View source for Bloomington, Illinois

{{Short description|City in Illinois, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Bloomington, Illinois
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in Illinois|City]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border      = infobox
| total_width = 280
| perrow      = 1/2/1/2
| caption_align            = center
| image1                   = Bloomington, IL city hall 1 (cropped).jpg
| caption1                 = [[McLean County Courthouse and Square]]
| image2                   = Miller–Davis Law Buildings (7442386408).jpg
| caption2                 = [[Miller-Davis Law Buildings]]
| image3                   = IWU AmesLibrary 1555 2012-10-16 (cropped).jpg
| caption3                 = [[Illinois Wesleyan University]]
| image4                   = MillerParkPavilion BloomingtonIL (cropped) (cropped).jpg
| caption4                 = [[Miller Park (Bloomington, Illinois)|Miller Park]], Home of [[Miller Park Zoo]]
| image5 = WhitePlace 2235.jpg
| caption5 = [[White Place Historic District (Illinois)|White Place Historic District]]
| image6 = David Davis Mansion.jpg
| caption6 = [[Clover Lawn]]
}}
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| image_blank_emblem = City_of_Bloomington_Logo.png
| etymology          = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| image_map          = File:McLean County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Bloomington Highlighted.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Bloomington in McLean County, Illinois
| pushpin_map        = Illinois#USA
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_label      = Bloomington
| coordinates        = {{coord|40|29|03|N|88|59|37|W|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_name1  = [[Illinois]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Illinois|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[McLean County, Illinois|McLean]]
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1831
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_date1  = 1831
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Mayor–council–manager]]
| leader_title       = [[List of mayors of Bloomington, Illinois|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Dan Brady (Illinois politician)|Dan Brady]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Warnecke |first1=Lauren |last2=Hardman |first2=Colin |title=Brady sworn in as Bloomington mayor, with housing and infrastructure top of mind |url=https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-05-01/brady-sworn-in-as-mayor-with-housing-infrastructure-top-of-mind |work=WGLT |date=1 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = City manager
| leader_name1       = Jeff Jurgens
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_17.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 70.56
| area_total_sq_mi   = 27.24
| area_land_km2      = 70.24
| area_land_sq_mi    = 27.12
| area_water_km2     = 0.32
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.12
| area_water_percent = 
| area_metro_footnotes = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| area_rank          = 
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 840
| elevation_point    = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 78680
| pop_est_as_of      = 2024
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref>{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce |date=March 2025 |access-date=September 2, 2025}}</ref> 
| population_est     = 79232 {{gain}}
| population_rank    = 
| population_density_km2 = 1120.18
| population_density_sq_mi = 2901.29
| population_metro_footnotes = 
| population_metro   = 191,067 (US: [[List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|223rd]])
| population_urban   = 132,600 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|243rd]])
| timezone1          = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1        = −06:00
| timezone1_DST      = [[Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = −05:00
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 61701, 61704, 61705
| area_codes          = [[Area codes 309 and 861|309, 861]]
| geocode            = 
| iso_code           = 
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 17-06613
| blank2_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] ID
| blank2_info        = 2394197<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394197}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|www.bloomingtonil.gov/}}
| footnotes          = 
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
}}

'''Bloomington''' is a city in [[McLean County, Illinois]], United States, and its [[county seat]]. The [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] showed the city had a population of 78,680,<ref name="Census2020">{{cite web|title=2020 City Population and Demographics|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bloomingtoncityillinois,US/PST045221 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=April 17, 2022}}</ref> making it the [[List of municipalities in Illinois|13th-most populous city in Illinois]] and the fifth-most populous outside the [[Chicago metropolitan area]].<ref>{{cite news |author=M.K. Guetersloh |title=Bloomington grows by 10,000 |url=http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/06/16/news/doc449338a9f298f188018042.txt |work=Pantagraph |date=June 16, 2006 |access-date=February 15, 2008 }}</ref> It is adjacent to the town of [[Normal, Illinois|Normal]], and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the [[Bloomington–Normal]] metropolitan area, which has a population of roughly 170,000.

Bloomington is {{convert|135|mi|km}} southwest of [[Chicago]] and {{convert|162|mi|km}} northeast of [[St. Louis]]. Bloomington is home to [[Illinois Wesleyan University]] and the headquarters for [[State Farm]] and [[Country Financial]]. Bloomington is also home to the minor league hockey team [[Bloomington Bison]].

==History==
[[File:PostcardBloomingtonILEaSideSq1910.jpg|thumb|Looking northwest from the east side of the downtown square, about 1910]]
The Bloomington area was at the edge of a large grove occupied by the [[Kickapoo people]] before the first [[Euro-American]] settlers arrived in the early 1820s.<ref name="History of Bloomington">History of Bloomington, [http://www.downtownbloomington.org/content.php?section=history History of Bloomington] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213033750/http://www.downtownbloomington.org/content.php?section=history |date=February 13, 2008 }}</ref> Springing from the settlement of ''Keg Grove,'' later called ''Blooming Grove,'' Bloomington was named as county seat on December 25, 1830, when [[McLean County, Illinois|McLean County]] was created.<ref>History of Bloomington (City Website), [http://www.cityblm.org/page.asp?show=section&id=2859&menuid=2859 History of Bloomington (from city website)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040229004241/http://www.cityblm.org/page.asp?show=section&id=2859&menuid=2859 |date=February 29, 2004 }}</ref>

When the County of McLean was incorporated, a county seat was established, but the legislation stated the site of Bloomington "would be located later." Gavin Quinn, one of the new county's promoters, offered to donate {{convert|60|acre|m2}} of his 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 July 4, 1831. At this time there were few roads, but rich soils brought new farmers who began commerce by conducting their business in the 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 worked as a lawyer in nearby [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]].<ref name="History of Bloomington"/> Prominent Bloomington resident [[Jesse W. Fell]], who founded the ''[[Bloomington Pantagraph]]'' and was most prominent in local real estate, had suggested the [[Lincoln-Douglas debates]] in 1854 and played a prominent role in pushing Lincoln to run for president.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mrlincolnandfriends.org/the-lawyers/jesse-fell/|title=Jesse W. Fell (1808–1887)}}</ref>

In 1900, an officer on patrol discovered a fire in a laundry across the street from the old city hall and police station.<ref>McLean County Museum of History (Museum Finding Aids), [http://www.mchistory.org/research/resources/fire/index.php Bloomington Fire of June 1900]</ref> He sounded an alarm but the fire destroyed most of the downtown, especially the areas north and east of the courthouse. The burnt area was quickly rebuilt from the designs of local architects George Miller and Paul O. Moratz.

[[File:Illinois - Bloomington - NARA - 23939563 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|View of Bloomington, 1932]]
Bloomington continued to grow during the first two decades of the 20th century. Agriculture, the construction of highways and railroads, and the growth of the insurance business all influenced the growth of Bloomington and its downtown. Most notably, [[State Farm]] was founded in June 1922 by retired farmer [[George J. Mecherle]] as a [[mutual organization|mutual]] automobile insurance company specializing in insurance for farmers.<ref>{{Cite book |first1=Joe |last1=Sonderman |first2=Cheryl |last2=Eichar |title=Images of America: Route 66 in Illinois |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |date=2014 |isbn=978-1-4671-1194-2 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |pages=60 }}</ref>

The [[1917 Bloomington Streetcar Strike]] was a labor dispute starting on May 28, 1917, when [[Amalgamated Transit Union]] Local 752 called a strike for union recognition, increased pay, and a shortened workday.<ref name="jones" >{{Cite web |title=Bloomington 1917 Strike |url=https://www.motherjonesmuseum.org/bloomington-1917-strike |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=Mother Jones Museum |language=en}}</ref><ref name="start">{{Citation |last=Unknown |title=Call Strike on Street Car Lines |date=May 29, 1917 |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3AThe_Pantagraph_May_29_1917_(Page_1-3).pdf&page=3 |pages=3 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |work=The Pantagraph}}</ref> It ended in July when the mayor of Bloomington, E.E. Jones, mediated contract talks between the workers and company from July 6 to 9. During this, the [[Illinois National Guard]] had been stationed outside the courthouse where mediation was occurring, equipped with machine gun emplacements.<ref name="jones" />

In 1997, Judy Markowitz was elected as the city's first female and Jewish mayor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wglt.org/post/judy-markowitz-bloomingtons-groundbreaking-mayor-dies#stream/0|title=Judy Markowitz, Bloomington's Groundbreaking Mayor, Dies|first=Eric|last=Stock|publisher=WGLT|date=February 16, 2021|accessdate=May 5, 2021}}</ref> During her two terms as mayor, an arena was built in downtown Bloomington and the city's performing arts center began restoration.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wjbc.com/2021/02/16/former-bloomington-mayor-judy-markowitz-passes-away/#:~:text=BLOOMINGTON%20%E2%80%93%20Judy%20Markowitz%2C%20the%20first,and%20the%20performing%20arts%20center|title=Former Bloomington Mayor Judy Markowitz passes away|first=Neil|last=Doyle|publisher=WJBC|date=February 16, 2021|accessdate=May 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/pantagraph/name/judith-markowitz-obituary?pid=197815929|title=Judith Stern Harrison Markowitz 1938 – 2021|publisher=Legacy.com|accessdate=May 5, 2021}}</ref> Bloomington also approved a gay rights ordinance in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.advocate.com/news/2002/10/30/bloomington-ill-approves-gay-rights-ordinance-6791|title=Bloomington, Ill., approves gay rights ordinance|publisher=Advocate.com|date=October 30, 2002|accessdate=May 5, 2021}}</ref> In 2021, [[Mboka Mwilambwe]] was elected as the city's first black mayor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wglt.org/post/mwilambwe-comes-out-top-3-way-bloomington-mayoral-race#stream/0|title=Mwilambwe Comes Out On Top In 3-Way Bloomington Mayoral Race|first=Ryan|last=Denham|publisher=WGLT|date=April 7, 2021|accessdate=April 7, 2021}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the 2010 census, Bloomington has an area of {{convert|27.229|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|27.22|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (99.97%) is land and {{convert|0.009|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (0.03%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1706613
  |title=G001 – Geographic Identifiers – 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=December 25, 2015
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213083348/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1706613
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{climate chart
|Bloomington, Illinois
|14|31|1.73
|18|37|1.71
|29|48|2.87
|40|61|3.83
|51|73|4.52
|61|83|3.88
|65|86|3.95
|63|84|3.83
|54|77|2.95
|42|65|2.71
|31|49|3.06
|20|36|2.41
|float=center
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name="weather">{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0113 |title=Monthly Averages for Bloomington, Illinois |access-date=January 27, 2011 |publisher=The Weather Channel}}</ref>}}
In recent years, average temperatures in Bloomington have ranged from a low of {{convert|14|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|86|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-23|°F}} was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of {{convert|114|°F}} was recorded on July 15, 1936, during the [[1936 North American heat wave]]. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|1.71|in}} in February to {{convert|4.52|in}} in May.<ref name="weather"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 1594
|1860= 7075
|1870= 14590
|1880= 17180
|1890= 20484
|1900= 23286
|1910= 25768
|1920= 28725
|1930= 30930
|1940= 32868
|1950= 34163
|1960= 36274
|1970= 39992
|1980= 44189
|1990= 51976
|2000= 64808
|2010= 76610
|2020= 78680
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 5, 2013}}</ref><br>2018 Estimate<ref name="2018 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 8, 2018}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Bloomington city, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Bloomington city, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=P004&g=160XX00US1706613&y=2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bloomington city, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US1706613&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bloomington city, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US1706613&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|54,011
|57,141
|style='background: #ffffe6; |54,590
|83.34%
|74.59%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |69.38%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|5,527
|7,663
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8,407
|8.53%
|10.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10.69%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|107
|170
|style='background: #ffffe6; |165
|0.17%
|0.22%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.21%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|1,949
|5,315
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,622
|3.01%
|6.94%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.15%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|24
|23
|style='background: #ffffe6; |26
|0.04%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|86
|106
|style='background: #ffffe6; |294
|0.13%
|0.14%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.37%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|954
|1,884
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,637
|1.47%
|2.46%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.62%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|2,150
|4,308
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,939
|3.32%
|5.62%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.55%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''64,808'''
|'''76,610'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''78,680'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 76,610 people and 30,454 households within the city. The population density was {{convert|2,814.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 34,339 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,261.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 77.5% White, 10.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 7.0% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.42% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.9% from two or more races. [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.6% 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 2010, there were 34,339 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 20, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 45, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $58,662, and the median income for a family was $81,166. Males had a median income of $56,597 versus $39,190 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $32,672. About 5.7% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
{{see also|List of mayors of Bloomington, Illinois}}

==Economy==
[[File:Beer-nuts.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Beer Nuts]] are produced in Bloomington]]

Bloomington is home to [[State Farm Insurance]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statefarm.com/about/careers/locations.asp |title=Office Locations |access-date=August 30, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819041802/http://www.statefarm.com/about/careers/locations.asp |archive-date=August 19, 2007 }}</ref> [[Country Financial]], [[Illinois Agricultural Association]], and [[Beer Nuts]].<ref>Beer Nuts located in Bloomington, [http://www.beernuts.com/ Official Website]</ref> The original [[Steak 'n Shake]] restaurant was opened in Normal, Bloomington's adjoining city, in 1934.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.steaknshake.com/default-home.asp |title=Steak n Shake &#124; Steakburger & Hand Dipped Milkshakes |access-date=August 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820220617/http://www.steaknshake.com/default-home.asp |archive-date=August 20, 2010 }}</ref> It also has the largest [[Dairy Queen]] restaurant in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hansen |first=Karen |url=http://www.pantagraph.com/business/article_766dcc72-ee81-11de-92c8-001cc4c002e0.html |title=Nation's largest Dairy Queen Grill & Chill set for B-N |publisher=Bloomington Pantagraph |date=December 21, 2009 |access-date=October 15, 2015}}</ref>

===Top employers===
According to Bloomington's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the area's top employers are:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! Employees
|-
| 1
| [[State Farm Insurance]]
|14,731
|-
|2
| [[Illinois State University]]
|3,281
|-
|3
| [[Country Financial]]
|1,972
|-
|4
| [[McLean County Unit District No. 5]]
|1,761
|-
|5
| Carle Bromenn Medical Center
|1,305
|-
|6
| [[OSF St. Joseph Medical Center]]
|860
|-
|7
| [[McLean County, Illinois|McLean County]]
|835
|-
|8
| Afni
|830
|-
|9
| [[Bloomington School District 87]]
|680
|-
|10
|City of Bloomington
|679
|}

Bloomington is also home to a [[convention center]] at the McLean County Fairgrounds and [[Grossinger Motors Arena]]. Bloomington is the only town where [[Beer Nuts]] 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.beernuts.com/CGI-BIN/LANSAWEB?WEBEVENT+L144976441A29B900682501B+M37+ENG|title=File Not Found – Beer Nuts}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Retail===
[[Eastland Mall (Bloomington, Illinois)|Eastland Mall]] is the main shopping center in Bloomington.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ishopeastlandmall.com/shop/eastland.nsf/index |title=Eastland Mall -- Home Page |access-date=May 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303194717/http://www.ishopeastlandmall.com/shop/eastland.nsf/index |archive-date=March 3, 2011 }}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
Bloomington-Normal ranks competitively in [[Richard Florida]]'s creativity rankings. 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.<ref>''[[The Rise of the Creative Class|The Rise of the Creative Class. And How It's Transforming Work, Leisure and Everyday Life]]'', 2002. Basic Books. {{ISBN|0-465-02477-7}}.</ref>

The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts is the centerpiece of the city's Cultural District, which also includes the neighboring McLean County of Arts Center, forthcoming festival park, and creativity center for arts education. 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.artsblooming.org/|title=Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts &#124; Home BCPA|website=www.artsblooming.org}}</ref> The Illinois Symphony Orchestra performs at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, where it gives five Masterworks concerts, two Pops concerts, and three Chamber Orchestra concerts annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilsymphony.org|title=Illinois Symphony Orchestra: Listen Live!|author=Administrator}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mcac.wildapricot.org/|title=McLean County Arts Center – MCAC Home|website=mcac.wildapricot.org}}</ref>

The Community Players Theater, on Robinhood Lane off of Towanda Avenue, is one of the oldest community theaters completely staffed by volunteers. Opened in 1923, it celebrated its 88th season in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.communityplayers.org/|title=Home|website=Community Players}}</ref> 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 was restored to its former glory with a $1.5 million renovation. It presents live music, corporate, public and private events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thecastletheatre.com/|title=The Castle Theatre|website=thecastletheatre.com}}</ref> The [[Illinois Wesleyan University]] School of Theatre Arts houses its talent within the Jerome Mirza Theatre at McPherson Hall. 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 theater, scene shop, classrooms and other facilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iwu.edu/theatre/Box_Office.shtml|title=Illinois Wesleyan: IWU Theatre Box Office|access-date=May 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418002840/http://www.iwu.edu/theatre/Box_Office.shtml|archive-date=April 18, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Illinois Wesleyan University]] 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iwu.edu/music/|title=School of Music|website=www.iwu.edu}}</ref>

The Miller Park Outdoor Summer Theatre, an amateur theater group sponsored by the City of Bloomington, performs two major theater productions each year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bpard.org|title=Bloomington Parks & Recreation |access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref> USA Ballet is an international ballet company. It provides children's workshops and outreach programs, and presents at [[Illinois Wesleyan University]]'s McPherson Theatre three times a year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usaballet.us|title=USA Ballet|work=usaballet}}</ref>

===Events===
[[File:EastGrove.JPG|thumb|[[East Grove Street District]]]]
American Passion Play was the oldest continuously performed [[Passion Play]] in the United States. Performed each spring at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, the Passion Play was set in Palestine and portrays the life of Christ in its entirety, closing finally after its 100th year running in May 2023.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2023-03-10/after-100-years-on-stage-a-final-curtain-call-for-the-american-passion-play/|title=After 100 years on stage, a final curtain call for the 'American Passion Play', Inc.|website= www.wglt.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.americanpassionplay.org/|title=The American Passion Play, Inc.|website=www.americanpassionplay.org}}</ref>

The [[Illinois Shakespeare Festival]] 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefestival.org|title=Home – Illinois Shakespeare Festival – Illinois State|date=May 19, 2016}}</ref>

The Lincoln's Bloomington Festival is held each July in Downtown Bloomington and features Civil War reenactments, traditional craft demonstrations, children's activities, musical performances, talks and tours.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mchistory.org/|title=McLean County Museum of History|website=www.mchistory.org}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcaart.org|title=MCA Art – The McLean County Art Scene|access-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517130204/http://www.mcaart.org/|archive-date=May 17, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The McLean County Fair is billed as the '"Home of the World's Largest County 4-H Fair"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mcleancountyfair.org/|title=McLean County Fair|website=www.mcleancountyfair.org}}</ref> taking place each August at the McLean County Fairgrounds in Bloomington. 4-H activities include: livestock shows, a film festival, and exhibits around food, nutrition and health, plant science, engineering and technology, and environment and natural resources. Evening Grandstand Entertainment features tractor pulls and various musical acts.

===Historic sites===
Ewing Manor was designed by Bloomington architect Phil Hooten in the Channel-Norman style 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 Festival]] each summer.<ref name="autogenerated1" />

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. This location is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="autogenerated1" />

The [[Miller Park (Bloomington, Illinois)|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.<ref name="autogenerated1" />

The [[Prairie Aviation Museum]] has a collection of preserved aircraft on display, including a Bell Sea Cobra, Huey helicopter, and F-14 Tomcat.

The Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, also known as the [[Evergreen Cemetery (Bloomington, Illinois)|Evergreen Cemetery]] is the burial site of many notable Bloomington-Normal citizens including members of the Stevenson family. [[Adlai E. Stevenson I]], vice president to Grover Cleveland, and [[Adlai E. Stevenson II]], governor of Illinois. ambassador to the United Nations, and twice Democratic candidate for the United States presidency, are both buried there. Also buried there are Stevenson's wife, Letitia Green Stevenson, who was the second National President-General of the [[Daughters of the American Revolution]], 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 Davis (Supreme Court justice)|David Davis]], friend and mentor to Abraham Lincoln; [[Charles Radbourn]], arguably 19th-century baseball's greatest pitcher; and Dorothy Gage, inspiration for the main character in the [[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz|Wizard of Oz]] and niece of author [[L. Frank Baum]].<ref name="autogenerated1" />

The [[David Davis Mansion]] offers a glimpse into the life friend and mentor of Abraham Lincoln, [[David Davis (Supreme Court justice)|David Davis]], who was a [[United States Senate|U.S. senator]] from Illinois and [[associate justice of the United States Supreme Court]]. Davis 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. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080509155831/http://www.davismansion.org/] The David Davis Mansion is an historic landmark on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="autogenerated1" />

The former building of the [[Moses Montefiore Congregation|Montefiore synagogue]] is one of the few [[Moorish Revival]] buildings in Illinois and one of the [[oldest synagogues in the United States]].
Other historical landmarks listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]:
* [[Ruben M. Benjamin House|Rubin Benjamin House]]
* [[George H. Cox House]]
* [[David Davis III & IV House|David Davis III House]]
* [[Robert Greenlee House]]
* [[John M. Hamilton House]]
* [[Holy Trinity Church Rectory and Convent|Holy Trinity Rectory]]
* [[McLean County Courthouse and Square|McLean County Courthouse]]
* [[George H. Miller House]]
* [[Miller–Davis Law Buildings|Miller-Davis Law Building]]
* [[Stevenson House (Bloomington, Illinois)|Stevenson House]]
* [[White Building (Bloomington, Illinois)|White Building]]
* [[Scott–Vrooman House|Vrooman Mansion]]

==Parks and recreation==
The Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department is composed of four divisions: Parks, Recreation, Golf, and the Miller Park Zoo. The department maintains over {{convert|1100|acre|km2}} of land including 44 park sites and three golf courses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityblm.org/parks/VW-Systems/Map/map.htm |title=City of Bloomington Parks & Recreation - Interactive Parkfinder |access-date=April 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214224627/http://cityblm.org/parks/VW-Systems/Map/map.htm |archive-date=December 14, 2010 }}</ref> These facilities often contain water spray parks, elaborate playgrounds, miniature golf, baseball/softball diamonds, soccer fields, cricket grounds, and lighted tennis courts. Outdoor public swimming pools are at O'Neil Park and Holiday Park.

[[Miller Park Zoo]] 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.millerparkzoo.org|title=Miller Park Zoo|access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref>

The Bloomington-Normal [[Constitution Trail]] is a {{convert|24|mi|km|adj=on}} trail that operates on dedicated right-of-way through much of the city. The north–south segment of the trail follows the abandoned Illinois Central Gulf 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. 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityblm.org/parks/Parks-Facilities/Constitution-Trail.htm |title=Bloomington Parks & Recreation - Constitution Trail |access-date=April 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214224820/http://cityblm.org/parks/Parks-Facilities/Constitution-Trail.htm |archive-date=December 14, 2010 }}</ref>

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 Bruce V. Green, an avid gardener whose $5.2 million donation spearheaded the project. The gardens include a public entry that directs visitors to a formal plaza, the entrance to the manor, a grass patio, theater walk with a widened walkway, and additional plantings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ewingmanor.illinoisstate.edu/gardens/genevieve-green/index.shtml |title=Genevieve Green Gardens: Ewing Cultural Center |access-date=April 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105110121/http://ewingmanor.illinoisstate.edu/gardens/genevieve-green/index.shtml |archive-date=January 5, 2011 }}</ref>

The Bloomington Ice Center is an indoor public ice skating facility operated by the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department. 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityblm.org/parks/Pepsi-Ice-Center/about-the-ice-center.htm |title=The Pepsi Ice Center :: Bloomington Parks & Recreation - Bloomington, Illinois |access-date=April 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715070849/http://www.cityblm.org/parks/Pepsi-Ice-Center/about-the-ice-center.htm |archive-date=July 15, 2011 }}</ref>

==Sports==

===Hockey===
Bloomington has been home to multiple minor league and semiprofessional hockey teams throughout the years. The first being the [[Bloomington PrairieThunder]] from 2006 to 2011. Bloomington was then home to the Bloomington Blaze and [[Bloomington Thunder (SPHL)]] from 2011 to 2014. Then from 2014 to 2019 Bloomington was the home of the [[Central Illinois Flying Aces]] who played in the [[United States Hockey League]]. Starting in 2024 Bloomington became the home of the [[Bloomington Bison]] who play in the [[ECHL]] and are the affiliate of the [[New York Rangers]] of the [[NHL]].

===Golf===
[[File:Golf Bloom.jpg|thumb|The golf course at the Bloomington Country Club]]
In 2005, ''[[Golf Digest]]'' ranked Bloomington-Normal as the Fifth Best American City for Golf in its "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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.golfdigest.com/images/rankings/gd200508metrogolfrankings.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=March 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322030644/http://www.golfdigest.com/images/rankings/gd200508metrogolfrankings.pdf |archive-date=March 22, 2012 }}</ref>
* The Den at Fox Creek: {{convert|6926|yd}}, Par 72, 18 holes.
The Den at Fox Creek is a 4-star, [[Arnold Palmer]] Signature Designed Golf Course that opened in 1997. 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityblm.org/parks/Golf-Courses/The-Den/general-info.htm |title=The den at Fox Creek Golf Course :: Bloomington Parks & Recreation - Bloomington, Illinois |access-date=April 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214224235/http://cityblm.org/parks/Golf-Courses/The-Den/general-info.htm |archive-date=December 14, 2010 }}</ref> The Den is home to both the [[Illinois High School Association|IHSA]] Boys' Golf State Tournament and State Farm Youth Classic each summer.<ref name="countryyouthclassic.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.countryyouthclassic.com/golfcoursenav.htm|title=countryyouthclassic.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016171844/http://www.countryyouthclassic.com/golfcoursenav.htm|archive-date=October 16, 2015}}</ref>
* Highland Park Golf Course: {{convert|5725|yd}}, 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityblm.org/parks/Golf-Courses/Highland-Park/general-info.htm |title=Highland Park Golf Course :: Bloomington Parks & Recreation - Bloomington, Illinois |access-date=April 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725172919/http://www.cityblm.org/parks/Golf-Courses/Highland-Park/general-info.htm |archive-date=July 25, 2011 }}</ref> The Highland Park Golf Course hosts the State Farm Youth Classic each summer.<ref name="countryyouthclassic.com"/>
* The Links at Ireland Grove: {{convert|1590|yd}}, 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 {{convert|1|acre|m2|adj=on}} of target greens, several bunkers, and nearly {{convert|2|acre|m2}} of natural grass hitting area. In addition, The Links Golf Academy offers a {{convert|4|acre|m2|adj=on}} short game practice facility. The Links' complex also includes Golf Etc., a pro shop selling everything golf related.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thelinksatirelandgrove.com/|title=The Links at Ireland Grove|work=Ireland Grove}}</ref> The Links is also home to the skills Challenge portion of the State Farm Youth Classic each summer.<ref name="countryyouthclassic.com"/>
* Prairie Vista Golf Course: {{convert|6745|yd}}, Par 72, 18 holes.
Prairie Vista sports 16 water hazards, a wave bunker, two-level greens and fairways, much sand, a pro shop, carts, club rental, snack bar, banquet room and driving range. In addition to annually hosting the State Farm Youth Classic and [[Illinois High School Association|IHSA]] Boys' Golf State Finals, Prairie Vista hosted the 1997 NCAA Division I Women's Golf East Regional.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prairievistagc.com|title=Prairie Vista Golf Course|access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref>

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.

===Facilities===
[[File:US Cellular Coliseum.jpg|thumb|[[Grossinger Motors Arena]]]]
The [[Grossinger Motors Arena]] in southwest downtown Bloomington opened in 2006 and is home to the [[Bloomington Edge]] of the [[Indoor Football League]] and formerly the home of the [[Bloomington PrairieThunder|PrairieThunder]] and [[Bloomington Blaze|Blaze]] of the [[Central Hockey League]]. Since 2014, it has been the home rink of the [[Central Illinois Flying Aces]] of the [[United States Hockey League]], as well as hosting certain games of Illinois State University's club hockey team and local youth hockey programs. With over {{convert|180000|sqft|m2}} of space, the arena 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 arena's opening, the facility has hosted an array of events including concerts, family shows, ice shows, motorsports, and trade shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uscellularcoliseum.com/|title=US Cellular Coliseum – Home|author=US Cellular Coliseum}}</ref>

The Community Soccer Fields complex offers 20 soccer fields of various sizes used annually by 2,000 area soccer players.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.illinoisfusion.com|title=Illinois Fusion Soccer|access-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208172201/http://www.illinoisfusion.com/|archive-date=February 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Extra Innings Bloomington/Normal is an indoor baseball and softball training facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.extrainnings-bn.com/|title=Apps Parents Should Choose with Caution|work=Choosing Apps Wisely|access-date=May 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514235417/http://www.extrainnings-bn.com/|archive-date=May 14, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" | Team
! scope="col" | League
! scope="col" | Sport
! scope="col" | Venue
! scope="col" | Established
! scope="col" | Championships
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;" | [[Normal CornBelters]]
| [[Prospect League]]
| [[Baseball]]
| [[The Corn Crib]]
| 2009
| None
|-
!scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" |[[FC Diablos]]
| [[Midwest Premier League]]
| [[Association football]]
| [[The Corn Crib]]
| 2017
| 0
|-
!scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" |[[Bloomington Bison]]
| [[ECHL]]
| [[Ice hockey]]
| [[Grossinger Motors Arena]]
| 2024
| -
|-
|}

==Education==
===Primary and secondary===
Bloomington is served by two public school districts. The interior of the city is served by [[Bloomington Public Schools District 87]],<ref name=McLeanCoSDMap2020>{{cite web |title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: McLean County, IL |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17113_mclean/DC20SD_C17113.pdf |accessdate=December 1, 2024 |publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17113_mclean/DC20SD_C17113_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> which operates one high school, [[Bloomington High School (Bloomington, Illinois)|Bloomington High School]], one junior high school, Bloomington Junior High School, and six elementary schools (Oakland, Washington, Bent, Irving, Sheridan, and Stevenson elementary schools) and one pre-school, Sarah Raymond (named for the first female superintendent for Bloomington).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bloomington Public Schools |url=https://www.district87.org/ |access-date=March 19, 2023 |website=District 87}}</ref>

Growth has taken the city well into the boundaries of a second district, [[McLean County Unit District No. 5]].<ref name=McLeanCoSDMap2020/> 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]]), four junior high schools, and numerous elementary schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=McLean County Unit 5 |url=https://www.unit5.org/ |access-date=March 19, 2023 |website=McLean County Unit 5}}</ref> As of 2010, Unit Five was constructing its fourth junior high school which is called George Evans Junior High School more commonly known as EJHS. The construction was finished in 2011 Unit 5 was also making two new elementary schools in Bloomington, and is projecting the need for another high school.

Small portions extend into [[Olympia Community Unit School District 16]].<!--UNI 29890--><ref name=McLeanCoSDMap2020/>

Bloomington is also home to several private schools, including [[Central Catholic High School (Bloomington, Illinois)|Central Catholic High School]], Corpus Christi Catholic School Elm./Jr. School, Epiphany Elm./Jr. School, St. Mary's Catholic School, Trinity Lutheran School, and [[Cornerstone Christian Academy (Bloomington, Illinois)|Cornerstone Christian Academy]]. Bloomington students also may enroll at Metcalf Elm./Jr. School and University High School, laboratory schools located at Illinois State University.

Bloomington/Normal Japanese Saturday School (ブルーミントン・ノーマル補習授業校 ''Burūminton Nōmaru Hoshū Jugyō Kō''), a [[Hoshuko|Japanese weekend school]], was established in 1986 and held at the Thomas Metcalf School, an ISU laboratory school in Normal.<ref>[http://www.bnhoshuko.org/index.html Home page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205093506/http://bnhoshuko.org/index.html |date=February 5, 2015 }}. Bloomington/Normal Japanese Saturday School. Retrieved on March 31, 2015. "The facility of Metcalf Laboratory School that we have been using since 1986 allows us to enjoy full use of class rooms as well as gym and outdoor playground."</ref> The school has a separate office in Normal.<ref>"[http://www.bnhoshuko.org/about-us.html ~ 学校の概要 ~] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205145702/http://bnhoshuko.org/about-us.html |date=February 5, 2015 }}." Bloomington/Normal Japanese Saturday School. Retrieved on March 31, 2015. "郵便送付先:  1413 Heritage Road West, Normal, IL 61761"</ref>

===Colleges and universities===
The city of Bloomington is home to [[Illinois Wesleyan University]]. Founded in 1850, it 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 Church]]. 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 [[Division III (NCAA)|NCAA Division III]] school, Illinois Wesleyan has had more than 100 athletes elected into the Academic [[All-American]] team since 1970.,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.bloomingtonnormalcvb.org|title=Welcome to Bloomington-Normal, Illinois|work=Bloomington-Normal, Illinois|access-date=May 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009232129/http://www.bloomingtonnormalcvb.org/|archive-date=October 9, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iwu.edu/about/|title=About Us|website=www.iwu.edu}}</ref>

===Library===
Bloomington Public Library was first opened in 1857 by the Ladies' Library Association, which was formed in 1856. The small library was mainly supported by book donations and membership fees. In 1871, the library relocated to 105 West North Street (now West Monroe Street). After closing due to a lack of funds in 1880, the library reopened after residents raised $1,100 to support it. In 1888, the library moved into a new two-story building at the corner of East and Washington Streets on land donated by Sarah B. Withers. In honor of the donation, the library was renamed "Withers Library."<ref name="Parker">{{Cite web|url=http://bloomingtonlibrary.org/about/library_history|title=Bloomington Public Library|last=Parker|first=Kerrie|website=bloomingtonlibrary.org|language=en|access-date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=October 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023120152/http://bloomingtonlibrary.org/about/library_history/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1976, Citizens for a New Public Library organized a Friends of the Library group that campaigned for approval of bonds to raise money for a new public library. The campaign was successful, and in 1977 the library reopened at 205 East Olive Street as Bloomington Public Library. It offers a number of public programs, including a Bookmobile, started in 1926 as Library on Wheels, that delivers to local neighborhoods.<ref name="Parker"/>

==Media==
[[NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards|NOAA Weather Radio]] station KZZ65 transmits from Bloomington and is licensed to [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]'s [[National Weather Service]] Central Illinois Weather Forecast Office at [[Lincoln, Illinois|Lincoln]], broadcasting on a frequency of 162.525 mHz (channel 6 on most newer [[weather radio]]s, and most [[Specific Area Message Encoding|SAME]] weather radios). The station activates the SAME tone alarm feature and a 1050&nbsp;Hz 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 [[McLean County, Illinois|McLean]], [[Tazewell County, Illinois|Tazewell]], and [[Woodford County, Illinois|Woodford]]. Weather permitting, a tone alarm test of both the SAME and 1050&nbsp;Hz tone features are conducted every Wednesday between 11 AM and Noon.<ref>{{cite web|title=KZZ65|url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ilx/?n=nwrbmi|work=National Weather Service Central Illinois, Lincoln IL}}</ref>

''[[The Pantagraph]]'' is a local daily [[newspaper]] serving Bloomington.

==Transportation==
[[File:Terminal interior at Central Illinois Regional Airport, Nov 2009.jpg|thumb|Terminal of [[Central Illinois Regional Airport]]]]
Bloomington is serviced by [[rail transport|passenger rail]], [[motorcoach|bus service]], and [[Passenger airline|several airlines]]. [[Amtrak]], from its [[Bloomington-Normal (Amtrak station)|Bloomington-Normal station]], operates five trains in each direction between [[St. Louis]] and [[Chicago]] each day. The station also serves connecting bus service to [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]] and [[Amtrak]] stations in [[Galesburg, Illinois|Galesburg]] and [[Champaign-Urbana, Illinois|Champaign-Urbana]]. It is Illinois' third-busiest Amtrak station after Chicago and [[Illinois Terminal|Champaign-Urbana]], servicing about 92,000 passengers in fiscal year 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/statefactsheets/ILLINOIS21.pdf |title=Amtrak Fact Sheet Fiscal Year 2021 State of Illinois |access-date=July 19, 2023 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514114248/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/statefactsheets/ILLINOIS21.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Greyhound Lines]] provides service to/from [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]] and [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]]. [[Burlington Trailways]] offers service from the Amtrak station and the Greyhound station to/from [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]], [[Quad Cities|Quad Cities, Illinois/Iowa]], [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]], and [[Indianapolis, Indiana|Indianapolis]]

The [[Central Illinois Regional Airport]] on Route 9 is served by four airlines ([[Delta Air Lines]], [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]], [[Frontier Airlines|Frontier]] and [[Allegiant Air]]), five rental car agencies, and has direct daily flights to [[Atlanta]] (Delta), [[Chicago]] (American Eagle), [[Dallas-Ft. Worth]] (American Eagle), [[Detroit]] (Delta), and [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis/St. Paul]] (Delta). Additional service includes nonstop flights to [[Sanford, Florida]] (Allegiant) and [[St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport|St.Pete/Clearwater]] (Allegiant).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cira.com/|title=Home &#124; CIRA|website=Central Illinois Regional Airport}}</ref> A record 559,481 passengers flew to or from CIRA in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cira.com/press/2010%20Passenger%20Traffic.htm|title=News Archives – Central Illinois Regional Airport}}</ref>

[[Connect Transit]] provides local bus service with 13 color-coded fixed routes in the area; a lift-assisted paratransit service called Connect Mobility and a campus shuttle for ISU called Redbird Express.

Interstates [[Interstate 39|39]], [[Interstate 55|55]], and [[Interstate 74|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 [[U.S. Route 66 in Illinois|US&nbsp;66]] once ran directly through the city's downtown and later on a bypass to the east.

==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Bloomington, Illinois}}

==Sister cities==
* {{flagdeco|US}} [[Normal, Illinois]]<ref>[http://www.normal.org/index.aspx?nid=383 Normal, Illinois website], Sister City Partnership</ref>
* {{flagdeco|Japan}} [[Asahikawa]], [[Hokkaido]], Japan<ref name=sci>{{cite web|title=Interactive City Directory|url=http://www.sister-cities.org/interactive-map/Bloomington,%20Illinois|work=[[Sister Cities International]]|access-date=March 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714125734/http://www.sister-cities.org/interactive-map/Bloomington,%20Illinois|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flagdeco|Cuba}} [[Caibarién]], Cuba<ref name=sci/>
* {{flagdeco|UK}} [[Canterbury]], United Kingdom<ref name=sci/>
* {{flagdeco|Russia}} [[Vladimir, Russia|Vladimir]], Russia<ref name=sci/>

==See also==
* [[Illinois Prairie Community Foundation]]
* [[1917 Bloomington Streetcar Strike]]
* [[Bloomington, York Region, Ontario]] – believed to be named for Bloomington in 1869.<ref>For a thorough account of Bloomington's history, cf. Jean Barkey et al., [http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=2871821 Whitchurch Township] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303195547/http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=2871821 |date=March 3, 2016 }} (Erin, ON: Boston Mills, 1993), 100–102.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |publisher = J.C.W. Bailey |location = Chicago |title = Illinois State Gazetteer and Business Directory, for the Years 1864-5 |date = 1864 |oclc = 6867103 |chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/illinoisstategaz00bail#page/156/mode/2up |chapter= Bloomington |ol = 7082742M }}

==External links==
{{Library resources box}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline}}
* {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Bloomington (Illinois)|display=Bloomington|volume=4|page=86}}
* [http://www.cityblm.org City Of Bloomington]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20181009232129/http://www.bloomingtonnormalcvb.org/ The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Official source of visitor information for the Bloomington-Normal area]

{{McLean County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bloomington, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in McLean County, Illinois]]
[[Category:County seats in Illinois]]
[[Category:Bloomington–Normal|*]]
[[Category:1822 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1822]]