Bloomington, IN

About Bloomington

• • Kevin Kline, acclaimed actor, was born in Bloomington, Indiana.
• • The Little 500 bicycle race tradition started at Indiana University.
• • Indiana University's establishment in 1820 significantly shaped Bloomington's growth.
• • Bloomington has an active UFO interest group, 'The Bloomington UFO Group'.
• • The Great Fire of 1873 destroyed much of the downtown area.
• • It was named 'Bloomington' in 1818 for its abundant blooms; incorporated in 1837.
• • With 85,759 residents, it's Indiana's seventh-largest city.
• • Bloomington sits 761 feet above sea level, offering rolling hills.
• • Education, particularly Indiana University, is the primary economic driver.
• • Bloomington feels intellectually stimulating, quirky, and welcoming.
• • Indianapolis Colts, about an hour away, won Super Bowl XLI in 2007.
• • Indiana's undefeated 1976 basketball team remains the last undefeated NCAA champion.
• • The area's bedrock is primarily Mississippian-age limestone, rich in fossils.
• • Marengo Cave, a National Natural Landmark, lies about 40 miles southeast of the city.
• • The city sits within the watershed of the Salt Creek, which flows into the East Fork White River.
• • Indiana bats, an endangered species, are known to inhabit caves in the surrounding area.
• • The region features abundant oak-hickory forests, typical of the Eastern deciduous forest.
• • The Miami, Delaware, and Potawatomi tribes inhabited the region before European settlement.
• • A devastating fire destroyed much of downtown Bloomington in 1854.
• • Sample Gates, the iconic entryway to Indiana University, were completed in 1987.
• • Indiana State Road 46 connects Bloomington to Interstate 65.

Artists From Bloomington

Songs About Bloomington

Nearby Places