Normal, Illinois

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Normal is an incorporated town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It had a population of 45,386 as of the 2000 census. The smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area in area and population, Normal's population had risen to 50,519 by 2005. Originally known as North Bloomington, the town was founded under the name of Normal in February 1865 and officially incorporated in 1867. The name was taken from Illinois State Normal University, a normal school (teacher-training institution) located there. The school has since been renamed Illinois State University after becoming a general four year university. Normal is adjacent to Bloomington, Illinois, and when mentioned together they are known as the "Twin Cities," "Bloomington-Normal," or simply "B-N. " The current mayor of Normal is Chris Koos. The main campus of Illinois State University, a four-year, fully accredited institution, Illinois' oldest public university, is located in Normal, as is Heartland Community College, a two-year, fully accredited institution. There is also a satellite campus of Lincoln College, which offers associate degrees as well as four-year programs. As of 2009, downtown Normal is being revitalized to attract new businesses, and was recently made the home of the new Children's Discovery Museum. The district is also home to the historic and non-profit Normal Theater, a restored Art Deco theater owned by the Town of Normal that runs classic and independent films. In 2007, the town council voted to name the downtown area "uptown Normal", though the name change was not popular in town. A large percentage of residents of Normal are employed by Illinois State University, State Farm Insurance (Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington), Country Financial (Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington), Unit 5 schools, and the Mitsubishi Motors North America manufacturing facility, which manufactures the Eclipse, Eclipse Spyder, Endeavor, and Galant.