Bloomington is the 12th largest city in Illinois and has a sister city, Normal, which shares in its civic decision-making. The area was first used as an encampment for the Kickapoo Native Americans until Euro-American settlers reached the rivers and groves of the city in 1820 and put down roots there. Bloomington-Normal is a municipality with many faces.

Outdoorsy people love its forty-four different parks and its three golf courses. Lovers of the arts can enjoy theater, the symphony orchestra, and the city’s ballet corps. The area has a small but fascinating zoo, which has some of the rarest wild cats in existence: the Amur Leopard and the Sumatran Tiger. A huge indoor rock climbing park is a great favorite amongst both visitors and locals.

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