The Creative Class is a socioeconomic class that economist and social scientist Richard Florida, a professor and head of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, identifies as a key driving force for economic development of post-industrial...
into “creative economic outcomes in the form of new ideas, new high-tech businesses, and regional growth.” Bloomington-Normal ranked competitively in Richard Florida’s creativity ranking. Most noteworthy is Bloomington-Normal’s creative class share of the workforce, which resulted in a No. 1 rating for Bloomington-Normal’s creativity rank.
Facilities
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The Community Players Theater located on Robinhood Lane off of Towanda Avenue is one of the oldest community theaters completely staffed by volunteers. Opened in 1923, the theater celebrated its 88th season in 2011.
- The Castle Theatre first opened in 1916 as a 1,000-seat theater, created by the legendary theater builders Balaban & Katz, original inventors of the classic movie palace. For decades, the property served as one of the area’s premier destinations. The Castle has recently been restored to its former glory with a $1.5 million renovation. Today the Castle presents a diverse mix of live music, corporate, public and private events.
- The Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate university located in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 1850, the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856...
School of Theatre Arts houses its talent within the McPherson Theatre. Four main stage plays are performed here annually, selected from a playbill including everything from Shakespeare to musicals. McPherson Hall, completed in 1963, is named for IWU's 10th President, Harry W. McPherson, and contains a 300-seat theatre, scene shop, classrooms and other facilities.
- The Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate university located in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 1850, the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856...
Westbrook Auditorium serves approximately 200 music majors and several hundred IWU students each year. Several musical performances of all style periods are featured each semester, and most concerts are free with general seating.
- The Miller Park Outdoor Summer Theatre, an amateur theatre group sponsored by the City of Bloomington, performs two major theatre productions each year.
- TheatresCool is a professional training ground that teaches the technique of method acting to both beginning and professional actors. TheatresCool is an artistic home that celebrates diversity, self-expression, professionalism and where creativity leads individual talents to their realization. Students perform modern and contemporary scripts like those seen in New York City and Chicago theatre. Programs are aimed at training people of different ages at a professional level. Classes are aimed at enhancing individual creaticity, literacy, self esteem, musicality, movement, sense of fun, self confidence, performance and theatre skills.
- USA Ballet is an international ballet company celebrating their 21st anniversary in 2011. USA Ballet provides children's workshops and outreach programs, and presents at Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate university located in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 1850, the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856...
's McPherson Theatre three times a year.
Annual events
- American Passion Play, now in its 88th season, is the oldest continuously performed Passion PlayPassion playA Passion play is a dramatic presentation depicting the Passion of Jesus Christ: his trial, suffering and death. It is a traditional part of Lent in several Christian denominations, particularly in Catholic tradition....
in the United States. Performed each spring 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 Illinois Shakespeare FestivalIllinois Shakespeare FestivalThe Illinois Shakespeare Festival is located in Bloomington, Illinois, USA. It began in 1978 and it celebrated its 30th season in the summer of 2007...
includes productions performed in an open-air, Elizabethan-style theatre within historic Ewing Manor each summer. 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.
- The Lincoln's Bloomington Festival is held each July in Downtown Bloomington and features Civil War re-enactors, traditional craft demonstrations, children's activities, musical performances, talks and tours.
- The Spring Bloom Arts Festival is hosted by the McLean County Arts Center in March each year. 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.
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 FestivalIllinois Shakespeare FestivalThe Illinois Shakespeare Festival is located in Bloomington, Illinois, USA. It began in 1978 and it celebrated its 30th season in the summer of 2007...
each summer.
- 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. The Museum provides a driving audio-tour highlighting Lincoln historic sites in Bloomington-Normal as part of their inclusion in the Looking For Lincoln attraction listing. http://www.lookingforlincoln.com This location is listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. In December 2010, a Route 66 Wayside Exhibit was installed at the museum. The exhibit tells the story of Route 66's great significance and impact on the community. Visitors are welcome anytime during daylight hours.
- The Miller ParkMiller Park (Bloomington, Illinois)Miller Park is a public park in Bloomington, Illinois. It is in the southwest part of the city, on a large block south of Wood Street and east of Morris Avenue....
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.
- 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 CemeteryEvergreen Cemetery (Bloomington, Illinois)Evergreen Cemetery, in Bloomington, Illinois, is also known as Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.The cemetery was originally two separate cemeteries, adjacent to each other. The first was the Bloomington Cemetery, founded in 1850 by the Bloomington Cemetery Association; the other was 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 RevolutionDaughters of the American RevolutionThe Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
, 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 DavisDavid Davis (Supreme Court justice)David Davis was a United States Senator from Illinois and associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. He also served as Abraham Lincoln's campaign manager at the 1860 Republican National Convention....
, friend and mentor to Abraham Lincoln; Charles RadbournCharles RadbournCharles Gardner Radbourn , nicknamed "Old Hoss", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball . He played for the Buffalo Bisons , Providence Grays , Boston Beaneaters , Boston Reds , and Cincinnati Reds...
, 19th Century baseball’s greatest pitcher; and Dorothy Gage, inspiration for the main character in the Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. Originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900, it has since been reprinted numerous times, most often under the name The Wizard of Oz, which is the name of...
and niece of author L. Frank BaumL. Frank BaumLyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
.
- The David Davis MansionDavid Davis MansionThe David Davis Mansion, also known as Clover Lawn, is a Victorian home in Bloomington, Illinois that was the residence of David Davis, Supreme Court justice and Senator from Illinois. The mansion has been a state museum since 1960...
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. http://www.davismansion.org The David Davis Mansion is listed as a Looking For Lincoln location http://www.lookingforlincoln.com as well as a historic landmark on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
- 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. http://www.vroomanmansion.com This location is listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com
- The former building of the Montefiore synagogueMoses Montefiore CongregationThe Moses Montefiore Congregation is a synagogue in Bloomington, Illinois.Although Jews had arrived in Bloomington by the 1850s, the synagogue was organized in 1884 and named for Sir Moses Montefiore. In 1889 the congregation dedicated a Moorish Revival synagogue building at the southeast corner...
is one of the few Moorish RevivalMoorish RevivalMoorish Revival or Neo-Moorish is one of the exotic revival architectural styles that were adopted by architects of Europe and the Americas in the wake of the Romanticist fascination with all things oriental...
buildings in Illinois and one of the Oldest synagogues in the United StatesOldest synagogues in the United StatesThe designation of the oldest synagogue in the United States requires careful use of definitions, and must be divided into two parts, the oldest in the sense of oldest surviving building, and the oldest in the sense of oldest congregation...
.
- Other historical landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
:- 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
Tours
Area attractions and businesses also offer a number of tours in Bloomington.- The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts offers Behind the Curtain Tours led by a group of specially trained docents. The tours showcase the neo-Classical interior design of the building and explain all of the building's updates and renovations.
- The David Davis Mansion offers tours for both groups and individuals of the 36-room estate of Judge David Davis. Docents use artifacts and stories about the Davis family to interpret the rich social and cultural history of America's western frontier from the 1850s through the 1880s. Specific themes include servant life, domestic life and technology at the dawn of the industrial age, family history (with a focus on children), and Victorian architecture. The mansion is a precursor of the modern homes and comfort systems that we take for granted today, and is a reminder of the role Illinois played in the nation's history when Abraham LincolnAbraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
was PresidentPresidentA president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
. Arrangements can also be made for a special Tea Ladies Inc. program at the mansion.
- The McLean County Museum of History offers an audio driving tour titled Lincoln's Bloomington and Normal, Illinois. The CD-based audio tour presents President Abraham LincolnAbraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
as a returning visitor, talking about the places he visited and their meaning. Written and performed by James Keeran, the audio tour includes: Kersey Fell's Law office, where Jesse Fell suggested Lincoln run for the presidency; the home of Asahel Gridley, Lincoln's friend and client in a slander suit; the Miller-Davis Building, where Lincoln practiced law; and 14 other sites.
- 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.
Retail
- Eastland Mall is the main shopping center in Bloomington. Featuring food, shopping and entertainment, Eastland Mall is the family friendly center with a wide variety of stores and activities including Aeropostale, American Eagle, Applebee's, Buckle, Hollister, Justice, Limited, Rogers & Hollands, Talbot's, Victoria's Secret and more.
- Downtown Bloomington offers museums, banks, a legal and governmental center, residential living, a large artists' community, plus an assortment of specialty retail businesses and supportive services. There is an abundance of restaurants and a lively night scene. A number of special events such as Tour de Chocolat, Farmers' Market, Tour de Metro, Pub Crawl, and Once Upon a Holiday, offer a chance to experience the district. Downtown Bloomington is home to government offices of the City of Bloomington, McLean County, and major employers including State FarmState farmState farm can refer to:*Sovkhoz, a type of state-owned farm in the Soviet Union*Volkseigenes Gut, a type of state-owned farm in East Germany*Państwowe Gospodarstwo Rolne, a type of state-owned farm in People's Republic of Poland...
Insurance and several specialty stores, bars, restaurants and art galleries.
- Bloomington, Illinois is the only town where BEER NUTSBeer NutsBeer Nuts is a brand of snack food building on the original product, peanuts with a "unique" sweet-and-salty glazing made to a "secret recipe". According to the manufacturer's website, the ingredients comprise "Peanuts, Vegetable Oil , Corn Syrup and Salt".In spite of their name, Beer Nuts do not...
Brand Snacks are made. There are two BEER NUTS Company Stores in Bloomington, each offering a video tour of the Bloomington plant and history of BEER NUTS Brand Snacks.
Facilities
- The Community Soccer Fields complex offers 20 soccer fields of various sizes used annually by 2,000 area soccer players.
- Extra Innings Bloomington/Normal is an indoor baseball and softball training facility dedicated to fulfilling the needs of players of all ages and abilities. The state-of-the-art, 12,000+ square foot facility features 18 feet (5.5 m) high ceilings, 6 multi-use practice tunnels, a training room, party area, and a fully stocked Pro Shop.
- Game Time Gym II is a multi-use indoor facility that can be utilized for soccer, basketball, volleyball, flag foorball and indoor practice for various other sports.
- The Shira Baseball Complex consists of 6 fields of various sizes (four with lights) and a concession stand to accommodate McLean County baseball players ages 5–19.
Teams
| Team | Sport | League | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington Extreme Bloomington Extreme The Bloomington Extreme are a professional indoor football team and a member of the Indoor Football League. The team's name is derived from a naming rights deal with local auto dealer Extreme Motors. The Extreme play their home games at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington,... |
Indoor football | IFL Indoor Football League The Indoor Football League began in 1999 as an offshoot of the troubled Professional Indoor Football League. Keary Ecklund, the owner of the Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs, left the PIFL after its first, financially-troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an... |
U.S. Cellular Coliseum U.S. Cellular Coliseum U.S. Cellular Coliseum is an arena in downtown Bloomington, Illinois that opened to the public on April 1, 2006. It is on the southwest corner of Madison Street and Front Street. It hosts the Bloomington Extreme of the Indoor Football League, the Bloomington Blaze of the Central Hockey League,... |
2006 | None |
| Bloomington Blaze Bloomington Blaze The Bloomington Blaze is a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Turner Conference and scheduled to begin play for the 2011-12 season. Based in Bloomington, Illinois, the Blaze will play its home games at the U.S... |
Ice Hockey Ice hockey Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take... |
CHL Central Hockey League The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs.... |
U.S. Cellular Coliseum U.S. Cellular Coliseum U.S. Cellular Coliseum is an arena in downtown Bloomington, Illinois that opened to the public on April 1, 2006. It is on the southwest corner of Madison Street and Front Street. It hosts the Bloomington Extreme of the Indoor Football League, the Bloomington Blaze of the Central Hockey League,... |
2011 | None |
| Central Illinois Drive Central Illinois Drive The Central Illinois Drive is a Premier Basketball League team set to begin play for the 2012 season. Based in Bloomington, Illinois, the Drive will play their home games the U.S. Cellular Coliseum.... |
Basketball Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... |
PBL Premier Basketball League The Premier Basketball League, often abbreviated to the PBL, is a men's professional basketball minor league in the United States that began play in January 2008. The league had ten teams for the 2008 season and thirteen teams for the 2009 season. Nine teams from Canada and the United States... |
U.S. Cellular Coliseum U.S. Cellular Coliseum U.S. Cellular Coliseum is an arena in downtown Bloomington, Illinois that opened to the public on April 1, 2006. It is on the southwest corner of Madison Street and Front Street. It hosts the Bloomington Extreme of the Indoor Football League, the Bloomington Blaze of the Central Hockey League,... |
2012 | None |
Education
Bloomington is served by two public school districts. The interior of the city is served by (Illinois special charter) District 87, which operates one high school, Bloomington High School, one junior high school, Bloomington Junior High School, and numerous elementary schools (including Oakland, Washington, Bent, Irving, and Stevenson elementary schools).Growth has taken the city well into the boundaries of a second district, McLean County Unit District Five. Although Unit Five originally served only suburban areas, including Normal, the majority of its students now are from Bloomington itself. Unit Five operates two high schools (Normal Community High School and Normal Community West High School), three junior high schools, and numerous elementary schools. As of 2010, Unit Five is constructing its fourth junior high school and two new elementary schools in Bloomington, and was projecting the need for another high school.
Bloomington is also home to several private schools, including Central Catholic High School
Central Catholic High School (Bloomington, Illinois)
Central Catholic High School is a Catholic high school in Bloomington, Illinois, and serves approximately 400 students from around the Bloomington-Normal area....
, Holy Trinity Elm./Jr. School, St. Mary's Catholic School, Trinity Lutheran School, and Cornerstone Christian Academy. Bloomington students also may enroll at University High School, a laboratory school located at Illinois State University.
The city of Bloomington is home to one university and one trade school:
- Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate university located in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 1850, the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856...
, 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 ChurchUnited Methodist ChurchThe United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
. 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.,
- Hairmasters Institute of Cosmetology, Inc. offers classes in pivot point hair sculpture, hair design, long hair design, hair texture, hair color, people skills and salon management instruction.
Neighboring Normal Illinois is home to:
- Illinois State UniversityIllinois State UniversityIllinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
- Heartland Community CollegeHeartland Community CollegeHeartland Community College is a community college located in Illinois. Founded in 1991, Heartland Community College is a fully accredited institution with campuses located in Normal, Lincoln, and Pontiac.-History:...
NOAA Weather Radio
- NOAA Weather RadioNOAA Weather Radio All HazardsNOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is a network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from a nearby National Weather Service office. It is operated by the NWS, an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the United States Department of...
station KZZ65 transmits from Bloomington and is licensed to NOAA'sNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
National Weather ServiceNational Weather ServiceThe National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
Central Illinois Weather Forecast Office at LincolnLincoln, IllinoisLincoln is a city in Logan County, Illinois, United States. It is the only town in the United States that was named for Abraham Lincoln before he became president; he practiced law there from 1847 to 1859. First settled in the 1830s, Lincoln is home to three colleges and two prisons. The three...
, broadcasting on a frequency of 162.525 mHz (channel 6 on most newer weather radios, and most SAMESpecific Area Message EncodingSpecific Area Message Encoding or SAME is the protocol used to encode the Emergency Alert System and NOAA Weather Radio's SAME Public Warning System in the U.S...
weather radios). The station activates the SAME tone alarm feature and a 1050hZ tone activating older radios (except for AMBER Alerts, using the SAME feature only) for hazardous weather and non-weather warnings and emergencies, along with selected weather watches, for the Illinois counties of McLeanMcLean County, IllinoisMcLean County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 169,572, which is an increase of 12.7% from 150,433 in 2000. Its county seat is...
, TazewellTazewell County, IllinoisTazewell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 135,394, which is an increase of 5.4% from 128,485 in 2000. Its county seat and largest city is Pekin. The majority of the population live in the suburbs and bedroom communities...
, and Woodford. Weather permitting, a tone alarm test of both the SAME and 1050hz tone features are conducted every Wednesday between 11 AM and Noon.
FM Radio
- 88.1 WESNWESNWESN is a radio station broadcasting an Alternative format. Licensed to Bloomington, Illinois, USA, the station serves the Illinois college area. The station is currently owned by Illinois Wesleyan University...
, Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate university located in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 1850, the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856...
College Radio - 89.1 WGLTWGLTWGLT is a public radio station owned by Illinois State University and broadcasting on 89.1 MHz at Normal, Illinois. It broadcasts primarily jazz and news, plus a large amount of blues...
, BluesBluesBlues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
& JazzJazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
(NPRNPRNPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
) (HD Radio) - 90.9 WILLWILLWILL is the callsign of the three public broadcasting stations owned by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and directly operated by its Division of Broadcasting...
, Classical musicClassical musicClassical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
(RDSRadio Data SystemRadio Data System, or RDS, is a communications protocol standard for embedding small amounts of digital information in conventional FM radio broadcasts. RDS standardises several types of information transmitted, including time, station identification and programme information.Radio Broadcast Data...
) (Urbana-Champaign) - 91.5 WCICWCIC-Sister stations:The Illinois Bible Institute owns 3 other station clusters in addition to WCIC's:* WBGL in Eastern Illinois* WIBI in the St. Louis area* WTSG southeast of Springfield-External links:* - official website* - sister station info...
, Christian ACContemporary Christian musicContemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
(Peoria) - 92.3 Power 92.3 Rap/Hip-Hop (Peoria)
- 92.9 WRPWWRPWWRPW is a FM broadcast station in Central Illinois with a talk format. WRPW, licensed to Colfax, Illinois in the Bloomington-Normal market, broadcasts at 92.9 MHz with a ERP of 6000 watts. WRPW is owned by Pilot Media, a subsidiary of Great Plains Media. Great Plains' CEO is Jerry Zimmer, a...
"Cities 92.9", TalkTalk radioTalk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
(RDS) - 93.3 WPBGWPBGWPBG is an FM broadcasting station with a Classic Hits format. Licensed for Peoria, Illinois, USA, the station serves the Bloomington, Peoria, LaSalle-Peru area...
"93.3 The Drive", Classic HitsClassic hitsClassic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
(RDS - Artist/Title) (Peoria) - 93.7 WJBCWJBC-FMWTRJ-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporay Christian and Christian teaching/talk format. Licensed to Jacksonville, Florida, USA, the station serves the Jacksonville area. The station is currently owned by The River Educational Media, Inc....
, TalkTalkTalk may refer to:* Conversation, interactive communication between two or more people* Speech, the production of a spoken language* Interaction, face to face conversations-Software:* Google Talk, a Windows- and web-based instant messaging program...
(RDS) (Pontiac) - 95.5 WGLOWGLOWGLO is a radio station licensed to serve Pekin, Illinois, USA. The station is owned by Townsquare Media.WGLO broadcasts a classic rock format to the Peoria, Illinois, area. The station is an affiliate of the syndicated Bob and Tom Show.The station was assigned the WGLO call sign by the Federal...
"95-5 'GLO", Classic RockClassic rockClassic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
(RDS - Artist/Title) (HD RadioHD RadioHD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
) (Peoria) - 96.7 WIHNWIHNWIHN, branded 96.7 I-Rock, is an FM active rock radio station on the Normal, Illinois frequency of 96.7 MHz and studios in Bloomington, Illinois in the Bloomington-Normal area...
"96.7 I-Rock", Active RockHard rockHard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock... - 97.9 WBBEWBBEWBBE is an Adult Hits hybrid radio station licensed to Heyworth, Illinois, and residing in the Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, market. It is owned and operated by Connoisseur Media, LLC....
"97.9 Bob FM", Adult HitsAdult hitsAdult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
(RDS) - 98.9 W255AI (Translates 91.5 WCICWCIC-Sister stations:The Illinois Bible Institute owns 3 other station clusters in addition to WCIC's:* WBGL in Eastern Illinois* WIBI in the St. Louis area* WTSG southeast of Springfield-External links:* - official website* - sister station info...
), Christian ACContemporary Christian musicContemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
(RDS) (Peoria) - 99.5 WZIM "99.5 The Eagle", Classic RockClassic rockClassic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
(RDS) - 100.1 W261BK (Translates 88.5 WBNHWBNH-External links:*...
), Religious Music (Pekin) - 100.7 WVMGWVMGWVMG, known as "Magic 100.7", is an Adult Contemporary radio station in the Bloomington-Normal market. It is owned and operated by Connoisseur Media, LLC, who also owns adult hits WBBE "Bob FM" in the Bloomington market.-External links:...
"Magic 100.7", Soft Adult ContemporaryAdult contemporary musicAdult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
(RDS) - 101.5 WBNQWBNQWBNQ is the most powerful FM radio station in McLean County, Illinois: 50,000 watts on 101.5 MHz. It has had a contemporary hit radio music format since the early 1980s.-History:...
, CHR/PopContemporary hit radioContemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
(RDS - Artist/Title) - 103.3 WZND-LP "Truth 103", Christian CHRContemporary Christian musicContemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
(RDS) - 104.1 WBWN "B 104", CountryCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
(RDS - Artist/Title) (HD Radio) - 105.7 WIXO "105.7 The X Rocks", Active RockHard rockHard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
(RDS - Artist/Title) (Peoria) - 106.1 WZND Illinois State UniversityIllinois State UniversityIllinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
Student Radio web - 107.7 WIBL "107.7 The Bull", CountryCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
(RDS - Artist/Title)
Digital Television (DTV)
- 19 WHOIWHOI (TV)WHOI is the ABC-affiliated television station for West Central Illinois licensed to Peoria. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 19 from a transmitter on North Stewart Street in Creve Coeur. Owned by Barrington Broadcasting, the station is operated by the Granite...
, ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
(Peoria-Bloomington) - 25 WEEK-TVWEEK-TVWEEK-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for West-Central Illinois licensed to Peoria. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 25 from a transmitter at studios on Springfield Road in East Peoria. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 10 and in high definition...
"News 25", NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
(Peoria) - 31 WMBD-TVWMBD-TVWMBD-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Central Illinois licensed to Peoria. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 30 from a transmitter on Pinecrest Drive in Groveland Township's East Peoria section. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 7 and in...
"Newschannel 31", CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
(Peoria) - 43 WYZZ-TVWYZZ-TVWYZZ-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for Central Illinois licensed to Bloomington. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 28 from a transmitter in Montgomery Township. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 6 and in high definition on digital channel 910...
"Fox 43", FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
(Peoria) - 47 WTVPWTVPWTVP is the PBS station for Peoria, Bloomington, and Galesburg, Illinois. It operates on TV digital channel 46 and uses virtual channels starting with 47 to reflect its previous analog channel number. WTVP has 3 digital subchannels: WTVP HD, WTVP World, and WTVP Create. Its studio is located in...
, PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
(Peoria) - 51 W51CT, Trinity Broadcasting NetworkTrinity Broadcasting NetworkThe Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
- 59 WAOEWAOEWAOE is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for West-Central Illinois licensed to Peoria. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter at studios on Springfield Road in East Peoria. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 11...
"My59", MyNetworkTVMyNetworkTVMyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
(Peoria)
- 28 WYZZ-DT (43.1 - High DefinitionHigh-definition televisionHigh-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
) "Fox 43", Fox - 40 WHOI-DT (19.1 - High Definition), ABC
- 40 WHOI-DT (19.2 - Standard DefinitionStandard-definition televisionSorete-definition television is a television system that uses a resolution that is not considered to be either enhanced-definition television or high-definition television . The term is usually used in reference to digital television, in particular when broadcasting at the same resolution as...
), The CW Television NetworkThe CW Television NetworkThe CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB... - 46 WTVP-DT (47.1 - Standard Definition), PBS
- 46 WTVP-DT (47.2 - High Definition), PBS HDTV
- 46 WTVP-DT (47.3 - Standard Definition), CreateCreate (TV channel)Create is a digital television public television network in the United States. The network was created after the closure of PBS YOU in 2006. Create is a public television network, and runs mainly how-to, DIY, and other non-commercial educational television shows from the libraries of Public...
- 56 WEEK-DT (25.1 - High Definition) "News 25", NBC
- 56 WEEK-DT (25.2 - Standard Definition), NBC Weather PlusNBC Weather PlusNBC Weather Plus was a 24-hour, commercially sponsored, weather-oriented broadcast/cable television network jointly owned by NBC Universal and the local affiliates of the NBC network. It debuted on November 15, 2004 and shut down on December 31, 2008...
Notable companies
Bloomington is home to State Farm InsuranceState Farm Insurance
State Farm Insurance is a group of insurance and financial services companies in the United States. The company also has operations in Canada....
. http://www.statefarm.com/about/careers/locations.asp, Country Financial
COUNTRY Financial
Country Financial is a group of US insurance and financial services companies. Its corporate headquarters are in Bloomington, Illinois.-History:...
, and Beer Nuts
Beer Nuts
Beer Nuts is a brand of snack food building on the original product, peanuts with a "unique" sweet-and-salty glazing made to a "secret recipe". According to the manufacturer's website, the ingredients comprise "Peanuts, Vegetable Oil , Corn Syrup and Salt".In spite of their name, Beer Nuts do not...
. The original Steak 'n Shake restaurant was opened in Normal, Bloomington's adjoining city, in 1934. http://www.steaknshake.com/default-home.asp
See also
- Illinois Prairie Community FoundationIllinois Prairie Community Foundation-Overview:The Illinois Prairie Community Foundation serves McLean, Livingston, DeWitt, Logan and adjacent areas of Tazewell, Woodford, LaSalle, Ford and Piatt counties.The Community Foundation helps connect donors with those causes they wish to benefit...
- List of people from Bloomington, Illinois
External links
- The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Official source of visitor information for the Bloomington-Normal area
- Bloomington-Normal Wiki-The community wiki that provides information about the Bloomington-Normal area
- City Of Bloomington
- McLean County Government Web Site
- Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area
- McLean County Museum of History
- Bloomington Public Library
- Bloomington Public Schools, District 87
- Bloomington Cultural District
- Uniquely Bloomington
- The Pantagraph
- Illinois Shakespeare Festival
- Community Players Theater