Normal, University town in McLean County, United States.
Description
Normal is a university town in McLean County within the state of Illinois and forms a shared metropolitan area with neighboring Bloomington. The streets follow a grid pattern connecting residential neighborhoods with the university campus and commercial zones.
History
The settlement took its name from Illinois State Normal University, which was founded in 1857 as a teacher training institution. Incorporation as a town happened in 1867 after railroad lines opened up the region.
Culture
Illinois State University shapes daily life here with students from across the country filling the sidewalks and cafes throughout the year. The campus buildings line wide streets and during fall and spring thousands of young people bring energy to the shops and bookstores.
Practical
The Constitution Trail connects the town with Bloomington over roughly 24 miles and works well for walking or cycling through parks and residential areas. Several interstate highway exits make arriving from other parts of Illinois straightforward.
Did you know?
The former Mitsubishi plant on the edge of town was taken over by Rivian and now produces electric trucks and sport utility vehicles. The factory employs workers from the region and brings new technology into the traditional manufacturing landscape of Illinois.
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Hancock Stadium
686 m
Camelback Bridge
1.6 km
John W. Cook Hall
465 mNormal Theater
0 mIllinois Shakespeare Festival
2.8 km
Sprague's Super Service
882 m
Fell Arboretum
443 m
Broadview Mansion
1.7 km
Illinois Museum of Natural History
364 m
Children's Discovery Museum
532 m
Cedar Crest Addition Historic District
1.8 kmChildren's Village-Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School
1.2 km
Kent M. Karraker Aquatic Center
1.3 kmIronwood Golf Course
3.9 kmBraden Auditorium
325 mFairview Sanatorium
1.4 kmCapen Auditorium
394 mHayden Auditorium
494 mStroud Auditorium
778 mAllen Theatre
605 mWeibring Golf Club
1.9 kmConnie Link Amphitheatre
1.2 kmWesthoff Theater
569 mUniversity Galleries
503 mSecond Globe Theatre
553 mWork of art, sculpture
355 mSculpture, Work of art
282 mWork of art, sculpture
419 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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