5/02/2025

Address system Bloomington, IL

It is remarkable how frequently local governments do not describe how their address system works. Bloomington, Illinois is no exception. The City apparently does not maintain an online written explanation about how the City address system works. 

Below is an explanation written by the artificial intelligence program Gemini.google.com/


Write an explanation about how the Bloomington IL address system works:


The address system in Bloomington, Illinois, is based on a grid plan originating from the intersection of Front Street (running east-west) and Main Street (running north-south) in the downtown area. Here's a breakdown of how it works:

Base Lines

Front Street: Acts as the dividing line for North and South addresses.

Main Street: Acts as the dividing line for East and West addresses.

Directional Prefixes Streets running north of Front Street have a "North" prefix (e.g., N Main St, N Center St).

Streets running south of Front Street have a "South" prefix (e.g., S Main St, S Center St).

Streets running east of Main Street have an "East" prefix (e.g., E Washington St, E Empire St).

Streets running west of Main Street have a "West" prefix (e.g., W Washington St, W Empire St).

Numbering Logic  The numbering system progresses at a rate of 100 numbers per block away from the base lines (Front and Main Streets).

The first block north, south, east, or west of the base lines will typically start with the 100 block. The next block will be the 200 block, and so on.

Odd and Even NumbersOdd numbers are generally found on the:East side of North and South streets.

South side of East and West streets.
Even numbers are generally found on the:West side of North and South streets.

North side of East and West streets.
Example

Let's say you're looking for 500 N Main Street:The "N" indicates it's north of Front Street. "Main Street" tells you which north-south street it's on. The "500" number suggests it's approximately five blocks north of Front Street. Since it's an even number ending in zero, it would likely be on the west side of North Main Street.

Implementation and ResourcesThe City Engineer is responsible for establishing and assigning house numbers. The city maintains maps and records of these assigned numbers.

The City of Bloomington utilizes a Geographic Information System (GIS) for various tasks, including mapping and tracking infrastructure. You can find interactive and PDF maps on the City's website.

The McLean County GIS Consortium (McGIS) also provides GIS applications, maps, and data for the area, including address points.

Understanding this grid system can significantly help in navigating Bloomington. Remember to pay attention to the directional prefixes and the block numbering to locate addresses efficiently. Bloomington has several zip codes, including 61701, 61704, 61705, 61709, 61710, 61791, and 61799, which are used for mail delivery within the city. 




 



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