Bloomington, IL

[Fountain 67]

I am thinking of moving from Iowa to Bloomington I have 4 sons I want to know if there are gangs there and are there shootings and lots of drugs

[linicx]

Poor pitiful Peoria sprawls along the banks of the Illinois River among rolling hills and heavily forested cliffs. Home to CAT, Maui Jim, the only level 1 tertiary critical care children's hospital in Central Illinois and three other hospitals. The only hospital that treats more children is in Chicago. Peoria is also home to a medical school, two nursing schools, three times more physicians than the national average, a top rated cancer clinic, USDA research facility, and the only hospital in Illinois that is affiliated with Easter Seals, Shriner Hospitals for Children and St. Judes Research Hospital. There is also a holistic community, too.

The Gold Medal Award winning Peoria Park District is the oldest and largest in the state. It manages over10,000 acres including an award winning zoo, amphitheater, and golf courses, that and it host free Sat,night family movies at the park.

Peoria is also home to a regional state*fair, one of oldest and best attended juried art fairs in the state, as well as the fourth oldest summer stock theater in the nation. It is the only theatre-in-the-round under a tent in a park in central Illinois. Peoria is home to the oldest Santa Claus Parade in the nation. One of the largest night christmas parades, and displays in the US, is five minutes away. The Wildlife Animal Park is in Peoria County. It is the only animal park in the state where your sleep to the wolf lullaby in complete safety. Your kids will surely love the Wheel's O Time Museum. And speaking of museums, the CAT Visitor Center and museum in conjunction with the Peoria Riverfront Musaeum will open in 5 months and 3 days. The a new NASA supported Planetarium will open too.

Peoria has shopping at malls and a dozen shopping centers and a dozen grocers, boutique shops nearby, and indy venues. How about a freshly made and cooked Brat for $2 at lunch?.

Our pitiful riverfront has a state-of-art fitness center and a fountain for kids; bring your towels. Maybe you would enjoy a tour of the city in a horse drawn carriage, or a historic tour on the trolly; there are 19 designated historical areas in Peoria. Speaking of the river you can take short cruise on the Spirit of Peoria, an overnight cruise to Starved Rock, or even a week long trip.

Bloomington population is 72-74K. It's MSA is estimated to be 145K. Peoria population is 115K. The MSA is over 300,000; it is estimated that 40% are business owners in Peoria.

Peoria is home to Indy theater, theatre, symphony, concerts, fairs, races, balls, minor league sports, and a variety of social groups and clubs that range from politics and artist to the philanthropic.

Peoria food offerings range from bakeries to upscale dining. There is about 300 to chose from. Housing stock is just as diverse as the history and the 100 churches. Peoria is also home to the second largest Jewish community in Illinois. For the rest there are five country clubs and a yacht club -- several of which are over 100 years old. There is also bow and arrow hunting and a skeet club nearby

Peoria school district is terrible. It's why they have a gifted school, an autistic school and a learning center for kids that are not able to attend regular classes. The largest majority (95+%) of high schools in Illinois are on the Illinois State Watch List for non=performance. Private schools are not included.

One can find good and bad in every city in America. If Peoria was a bad place people from Chicago wouldn't come for a job -- even the manager of the largest grocery operation in Peoria would have stayed in Chicago.

Politically Peoria is as diverse as its people. As a port city we can't afford to be clannish, stiff necked or pompous.

Originally Posted by rgb123

I think it is a really good choice, I would not go much further south, and Peoria is not very nice.....

[mdand3boys]

The OP asked about Bloomington... Not Peoria?