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Before the first Euro-American settlers came in the early 1820s, the Bloomington region was on the edge of a huge grove populated by the Kickapoo people. Bloomington, which grew out of the town of Keg Grove, subsequently known as Blooming Grove, was designated as the county seat on December 25, 1830, when McLean County was formed.

An official county seat for McLean was created when the county was formed. The statute, on the other hand, indicated that the location of Bloomington "would be located later." It was announced that James Allin, one of the proponents of the new county, had volunteered to give his property to the new town. Bloomington was planned out after his proposition was accepted. On July 4th, 1831, it was auctioned off to a large and boisterous crowd. Many new farmers came to settle in the newly constituted county because of the fertile soils that existed at that time, but there were few roadways for them to use.

Abraham Lincoln, a lawyer in neighboring Springfield, Illinois, came to trade and transact business at the town's heart, now known as Downtown Bloomington. Jesse W. Fell, founder of the Bloomington Pantagraph and influential in local real estate, proposed the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1854 and pushed Lincoln to run for President.

At least for the next two decades, Bloomington's population grew. Rise in Bloomington's downtown area was also affected by agriculture, the development of roads and rail lines, as well as the growth of the insurance industry (especially State Farm Insurance). The downtown area was transformed into a regional retail destination, bringing in customers from neighboring counties as a result. The power of labor unions increased.

Ray and Irene Denbesten established Denbesten Real Estate in 1977 in Bloomington, Illinois. Their daughter, Cathy Denbesten, is presently in charge of the business. You may reach them at (309) 6662-4228 if you need assistance with purchasing or selling a house.

The city had a population of 76,610 people and a total of 30,454 homes in the 2010 census. 2,814.8 people per square mile (1,099.5/km2) was the population density. At an average density of 1,261.5 units per square mile (492.8/km2), there were 34,339 dwelling units. There were 77.5 percent White residents, 10.1% African Americans, 0.3 percent Native Americans, 7.0% Asian, 1.42 percent other races, and 2.9% people who identified as two or more races in the city as a whole. 5.6 percent of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2010, there were 34,339 households. 28.8% of them had children under the age of 18, 46.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder without a husband, and 41.1% were not families. Only 32.6% of all homes had people living alone; 9.2% had someone who was 65 or older living alone. The average size of a household was 2.41, and the average size of a family was 3.12.

The city's median household income was $58,662, while the family's median income was $81,166. Males had a median income of $56,597, while females had a median income of $39,190. The city's per capita income was $32,672. Around 5.7 percent of households and 11.0 percent of the population were poor, with 12.6 percent of those under 18 and 6.3 percent of those 65 and over falling into this category.

The Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department operates the 200' by 85' full-size ice sheet at the Bloomington Ice Center (formerly the Pepsi Ice Center). There are skating classes, public skating sessions, a hockey program, learn-to-curl programs, and a concessions stand at the facility.

The Ladies' Library Association founded the Bloomington Public Library in 1857. Membership fees and book contributions mostly funded the modest library. 105 West North Street, 1871 (which is now West Monroe Street.) Locals gathered $1,100 to revive the library when it closed due to lack of money in 1880. Mrs. Sarah B. Withers donated property for a new two-story library in 1888. The library was christened "Withers Library." in recognition of the contribution.

Citizens for a New Public Library forms a Friends of the Library organization in 1976 to lobby for voter approval of bonds to fund a new public library. The effort was successful, and the library reopened as "Bloomington Public Library." in 1977, at 205 East Olive Street. Currently, the library provides a variety of public services, including a Bookmobile that distributes to local areas, which was initially established in 1926 as Library on Wheels.

Parks, Recreation, Golf, and the Miller Park Zoo are the sections that make up the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department. Airport Park, Alton Depot Park, Angler's Lake Nature Preserve, Atwood Wayside, Bittner Park, Brookridge Park, Buck-Mann Park, Clearwater Park, Eagle Crest Park, Emerson Park, Evergreen Park, Ewing Park 1, Ewing Park 2, Ewing Park 3, Fell Avenue Park, Forrest Park, Franklin Park, Friendship Park, Holiday Park, Lincoln Leisure Center, Lincoln Leisure Center Golf Course, Lincoln Leisure Center Golf Course, Lincoln Leisure Center Golf Course, Lincoln Leisure Center Golf Course,

There are several exhibits at Miller Park Zoo, as well as chances for visitors to interact with zookeepers. Among the animals you'll see in the San Diego Zoo are a Sumatran tiger, an otter, a Galapagos tortoise, an Amur leopard, a sun bear, reindeer, a sea lion, and red pandas. ZooLab, Children's Zoo, Asia's Animals, and The Katthoefer Animal Building are just a few of the numerous attractions available to visitors. Tropical America Rainforest is the Zoo's newest exhibit.

Located in Bloomington and Normal, Illinois, the Bloomington-Normal Constitution Trail is a 24-mile (39 kilometer) running, walking, cycling, and rollerblading path that runs on a designated right of way. Use bridges and tunnels to isolate the route from traffic while crossing major highways. From Normal's Kerrick Road to Bloomington's Grove Street, the trail's north–south section follows the Illinois Central Gulf (ICG) train bed.

The Ewing Cultural Center's Genevieve Green Gardens were inaugurated in 2007 as part of Illinois State University's 150th anniversary celebration. The gardens were designed by a number of architects and landscape designers, including the late Bruce V. Green, an ardent gardener who generously donated $5.2 million to get the project off the ground. An expanded pathway and more flora have been included in the grounds, which feature a formal plaza that leads guests to the manor's main entrance, grass terrace, and theater walk.

Illinois Wesleyan University (1850) and a campus of Heartland Community College (1990) are in Bloomington, and Illinois State University (1857) is in Normal. American Passion Play is staged every year in spring. The home of David Davis, a member of the Supreme Court, was built in 1872 and is a state historic site. Bloomington has museums about history and aviation, a zoo, and a summer Shakespeare festival. Both Adlai E. Stevenson, vice president (1893–97) of the United States, and his grandson, Adlai E. Stevenson II, Illinois governor and two-time Democratic Party presidential nominee, are buried in Evergreen Cemetery. You can go to a museum of gems and minerals in Shirley, which is south of the city. 1839. 64,808 people lived there in 2000. The Bloomington-Normal Metro Area had 150,433 people. In 2010, there were 76,601 people in the area.

The famed theater architects Balaban & Katz, the original creators of the traditional cinema palace, built the initial 1,000-seat Castle Theatre in 1916. One of the area's most popular attractions for decades, the property has been demolished and replaced. A $1.5 million makeover has brought the Castle back to its former splendour. Live music, corporate, public, and private events may be found at the Castle nowadays.

The Jerome Mirza Theatre in McPherson Hall houses the Illinois Wesleyan University School of Theatre Arts. Every year, four major stage plays are chosen from a repertoire ranging from Shakespeare to musicals. Built in 1963, McPherson Hall has a 300-seat theatre, a scene shop, classes, and other amenities.

Because of the McLean County Historical Society, the McLean County Museum of History can trace its history back to 1892. The museum is housed in the old McLean County Courthouse. It has both permanent and rotating exhibits that look at the history of Central Illinois. This place has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1977, the Miller Park Pavilion and War Memorial was repaired and reopened. It was reopened in May 1988. Among the red sidewalks are the names of Central Illinois residents who died or were missing in action in the Korean and Vietnam wars. The black granite memorial is surrounded by them.

A Bell Sea Cobra, a Huey helicopter, and an F-14 Tomcat are among the restored planes on exhibit at the Prairie Aviation Museum.

The David Davis Mansion depicts the life of Abraham Lincoln's friend and mentor, David Davis, a United States Supreme Court Justice who was instrumental in Lincoln's 1860 presidential campaign. The Davis Mansion, built in 1872, is a paragon of mid-Victorian elegance and taste. His Bloomington house, which has been in the Davis family for three generations, has a coal-burning furnace, gas lights, and indoor plumbing. The David Davis Mansion is a National Historic Landmark.

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Behind the Curtain Tours are conducted by a group of fully qualified docents at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. The tours highlight the building's neo-Classical interior style and detail all of the modifications and improvements.

The house serves as a reminder of the pivotal role Illinois played in the nation's history during Abraham Lincoln's presidency, as well as a predecessor to contemporary dwellings and comfort systems. A Tea Ladies Inc. event may also be organized in the estate.

An audio driving tour dubbed Lincoln's Bloomington and Normal, Illinois is offered by the McLean County Museum of History. Abraham Lincoln returns to the sites he previously visited on the CD-based audio tour to discuss their significance. Asahel Gridley, Lincoln's friend and a client in a defamation claim, was a friend and client in Lincoln's slander suit, as well as 14 other venues. The audio tour was written and performed by James Keeran and covers these locations:

The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau conducts Twin City Excursions, which are monthly tours of Bloomington and Normal. The McLean County Museum of History is the starting point for tours.

Bloomington's primary retail mall is Eastland Mall. Eastland Mall offers dining, shopping, and entertainment, as well as a range of recreational activities. Stores include Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Applebee's, Buckle, Finish Line, Limited, Old Navy, Rogers & Hollands, Talbot's, and more. The mall, however, has been in decline in recent years, in accordance with the overall downturn of retail malls throughout America.

McLean County Unit District No. 5 now encompasses most of the city due to its rapid expansion. Unit Five used to solely serve students from Bloomington and the surrounding suburbs, but today the bulk of its students come from the city. Schools in Unit Five include two high schools, four junior high schools, and a number of elementary and middle school options. As of 2010, Unit Five was building its fourth junior high school, George Evans Junior High School, or EJHS for short. A new high school is expected to be needed in Bloomington by 2020, and two new primary schools have already been built.

Central Catholic High School, Corpus Christi Catholic Elm/Jr. School, Epiphany Elm/Jr., St Mary's Catholic Elm/Jr. School, and Cornerstone Christian Academy are just a few of the many private schools in Bloomington. Metcalf Elm./Jr. School and University High School, both situated on the campus of Illinois State University, are available to Bloomington students.