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Bloomington, the county seat of McLean County, Illinois, was founded in 1830. About midway between Chicago and St. Louis, Missouri, it is located next to Normal (north). Originally known as Keg Grove, the property was renamed Blooming Grove due to the abundance of wildflowers in the region when it was inhabited in 1822. Bloomington was renamed in 1831 when the town was built out and established. A plaque marks the location where Abraham Lincoln gave his "lost speech" against slavery at a Republican Party conference in Illinois in 1856. Farming (especially maize and soybeans), cattle husbandry, and the production of farm seeds are the city's primary sources of income, although insurance and the manufacturing of confectionery and vacuum cleaners are also significant.

McLean became a county when it was set up. The town of McLean became the county seat. Legislation, however, said that Bloomington would not be built until after the legislation was passed. James Allin, one of the people who wanted to start a new county, offered to give 60 acres (240,000 m2) of his land to the town. In the end, he agreed to the deal, and Bloomington was set up. A lot of it was sold at a noisy and well-attended auction on the 4th of July in 1831. At this time, there were few roads, but rich soils attracted new farmers who started farming in the new county. They did their business in the county.

A fire at a laundry across the street from the old city hall and police station was noticed by a patrol officer in 1900. He raised the alarm, but the fire completely devastated the downtown area, particularly the sections north and east of the courthouse. The burned-out region, however, was soon rebuilt using local architects George Miller and Paul O. Moratz's plans.

First two decades of the 20th century saw Bloomington grow even more than it already had. People in Bloomington and its downtown area grew because of agriculture, the building of highways and railroads, and the growth of the insurance business (especially State Farm Insurance). The downtown area became a place where people from other counties came to buy things. There were more labor unions and they became more powerful.

Ray and Irene Denbesten established Denbesten Real Estate in 1977 in Bloomington, Illinois. Their daughter, Cathy Denbesten, is presently in charge of the business. If you're interested in buying or selling a house, call (309) 6662-4228 now.

The city has 76,610 residents and 30,454 homes according to the 2010 census. There were 2,814.8 people per square mile (1,099.5/km2) in the city. At an average density of 1,261.5 per square mile (492.8/km2), there were 34,339 dwelling units. The city's racial composition was 77.5 percent White, 10.1 percent African American, 0.3 percent Native American, 7.0 percent Asian, 1.42 percent other races, and 2.9 percent mixed races. 5.6 percent of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

One of Illinois' fastest-growing urban areas is Bloomington and McLean County. Between 1990 and 2006, the population of the region increased by 28%. Bloomington's population grew by 15.7 percent in less than six years, according to a special census performed by the U.S. Census Bureau in February 2006.

27.3 percent of the city's population was under the age of 20, 9.0 percent between the ages of 18 and 24, 29.8 percent between the ages of 25 and 45, and 23.8 percent between the ages of 45 and 64. The median age was 33 years old. There were 95.4 men for every 100 women.

The Grossinger Motors Arena (formerly the U.S. Cellular Coliseum) in southwest downtown Bloomington opened in 2006 and is home to the Bloomington Edge of the Indoor Football League. It was formerly the home of the Central Hockey League's PrairieThunder and Blaze. Since 2014, it has served as the home rink for the United States Hockey League's Central Illinois Flying Aces, as well as hosting games for Illinois State University's club hockey team and local youth hockey programs. The Coliseum has a set seating capacity of 7,000 people but can accommodate over 8,000 people for special events because to its 180,000 square feet (17,000 m2) of area. The venue may also be set up as a theatre with a retractable curtain, allowing concerts to be seated in a more intimate setting for 2,500-5,000 people. Concerts, family entertainment, ice performances, racing, and tradeshows have all taken place at the Coliseum since it first opened.

The Parks, Recreation, Golf, and Miller Park Zoo departments make up the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department. 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 are just a few of the parks and golf courses that the Department of Parks and Recreation manages.

6:00am to 10:00pm: Parks are open from 6:00am to 10:00pm. Alcoholic drinks and smoking are not allowed, and pets are allowed in all parks on a leash. These parks often have water spray parks, elaborate playgrounds, miniature golf, baseball/softball diamonds, soccer fields, cricket grounds, and lighted tennis courts, among other things. The Evergreen Racket Club has indoor courts for tennis. O'Neil Park (to the west) and Holiday Park (to the east) both have outdoor public swimming pools (east). The YMCA, YWCA, and private health clubs all have indoor swimming pools.

The Bloomington-Normal Constitution Trail is a 24-mile-long (39-kilometer-long) running, walking, cycling, and rollerblading path that runs across most of the city on dedicated right-of-way. When the route crosses the major streets, bridges and tunnels are utilized to isolate it from traffic. From Kerrick Road in Normal to Grove Street in Bloomington, the north–south portion of the path follows the abandoned Illinois Central Gulf (ICG) railroad.

Normal City Hall Annex is where the east–west segment meets the north segment. It goes east to Towanda-Barnes Road. A branch called the Liberty Branch starts on Commerce Drive and ends at the Old Farm Lakes Subdivision, which is near there. The Freedom Branch starts at Lincoln Street and ends at Route 9 West. This is where the branch goes. Parking is available in nearby parking lots all over the area. Walkers and runners, as well as skateboarders and cyclists, are welcome on the trail. Wheelchair users, in-line skaters, skateboarders, and other people who don't use motorized vehicles are also welcome. Skiers can go there if the weather is good enough.

Illinois Wesleyan University, a campus of Heartland Community College, and Illinois State University are located in Bloomington and Normal, respectively. The American Passion Play is an annual spring event. One of Bloomington's state historic sites was the home of Supreme Court associate judge David Davis, who lived there from 1872 to 1873. This cemetery is where both Adlai E. Stevenson, who served as vice president from 1893 to 1997, and his grandson (and two-time Democratic Party presidential candidate) Adlai E. Stevenson II, are laid to rest. Nearby Shirley, a gem and mineral museum is located. Founded in 1839. People in Bloomington-Normal Metro Area (2000): 64,808; 2010, 76,601; Bloomington-Normal Metro Area (2010): 169,572.

A 1,000-seat theater called the Castle Theatre opened in 1916. It was built by the famous theater builders Balaban & Katz, who were the first to think of the classic movie palace. For a long time, the property was one of the best places to go in the area. The Castle has just had a $1.5 million renovation to bring it back to its former glory. Today, the Castle has live music, corporate events, public events, and private events going on at the same time.

The Jerome Mirza Theatre in McPherson Hall is home to the Illinois Wesleyan University School of Theatre Arts. Every year, four main stage plays are chosen from a playbill that includes anything from Shakespeare to musicals. McPherson Hall, was opened in 1963 and is named after IWU's 10th President, Harry W. McPherson, has a 300-seat theater, a scene shop, classrooms, and other amenities.

Every July in Downtown Bloomington, the Lincoln's Bloomington Festival comprises Civil War reenactments, traditional craft displays, children's activities, musical performances, presentations, and tours.

The McLean County Historical Society was established in 1892 and is the ancestor of the McLean County Museum of History. There are both permanent and rotating displays in the McLean County Courthouse Museum that chronicle the history of Central Illinois. The National Register of Historic Places recognizes this place.

A refurbished Miller Park Pavilion & War Memorial was dedicated in May 1988. Surrounding the black granite monument are red pathways with names of Central Illinoisans killed or missing in action in Korea and Vietnam.

A Bell Sea Cobra, a Huey helicopter, and an F-14 Tomcat are among the restored aircraft on exhibit at the Prairie Aviation Museum.

Abraham Lincoln's friend and mentor David Davis was a Supreme Court Justice who was instrumental in his 1860 presidential campaign. A mid-Victorian style and taste model, the Davis Mansion was built in 1872. It has a coal stove, gas lighting, and indoor plumbing, and has been in the Davis family for three generations. The David Davis Mansion is a National Register Historic Landmark.

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This is a good way to remember how important Illinois was when Abraham Lincoln was President. The mansion is a precursor to the modern homes and comfort systems we take for granted today. It also shows how important Illinois was when Lincoln was President. The mansion can also be set up for a special Tea Ladies Inc. event.

There is an audio tour of Lincoln's Bloomington and Normal, Illinois, by the McLean County Museum of History. In this CD-based audio tour, President Abraham Lincoln talks about the places he visited and how important they were to him when he was there. It was written by James Keeran and narrated by him. It includes Kersey Fell's law office, where Jesse Fell told Lincoln to run for president; 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 places.

Twin City Tours are offered by the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau on a monthly basis. The McLean County Museum of History is the starting point for tours.

Bloomington's primary retail district is Eastland Mall. With a range of shops and restaurants including Aeropostale and American Eagle Outfitters as well as a number of amusement options, Eastland Mall is a one-stop destination for all of your retail and entertainment needs. Although the mall has been in decline in recent years, it is consistent with the overall fall of retail malls in the United States.

Beer Nuts Brand Snacks are solely produced in Bloomington, Illinois. It is possible to take a video tour of the Beer Nuts Brand Snacks facility in Bloomington, as well as learn more about its history.

Central Catholic High School, Corpus Christi Catholic Elm/Jr. School, Epiphany Elm/Jr., St Mary's Catholic Elm/Jr. School, and Cornerstone Christian Academy are just a few of the many private schools in Bloomington. Metcalf Elm./Jr. School and University High School, both situated on the campus of Illinois State University, are available to Bloomington students.

There are 2,100 students at Illinois Wesleyan University, which was founded in 1850. It is a private residential university with a student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1. It used to be part of the United Methodist Church. College of Liberal Arts: There are 17 academic departments in the College of Liberal Arts. The College of Fine Arts: There are professional schools of art, music, and theater arts in the College of Fine Arts. There is also the School of Nursing. One thing that Illinois Wesleyan has done in recent years is build the five-story Ames Library and the Center for Natural Science. Also, the Shirk Center for Athletics and Recreation was built. Hairmasters Institute of Cosmetology, Inc., a school in Illinois that specializes in hair styling, hair design, long hair design, hair texture, hair color, people skills, and salon management classes, says it has been teaching these skills for more than 40 years.