Bloomington, Indiana

Infobox Settlement
name = Bloomington
official_name = City of Bloomington
settlement_type = City
nickname =


imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Bloomington from above, looking west




image_blank_emblem = CityofBloomingtonSeal.png

---

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in the state of Indiana


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Indiana
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Monroe
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Mark Kruzan (D)
area_note =
established_date =
area_magnitude = 1 E7
area_total_km2 = 51.6
area_land_km2 = 51.1
area_water_km2 = 0.5
population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 69291
population_density_km2 = 1356.0
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
area_total_sq_mi = 19.9
area_land_sq_mi = 19.7
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2
elevation_m = 235
elevation_ft = 771
latd = 39 |latm = 9 |lats = 44 |latNS = N
longd = 86 |longm = 31 |longs = 45 |longEW = W
website = [http://www.bloomington.in.gov www.bloomington.in.gov]
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 47400-47499
area_code = 812
twin1 = Santa Clara
twin1_country = Cuba
twin2 = Posoltega
twin2_country = Nicaragua
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 18-05860GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0431207GR|3
footnotes =

Bloomington is a city and the county seat of Monroe County in the south central region of the U.S. state of Indiana. According to the 2000 census, the city population was 69,291 and the metropolitan population was 175,506.

Bloomington is the home to Indiana University which was established in 1820 and is attended by approximately 40,000 students and is the original and largest campus of the Indiana University system. In 1991, Thomas Gaines, a landscape artist, published a book, "The Campus As a Work of Art", in which he named the Bloomington University campus one of the five most beautiful in America. Most of the campus buildings are built of Indiana limestone.

Bloomington is also the home of the Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington, the world renowned Jacobs School of Music and Kelley School of Business, the Kinsey Institute, and The Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute.

Bloomington has been named a Tree City for more than 20 years. The city was the site of the Academy Award-winning movie "Breaking Away", featuring a reenactment of Indiana University's annual bicycle race Little 500. Bloomington is also famous for its rock quarries, also featured in "Breaking Away," which residents have been known to use as swimming holes (although nowadays would-be swimmers may have to deal with security officers issuing citations, towing their cars and (sometimes dangerously) contaminated waters at the quarries).

Bloomington has sister-city relationships with Posoltega, Nicaragua, Santa Clara, Cuba, and Luchou Township, Taiwan.

Geography

Bloomington is located at coor dms|39|9|44|N|86|31|45|W|city (39.162147, -86.529045)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.9 square miles (51.6 km²), of which, 19.7 square miles (51.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (1.00%) is water.

Bloomington is an area of irregular limestone terrain characterized by sinks, ravines, fissures, underground streams, active steam vents, and caverns. It is situated in the rolling hills of southern Indiana. The relatively varied topography of the city provides a sharp contrast to the flatter terrain more typical of other portions of Indiana.

Climate

Bloomington receives ample rainfall; annual precipitation averages 44.2 inches, with 19 inches of snow. January temperatures average 36 degrees, with July temperatures averaging 86 degrees. Relative humidity is generally high throughout the year.

Demographics

Bloomington is the principal city of the Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan area that covers Greene, Monroe, and Owen counties [ [http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/List4.txt METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENTS] , Office of Management and Budget, 2007-05-11. Accessed 2008-07-30.] and had a combined population of 175,506 at the 2000 census.GR|2

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 69,291 people, 26,468 households, and 10,454 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,511.1 people per square mile (1,356.0/km²). There were 28,400 housing units at an average density of 1,439.1/sq mi (555.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.03% White, 4.24% African American, 0.29% Native American, 5.26% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, 2.01% from two or more races, and Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population. 22.9% were of German, 10.2% Irish, 9.1% English and 8.4% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 89.3% spoke English, 2.9% Spanish, 1.3% Korean, 1.1% German and 1.0% Chinese or Mandarin as their first language.

There were 26,468 households out of which 17.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.2% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 60.5% were non-families. 39.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the city the population was spread out with 12.7% under the age of 18, 42.3% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 12.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,377, and the median income for a family was $50,054. Males had a median income of $32,470 compared to $26,100 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,481. About 10.3% of families and 29.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Arts & Culture

Bloomington has a rich Theater Culture, and is home to several Professional Theater companies, including Broadway Entertainment Company & Cardinal Stage Company. Bloomington also has several Community and Amateur theaters which include Monroe county civic theater as well as the Indiana University Dept. of Theatrical arts.

Bloomington is home to the Buskirk Chumley Theater, which is a renovated 616 seat vaudeville and movie house built in the early 1900's. The Theater has long been one of the busiest community orientated Theaters in the United States

Bloomington is also home to a large folk punk music scene. The town is mentioned by name in many songs by Paul Baribeau, Ghost Mice, and other such DIY punk bands. Plan-It-X Records has a strong affiliation with Bloomington.

Education

Colleges

*Indiana University
* Ivy Tech Community College

Elementary Schools

*Arlington Elementary School
*Childs Elementary School
*Clear Creek Elementary School
*Fairview Elementary School
*Grandview Elementary School
*Highland Park Elementary School
*Lakeview Elementary School
*Marlin Elementary School
*Rogers-Binford Elementary School
*Summit Elementary Schools
*Templeton Elementary School
*Unionville Elementary School
*University Elementary School
*Harmony School
*Bloomington Montessori School

Middle Schools

*Batchelor Middle School
*Jackson Creek Middle School
*Tri-North Middle School
*Harmony School

High Schools

*Aurora Alternative High School
*Bloomington High School South
*Bloomington High School North
*Bloomington New Tech High School
*Harmony School
*Hoosier Hills Career Center

News and Media

Newspapers

*plainlink|http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/ Herald Times
*Indiana Daily Student

Television

*WTIU
*WTTV

Radio Stations

*WBWB
*WFHB
*WFIU
*WGCL
*WHCC
*WIUX
*WTTS

Transportation

Airports

*Monroe County Airport (No Commercial flights)

Highways

* (South)
* (North)
* (East)
* (West)
* (East)

Bus Service

* [http://www.bloomingtontransit.com// Bloomington Transit]
* [http://www.iubus.indiana.edu/campus_bus/index.html IU Campus Bus Service]
* [http://www.bloomingtonshuttle.com/// Bloomington Shuttle Service] (provides bi-hourly service to the Indianapolis International Airport which is 50 miles away and the nearest commercial airport. The shuttle picks passengers up at various hotels in the city as well as Indiana University's Memorial Union)

Politics

The Democratic Party recently has dominated city politics and has retained the mayor's office since 1972. The current mayor of the city is Mark Kruzan and the Democrats control the city council 8-1.

Bloomington was the first city in the state to ban smoking in all public and private businesses, including private clubs. It was also the first city in the state to pass an anti-discrimination ordinance protecting employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation, including a recent law adding gender identity to the list of protected human rights.

Festivals

*Arts Fair on the Square
*Bloomington Early Music Festival
*Chocolate Festival
*EastFest
*Fourth Street Arts and Crafts Festival
*Indiana Heritage Quilt Show
*Lotus World Music and Arts Festival
*Pride Film Festival
*Taste of Bloomington
*Theta Antique Show
*Third and High Festival
*Weekly Farmer's Market
*Fall Festival on Fairfax

Major Employers

*plainlink|http://www.cookgroup.com// Cook Group Incorporated
*General Electric
*Otis Elevator
*Indiana University (Bloomington)

Notable residents

Note: This list does not include students attending Indiana University. Please see List of Indiana University (Bloomington) people for famous alumni.

*Kenny Aronoff, famous drummer, member of John Mellencamp's band
*David Baker, symphonic jazz composer and professor Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University
*Arija Bareikis, actress
*Joshua Bell, violinist
*Kent Benson, basketball player, 1976 all-America team and all-Big Ten team
*Hobie Billingsley, diving champion and coach
*Diane Bish, Famed organist and international television personality of the PBS show "Joy of Music." American concert and recording artist, composer and conductor
*Myles Brand, president of the NCAA and former president of Indiana University
*Meg Cabot, author of "The Princess Diaries"
*Hoagy Carmichael, American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader
*Dana Carpender, American author and columnist
*William Cook (entrepreneur), billionaire, founder of Cook Inc.
*Terri Colombino, Actress from As The World Turns-born in Bloomington, Indiana
*James Counsilman, US Olympic Swimming Coach
*John Merle Coulter, former president of Indiana University
*Malcolm Dalglish, hammered dulcimer player, composer, and choral director
*John Darnielle, singer-songwriter
*Kueth Duany, college basketball player at Syracuse University
*John Eaton (composer), Renowned opera composer and founder of The Pocket Opera Players
*Mick Foley, a professional wrestler and author — born in Bloomington, but moved to Long Island as an infant
*Karen Joy Fowler, a Nebula award-winning author
*Rex Grossman, football player, Chicago Bears
*Scot Halpin, fan who filled in for drums with the Who when Keith Moon collapsed during a performance at the Cow Palace in San Francisco in 1973.
*Gene Hackman, actor
*Bobby Helms, writer and singer of "Jingle Bell Rock"
*Douglas R. Hofstadter, cognitive scientist
*Bobby Knight, hall of fame basketball coach
*Kathryn Janeway, a fictional character within the Star Trek universe
*Jared Jeffries, basketball player, New York Knicks
*David Starr Jordan, former president of Indiana University and Stanford University
*Kraig Kinser, an ARCA driver
*Steve Kinser, race car driver
*Alfred Kinsey, founder of Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction
*David Lander, actor
*Brad Leftwich, old-time musician
*Bill Mallory, football coach
*Scott May, basketball player, 1976 NCAA National Basketball Player of the Year
*Sean May, basketball player, Charlotte Bobcats
*Branch McCracken, basketball coach
*John Mellencamp, singer, songwriter
*Denny Miller, actor
*Carrie Newcomer, singer-songwriter
*Thubten Jigme Norbu, founder of the Tibetan Cultural Center and eldest brother of Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
*Kevin Pope, cartoonist, MAD Magazine, "Melvin and Jenkins"
*David Lee Roth, lead singer of band Van Halen
*Alfred Ryors, former president of Indiana University
*Jeff Sagarin, statistician for sports, contributor to USA Today
*Frithjof Schuon, philosopher, metaphysician
*Jan Shipps, leading historian of Mormonism
*Mike Shroom, Mycologist, male model and adult film star
*János Starker, cellist
*John Strohm, indie rock singer, guitarist, and lawyer
*Sarkes Tarzian, Armenian-born U.S. engineer, inventor and broadcaster (1900-October 1987)
*Jeri Taylor, producer for the Star Trek television series
*Steve Long, adult film star
*Herman B Wells, former President and beloved Chancellor of Indiana University
*Sam Wyche, NFL football coach, Cincinnati Bengals
*Jerry Yeagley, hall of fame soccer coach

Nearby points of interest

* Indiana University (Bloomington)
* Assembly Hall (Bloomington) - Five NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship banners on display.
*Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction (Bloomington)
* Brown County, Indiana
* Brown County State Park
* Griffy Lake/Nature Preserve
* Hoosier National Forest
* Lake Lemon
* Lake Monroe
* Buckner Cave
* McCormick's Creek State Park
* Morgan-Monroe State Forest
* [http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/index.html?http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/stateforests/ylwwd.htm&2 Yellowwood State Forest]
* Monroe County Airport
* Upland Brewing Company - Currently the largest microbrewery in the state of Indiana.
* The Bloomington Playwrights Project - produces only new plays by American playwrights
* Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division - Naval Base
* Hickory Ridge Fire Tower
* People's Park (Bloomington)
* Ransburg Scout Reservation, Boy Scout Camp

ee also

*Indiana University

References

External links

* [http://www.bloomington.in.gov/ Bloomington City Government]
* [http://www.chamberbloomington.org/ Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.bloomington.in.gov/beqi/ Bloomington and the Environment]
* [http://www.bloomingpedia.org/ Bloomingpedia] - Bloomington's own City Wiki (released July 2005)
* [http://www.visitbloomington.com/static/index.cfm?contentID=206 Breakaway Bloomington Indiana History Section]
* [http://www.visitbloomington.com/ Bloomington Indiana Convention and Visitors Bureau] (Tourism Information)
* [http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/ Herald Times] (Local paper)
* [http://www.mccsc.edu/ MCCSC - Monroe County Community School Corporation]
* [http://www.rbbcsc.k12.in.us/ Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation]
* [http://bloomingtononline.net/ BloomingtonOnline.NET]
* [http://www.bloomington.thislittletown.com/forums.html ThisLittleTown] (since 2003)