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Even Abraham Lincoln, a lawyer in neighboring Springfield, Illinois, came to trade and transact business at the town's core, which is now called Downtown Bloomington. John W. Fell, founder of the Bloomington Pantagraph and major local real estate developer, proposed the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1854 and urged Lincoln to run for President.

During a 1900 patrol, an officer noticed a fire at a laundry located just across the street from the municipal hall and police station. It was too late for him to save most of the city's downtown, notably the districts north and east of the courthouse, which were devastated by the blaze. When it came to rebuilding the neighborhood that had been destroyed, local architects George Miller and Paul O. Moratz came to the rescue.

Ray and Irene Denbesten founded Denbesten Real Estate in 1977 in Bloomington, IL. Their daughter, Cathy Denbesten, now runs it. You may reach them at (309) 6662-4228 for assistance.

A woman and Jewish person were the first to be mayor of New York City. Judy Markowitz was elected in 1997. As Mayor, Markowitz built an arena in downtown Bloomington and started to fix up the city's performing arts center during his two terms in the job. Bloomington would also pass a gay rights law in 2002. It was 2021 when Mboka Mwilambwe became the first black mayor of the city.

The city has a population of 76,610 at the 2010 census, with 30,454 homes. 2,814.8 people per square mile (1,099.5/km2) was the population density. At an average density of 1,261.5 units per square mile (492.8/km2), there were 34,339 dwelling units. 7.75% White; 10.1% African American; 0.3 % Native American; 7.0 % Asian; 1.42 % other races; 2.9% two or more races; and 2.9 percent from two or more races. 5.6 percent of the population was of Hispanic or Latino origin.

The City of Bloomington and McLean County make up the fastest-growing area in Illinois. The population of the area has grown 28% from 1990 to 2006. When the US Census Bureau did a special census of Bloomington in February 2006, it found that the city had grown by 15.7 percent in less than six years. This is where the fastest growth has been taking place.

A family's median income in the city was $81,166, while a household's median income was $58,662. Males earned $56,597 on average, while females earned $39,190. The city has a per capita income of $32,672 dollars. Around 5.7 percent of households and 11.0 percent of the population were poor, with 12.6 percent under the age of 18 and 6.3 percent of those 65 and over falling into this category.

At the Bloomington Ice Center (formerly known as Pepsi Ice Center), the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department operates an indoor public skating rink, which is 200 feet wide by 85 feet long. Skate rentals and concessions are available, as are instruction and public skating sessions. There is also a hockey program and leagues for anyone interested in learning the sport of curling.

The Ladies' Library Association, which had been founded in 1856, inaugurated the Bloomington Public Library in 1857. Book contributions and membership fees were the mainstays of the little library. 105 West North Street was the library's new address in 1871. (which is now West Monroe Street.) The library reopened when local citizens contributed $1,100 to sustain it after it was closed owing to a lack of money in 1880. The library relocated to a new two-story structure on property provided by Mrs. Sarah B. Withers at the junction of East and Washington streets in 1888. The library's name was changed to "Withers Library." in recognition of the contribution.

In 1976, Citizens for a New Public Library starts a group called "Friends of the Library." They want to get voters to let the city build a new public library. The campaign was successful and, in 1977, the library reopened in its current home at 205 East Olive Street as "Bloomington Public Library." Currently, the library has a number of public programs, including a Bookmobile, which was first called "Library on Wheels" in 1926. The Bookmobile delivers books to people in their own neighborhoods.

This department is comprised of four sections: parks, recreation, golf, and the Miller Zoo. At least 44 park sites and three golf courses are maintained by the Department of Parks and Recreation: Airport Park, Alton Depot Park, Angler's Lake Nature Preserve; Atwood Wayside; Bittner Park; Brookridge Park; Buck-Mann; Clearwater; Eagle Crest; Emerson; Ewing; Fell Avenue; Franklin; Friendship; Highland Park Golf Course; Lincoln Leisure Center; Holiday Park; and the City of Alton.

Alcoholic drinks and smoking are forbidden in all parks, however dogs are permitted on a leash in all of them. Water spray parks, extensive playgrounds, miniature golf, baseball/softball diamonds, soccer fields, cricket grounds, and illuminated tennis courts are common features of these facilities. Indoor tennis courts may be found at the Evergreen Racket Club in Everett, Washington. At O'Neil Park (to the west) and Holiday Park (to the east), there are two public swimming pools (east). Indoor pools are available in YMCA, YWCA, and private fitness clubs.

Many exhibits and staff engagement opportunities are available at Miller Park Zoo. At the zoo you may see Sumatran tigers and red pandas, as well as tortoises from the Galapagos Islands and the Galapagos Tortoises of the Galapagos Islands and the Amur Leopards of the Amur Mountains. Among the various exhibits of the zoo are the Katthoefer Animal Building, the Wallaby WalkAbout, ZooLab, and the Children's Zoo. Tropical America Rainforest is the Zoo's newest exhibit.

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.

At Normal City Hall Annex, the east–west section crosses the north segment and continues east to Towanda-Barnes Road. The Liberty Branch runs from Commerce Drive to the Old Farm Lakes Subdivision, starting at Commerce Drive and ending at Old Farm Lakes Subdivision. From Lincoln Street to Route 9 West, the Freedom Branch runs. Throughout the region, parking is accessible in adjacent lots. Walkers, runners, in-line skaters, skateboarders, cyclists, wheelchair users, and other non-motorized modes of transportation are welcome to utilize the path. It is not cleared of snow during the winter months and is open to skiers weather permitting.

While Illinois State University (1857) is located in Normal, Illinois Wesleyan University (1850) and a Heartland Community College campus (1990) are located in Bloomington. The American Passion Play is a popular springtime tradition. The home of Supreme Court associate judge David Davis, built in 1872, is a state historic monument. Bloomington has museums dedicated to history and aviation, a zoo, and a Shakespeare festival in the summer months. 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. Shirley, southwest of the city, is a gem and mineral museum. Inc. 1839, As of 2010 there were 76,000 people living in Bloomington-Normal and the Bloomington-Normal Metro Area, compared to 64,808 in 2000.

It is the centerpiece of Bloomington's new Cultural District, which also contains the McLean County of the Arts Center, a festival park, and a center for the arts in education and training. More than twenty local performing arts groups are also based at the facility. Each year, the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts hosts over 400 performances and community activities.

The McLean County Arts Center is one of the oldest arts groups in the Midwest. It has been serving Central Illinois for more than 130 years now. Holiday Treasurers is one of 12 art shows that happen each year. The annual Amateur Competition has been showcasing amateur artists in Central Illinois for more than 70 years, highlighting the best amateur artists in the area. There are also a lot of community events that the Arts Center helps with, like the Sugar Creek Arts Festival in Uptown Normal and the Spring Bloom Arts Festival in Bloomington.

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 style. For many years, the property was one of the best places to visit in the area. The Castle has just had a $1.5 million renovation to make it look like it did before. Today, the Castle has live music, corporate events, public events, and private events going on all the time.

The 21st anniversary of USA Ballet, a world-renowned dance group, will be commemorated in 2011. At Illinois Wesleyan University's McPherson Theatre, USA Ballet performs three times a year and offers classes for children and outreach initiatives.

Each year in March, the McLean County Arts Center hosts the Spring Bloom Arts Festival. Over 100 artists exhibit a variety of mediums, including carpentry, glass art, sculpture, paintings, prints, photos, and handmade jewelry, at this indoor fine art festival.

The McLean County Fair is held annually in August at the McLean County Fairgrounds in Bloomington. 4-H events include livestock exhibitions, a film festival, and displays on food, nutrition, and health, plants, engineering, and technology. Featuring tractor pulls and musical performances.

There is a pavilion in Miller Park

The Miller Park Pavilion & War Memorial was restored in 1977 and 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.

In addition to members of the Stevenson family, the Bloomington-Normal community is buried in the Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, popularly known as the Evergreen Cemetery. Among those buried there are Adlai E. Stevenson I, Grover Cleveland's vice president, and Adlai E. Stevenson II, Illinois governor, ambassador to the United Nations, and two-time Democratic presidential contender. Stevenson's wife, Letitia Green Stevenson, and her sister, Julia Green Scott, the sixth National President-General of the Daughters of the American Revolution, are both buried there as well. There are also the graves of Abraham Lincoln's friend and mentor David Davis, baseball great Charles Radbourn, and Dorothy Gage, the inspiration for the main heroine in The Wizard of Oz and the niece of author L. Frank Baum, all of whom are buried there.

The David Davis Mansion gives visitors a glimpse into the life of Abraham Lincoln's friend and mentor, David Davis, who was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court and played a big role in Lincoln's bid for the 1860 presidential nomination. The Davis Mansion, which was finished in 1872, has a mix of Italianate and Second Empire architectural features. It is a good example of what was popular in the middle of the 19th century. His Bloomington home, which has been in the Davis family for three generations, has all the modern conveniences of the time: a coal-burning stove, gas lights, and indoor plumbing. The David Davis Mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places, which is a list of places that are important to history.

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The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau conducts monthly Twin City Tours. Tours start at the McLean County Museum.

Bloomington's primary retail mall is Eastland Mall. Eastland Mall offers dining, shopping, and entertainment, as well as a range of recreational activities. Stores include Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Applebee's, Buckle, Finish Line, Limited, Old Navy, Rogers & Hollands, Talbot's, and more. The mall, however, has been in decline in recent years, in accordance with the overall downturn of retail malls throughout America.

Downtown Bloomington has museums, banks, a legal and governmental center, residential living, a large artist community, specialty retail stores, and supportive services. Many restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. Special events like the Tour de Chocolat and Once Upon a Holiday give visitors a chance to explore the neighborhood. Downtown Bloomington is home to City of Bloomington and McLean County government offices, as well as major employers such as State Farm Insurance, specialty stores, bars, restaurants, and art galleries.

Beer Nuts Brand Snacks are created only in Bloomington, Illinois. In Bloomington, there are two Beer Nuts Company Stores, each of which offers a video tour of the Bloomington facility as well as information on the history of Beer Nuts Brand Snacks.

With two public school districts, Bloomington has a wide range of educational options. One high school, Bloomington High School, a junior high school, Bloomington Junior High School, six elementary schools, and a pre-school are all operated by Bloomington Public Schools District 87 on the city's inner outskirts. Sarah Raymond Pre-school serves the city's youngest residents (named for the first female superintendent for Bloomington).

Many private schools are located in Bloomington, including Central Catholic High School, Corpus Christi Catholic School Elm/Jr, Epiphany Elm/Jr, Trinity Lutheran School, and Cornerstone Christian Academy. Metcalf Elm./Jr. School and University High School, both situated on the campus of Illinois State University, are available to Bloomington students.

The magnificent dome of the McLean County Museum of History serves as a marker for locating the city's historic centre. The courthouse plaza is surrounded by a number of historic buildings from the turn of the century. There are museums, banks, a legal and governmental center, residential housing, a big artist's colony, and several speciality retail enterprises and support services available to visitors in the area. There are numerous dining options, as well as a vibrant nightlife.

City of Bloomington and McLean County offices are located downtown, as with a wide variety of specialized shops, pubs, restaurants, and galleries.