National Register of Historic Places

Bloomington Central Business District

Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois
Listed
February 28, 1985
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
85000363

About this property

The Bloomington Central Business District is a historic district in downtown Bloomington, Illinois. The district includes roughly twelve square blocks of the city and encompasses 140 buildings, 118 of which are contributing buildings to the district's historic character. The 1901 McLean County Courthouse, the center of government of McLean County, is the focal point of the district. The other buildings in the district were built between 1842 and 1942 and are primarily commercial. The Miller-Davis Law Buildings, two of the oldest buildings in the district, were built in 1843 and represent the early period of Bloomington's development. Bloomington's commercial core grew rapidly during the 1850s and 1860s after two railroads opened in the city; while the 1854 Gridley Bank is the only surviving pre-1857 building from this period, several more remain from the later part of the boom. The city continued to grow, and its business district continued to expand, from 1860 until 1900; however, a fire destroyed much of its downtown in 1900. Several buildings in the district date from the rebuilding period of the early 1900s. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 28, 1985.

Location

Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois
40.48065, -88.99284

Categories

INDUSTRYCOMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTCOMMERCEEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Nearby Historic Sites

Miller-Davis Law Buildings
Industrial
0.1 mi
White Building
Industrial
0.2 mi
McLean County Courthouse and Square
Industrial
0.2 mi
Miller, George H., House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Bloomington High School
Industrial
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Bloomington Central Business District listed on the National Register?

Bloomington Central Business District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 28, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Bloomington Central Business District?

Bloomington Central Business District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Bloomington Central Business District?

The period of significance for Bloomington Central Business District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Bloomington Central Business District?

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