Bloomington, Illinois
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bloomington, Illinois |
||
|
||
 |
||
| Coordinates: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1822 | |
| Incorporated | Dec. 25, 1830 [1] | |
| Mayor | Steve Stockton | |
| Area | ||
| - City | 58.3 km² | |
| - Land | 58.3 km² | |
| - Water | 0 km² | |
| Population | ||
| - City (2006) | 74,975 | |
| - Density | 1,112.1/km² | |
| - Metro | 165,500 | |
| Time zone | Central (UTC-6) | |
| - Summer (DST) | Central (UTC-5) | |
| Website: www.cityblm.org | ||
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States. A 2006 special census indicated that the population was 74,975 [2], and it is predicted that the city's population will reach 100,000 by 2020. It is the larger (population wise) of two principal cities of the Bloomington, Illinois-Normal, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the county seat of McLean CountyGR6. It 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).[3] It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and when mentioned together they are known as the "Twin Cities, "Bloomington-Normal," or simply abbreviated "B-N."
Contents |
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 58.3 km² (22.5 mi²), all land.
Division Street, as the name suggests, forms a part of the border between Bloomington and Normal, with Bloomington to the south and Normal to the north. It is symbolic as well as literal, in that the two cities have sometimes disagreed about the best way to govern.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 64,808 people, 26,642 households, and 15,718 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,112.1/km² (2,880.3/mi²). There were 28,431 housing units at an average density of 487.9/km² (1,263.6/mi²). 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 1820's, 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 1820's.[1] Springing from the settlement of Blooming Grove in 1822, 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.[1]
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 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.
[edit] Economy
In addition to the major manufacturers and industries, Bloomington-Normal is home to two universities, Illinois State University in Normal and Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington; two community colleges, Heartland Community College and Lincoln College; two hospitals, BroMenn and St. Joseph's; a convention center at the McLean County Fairgrounds; an indoor mall, Eastland Mall; and an outdoor mall, The Shoppes At College Hills. The largest employers located in the Bloomington-Normal area include State Farm Insurance, Illinois State University, Country Insurance and Financial Services, Mitsubishi Motors North America, BroMenn Healthcare, and Afni, Inc. [5]
[edit] Media
[edit] FM Radio
- 88.1 WESN, College Radio
- 89.1 WGLT, Blues & Jazz
- 90.9 WILL, Classical music (RDS) (Urbana-Champaign)
- 91.5 WCIC, Christian AC (RDS)
- 92.9 WRPW "Power 92.9", CHR/Rhythmic (RDS) (Peoria)
- 93.3 WPBG "93.3 The Drive", Classic Hits (RDS - Artist/Title) (Peoria)
- 93.7 WTRX, Oldies (RDS)
- 96.7 WIHN "96.7 I-Rock", Active Rock (RDS)
- 97.9 WBBE "97.9 Bob FM", Adult Hits (RDS)
- 98.9 W255AI (Translates 91.5 WCIC), Christian AC (RDS)
- 99.5 WDQZ "99.5 The Eagle", Classic Rock (RDS)
- 100.1 W261BK (Translates 88.5 WBNH), Religious Music
- 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)
- 105.7 WIXO "105.7 The X Rocks", Active Rock (RDS - Artist/Title) (Peoria)
- 107.7 WYST "Star 107.7", Adult Contemporary (RDS)
[edit] AM Radio
[edit] Analog Television
- 19 WHOI, ABC (Peoria)
- 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 Defnition), 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] Notable people and places
[edit] People
- David S. Broder, journalist
- David Davis, appointed to US Supreme Court by Abraham Lincoln, owner of "Cloverlawn" Mansion
- Elbert Hubbard, essayist
- John Wesley Powell, naturalist
- Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher
- George Lincoln Rockwell, American Nazi Leader (only born here, never lived here otherwise)
- Harold Sinclair, author
- 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, actor, notably M*A*S*H, first cousin to Adlai E Stevenson II
- Wilson Tucker, author
[edit] Places
- Miller Park
- U.S. Cellular Coliseum
- Constitution Trail
- Illinois Wesleyan University
- Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA)
[edit] Sports teams
[edit] Trivia
- Bloomington is home to Beer Nuts[6]
- Bloomington-Normal's sister city is Asahikawa in Hokkaidō, Japan.[7]
- Pepsi is the official soft drink of the city of Bloomington.[8]
- One of John F. Kennedy's favorite pizza parlors was Lucca's Grill located in Downtown Bloomington. [9]
[edit] External links
- City Of Bloomington
- McLean County Museum of History
- Bloomington Public Schools, District 87
- Bloomington Cultural District
- Uniquely Bloomington
- The Pantagraph
- Illinois Shakespeare Festival
- Community Players Theater
[edit] References
- ^ a b c History of Bloomington, History of Bloomington
- ^ 2006 Census
- ^ Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Illinois Shakespeare Festival
- ^ History of Bloomington (City Website), History of Bloomington (from city website)
- ^ Largest Companies in Bloomington, Economy Demographics (PDF)
- ^ Beer Nuts located in Bloomington, Official Website
- ^ Normal, Illinois website, Sister City Partnership
- ^ City of Bloomington
- ^ Lucca's Grill
[edit] Maps
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
