Bloomington - "Blooming Grove"
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. Springing from the settlement of Blooming Grove in 1822, Bloomington was named as county seat on December 25, 1830, when McLean County was created.
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.
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. This trend has continued to the present day, where expansion has included many restaurants and larger businesses.
Currently, there are a wide variety of cultural and entertainment options available in Bloomington. Theater options include the longest running American Passion Play in the United States, the Community Players Theatre, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the McLean County Arts Center, and several movie theaters.
Designed in 1898, the Miller Park Pavilion building overlooks four distinctly designed areas within the park's parameters. In addition to historic monuments and bridges, the park features a zoo, an artificial lake, softball fields, two war memorials, and a preserved steam locomotive, coal car and caboose from the Nickel Plate Railroad which formerly served the area. The park also includes a mini golf course, sand volleyball courts and a playground. During the warm weather of summer an outdoor theater provides productions for local people. On July 4 the park hosts a fireworks display which is launched over the lake.
These are just a small sampling of varied attractions of Bloomington, to experience it all, come visit us! We'd love your company!
Sources:
City of Bloomington, IL
Wikipedia Encyclopedia (Bloomington, IL)
Wikipedia Encyclopedia (Miller Park)
