McLean County, Illinois
Benjamin, Ruben M., House
Benjaminville Friends Meetinghouse and Burial Ground
Bloomington Central Business District
Bloomington High School
Camelback Bridge
Cedar Crest Addition Historic District
Children's Village-Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School
Clover Lawn
Cook, John W., Hall
Cox, George H., House
Davis, David, III & IV, House
Duncan Manor
East Grove Street District-Bloomington
Franklin Square
Greenlee, Robert, House
Hamilton, John M., House
Holy Trinity Church Rectory and Convent
Hubbard House
LeRoy Commercial Historic District
McLean County Courthouse and Square
Miller, George H., House
Miller-Davis Law Buildings
Normal Theater
Patton, John, Log Cabin
Scott, Matthew T., House
Scott-Vrooman House
Sprague's Super Service
Stevenson House
US Army Aircraft C-53-DO-41-20124
Van Dolah, David Hyatt, House
Van Leer, Margaret and Bird, Broadview Mansion
White Building
White Place Historic District
1897
1926 Route 66 Alignment
1954 Route 66 Alignment
A Home on the Road
A Station and a Home
Abraham Lincoln - Eighth Judicial District
Abraham Lincoln - Eighth Judicial District
Adlai Ewing Stevenson I
Adlai Ewing Stevenson II
An Arthur L. Pillsbury Design
Angeline Strode Turner Lamon
Asahel Gridley's Bank
Augustus & Jennie Elbe House
Benjaminville Friends Meeting House
Bloomington Fire Department
Bloomington Fire Fighters IAFF Local #49
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
Cedar Crest Historic District
Center Street Site
Charles Lindbergh Crash Site
Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourne
Cloverlawn
David Davis III & IV House
David Davis Mansion
Dead Man's Curve
Dome
Dorothy Louise Gage
Dr. David & Elizabeth Moore House
Edmund O'Connell House
Edward & Ora Gridley House
Eliel & Malinda Barber Cottage
End of the Journey
Eugene and Mary Funk House
Ezra & Barbara Prince House
Florence Fifer Bohrer
Franklin Square Historic District
Freedom and Henry C. Johnson House
Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup, Funks Grove, Illinois
George H. & Clara Bruner Cox House
Gridley Family Plot
Having a Picnic / A Transportation Corridor
Helen L. Cooper
Henderson's Standard
Highland Historic District
Historic Camelback Bridge
Home of Adlai E. Stevenson I
Home of Joseph W. Fifer
Horace and Nora McCurdy House
Illinois Central R. R.
Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School
Illinois State Normal
Illinois U.S. Route 66
In Memory of Maude Henline
Isaac Funk
James S. Neville House
John & Matilda Heffernan House
John A. Wilcox House
John and Caroline Roush House
John M. Scott
John M. Scott / Charlotte Ann Perry Scott
Lawrence and Mary Jane Weldon House
Lincoln Oak Memorial
Lincoln The Lawyer
Lincoln's Real Estate
Lucius T. and Arabella Bruner Wilcox House
Major's Hall
Matthew and Julia Scott House
Matthew T. Scott
McCormick Family Plot
Miller Park's Segregated Beaches
Miller-Davis Building
Miller-Davis Buildings
My Good Friend
Normal, Illinois
Oscar and Sara Mandel House
Phillip & Sophia Young House
Phoenix Hall
Plane Crash Memorial
Pure Oil Truck Stop
Rhodes Mill Stones
Risk of the Road
Robert Greenlee House
Ruben & Laura Benjamin House
Sain & Gertrude Welty House
Samuel & Electa Bishop House
Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers Veterans Field
Sigmund Livingston
Site of the Grand Village of the Kickapoo
The Crothers and Chew Building
The Dewenter's Building
The Grand Village of the Kickapoo Park
The Grand Village of the Kickapoo Park
The Home of Julia Green Scott
The John Patton Cabin
The Lost Speech
The National Hotel
The Phoenix Block
The Pike House
The Rounds Block
Train Whistle Monument
Van Leer's Broadview Mansion Bell
William Florville
World War II War Memorial
"Memory Lane"
In 1830, McLean County was officially established and named in honor of Judge John McLean, a U.S. Supreme Court justice. As the county developed, Bloomington, now the county seat, emerged as a prominent center of commerce and culture. The town's strategic location along the Illinois Central Railroad further contributed to its growth.
During the mid-1800s, McLean County experienced rapid development, with agriculture playing a crucial role in its economy. The invention of the grain reaper by Cyrus McCormick revolutionized farming practices, and McLean County became known as the "Prairie State's Breadbasket." The county's fertile soil allowed for the cultivation of corn, wheat, soybeans, and other crops, contributing to its prosperity.
In the 20th century, McLean County continued to evolve, embracing technological advancements and diversifying its economy. The county became home to several major manufacturing plants, including those of the Caterpillar Inc., further fueling its economic growth. Today, McLean County is a thriving community with a strong agricultural base, a vibrant downtown area, and a diverse economy that includes industries such as healthcare, education, and information technology.
Brief timeline of the history of McLean County, Illinois:
- 1830: McLean County is established and named after John McLean, a prominent Illinois pioneer and U.S. Senator.
- 1831: The first settlers arrive in the area, mainly farmers from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia.
- 1837: Bloomington is chosen as the county seat.
- 1841: The first courthouse is built in Bloomington.
- 1847: The Illinois Central Railroad reaches Bloomington, boosting the local economy and population.
- 1861-1865: McLean County sends soldiers to fight in the American Civil War.
- 1909: McLean County's first automobile is registered.
- 1935: The first radio station, WJBC, begins broadcasting in Bloomington.
- 1948: Illinois State University (then called Illinois State Normal University) moves to Normal, becoming a major presence in the county.
- 1990: The population of McLean County surpasses 150,000.
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of McLean County, Illinois.