Bloomington Illinois

[Clint_Noname]

Pros of Bloomington/Normal include low crime, a good school system, a stable economy (Illinois State University and State Farm are located there), and a very clean, welcoming feel.

Cons include a high cost of living by Midwest standards and a general lack of things to do, but those are minor issues.

[M TYPE X]

Originally Posted by Clint_Noname

Pros of Bloomington/Normal include low crime, a good school system, a stable economy (Illinois State University and State Farm are located there), and a very clean, welcoming feel.

Cons include a high cost of living by Midwest standards and a general lack of things to do, but those are minor issues.

**** could hit State Farm at any time. Mitsubishi Motors' market position is weak. The state could cut Illinois State funding.

[irish setter girl]

B-ton has really changed over the years. I was one of "those college kids" who lived in B-ton for my 4 year college career. I really liked the town and that was before all the commercial development. There is certainly more to the town that ISU and IWU. State Farm is a major employer there as well as the universitites. I have severl friends who live there and really enjoy the lifestyle and the schools. They can get to Chicago and St. Louis fairly easily if they want big city adventures.

[tooningBlom]

I live in Bloomington, Indiana. Why is it that all cities named Bloomington are exactly the same? Bloomington, Illinois is just like Bloomington Indiana. You guys even have the same kind of old-fashioned courthouse!!! And same populatuion of about 70,000 and low crime rate! Bloomington, any way you slice it, will always be the name for any small, Midwestern college town.

[cap1717]

Downtown Normal has a charming small town / college town feel to it. . . Normal Theatre. . good art films, there is a newish childrens museum, train travel to Chicago. Nice older neighborhoods in both Normal and Bloomington, but the historic ones are pricey. . . I would not want to live real close to ISU anymore, as I'm a bit older and don't want the constant "energy" of the college kids. "Suburban" Bl / normal is booming with shopping, big box, chain stores and restaurants, etc., but as I have not lived there since that all began, I speak much to it. . . Still some lovely rural communities nearby, too, if you like that sort of thing. Towanda and Carlock come to mind.

[linicx]

First, if you want bright lights and non-stop action and lots of traffic, try Las Vegas. if you want to live in an area that offers everything your heart desires incluing mega-million dolllar houses, then you might like mid-town America.

The middle section of Illinois is in the heart of the Corn and Livestock Belt. We feed Chicago, we feed the world, and we probably feed your family, too.

Peoria, Bloomington and Springfield form a triangle that includes the best money can buy. Within this area are 7 hospitals and a medical shcool, 3 inside malls and at least 15 other shopping areas, 3 universities and 2 or more colleges, upscale and downtown dining, nationnal shows and events, mega-million dollar houses, and some awesome pople. If you drove in a triangle betweeen the thre towns, you would not travel any farther than between the northern most and southern most borders of Chicago, or about three hours. Houses are chepaer to purchase, but the taxes are about the same as Cook County. Schools are only as good as the aministrators and school boards.

Each town has its own identity and uniqueness; none are crime and drug free. All are surrounded by smaller communiites, farmers and ranchers, and all are within four hours to Chicago and St. Louis. Where you settle depends upon what meets your needs. All three are "national box stores" Missing is Costco and Trader Joe's.

Springfield, the southernmost leg of the triangle is a political town that seems to lean to the conservative side as the Governor usually does not. It borders I-55 for several miles. White Oaks Mall and Lake Springfield, Lincoln Library and Museum, Lincoln home, the state fare and the state capitol building seem to be the biggest tourist draws.

Inbetween Springfield and Bloomington is the two of Lincoln. Its a comfortable, genuinely nice town with good services..

B-N is the eastern most leg of the triangle. Bloominton is a ultra-conservative, Republican, Christian farm area. Insurance Companies are major contributors to the economy. 1-55 and 1-74 join near Bloomington. Miller Park is one of the two oldest Zoological Parks in America; the other is Lincoln Park in Chicago.

Normal is a college town north of Bloomington and home to Normal State University. It is as different from Bloominton than a cat is to a rock. Steak n' Shake - the restaurant chain began here in the '30s.

Peoria is nearest to the center of the state. It is a river town with a riverfront park, three hospitals and medical school, Bradley U, 2 minor league farm clubs, that is progressive and knows how to re-invent itself. It is the world headquarters for Caterpiller - the company that manufactures the ugly yellow earth movers. Peoria has Northwoods mall, six other shopping centers plus upscale schopping in Peoria Heights. The Peoria Park District manages more than 60 individual parks that contain more than 30,000 acres. The park system offers a variety of experiences from a top rated zoo and botanica, to baseball diamonds and marina, to the bandshell, summer stock theater and golf. There are plenty of walking paths and picnic areas. The PPD also offers learning classes from A-Z that are taught by experienced locals. I-74, I-474 and seven bridges carry traffic between Peoria, Tazewell, Mason and Fulton Counties over the Illinois River. Peoria has character, 12.000 year history, and unlike the other cities, Peoria was build on the water surrounded by rolling hills, high tree covered bluffs, and awesome photo opportunities. The oldest and most elegant of the four country-clubs in central Illinois is in Peoria; It sits atop the bluffs and has a magnificient view of Peoria Lake and the river valley. State parks are generously placed throughout central Illinois. Hiking, trail riding, fishig, boating, hunting, museums and even a fish hatchery is owned by th state. Additionally the area is being developed as the next everglandes. 7.000 acres are reclaimed and the next 7.000 is being prepared for reclaimation.

Four major events that attract national attention are in this area. The first one begins in four days.

1-FOLEPI - Festival of Lights East Peoria Illinois. . One of the largest night time parades and displays in America. Ends the first weekend in January. The lighted displays entered in the parade are displayed throughout East Peoria,

2-Three day Marigold Festival and Medallion Hunt at Pekin, Illinois in the fall. The search for the medallion brings thousands to town.

3- Spoon River Drive, the all county, old-tyme festival that is held the first two full weekends in October every year.

4. Morton Pumpkin Festival held yearly in the pumpkin capital of the world.

[cdhj12000]

If you're looking for conservatism, B-N is the place. This is a relatively nice place to settle down and raise a family. This is a growing small city/big town and with that comes increase in crime(s), corruption, and other things that might give you a reason to build a fence around your yard. There really aren't a lot of violent crimes in this town--hardly any, relatively speaking. Not many homicides anyway. People do occasionally get mugged, raped, etc., but not often. Bloomington-Normal's economy depends a lot on the universities. In the summer the night life is a lot more, shall I say, mature? Speaking of night life, there really isn't much to do except go to bars/clubs because everything else is closed, except of course the occasional live theatre, and cinemas. If you want to have anything non-alcoholic after 7pm your choices of a nice place to hang out and socialize are very limited. Actually, I think there are only 2, not including Denny's and the other 24 hour restaurants, and those 2 I think close at 9pm. The art scene is not too bad. It is growing which could have an impact on where to get an n/a drink after 7pm. The public transportation stinks! It only runs until 9pm, except 1 bus that goes back and forth between downtown Bloom. and "uptown" Normal which runs until the bars close. The buses don't run at all on Sundays. The town is pretty much dead on Sundays. Anyway, it's a nice place to raise a family and if you get a job at State Farm you probably won't have a problem finding a drug connection.

[linicx]

Redundant post. unnecessary.