NORMAL

town, McLean county, central Illinois, U.S. It adjoins Bloomington (south) and was called North Bloomington until 1857, when the Illinois State Normal (now Illinois State) University was established. The town grew up around the school. Normal is in one of the world's richest corn- (maize-) producing areas, and, in addition to the university, agriculture is an economic factor. There is some manufacturing, notably of tires. Normal is the site of the Illinois Soldier's and Sailor's Children's School (1869). Inc. 1865. Pop. (1990) town, 40,023; Bloomington-Normal MSA, 129,180.