Located in southern Indiana, Bloomington is a city of about 80,000 residents. The area tends to be quite humid year round, with summer temperatures reaching into the 80s. Bloomington gets about 19 inches of snow a season. In recent years, Bloomington has won many awards for its quality of living, and anyone thinking of moving to Bloomington will find a city that is charismatic and very concerned about the quality of life for all of its residents.
Economy:
The median household income for residents of Bloomington is lower than that of the rest of the state. However, the cost of living there is substantially lower than the national average. Unemployment is low there at only 6.2 percent. Bloomington is considered an excellent place to move a business to, or to start a new business. It has many initiatives in place to assist and attract business to the area. The top employers in the area include Baxter BioPharma Solutions, Boston Scientific, Cook Group International and Otis Elevator.
History:
Bloomington was first settled in 1818. The first Europeans there were so impressed by the abundance of flowers in the area, they named the settlement Bloomington. In 1816, President Monroe had chosen the site for a seminary, which later became Indiana University. The earliest industries included farming, lumber and limestone extraction. In 1822 a salt works and an iron works opened. In 1854 the railroad arrived, opening up the area for more industry. A smithy in Bloomington made ordinance for the union army during the Civil War. In the early 1900s, the city continued to grow, adding postal service, a hospital and paved streets. After the Second World War, veterans flocked to the area to attend college using their GI Bills. During the 50s to the 70s, many of the older businesses closed, but the city has made the switch to attracting more high tech and service-oriented industry.
Tourism:
At the end of May, the Bloomington Early Music Festival celebrates the classical genre of music in various ways. In January, Bloomington celebrates A Week of Chocolate Festival. In February, there is the Eagle Watch Weekend of birding. In March there is a Wine and Food festival. In June you can attend the Taste of Bloomington, with over 30 restaurants and live music. On Labor Day weekend, there is the Fourth Street Festival to showcase local artists and craftspeople. The Monroe County Fair is held in late July. The Elizabeth Sage Historic Costumes Collection celebrates fashion as art. The Mathers Museum of World Cultures will take you on a trip around the world with its many exhibits. You can tour the Wylie Home, built in 1835. There are many more museums and historical venues to be seen.