The city was established in 1818 by a group of settlers fromKentucky,Tennessee, theCarolinas, andVirginia who were so impressed with "a haven of blooms" that they called it Bloomington.[6] It is the principal city of theBloomington metropolitan area in south-central Indiana, which had 161,039 residents in 2020. Bloomington has been designated aTree City USA since 1984.[7][8] The city was also the location of theAcademy Award–winning 1979 movieBreaking Away, featuring a reenactment of Indiana University's annualLittle 500 bicycle race.
According to the 2010 census, Bloomington has a total area of 23.359 square miles (60.50 km2), of which 23.16 square miles (59.98 km2) (or 99.15%) is land and 0.199 square miles (0.52 km2) (or 0.85%) is water.[17][18]
Bloomington is an area ofirregular limestone terrain characterized by sinks, ravines, fissures, underground streams, sinking streams, springs and caves.[19] It is in the rolling hills of south Central Indiana, resting on the intersection of theNorman Upland and theMitchell Plain. The city's relatively varied topography is a sharp contrast to the flatter terrain more typical of central to northern portions of Indiana.
PCB pollution, associated withWestinghouse's operations, long was a concern in the area.[20][21] A number of sites,[22] in particular, Bennett's Dump and Lemon Lane Landfill at the northwestern edge of the city and Neal's Landfill in the county, were listed asSuperfund sites. Clean-up operations at the Bennett Quarry site, started in 1983, were largely completed by 2000,[23] while cleanups at the other sites were completed in 2012.
Griffy Lake, once the central source of drinking water for the city
Bloomington is on comparatively high ground, the summit of the divide between the basins of the West Fork and East Fork of Indiana'sWhite River. Accordingly, there are no major watercourses within the city, nor is muchgroundwater available for wells.[19] The largest stream within the city isClear Creek, with its eastern branch known on the Indiana University campus as the Campus River, formerly the Jordan River.
Because natural lakes or rivers or groundwater are absent from the city and its environs, a number of dams have been constructed on nearby creeks over the last 100 years to provide for the water needs of Bloomington and Monroe County. Early 20th-century damming projects occurred at locations southwest of the city, the most notable being the Leonard Springs Dam. Because of the limestone formations underlying the reservoirs and the dams, water kept seeping from the reservoirs through naturally developing underground channels. Despite all efforts, the city was never able to fully stop the leakage and had to resort to pumping leaking water back to the reservoir.[19]
By the 1920s, a more radical solution was needed to deal with the water crisis. A new reservoir, known asGriffy Lake, was constructed in a more geologically suitable area north of the city.[19] (It is now within Bloomington's official city limits.) Later, in the 1950s, two much larger reservoirs,Lake Lemon andMonroe Lake were created in the northeastern and southeastern parts of Monroe County. Monroe Lake was created by theUS Army Corps of Engineers for flood control but has since been used to supply the city and the county with water. The water pumping station at Griffy Lake was mothballed until May 2020.[24]
Presently, the city is supplied with drinking water from Monroe Lake, via the Monroe Water Treatment Plant on S. Shields Ridge Rd. Originally opened in 1967, it was expanded in 2014, and now is capable of producing 30 million gallons of water per day.[25] The sewer water from the northern part of the city is treated at the Blucher Poole Wastewater Treatment Plant (constructed 1968) and discharged into theBean Blossom Creek.[26] The sewer water from the southern half of the city goes to Dillman Road Wastewater Treatment Plant (constructed 1982) and is then discharged into theClear Creek.[24][27][28]
The official 2020 census figures for Bloomington report a population of 79,168 people,[33] although this number, a decrease of 1.5% since 2010, has been called into question since the timing of the count corresponded with theCOVID-19 pandemic lockdown period when many Indiana University students had left the city to complete the Spring 2020 academic semester with their families at home.[34][35] According to the 2023American Community Survey estimates, theracial and ethnic makeup of the city was 77.8% White alone, 4.8% Black alone, 0.2% American Indiana and Alaska Native alone, 10.5% Asian alone, 5.3% two or more races, and 5.6% Hispanic or Latino.[33]
As of the2010 census,[36] there were 80,405 people, 31,425 households, and 11,267 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,471.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,340.4/km2). There were 33,239 housing units at an average density of 1,435.2 per square mile (554.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.0%White, 4.6%African American, 0.3%Native American, 8.0%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 1.2% fromother races, and 3.0% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino residents of any race were 3.5% of the population.
There were 31,425 households, of which 16.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.3% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 64.1% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% 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.
The median age in the city was 23.3 years. 11.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 44.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23% were from 25 to 44; 13.3% were from 45 to 64; and 7.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.
As of the census[37] 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 inhabitants per square mile (1,355.6/km2). There were 28,400 housing units at an average density of 1,439.1 per square mile (555.6/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% fromother races, and 2.01% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino residents 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 toCensus 2000. 89.3% spoke only English at home, while 2.9% spoke Spanish, 1.3%Korean, 1.1% German and 1.0%Chinese orMandarin.
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, 12.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 42.3% was from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 12.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% was 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.
The Bloomington andMonroe County region is home to major employers representing a diverse collection of fields, including education, thelife sciences, advanced manufacturing and technology.[38] TheBloomington Economic Development Corporation is dedicated to fostering economic growth and development in Monroe County, Indiana. BEDC works to attract, retain, and support businesses and residents, ensuring a thriving and prosperous community. The organization focuses on creating a vibrant economic environment through strategic initiatives, partnerships, and community engagement. WhileThe Mill serves as a co-working and innovation hub in the city's Trades District.
Bloomington is a regional economic center anchored byIndiana University and home to a diverse business community involved in pharmaceuticals, biopharma, medical devices, advanced manufacturing, defense industry, technology, health care, and the arts. Bloomington's concentration of employment in the life sciences is six times greater than the U.S. average, and employment in the technology sector has grown by over 80 percent in recent years.[39] Companies based in Bloomington includeCook Group, Simtra BioPharma Solutions, PHOENIX, Nova Nordisk, TASUS and Singota Solutions to name some of the top players.
Otis Elevator Company had a production plant in Bloomington from 1965 to 2012. The site at 1425 South Curry Pike was acquired by plastics lid and cap maker Phoenix's Enclosures, Incorporated in 2017.[40] Other historic factories include anRCA plant which made color TVs (later as Thomson Consumer Electronics and Cook Pharmaica), aGE refrigerator plant (vacant but acquired by Cook Group), and the Showers Brothers furniture factory (partially occupied by Indiana University and as Bloomington City Hall).
WTIU is a PBS station owned by Indiana University along with its sister radio station WFIU an NPR station.
WTTV is licensed to Bloomington but is based out of Indianapolis as well as its sister station WXIN, which are both owned by Nexstar Media Group.
Bloomington also receives stations from Indianapolis and is part of the Indianapolis market.
A five-channelpublic-access television station is housed in theMonroe County Public Library. The station, known as Community Access Television Services or CATS, was established in 1973 and serves as a "dedicated constitutional forum".[45] In April 1995,Rox, a program produced at CATS (then Bloomington Community Access Television, or BCAT), became the first TV series distributed via the web, with an episode titled "Global Village Idiots".[46]
W203BL 88.9 FM. Owned by and broadcasts Air 1 Radio Network, which is a Christian music radio station.
W241CD 96.1 FM also called Rock 96.1 The Quarry is a rock radio station that plays programming from Westwood One including "96 Rock" WFTK Cincinnati based morning hosts JD & Bridget. It is a sister station to WGCL and WTTS, which are also owned by Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. Tarzian was a prominent figure in town.
WBWB 96.7 FM, also called B97, is a Top 40 radio station and it is a sister station to WHCC.
WCLS 97.7 FM is the Local classic rock music station.
WCYI 104.1 FM is an ultra low powered religious FM radio station broadcast out of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.
WFHB 91.3 and 98.1 in Bloomington, 100.7 in Nashville and 106.3 in Ellettsville. It is the Local Community radio station.
WFIU 103.7 FM The NPR station in town. Owned by Indiana University.
WGCL WGCL AM 1370 and 98.7 FM. WGCL is the local news talk radio station and is a sister station to WTTS and Rock 96.1 The Quarry.
WHCC 105.1 FM, also called Hoosier Country 105, is a local country station which is also one of the flagship stations of Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network along with The Fan 1070 AM. Sister station to WBWB.
WIUX 99.1 FM, The local student radio station of Indiana University. It is a low powered station.
WMYJ 88.9 FM, also called MyJoy Radio, is a Southern Gospel radio station that is licensed to Oolitic, Indiana, and serves the Bloomington, Indiana area.
WOMB 89.9 FM, also called With Our Mother Blessed, is a Christian radio station licensed to Ellettsville, Indiana.
WTTS 92.3 FM is technically licensed to Trafalgar, Indiana. It transits to Bloomington and Indianapolis. It is an Adult Album Alternative station. Sister station to WGCL and Rock 96.1 The Quarry Owned by Sarkes Tarzian, Inc.
WVNI 95.1 and 107.7 FM is also called spirit 95, which is a Christian contemporary music station broadcasting from Nashville, Indiana.
Bloomington is a gold-rated bicycle-friendly community by theLeague of American Bicyclists.[47] There are several significant bike trails in and around the city, most notably theB-Line Trail which runs north to south for almost four miles through the core of Downtown Bloomington and south through Switchyard Park. An east to west version has also recently been completed along the 7th street corridor.[48]
Bloomington and Indiana University briefly ran a dockless bikeshare program called Pace, launched in June 2018.[49] The program was cancelled after less than a year.[50]
Bloomington, for many years was one of the largest cities without an interstate or freeway. However, interstate access finally occurred in December 2015 when theInterstate 69 expansion betweenEvansville andIndianapolis was completed to Bloomington.
SR 37 used to be the main highway through Bloomington running as a four-lane expressway on the westside of the city. However, after the completion of I-69 throughout the state in August 2024, SR 37 now ends on the southside of Bloomington at an interchange with the interstate.
State Road 45 (SR 45) andState Road 46 (SR 46) run through Bloomington together on a four-lane highway known as the "bypass".
State Road 48 (SR 48) starts as a four-lane highway on the city's west side before narrowing to two-lanes at Oard Rd outside the city limits.
Bus service to Indianapolis is provided by Miller Transportation bus lines, services to the Indianapolis International Airport is provided through shuttle services such as GO Express.
The 1979 filmBreaking Away is about four teens from Bloomington. It was filmed around the city.
Karen Kingsbury's book series featuring the Baxter family (which comprises a large number of her works) is centered in Bloomington.
In the 1988 filmErnest Saves Christmas, the now-former Santa Clause (who goes back to using his real name, Seth Applegate) informs the character Harmony Starr that he knows about her real identity, that being Pamela Trenton, and that she is originally from Hampton Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana.
In theStar Trek universe, CaptainKathryn Janeway was born on May 20, 2336, in Bloomington, Indiana (as stated in the 2000 episode "Imperfection").[53] A monument to this was constructed in 2020.[54]
In the popular video gameOverwatch, hero character Soldier: 76 is from Bloomington, Indiana.
Patricia Highsmith used Bloomington as the model for the fictional town of Chalmerston in her 1983 novelPeople Who Knock on the Door
The novelStranger Things: Suspicious Minds centers on Terry Ives and her friends, and is set in Bloomington during the years 1969–1970.
The novelPeople from Bloomington byBudi Darma explores the peculiar circumstances and encounters of people[55]
Constellation Stage and Screen – local professional theater and film series (merger ofBloomington Playwright's Project, Cardinal Stage, and Pigasus Institute)
^abcdMaxwell, Donal H. (January 1921),"Impounded water in Bloomington, Ind.",Municipal and County Engineering: Design, Construction, Maintenance, and Operation of All Public Works,60 (1):159–161
^NCPedia. "Wilson Vash Eagleson II - A Tuskegee Airman 1920 - 2006". Doris McLean Bates. Reprinted with permission from the Tar Heel Junior Historian, Fall 2003. Tar Heel Junior Historian Association, NC Museum of History.https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/eagleson-wilson
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