Illinois Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Bloomington, Illinois

Population: 64,000

Located in McLean County

On behalf of the citizens of Bloomington and Normal, we would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our community. We Believe you will find the "Twin Cities" a warm and friendly place both to visit and do business. And if you are looking to relocate here, what better place to choose than our communities.

Festivals, attractions, museums and art–we have it all. We have quality hotels and fantastic restaurants. There is so much to do here that we hope you can relax and get business done in your spare time. We are a blossoming destination, one of the midwest's best kept secrets.

The "quality of life" is unsurpassed in Bloomington-Normal. We are often recognized by national publications for that quality of life and the standard of living that we enjoy here. We hope that you, too, find out what a great pleasure it is to stay here, whether it be for a day, a week or a lifetime!

The City of Bloomington is located in the heart of Central Illinois, approximately 125 miles southwest of Chicago, 155 miles northeast of St. Louis, and 64 miles northeast of Springfield, the State Capital. Bloomington is the County Seat of McLean County, the largest county in Illinois (approximately 762,240 acres). Bloomington (pop. 64,808 2000 census) is a twin City with the Town of Normal (pop. 45,386 2000 census). Intestates 39, 55 and 74 converge on Bloomington-Normal, as well as US Route 51 and State Route 9. The twin cities are also serviced by four major railroad lines and Amtrak, as well as air transportation at the Central Illinois Regional Airport, one of the fastest growing airports in the country, which services commuter, corporate, and private aircraft.

Bloomington is located in one of the most productive agricultural areas in the nation, but the economy is diverse and well-balanced. In addition to the major manufacturers and industries, there are two universities, three hospitals, a convention center, two indoor malls, an outdoor outlet mall, and many banks and Savings & Loan Associations located in Bloomington-Normal. The City of Bloomington is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Illinois with and estimated 20.25% increase in population between 1986 and 1995. New construction continues to enhance residential, industrial and commercial growth.

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, Illinois Wesleyan University Merwin Galleries, the McLean County Arts Center, the Miller Park Outdoor Summer Theatre, Twin Cities Ballet and several movie theaters.
Ever wonder where Beer Nuts came from? Come to Bloomington, the only place in the world where they are manufactured. Other attractions include Bloomington Off-track Betting, Children's Discovery Museum of Central Illinois and The David Davis Mansion (shown left). Davis was a former Supreme Court Justice who convinced Abraham Lincoln to run for the Presidency. Tours of the Mansion are available. If you have a chance, stop by the Kathryn Beich candy factory. You can explore nature with a visit to the Miller Park Zoo. These are just a small sampling of varied attractions of Bloomington, to experience it all, come visit us! We'd Love Your Company!

With the continued expansion by the Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority, Central Illinois Regional Airport is one of the fastest growing airports in the nation. The facility has lighted runways, charter service and private aircraft storage.

Two new additional runways have been added in the last two years, servicing major airlines including Frontier, Air Tran, American Eagle, Northwest Airlink and Transworld Express. Carriers offer more than 40 daily flights to Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Orlando, Minneapolis/St.Paul and St. Louis.

Three interstate highways junction at Bloomington-Normal. I-55 is the link between Chicago and St. Louis, while I-74 provides access to Indianapolis and Davenport. I-39 stretches northward to Rockford. In addition to interstates, Bloomington-Normal gains access to neighboring communities via two federal routes and a state highway: U.S. 51 and 150, and State Highway 9. Three railroads offer shipping services to businesses in McLean County. These are Norfolk and Southern, Conrail and Southern Pacific. Amtrak provides passenger service, as does Greyhound Bus Lines.

Thirty-eight motor freight companies provide service to the two communities. Ten have terminals in Bloomington-Normal. Bloomington and Normal are enjoying economic strength and the growth that result from investment in a wide variety of businesses from the insurance industry (State Farm Insurance National Headquarters) to automobile assembly (Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America) to the production of snack foods (Beer Nuts). Bloomington-Normal prospers, evidence by subdivisions of large, new homes which continue to grow at the fringes of the communities and by the handsome new schools built to accommodate increasing numbers of young families.

Shopping expands with the population, enhanced by two enclosed malls and more than a dozen shopping plazas which are spotted throughout the two communities. Two great universities, Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University, make Bloomington-Normal their homes, profoundly influencing the county's appreciation of knowledge and the arts. As a result, music and the visual and performing arts flourish, area history and historic places are carefully preserved, and new technologies are welcome.