Bloomington, Illinois

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States that is its county seat as well. A 2006 special census indicated that the population was 74,975 ^[1]. It is the more populous of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area and is the county seat of McLean County^GR6. Bloomington is the host of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, which is nationally known as one of the top Shakespearean festivals in the country (held at Ewing Manor).^[2] It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and when mentioned together they are known as "the Twin Cities," "Bloomington-Normal," or simply "B-N."

[edit] Geography

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

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 64,808 people, 26,642 households, and 15,718 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,880.3 people per square mile (1,112.1/km²). There were 28,431 housing units at an average density of 1,263.6/sq mi (487.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.92% White, 8.64% African American, 0.18% Native American, 3.02% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.42% from other races, and 1.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.32% of the population.

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

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

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

The median income for a household in the city was $46,496, and the median income for a family was $61,093. Males had a median income of $41,736 versus $29,077 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,751. About 4.3% of families and 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.

[edit] History

Prior to the 1820s, the area of today's Bloomington was at the edge of a large grove enjoyed by the Kickapoo people before the first Euro-American settlers arrived in the early 1820s.^[3] 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. ^[4]

When the County of McLean was incorporated a county seat was established. However, the legislation stated the site of Bloomington "would be located later." James Allen, who was one of the promoters of the new county, offered to donate 60 acres of his own land for the new town. His offer was accepted and Bloomington was laid out. Its lots were sold at a big party on the 4th of July 1831. At this time there were few roads, but rich soils brought new farmers who began commerce by conducting their business in the newly formed county. People came from all over to trade and do business at the town's center, known today as Downtown Bloomington, including Abraham Lincoln who was working as a lawyer in nearby Springfield.^[3]

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

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

[edit] Economy

Bloomington is home to Illinois State University (Normal, IL), Illinois Wesleyan University, BroMenn (Normal, IL) and St. Joseph hospitals, a convention center at the McLean County Fairgrounds, U.S. Cellular Coliseum, Eastland Mall and Beer Nuts. The largest employers located in Bloomington include State Farm Insurance, which was founded in the city, Illinois State University, Country Insurance & Financial Services, Mitsubishi Motors and BroMenn Healthcare.^[5]

[edit] Education

There are numerous educational facilities located in Bloomington-Normal. Among them include 5 High Schools; Normal Community High School (NCHS), Bloomington High School (BHS), Normal Community West High School (NCWHS), University High School (U-High), and Central Catholic High School (CCHS). Four Junior High Schools, Chiddix, Kingsley, Parkside, and Bloomington. Numerous elementary schools, a hand-full of museums, and four colleges; Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, Heartland Community College, and Lincoln Community College.

[edit] Sister Cities

• Image:Flag of Japan.svgAsahikawa in Hokkaidō, Japan.^[6]
• Image:Flag of England.svgCanterbury in England

[edit] Media

[edit] FM Radio

• 88.1 WESN, Illinois Wesleyan University Student Radio
• 89.1 WGLT, Blues & Jazz
• 90.9 WILL, Classical music (RDS) (Urbana-Champaign)
• 91.5 WCIC, Christian AC (RDS) (Peoria)
• 92.9 WRPW "Cities 92.9", Talk (RDS)
• 93.3 WPBG "93.3 The Drive", Classic Hits (RDS - Artist/Title) (Peoria)
• 93.7 WTRX, Oldies (RDS)
• 95.5 WGLO "95-5 'GLO", Classic Rock (RDS - Artist/Title) (HD Radio) (Peoria)
• 96.7 WIHN "96.7 I-Rock", Active Rock
• 97.9 WBBE "97.9 Bob FM", Adult Hits (RDS)
• 98.9 W255AI (Translates 91.5 WCIC), Christian AC (RDS) (Peoria)
• 99.5 WDQZ "99.5 The Eagle", Classic Rock (RDS)
• 100.1 W261BK (Translates 88.5 WBNH), Religious Music (Pekin)
• 100.7 WVMG "Magic 100.7", Soft Adult Contemporary (RDS)
• 101.5 WBNQ, CHR/Pop (RDS - Artist/Title)
• 103.3 WEWT "Truth 103", Christian CHR (RDS)
• 104.1 WBWN "B 104", Country (RDS - Artist/Title) (HD Radio)
• 105.7 WIXO "105.7 The X Rocks", Active Rock (RDS - Artist/Title) (Peoria)
• 106.1 WZND Illinois State University Student Radio
• 107.7 WYST "107.7 The Bull", Country (RDS)

[edit] AM Radio

• 1230 WJBC, News/Talk

[edit] Analog Television

• 19 WHOI, ABC (Peoria-Bloomington)
• 25 WEEK-TV "News 25", NBC (Peoria)
• 31 WMBD-TV "Newschannel 31", CBS (Peoria)
• 43 WYZZ-TV "Fox 43", Fox
• 47 WTVP, PBS (Peoria)
• 51 W51CT, Trinity Broadcasting Network
• 59 WAOE "My59", MyNetworkTV (Peoria)

[edit] Digital Television (DTV)

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

[edit] Print

• The Pantagraph, local daily newspaper

[edit] Trivia

• Bloomington is home to Beer Nuts^[7]
• Pepsi is the official soft drink of the city of Bloomington.^[8]
• John F. Kennedy visited Lucca Grill in 1959 during his presidential campaign. At the time, the downtown pizza restaurant and bar was owned by John Baldini, who was also the county Democratic party chairman. The restaurant has long been known as the unofficial Democratic party headquarters in an otherwise solid Republican area. ^[9]
• Bloomington-Normal is the location of the State Farm corporate headquarters. [1]
• The Goregrind metal band, Impetigo, formed in Bloomington in 1987.

[edit] Notable people and places

[edit] People

• Tim Bradstreet, Eisner Award Nominated artist and illustrator
• David S. Broder, journalist
• John Campbell, jazz pianist
• Kate Charles, Anglo-American mystery writer
• David Davis, appointed to US Supreme Court by Abraham Lincoln, owner of "Cloverlawn" Mansion
• Bump Elliott, All-American American football player, recipient of the 1947 Chicago Tribune Silver Football as MVP in the Big Ten, head coach at Michigan (1959-1968), and athletic director at Iowa (1970-1991)
• Pete Elliott, quarterback of the undefeated Michigan football teams in 1947 and 1948, and head football coach at Nebraska, Illinois and Cal, and Miami.
• Elbert Hubbard, essayist
• Joel Higgins, actor, best known for his role as Edward W. Stratton III, the father of Rick Schroeder's character in the 1980s hit TV series Silver Spoons.
• Frederic W. Goudy, typographer
• Denny Matthews, sports broadcaster
• Marc Miller, award-winning game designer
• John Wesley Powell, naturalist
• Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher
• George Lincoln Rockwell, American Nazi Leader
• Harold Sinclair, author
• Jerry Sohl, science fiction author and screenwriter
• Adlai E. Stevenson I, Vice President of the United States under Grover Cleveland
• Adlai E. Stevenson II, Governor of Illinois, Presidential candidate and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
• McLean Stevenson, first cousin to Adlai E. Stevenson II and actor. Stevenson's best-known role was that of Henry Blake in the television series M*A*S*H, and the Blake character also was a native of Bloomington.
• Wilson Tucker, author
• Dawn Upshaw, singer
• George J. Mecherle, Founder of State Farm Insurance
• Ryan Bliss, Digital Artist, founder of Digital Blasphemy
• Boomer Grigsby, Current member of the NFL football team, the Kansas City Chiefs

[edit] Places

• David Davis Mansion
• Miller Park
• U.S. Cellular Coliseum
• Constitution Trail
• Illinois State University
• Illinois Wesleyan University
• Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA)
• White Building
• Ruben M. Benjamin House

[edit] Sports teams

• Bloomington Extreme
• Bloomington Prairie Thunder
• Twin City Stars
• Illinois Wesleyan Titans
• Bloomington Titans
• Illinois State Redbirds

[edit] Transportation

Interstates 39, 55 and 74 intersect at Bloomington, making the city a substantial transportation hub. The Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System operates Bloomington-Normal's bus system.

• Bloomington-Normal (Amtrak station)
• Central Illinois Regional Airport

[edit] External links

• City Of Bloomington
• McLean County Government Web Site
• Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
• 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

[edit] References

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