Bloomington (Illinois)

McLean County

17-06613

Bloomington is a city and the administrative center of McLean County in the center of the U.S. state of Illinois. In 2010, Bloomington had 76,610 inhabitants.

The city is located 55 km south-east of Peoria, 189 km southwest of Chicago, 230 km north-east of St. Louis, Missouri, 94 miles north-east of Illinois ' Capital Springfield and 76 miles north- west of Champaign.

Geography

The city is located 243 m above sea level. According to the census of 2010, the city has a total area of ​​70.5 km2 are, from 70.5 km2 or 99.96 % land area and 0,026 km2 or 0.04% to water.

History

The area of today's Bloomington was located on the corner of a large forest, which was inhabited by Kickapoo Indians. The first European settlers settled there around 1820. The branch, first Keg Grove, later called Blooming Grove, was appointed on December 25, 1820 as the provincial capital after the McLean County was founded.

With the establishment of the McLean County the formation of a county seat was decided. However, the exact location should be determined later. James Allin, one of the supporters of the new county, offered a plot of 240,000 square meters of his land for the founding of the city. His offer was accepted and Bloomington was built. The plots were auctioned off in a well-attended and noisy auction on Independence Day 1831. At this time, although there were few roads, but the floors were productive and moved to new farmers who began their businesses on the territory of the newly established County. People came from all directions to pursue their business in the city center, including Abraham Lincoln, who worked as a lawyer in nearby Springfield.

In 1900 a fire destroyed the old town hall and the police station as well as most of the city center, particularly north and east of the court. The destroyed buildings, however, were quickly rebuilt.

During the first two decades of the 20th century Bloomington grew steadily. Agriculture, the construction of highways and railways and the growing insurance industry, mainly the government farm insurance influenced the growth of Bloomington and its city center. The city center was a regional shopping center that attracted trade from neighboring counties.

Economy

According to the Bloomington 's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers of Bloomington as follows:

Bloomington beheimat a convention center at the McLean County Fairgrounds, U.S. Cellular Coliseum and Beer Nuts.

Sons and daughters of the town

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