Bloomington in a Snapshot
About Bloomington
Where is Bloomington, Minnesota and how did it make its mark on the Midwest?
Even if you’re just now learning about this city outside of Minneapolis–Saint Paul, we’ll make you an expert in no time. Click the links below to learn the story of Bloomington and what to see and do.
Fun Facts about Bloomington
- Early pioneers who moved here in 1851 named their new settlement after their hometown: Bloomington, Illinois.
- Bloomington’s big boom came in the 1960s. I-35W and I-494 were completed and every major sports team in Minnesota played within its city limits. Bloomington’s slogan became “All the Businesses That Will Fit.”
- Nearly a third of Bloomington’s 39 square miles is reserved parkland, including the Minnesota Valley wetlands and Hyland Lake Park Reserve.
- Bloomington celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2008.
- The cities of Bloomington and Minneapolis are the farthest north latitude cities to ever host a World Series game.
Mall of America is located on the former site of Metropolitan Stadium, home of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings until 1982. - Mall of America is big enough to hold 32 Boeing 747s.
- The city of Bloomington has more jobs per capita than either Saint Paul or Minneapolis, thanks to Mall of America, a booming hospitality network, and several large company headquarters such as Toro, Ceridian, and HealthPartners.
Minnesota in a Minute
- We’re known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but there are actually 11,842 lakes in Minnesota that are larger than 10 acres.
- Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world.
- Minnesota also boasts 90,000 miles of lake and river shoreline, more than California, Florida and Hawaii combined.
- The headwaters of the Mississippi River is located in Itasca State Park in northern Minnesota.
- Minnesota’s economy consistently ranks as one of the nation’s strongest and best.
- Famous firms with headquarters in Minnesota include Best Buy, Medtronic, Target Corporation, SuperValu, 3M, and more.
- Minnesota has nearly 475 golf courses and adds more each year.
- There are nearly 400 theaters statewide, with about half of them in the Twin Cities – which has more theater seats per capita than any city outside New York.
City of Bloomington
With a beautiful location on the banks of the Minnesota River, the city of Bloomington has much to offer travelers. Not only is it home to the world-famous Mall of America, but this city of 85,000 also houses the stunning Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, an extensive system of hiking and biking trails, and much more. Twin Cities visitors also enjoy Bloomington’s many travel conveniences, including its central location, proximity to the airport, and easy freeway access to Interstates 35W and 494. In addition, Bloomington offers free parking, free hotel shuttles to the airport and Mall of America, and the Metro Transit Blue Line light rail, which runs from Mall of America to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and downtown Minneapolis.
The city of Bloomington’s #1 attraction by far, is Mall of America, the largest shopping center in the United States, welcoming over 40 million visitors annually. This shopping mecca boasts 2.5 million square feet of retail space, over 500 stores, and countless entertainment options.
With all these great attractions, fine restaurants, and convenient location, it’s easy to see why the city of Bloomington is home to more hotels than Minneapolis and Saint Paul combined – almost 50 total, ranging from luxury to economy to suit families, tourist groups, and business travelers alike.
Bloomington Weather
Although winters are quite cold (January averages a high of 22° Fahrenheit and a low of 4° Fahrenheit), summers are never oppressive. While the Southeast and Southwest are battling temperatures in the 90s and 100s, Bloomington, MN’s weather offers warm days with an average high of 83°. Spring and fall are generally temperate, with average highs of 58° and 59°, respectively. A great place to visit any time of the year, Bloomington features events and activities ideally suited to both frosty winter days and balmy summer afternoons.
