Bloomington, IL
The Illinois Republican Party was organized in Bloomington in 1856 at a convention at which Abraham Lincoln spoke.
Bloomington is the home of Illinois State University, and is a typical mid west college town. Main Street is a cool neighborhood with a bunch of bars and restaurants, many with live music at night.
Bloomington was home to McLain Stevenson (who played Henry Blake on Mash, Adlai Stevenson and Gordon W. Lillie (Pawnee Bill).
It is has the one and only Beer Nuts factory.
State Farm Insurance is headquartered there.
From Bloomington, stay on Hwy 51 as it becomes Center, then Madison, then Center again, through town - Go right on Veterans Pkwy/Bus 55 - Go right of Fox Creek Rd - Cross I-55 and go left on South Beich Rd (Frontage Rd) toward Funk's Grove
From Bloomington, follow Main St until it runs into East St, then back on Main St - Follow Main St/Bus 51 toward Normal
View Route66mc.com - Bloomington to Normal in a larger map