Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city of 78,907 people in McLean County, Illinois, founded in 1857.
Why visit Bloomington
Townapedia lists 54 museums and landmarks, 88 parks and trails, 250 places to eat, 16 places to stay and 13 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Miller Park Zoo, Theatre at Ewing, David Davis Mansion and Broadview Mansion.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 16°F, and about 20 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Bloomington
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Bloomington
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. The city had a population of 78,680 as of the 2020 census, making it the 13th-most populous city in Illinois and the fifth-most populous outside the Chicago metropolitan area. It is adjacent to the town of 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.
From the Wikipedia article Bloomington, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do13
Miller Park Zoo
Zoo and aquarium · 1.9 mi
Zoo in Bloomington, Illinois
1020 South Morris Avenue, Bloomington
09:30-16:30
Illinois State University
School · 2.7 mi
Public university in Normal, Illinois
Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts
Cinema and theater · 1.3 mi
600 North East Street, Bloomington
Connie Link Amphitheatre
Cinema and theater · 2.0 mi
617 South Linden Street, Normal
1 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks54
David Davis Mansion
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
House museum in Bloomington, Illinois
1000 East Monroe Drive, Bloomington
Broadview Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
1301 South Fell Avenue, Normal
McLean County Museum of History
Museum · 1.3 mi
History museum in Bloomington, Illinois
200 North Main Street, Bloomington
Mo-Sa 09:00-17:00; Tu 09:00-21:00; May-Sep: Su 10:00-14:00
Bloomington Central Business District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Historic and central business district in Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois, United States
David Davis III & IV House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Bloomington, Illinois, NRHP-listed in McLean County
1005 East Jefferson Street, Bloomington
East Grove Street District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic district in Illinois, United States
Franklin Square
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Listed on the NRHP in McLean County, Illinois
George H. Cox House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
701 East Grove Street, Bloomington
John M. Hamilton House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
502 South Clayton Street, Bloomington
Normal Theater
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Movie theater in Normal, Illinois, United States
209 West North Street, Normal
Ruben M. Benjamin House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Bloomington, IL, listed on the NRHP in Illinois
510 East Grove Street, Bloomington
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White Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Building in downtown Bloomington, Illinois
215,217,219,221,223 East Douglas Street, Bloomington
42 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds88
Grossinger Motors Arena
Sports field and stadium · 1.4 mi
101 South Madison Street, Bloomington
Playsynthesis Children’s Activity Center
Playground · 2.2 mi
1 Auto Row Drive, Bloomington
Tu-Sa 09:00-15:00
State Farm Park
Park · 1.8 mi
202 East Hamilton Road, Bloomington
Mo-Su 07:00-21:00
Upper Limits Rock Gym & Pro Shop
Sports field and stadium · 2.3 mi
1304 West Washington Street, Bloomington
76 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes250
Fiesta Ranchera
Restaurant · Mexican, Tex-Mex · 1.3 mi
604 IAA Drive, Bloomington
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 11:00-22:00
Froth & Fork
Restaurant · American, Mexican, Asian · 1.0 mi
America's Eatery & Bar
712 South Eldorado Road, Bloomington
Su-Th 06:00-25:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-26:00
Anju Above
Restaurant · Asian, American · 1.2 mi
220 East Front Street, Bloomington
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-21:00
Bloom's Coffee Bar
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.0 mi
1209 1/2 South Towanda Avenue, Bloomington
Mo-Sa 06:00-19:00; Su 07:00-19:00
Cadillac Jack's
Restaurant · Burger, Pizza, American · 1.5 mi
1507 South Main Street, Bloomington
Su-Th 09:30-22:30; Fr-Sa 09:30-26:00
Coffee Hound Roastery and Café
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.3 mi
407 North Main Street, Bloomington
Tu-Su 06:30-16:00; Mo off; PH off
Dop's Jerk House
Restaurant · Jamaican · 1.0 mi
2303 East Washington Street, Bloomington
Th-Tu 11:00-21:00; We off
Empire Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Donut, Juice, Pastry, Liquor · 1.0 mi
1406 East Empire Street, Bloomington
Mo-Th 06:00-01:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-02:00; Su 06:00-01:00
Epiphany Farms Restaurant
Diner · American · 1.2 mi
220 East Front Street, Bloomington
Mo-Th 16:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 16:00-22:00
238 more on the map.
History
The Bloomington area was at the edge of a large grove occupied by the Kickapoo before the first Euro-American settlers arrived in the early 1820s. Springing from the settlement of Keg Grove, later called Blooming Grove, 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, but the legislation stated the site of Bloomington "would be located later." Gavin Quinn, one of the new county's promoters, offered to donate 60 acres (240,000 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. 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.
From the History section of Bloomington, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay16
Country Inn & Suites, Bloomington-Normal Airport, IL
Motel and hotel · 1.9 mi
2403 East Empire Street, Bloomington
Candlewood Suites Bloomington-Normal
Motel and hotel · 2.8 mi
203 Susan Drive, Normal
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bloomington - Normal
Motel and hotel · 2.8 mi
1715 Parkway Plaza Drive, Normal
Churches and places of worship47
Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.6 mi
527 West Jackson Street, Bloomington
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal
Place of worship · 1.2 mi
1613 East Emerson Street, Bloomington
Shopping46
Gas and EV charging27
Schools, colleges and libraries69
Central Catholic High School
School · Roman Catholic · 2.8 mi
1201 Airport Road, Bloomington
Healthcare25
Merle Pharmacies Inc
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.3 mi
201 East Locust Street, Bloomington
Carle Health Convenient Care Services
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.8 mi
3024 East Empire Street, Bloomington
Orthopedic & Sports Enhancement Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.1 mi
2406 East Empire Street, Bloomington
Bloomington Primary Care
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.6 mi
9 Heartland Drive, Bloomington
Carle BroMenn Outpatient Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.8 mi
3024 East Empire Street, Bloomington
Map of Bloomington
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 16°F | 2.4 in | 7.5 in |
| Feb | 38°F | 19°F | 2.0 in | 5.5 in |
| Mar | 50°F | 28°F | 2.6 in | 2.2 in |
| Apr | 63°F | 38°F | 3.7 in | 0.5 in |
| May | 74°F | 50°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 83°F | 60°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 63°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 61°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 53°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 66°F | 42°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 50°F | 31°F | 2.8 in | 0.8 in |
| Dec | 38°F | 21°F | 2.3 in | 3.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Normal 4Ne (5 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
McLean County has had 6 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2011-03-17: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2007-02-09: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2001-01-17: Illinois Winter Snow Storms (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal (BMI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Normal 3 mi north, about 5 min by car
- Downs 7 mi southeast, about 11 min by car
- Twin Grove 7 mi west, about 11 min by car
- Towanda 7 mi northeast, about 11 min by car
- Hudson 9 mi north, about 15 min by car
- Heyworth 11 mi south, about 18 min by car
- Danvers 11 mi west, about 18 min by car
- Carlock 11 mi northwest, about 18 min by car
- Le Roy 14 mi southeast, about 23 min by car
- Peoria 39 mi northwest, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Bloomington Illinois Aerial (30143726088), formulanone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- My neighborhood garden center, AB Hatchery, Bloomington IL (49224181172), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- 1001 E. Jefferson, Bloomington, Nyttend, Public domain
- Bloomington - David Davis Mansion (4294456678), Roger W from Sarasota, Florida, U.S.A., CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bloomington Il David Davis Mansion3, See above., CC BY 2.5
- McLean County Courthouse and Square (7436726814), Michael from Palatine, Illinois, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Broadview Mansion South View, Casmeltzer at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- EastGrove, William Wesen Appraiser, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bloomington Il David Davis III & IV House1, See above., CC BY 2.5
- Bloomington Il White Bldg1, IvoShandor, CC BY 2.5
- Bloomington IL John M. Hamilton House1, IvoShandor, CC BY 2.5
- Bloomingtonbusiness, William Wesen Appraiser, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bloomington Il George Cox House1, See above., CC BY 2.5
- Normal Theater (5978150267), Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bloomington Il Benjamin House2, See above., CC BY 2.5
- Stevenson House (7440859406), Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Homemade Concrete (21443284638), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- David Davis III & IV House (7422352902), Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 2019-07-23 Neighborhood Garden Center. Shot with DJI Phantom 3se drone, Ron Frazier, CC BY 2.0
- 2019-07-23 Neighborhood Garden Center. Shot with DJI Phantom 3se drone. - 48382471087, Ron Frazier, CC BY 2.0
- My neighborhood garden center, AB Hatchery. Shot with a DJI Phantom 3se camera drone. (49098126411), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Clover Lawn, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BEER NUTS Production Plant and Company Store, Liaws at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 23rd Annual Antique Auto Show. Historic David Davis Mansion. (48450272602), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Illinois Winter Historic David Davis Mansion. Shot with a DJI Phantom 3se camera drone. (49531237927), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Illinois Winter Historic David Davis Mansion. Shot with a DJI Phantom 3se camera drone. (49549269968), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Clover Lawn. Historic David Davis Mansion, an Illinois State Museum, Ron Frazier, CC BY 2.0
- David Davis Mansion, BNGuy1, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Illinois Winter Historic David Davis Mansion. Shot with a DJI Phantom 3se camera drone. (49549773516), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- A Home For Haunting - Cloverlawn (29787014311), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- A Home For Haunting - Cloverlawn (29243423393), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- David Davis Mansion's Civil War Days (14680455136), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Mr Lincoln makes an appearance at Civil War Days (14723318013), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- David Davis Mansion in autumn (23037410391), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Davis Mansion - David Davis was Lincoln's law partner and Supreme Court Justice. Visit - http www.daviddavismansion.org (15885487596), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Cloverlawn. Judge David Davis Mansion - 22480368213, Ron Frazier, CC BY 2.0
- Historic David Davis Mansion in Autumn (50475605197), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Historic David Davis Mansion, an Illinois State Museum, Ron Frazier, CC BY 2.0
- Historic David Davis Mansion in Autumn (50475606037), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Historic David Davis Mansion in Autumn (50474756458), Ron Frazier from Bloomington IL, United States, CC BY 2.0
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