Location
Bloomington is centered in the heart of the Upper Midwest and adjacent to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). No destination in the United States is further than 3 1/2 hours by air and all Midwest locations are no more than 1 1/2 hours by air. Strategically located at the crossroads of I-35W and I-494, Bloomington is located along the banks of the mighty Mississippi and scenic Minnesota Rivers. Both Downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul are just 15 minutes away.

History
Bloomington, Minnesota originally named for its "Flowering Fields" has grown into the " City of Hospitality." In 1858 Bloomington was organized, but it was not for another 100 years that Bloomington grew into the city it is now. In the 1950s and 1960s, the population doubled thanks to the development of the I-35 and I-494 Interstate systems. Minnesota's first concentration of modern office towers, shopping malls, and hotels outside of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul sprouted along the I-494 strip. By 1990 Bloomington grew to become Minnesota's 3rd largest city with a population of 90,000. Two years later, Bloomington gained the upper hand in creating a visitor base with the grand opening of Mall of America. Mall of America is the largest retail complex in the United States and has become one of the largest tourist attractions in North America with an average of 39 million visitors every year.

Population
Bloomington, located in Hennepin County, Minnesota, is the largest suburb in the Twin Cities with a population of 90,000. The entire Twin Cities metropolitan area has a population of approximately three million.

Accommodations
Bloomington offers more than 6,900 hotel and motel rooms throughout the city, with an additional 2,600 rooms slated for future development. Bloomington has more hotels then both Downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul combined. Most hotels in Bloomington offer free shuttle to the International Airport and Mall of America.

Climate
Four distinct seasons - average spring temperature, 58 degrees. Average summer temperature, 82 degrees. Average fall temperature, 59 degrees and the average winter temperature, 27 degrees.

Time Zone
Central Standard Time - October to April. Central Daylight Savings Time - April to October

Events
The Twin Cities host over thirty festivals and events annually. These range from the Minnesota State Fair at the end of summer to Holidazzle in December.

Attractions
Bloomington's Mall of America is the largest visitor attraction in Minnesota. The Mall Features over 500 specialty stores and four anchor stores, Sears, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Macy's. Within its confines there is Camp Snoopy, Underwater Adventures, 14 movie screens, The Lego Store and much more. The Twin Cities has many more exciting attractions. You can visit the Science Museum of Minnesota, experience the thrills at Valleyfair, the largest amusement park in the Upper Midwest or take in professional sports any time of year.

Arts
The Twin Cities hosts a wide array of arts and theater companies. The nationally acclaimed Ordway Theater in St. Paul and the Historic State and Orpheum Theaters in Minneapolis are just a few. In fact, the Twin Cities boasts the largest theater district outside of New York City.

Visitor Information
The main information center is located at the Bureau's office in Bloomington, Minnesota, located on the 9th floor of the International Plaza building, 7900 International Drive, Suite 990. It is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.