Normal, Illinois facts for kids

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Normal, Illinois

Town

Uptown Normal, looking east on North Street, 2011

Logo

Location of Normal in McLean County, Illinois

Normal, Illinois

Location in Illinois

Country

United States

State

Normal, Dry Grove, Towanda

Settled

1854

Founded

February 1865

Incorporated

February 25, 1867

Area

• Total

18.03 sq mi (46.70 km²)

• Land

17.94 sq mi (46.47 km²)

• Water

0.09 sq mi (0.23 km²) 0.33%

Elevation

830 ft (250 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

52,736

• Density

2,939.25/sq mi (1,134.85/km²)

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central Standard Time (USA))

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (Central Daylight Time)

Area code(s)

309

FIPS code

17-53234

GNIS ID

2396818

Normal is a town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 52,736 people lived there. Normal is one of the two main cities in the Bloomington–Normal area. It is Illinois' seventh largest community outside the Chicago metropolitan area.

Normal is home to Illinois State University, which is Illinois' oldest public university. It also has Heartland Community College. Chris Koos has been the mayor of Normal since 2003.

History of Normal, Illinois

The town was first called North Bloomington. It was planned on June 7, 1854, by Joseph Parkinson. Jesse W. Fell was a key person in creating the town. He made sure a new railroad would pass through land he owned. This railroad later became the Chicago and Alton Railroad.

The town was renamed Normal in February 1865. It officially became a town on February 25, 1867. The name "Normal" came from Illinois State Normal University. A "normal school" was a place where people trained to become teachers. The school is now called Illinois State University.

Normal is right next to Bloomington, Illinois. People often call them the "Twin Cities" or "Bloomington–Normal". In 2007, the town council named the downtown area "Uptown Normal". This area has the Children's Discovery Museum and the historic Normal Theater. It also has hotels, shops, and restaurants.

Geography and Climate

Normal covers about 18.4 square miles (47.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land.

Normal's Weather

Normal has a climate with warm summers and cold winters. The hottest month is July, and the coldest is January. It gets a fair amount of rain throughout the year. Snowfall is common in winter months.

People Living in Normal

The population of Normal has grown steadily over the years. In 1860, there were 847 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 52,736.

**Normal city, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	39,121	43,313	38,528	86.20%	82.51%	73.06%
Black or African American alone (NH)	3,460	4,201	5,998	7.62%	8.00%	11.37%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	60	59	53	0.13%	0.11%	0.10%
Asian alone (NH)	996	1,673	2,306	2.19%	3.19%	4.37%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	18	21	1	0.04%	0.04%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	43	71	201	0.09%	0.14%	0.38%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	526	1,026	2,197	1.16%	1.95%	4.17%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,162	2,133	3,452	2.56%	4.06%	6.55%
Total	45,386	52,497	52,736	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Economy and Businesses

Normal is home to several important businesses. The first Steak 'n Shake restaurant opened here in 1934.

Mitsubishi Motors North America and Chrysler Corporation built a car factory in Normal in 1986. This factory was later bought by Rivian Automotive in 2017.

Rivian now has its largest U.S. manufacturing plant in Normal. They build all-electric vehicles there. Amazon has ordered many electric vehicles from this plant. Rivian has greatly changed the town of Normal.

The main shopping area is on Veterans Parkway. This includes The Shoppes at College Hills, an outdoor mall.

Arts and Culture in Normal

Normal offers many fun places for arts and culture.

Museums and Learning Centers

Children's Discovery Museum, 2008

The Children's Discovery Museum in Uptown Normal has hands-on exhibits. It offers classes and programs for kids. The museum has three floors of exhibits, including a two-story climbing structure. It also has an agriculture exhibit called AgMazing. The museum was named the best creative children's experience in Illinois in 2010.

The Illinois State University Planetarium offers science and astronomy programs. These are for children from preschool to high school. Public shows are usually on weekends.

The Challenger Learning Center moved to Heartland Community College in 2010. It helps students learn leadership and problem-solving skills. They do this through interactive space and science missions.

The Normal Public Library started as a small reading room. In 1973, it moved to its current location. The library now has almost 200,000 items.

Theaters and Performances

Normal Theater

The Normal Theater opened in 1937. It was the first theater in the area built for sound films. The theater has been fully restored to its original Art Deco style. It shows classic and independent movies. It is also used for other events.

Braden Auditorium is at Illinois State University. It is a large theater that seats 3,457 people. It hosts many shows each year. These include Broadway musicals, concerts, and comedians.

The Town of Normal Parks and Recreation Department has a "Normal Summer Music Theatre" program. Students in grades 8–12 perform in two plays each summer. These shows are held at the Connie Link Amphitheater.

Heartland Theatre Company performs several plays each season. They also have a 10-Minute Play Festival. This event brings playwrights from all over the country.

The Illinois State University Center for the Performing Arts offers many cultural activities. The Schools of Music and Theatre put on over 20,000 performances each year. These are open to everyone.

The Prairie Fire Theatre is a local non-profit group. They put on shows using local actors and directors.

Festivals and Events

Make Music Normal is a two-day festival in June. It features musicians from Central Illinois. The festival also has local artists and vendors.

The Sugar Creek Arts Festival happens every autumn in Uptown Normal. It features high-quality art, live music, and food. Only original artwork is shown at this festival. It is one of the largest art festivals in Central Illinois.

The Sweet Corn Blues Festival is held every August. It offers over 50,000 ears of fresh sweet corn. There are also sidewalk sales and craft vendors. This festival welcomes students back to Illinois State University.

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival started in 1978. It is now a well-known company. They perform many shows each season in an Elizabethan-style theater. In 2009, it was named one of the top ten theater festivals.

Historic Places to Visit

The WPA mural "Development of the State Normal School" by Albert Pels is in the Normal Post Office.

The Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School operated from 1865 to 1979. It was a home for children of soldiers and sailors. Some of the old buildings are still there. They are now used for a seniors community and other purposes.

Three places in Normal are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

Camelback Bridge
John W. Cook Hall
Normal Theater

A Route 66 exhibit was placed at the historic Sprague's Super Service building in 2010. It tells the story of Route 66's importance to the community.

Parks and Recreation

Normal has many parks and facilities for fun and exercise. As of 2011, there are 24 parks, facilities, and trails.

Fairview and David S. Anderson parks have swimming pools. Fairview Park also has a skate park. Carden Park has "Safety Town" for young children to learn traffic rules. Maxwell Park has a fenced dog park and Champion Fields.

The Bloomington-Normal Constitution Trail is a 24-mile (39 km) path. It follows an old railroad line. The trail is open for walking, running, biking, and skating. In winter, it is used for skiing when there is snow.

The Ecology Action Center opened in 1995. It provides information and education about the environment. They offer workshops on recycling, composting, and saving energy.

Sports and Golf

In 2005, Golf Digest ranked Bloomington-Normal as the Fifth Best American City for Golf.

Golf Courses

Ironwood Golf Course: This 18-hole course is owned by the Town of Normal. It is a challenging course with water hazards. It has hosted many high school and college tournaments.
Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University: This 18-hole course was redesigned in 2000. It has hosted many championships and tournaments.
Golf Learning Center: This facility is known as one of the top 100 American golf ranges.

Sports Facilities

CEFCU Arena at Illinois State University

CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) is a large sports arena at Illinois State University. It seats 10,200 people. It is home to the Illinois State Redbirds basketball and volleyball teams. It also hosts high school state finals, concerts, and other events.

Champion Fields at Maxwell Park has 10 lighted softball fields. It can seat 2,300 people. It has hosted many state and national softball events.

The Corn Crib is a stadium that holds 7,000 people. It is home to the Normal CornBelters baseball team. It also hosts high school soccer finals.

Hancock Stadium is a 13,391-seat stadium at Illinois State University. It is home to the Illinois State Redbirds football team. It also hosts marching band championships and Special Olympics.

Local Sports Teams

Club	League	Sport	Venue	Established	Championships
Normal CornBelters	Prospect League	Baseball	The Corn Crib	2009

Illinois State Redbirds - Sports teams from Illinois State University.
Heartland Hawks - Sports teams from Heartland Community College.
Twin City Storm - A minor league football team.

Education in Normal

Normal is a great place for learning, with schools for all ages.

Schools for Kids and Teens

The Town of Normal is part of the McLean County Unit District No. 5. This district includes Normal Community High School and Normal Community West High School. It also has Kingsley Junior High School. Illinois State University operates two schools: University High School and Thomas Metcalf Elementary.

Private schools in Normal include Cornerstone Christian Academy, Epiphany Catholic School, and Calvary Christian Academy.

Colleges and Universities

Normal is home to two places for higher education.

View of the Illinois State University quad and College Avenue

Illinois State University was founded in 1857. It was the first public university in Illinois. It focuses on undergraduate programs, offering over 160 areas of study. The campus is 350 acres (1.4 km²) and has over 60 buildings. Watterson Towers is one of the tallest dorm buildings in the world. ISU is a very important part of the Bloomington-Normal community.

Heartland Community College has over 4,800 students. It offers training in more than 40 career fields. The campus has a library, meeting spaces, and a pond. Heartland also has an athletic program with baseball, softball, and soccer teams.

Weekend Learning

The Bloomington/Normal Japanese Saturday School was started in 1986. It helps Japanese students learn on weekends.

Police Department

The Normal Police Department has 81 police officers and 26 civilian staff. The Chief of Police is Stephen A. Petrilli Jr. The department works 24 hours a day to keep the town safe. They use patrol cars and also have officers on bike patrols. The department also has a Criminal Investigation Division and two police dogs.

Media and News

Normal has several local news sources.

Print Media

The Pantagraph – a daily local newspaper.
Normalite newspaper – a weekly newspaper.
The Vidette – the student newspaper for Illinois State University.

Radio Stations

Normal has many FM and AM radio stations. These include college radio, public radio, and stations playing different types of music like Christian, rock, adult hits, and country.

Transportation in Normal

The Bloomington-Normal Transportation Center

Normal is easy to get to by car, train, and bus.

Major Roads

Normal is connected by several major highways:

Interstate 39
Interstate 55
Interstate 74
US 51
US 150
Route 9

Historic Route 66 also runs through the town.

Airport Access

The Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI) is near Bloomington. It is about 5 miles (8 km) from Uptown Normal. The airport has daily flights to major cities like Atlanta and Chicago.

Public Transportation

Connect Transit provides public bus service in the area. They have 13 bus routes. They also have a special service called NiteRide and a campus shuttle for Illinois State University students.

Train Service

The Bloomington-Normal Amtrak station is in Normal. It is served by Lincoln Service trains between Chicago and St. Louis. The Texas Eagle also stops here, connecting to San Antonio and Los Angeles. It is Illinois' third-busiest Amtrak station.