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Introduction to Bloomington, Indiana
Located about 50 miles southwest of Indianapolis is the Indiana city of Bloomington, which is also the county seat of Monroe County. Incorporated as a city in 1818, Bloomington got its start as a settlement when U.S. President James Munroe selected the site as the location of a seminary, originally known as Indiana Seminary. The seminary later became a college and in 1848 finally became Indiana University (IU). The first college west of the Allegheny Mountains, the University has evolved into one of the most beautiful university campuses in the U.S. offering several nationally recognized programs for students.
Owing to its location in the heart of the Midwest, Bloomington is within a day’s drive of over half of the U.S. population. The city can be accessed from two major state highways: Indiana State Highways 37 and 46, both of which provide easy access to several Interstates. The primary source of air service to Bloomington is the Indianapolis International Airport, located just 50 miles to the north, although private aircraft can fly to and from Monroe County Airport, located just west of Bloomington.
Points of Interest in Bloomington
The area's natural beauty makes Bloomington ideal for an outdoor excursion. Home to the state’s only national forest, its largest inland lake, and a large number of parks, Bloomington offers a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. The Hoosier National Forest offers over 230 miles of hiking, horseback and mountain biking trails. Lake Monroe is a large and popular venue for boating, fishing, water-skiing, and more. Other recreational sites in or near Bloomington include:
Educational and cultural sites are also plentiful in Bloomington. Some of the more popular include:
Bloomington is home to several annual events and festivals. Some of the area's most notable include:
Indiana University's intercollegiate athletics program has a long tradition of excellence. The Hoosiers, a member of the prestigious Big Ten Conference, have won a total of 24 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships, including its 1975-76 men's basketball team coached by Bobby Knight which remains the last Division I squad to go undefeated for an entire season and then go on to win the NCAA championship.
Fans craving sports of the professional variety can take the one hour drive to Indianapolis and see a variety of pro teams. The Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL) and the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) represent the area's two major sports franchises. Also in Indianapolis are the Women's National Basketball Association's (WNBA) Indiana Fever and the United States Hockey League's (USHL) Indiana Ice. Minor League Baseball in the city is played by the Indianapolis Indians, a Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates. The Indianapolis 500, often called "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing", is held annually over the Memorial Day weekend in Speedway, Indiana, which is just outside of Indianapolis.
Bloomington strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Indiana):
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Walking and Biking to Work (vs. Peers) | Top 1% |  |
| Public Transportation Use (vs. State) | Top 3% | |
| College Educated Adults (vs. Peers) | Top 6% | |
| Short Commute Times (vs. Peers) | Top 6% | |
| Racial Diversity (vs. State) | Top 6% | |
Comparing Bloomington to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Indiana (State):
Ratings range from 
(lowest) to 
(highest).
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Male Share of the Population |  |  |
| Female Share of the Population |  | |
| Well-Paid Single Women | |  |
| Racial Diversity |  | |
| Well-Paid Single Men |  |  |
| Senior Citizens | | |
| Children Under 5 Years Old | | |
| Age of the Population | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | | |
| Portion of People Married | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| College Educated Adults | | |
| Median Family Income | | |
| People in Middle Class or Better | | |
| People Above Poverty | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Walking and Biking to Work | | |
| Short Commute Times | | |
| Working at Home | |  |
| Public Transportation Use | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| People Living Alone | | |
| Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals | | |
| Seasonal and Vacation Housing | | |
| Affordability of Rents | | |
| Housing Recently Built | | |
| Affordability of Property Taxes | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Low Violent Crime | | |
| Low Property Crime | | |
 | Bloomington Careers Bloomington career and employment information. |
 | Bloomington Colleges Bloomington colleges and trade schools. |
 | Bloomington Hotels & Travel Bloomington hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation. |
 | Bloomington Mortgage Bloomington property, mortgage, and real estate. |
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