Talk:Bloomington, Illinois

Founding Year
How was Bloomington founded in 1857 if it was named county seat in 1830? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Vreundl8 (talk • contribs) 15:03, 4 December 2011 (UTC)

Division Street
I remeoved the little section in geography that had to do with Division Street. I see no point in that being in the article. Division Street is a very short street and is not a true 'division' of the two cities. As with the rest said about Division Street being symbolic -- that's POV. I am open to any suggestions or comments.

Here is what I removed: Division Street, as the name suggests, forms a part of the border between Bloomington and Normal, with Bloomington to the south and Normal to the north. It is symbolic as well as literal, in that the two cities have sometimes disagreed about the best way to govern.

Kkemper 01:34, 8 July 2007 (UTC)

It might be useful to add something regarding the actual physical geography of Bloomington. There is a hill downtown that has some geographical significance as part of the Bloomington Moraine.

--Benapollo (talk) 18:47, 12 October 2009 (UTC)

Larger (population wise)?
Ture larger population size but also true in area, I believe... Bloomington - 22.5 sq. mi. Normal - 13.7 sq. mi. Kkemper 06:39, 15 May 2007 (UTC)
 * Bloomington is slowly encircling Normal, like a gigantic amoeba. Wahkeenah 09:21, 15 May 2007 (UTC)
 * It is? What about north Normal? IvoShandor 09:26, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

It's all really meshed into one city.--Jackie7 (talk) 09:26, 9 August 2009 (UTC)Jackie7

Jason Alexander
I removed this "famous person". He's from Jersey. I can't find any bio that mentions him living in Bloomington. Add him back if it can be proven.
 * Jason Alexander, Actor, Notably Seinfeld; Bloomington resident for three years


 * It's either a joke, or the wrong Jason Alexander. A quick survey of Google turns up many references to "Jason Alexander", some from Illinois. But his IMDB bio makes it clear that the TV actor Jason Alexander's formative years were spent entirely in the northeast. Wahkeenah 00:59, 27 January 2006 (UTC)

Lucas Como
Removed this "notable person". Maybe someday.


 * Lucas Como, Best Appearance winner at Adepticon '05s Team Tournament and US Director of Paintedfigs.com

Twin Town?
It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and when mentioned together they are known as ... "Twin Town". Really? Seriously? User:BlongerBros 19:08, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
 * I never heard it called that before, but somebody thinks they have. Wahkeenah 21:27, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
 * I've lived in this area all my life. Many locals refer to the area as just Bloomington, and Normal is simply deprecated into Bloomington. People on local news and radio habitually call it "The Twin Cities", which is an appropriate name for the towns because they're so close together it's very hard to tell when you're leaving one and entering another unless you look for population signs, which are only at maybe a dozen different locations and don't cover all of the roads connecting the two towns. Jtrost (T | C | #) 01:12, 6 June 2006 (UTC)
 * Twin Cities, yes, but I don't recall ever hearing it called Twin Town. And it's true the borders are not always that obvious, other than the aptly-named Division Street. Wahkeenah 01:43, 6 June 2006 (UTC)


 * If no one objects I'm going to remove the "Twin Town" reference from the Bloomington and Normal articles. --Donutey 23:03, 6 June 2006 (UTC)
 * Gofer it. Wahkeenah 23:46, 6 June 2006 (UTC)
 * "Twin Town" was popularized by the Bloomington radio station 96.7 I-Rock. It is a fairly popular nickname among Bloomington/Normal youth. This becomes apparent in browsing the I-Rock forums. --199.8.34.75 18:49, 10 October 2006 (UTC)

Special census
Why was the update that included the special census reverted? Here is a source: http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/06/16/news/doc449338a9f298f188018042.txt BlongerBros 17:37, 23 June 2006 (UTC)
 * My bad. I didn't catch the citation since it was not properly cited. Jtrost (T | C | #) 18:16, 23 June 2006 (UTC)

One thing I do love about this town is the vast diversity of cultures you will find here. Literally, you will find more than a dozen different nationalities. If you like to travel and experience different ways of life, but want to stay in one town, then Bloomington is definitely a great place to do that. There are whites, blacks, Chinese, American-born, people from South America, from the Indies, from India, from Africa, etc. In the 20 years, I've lived here, I've met people who've moved here from all over the world. It's fascinating. --Jackie7 (talk) 11:31, 9 August 2009 (UTC)Jackie7

The air quality has gone down since the early 2000's. Most people do not smell it, but you can go to different air quality websites and town comparison websites. I think it is because we are downwind from Pontiac, which has a very large landfill. When I followed the smell, it led there, and it is very, very strong there. I know that Bloomington also agreed to take on more garbage from Chicago in about 2002, so the town would generate more revenue. That may be what it is as well. I have done some research, but have not yet discovered the exact source or chemical. What I do know is that it is stronger some days and not noticeable other days. It gives me a headache, stomach ache, nose irritation, and my tongue feels like there is wax or something on it. It's quite annoying.--Jackie7 (talk) 11:31, 9 August 2009 (UTC)Jackie7

Lucca
"One of John F. Kennedy's favorite pizza parlors was Lucca's Grill located in Downtown Bloomington." Really? I mean, how many times could he have eaten there? Xuehxolotl 16:48, 11 December 2006 (UTC)
 * Once, I think. Somebody's exaggerating. Check the newspapers posted in the place, if they are still there. I know the founders, the Baldini brothers, were major JFK supporters. Wahkeenah 19:00, 11 December 2006 (UTC)
 * Could that reference be removed?Jenigmat429 19:16, 28 March 2007 (UTC)
 * Should be, take it out, or I will when I get a chance. IvoShandor 09:47, 29 March 2007 (UTC)
 * I changed it so that it simply references his visit there. -- Tim D 04:42, 30 March 2007 (UTC)
 * Works for me. : ) IvoShandor 06:12, 30 March 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Bloomingtonillinoislogo.gif
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BetacommandBot (talk) 04:26, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

Attractions
I am working with the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention & Visitor's Bureau to make the Wikipedia page more user-friendly for those wishing to plan a visit to the area. I have added the attractions section and I have made some additions to the transportation and education sections.

All of my citations are to the Bloomington-Normal Convention & Visitor's Bureau Area Visitor's Guide with direct approval from the author, himself. None of the material I am posting is in violation of copyrights.

If you are concerned about anything I have posted please feel free to let me know. Bloomington-Normal Area Visitors &amp; Convention Bureau (talk) 22:50, 12 February 2008 (UTC)
 * I think a lot of the material is dagerouly close to violating WP:NOT, WP:NOT, and WP:NPOV. As it's written now it sounds like a vistor's guide, not an encyclopedia article.  I think there's some great information there, but it needs to be presented in a more factual, neutral way.   Phrases like "devoted to teaching", "remarkable growth", and "bringing smiles and instant recognition in all 50 states ..." are but a tiny few examples of the unsupported advocacy-like statements. HDow (talk) 03:19, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

Per your request, I toned down the articles and presented the material in a neutral way. Bloomington-Normal Area Visitors &amp; Convention Bureau (talk) 20:31, 14 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Thanks HDow (talk) 09:14, 15 February 2008 (UTC)


 * It still reads rather like a visitor's guide. Do we have sources other than a visitors' guide (i.e. whatever sources the visitors' guide uses) available? Belgarion89 (talk) 16:16, 13 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Bloomington Normal is a great place to raise a family. It's a safe place with a low cost of living, low traffic, clean air, and plenty of well paying jobs.  So don't take this as a putdown.  But please tell me why would anyone want to "visit" Bloomington-Normal?  I lived there for 3 years, and I know from experience that there is literally NOTHING to do there, and for a place with 4 higher learning institutions that I'm aware of, that is a disgrace.  The few things to do there almost serve to prove my point.  Visit Adali Stevenson's Grave??  Don't make me laugh!  White Oak Park is boring, the downtown area is boring, the place is just a flat, boring place to be and there is, again, NOTHING to do.  If Satan is making you take a vacation in Central Illinois or something, you should at least visit nearby Peoria.  Peoria at least has the little downtown area by the river and a few things to do.  Not many, but at least a few.  Unlike Bloomington.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.14.57.35 (talk) 14:05, 18 April 2008 (UTC)
 * The National Register of Historic Places is a good place to start for places that are notable attractions, Bloomington is home to one National Historic Landmark, and a bunch of sites on the Register. Bloomington has some arena football and hockey I think, several theaters, one new one that is huge, as well as an architecturally distinct downtown commercial district (also a National Register site). I believe both university's offer significant theater productions (ISU more so, in Normal). There are also at least four Abe Lincoln sites in the city, so the history is rich: a couple governors and a vice president hailed from Bloomington. That kind of stuff is easily verifiable via the Intertoobs. As for nothing to do, look around you, instead of ignoring the obvious as so many do these days. :)

Actually, there are quite a few things to do. My kids and I like to go to the old courthouse, which is now a museum, free on Tuesdays. They have some ehibits that change. It's interesting. There is a nice Shakespeare Festival put on by the local college. There's also a great play about Jesus' life called "The Passion Play" performed downtown. There are lots of nice parks with nice toys for the kids to play on. There's a nice Children's Museum, but it's a bit pricey. --Jackie7 (talk) 10:09, 9 August 2009 (UTC)Jackie7

Education
I must object to the inclusion of schools located in Normal listed in the Bloomington article. There is a B-N article which is currently just a stub. Perhaps this would be a good place to talk about how the cities are interrelated. Belgarion89 (talk) 16:21, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

I believe any discussion of Bloomington or Normal without including the other town is flawed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.43.57.202 (talk) 21:19, 2 April 2008 (UTC)


 * I didn't say to preclude Normal completely from the article. However, currently the article reads like many places located in Normal are part of Bloomington.  Also I don't think a detailed, bulleted description of each college is needed.  However, since plenty of students at Unit 5 schools are residents of Bloomington, it would be appropriate to include them. Belgarion89 (talk) 20:24, 3 April 2008 (UTC)
 * Agree w/Belgarion89. Switzpaw (talk) 17:17, 13 September 2008 (UTC)

Your address may be Bloomington, but unless you live downtown, your kids will most likely go to Normal schools. I have lived in Bloomington approx. 18 years and Normal for approx. 1 1/2 years. My kids have always gone to Normal schools. Unit 5 (Normal schools) has, overall, proved to be better than average for education and discipline, for my family. There are just a few schools to steer clear of.--Jackie7 (talk) 11:54, 9 August 2009 (UTC)Jackie7

I feel it is so important to include some very real changes that have occured here, so that anyone who is considering moving here has realistic expectations. When doing research on where to move, it is very important to be able to see the bad as well as the good so you can make a better, informed decision about the town. It shouldn't just all be the positive aspects to draw people in. Our town has changed a lot since about 2002, in many ways. In regards to education, we used to have some of the best schools in the nation (refer to a big, fat reference book at the library that lists the top 100 cities back in 2000, I think it was). I know from personal experience, as well. My kids have been going to Bloomington schools for 10 years and are currently enrolled. I used to think that there were too high expectations for the 5 and 6 year olds, and they just didn't allow them to be kids enough and play. However, since about 2002, a few different schools have had to change their curriculum and lower the expectations due to the emotional and social trouble and the lower level of education of the children that are coming to them. These kids are from the ghettos of Chicago that closed down at in 2002. At which time our mayor had a billboard put up there encouraging them to come to Bloomington. We have also seen a huge increase in the number of illegal Mexicans, with children that don't speak a word of English, so our schools are changing to teach them.

For lack of a better category to put this under, I will go ahead and put it under education, since, really you will get an education on the social aspects and ramifications of the above-mentioned changes to our town. There has been a very quick rise in crime and it is going up continually. We have seen a lot more hate crime here with absolutely no reason to it, they are just angry and go out and hurt innocent people. We have also had more murders than before. Before 2002, it was rare to hear about someone getting killed, and then when it did happen, it was usually a husband/wife gone astray kind of thing. Now, you will hear about a person being killed for absolutely no reason. The person was just looking to do wrong. We have an increase in gang violence, drugs, and prostitution. It has changed so much that it really is rather scary. One person was sitting, waiting for a bus in the middle of the day, on a busy street and was approached by some young men. They beat him up terribly. He had over $100 cash on him and his wallet was never touched. They just beat him up for sitting there, then ran. Most of these crimes do not get resolved. They are swept under the rug, but it is getting so bad over here that you still hear of a lot. (I have lived here for 20 years. I would move now, but I cannot afford it, and we are quite rooted here.)  I hope for the goodness of all who may be considering moving here, that this information is left in here.--Jackie7 (talk) 11:11, 9 August 2009 (UTC)Jackie7

Error: Illinois Wesleyan University was founded as a Methodist University (obviously - the "Wesley: is in the name), but it is no longer affiliated with the United Methodist Church. I can't find a cite for this because they might not publicize it, but if someone checks with the University, I'm sure they will verify this.  The University still maintains a chapel, however, and a Methodist chaplain works there, in the spirit of the history of affiliation.  If you check the IWU webpage, it will show the history of the University as founded as a Methodist University in 1850, but nowhere will it announce that IWU is anything but an "independent" university (such as in the Mission Statement at www.iwu.edu/aboutiwu - click on "Mission Statement" --Benapollo (talk) 19:05, 12 October 2009 (UTC)

Transportation
I added Central Illinois Regional Airport to this section. I saw no mention of it anywhere in the article, for whatever reason. Feel free to elaborate on it.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.145.185.193 (talk) 00:49, 22 March 2009 (UTC)

Sprawl
i just spent an hour driving around the suburban sprawl along business 55 and would encourage a more knowledgable person to write something explaining what the heck is going on. :) Lequis (talk) 15:25, 24 August 2009 (UTC)

BNorm? Really?
People call it "BNorm?" Look, my friends and I call it "Normington," but we do not expect Wikipedia to reflect the opinions of like five people out of hundreds of thousand. Is there a source for the stupid claim that anyone uses this term? Seriously, "Blo-No" is bad enough, and yet there is something worse? 174.31.156.72 (talk) 07:17, 23 March 2012 (UTC)

Bloomington Normal Public Transit System (BNPTS)
> Connect Transit ==

BNPTS has rebranded itself as Connect Transit, effective august 2012. I edited the text to reflect the change. 98.215.82.253 (talk) 02:45, 12 January 2013 (UTC)

McLean County Museum of History
I am not sure if the museum still offers the tours listed. I will double check and remove that information (or add updated information) unless there are objections. Stephaniepier (talk) 18:12, 15 February 2013 (UTC)
 * Information is correct as of today Stephaniepier (talk) 19:20, 28 February 2013 (UTC)

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