With a history 100 years in the making, Bloomington, Illinois-based, insurance company, State Farm celebrates both its Founder’s Day and anniversary today.
Started by Merna farmer George J Mecherle on June 8, 1922, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company was created with the goal of lower cost automobile insurance for farmers and others in lower-risk rural areas. The company soon expanded to include life insurance in 1929 and fire insurance in 1935. These three corporate pillars are still reflected in State Farm’s logo.
#42 on Forbes Fortune 500 latest rankings, State Farm has grown from its original building in downtown Bloomington to new corporate and regional offices on the city’s east and southeast sides as well as significant administrative locations in three other states. The company employs in excess of 53,000 with more than 15,000 of that workforce located in the Bloomington offices and many more State Farm agents found in communities across Illinois. State Farm has grown from that first policy in 1922 to serving more than 88 million policies in 2022.
State Farm also continues its legacy of giving back to the communities in which it serves. In honor of the company’s 100th anniversary, 100 grants of $25,000 were awarded to nonprofits to fund neighborhood improvements.
All this came from the foresight and innovation of one man who saw an opportunity to lower costs for himself and other farmers like him. State Farm and his successors continue to honor George and his legacy, going as far as changing the company’s anniversary date to coincide with his 45th birthday – June 7, 1922.
