Bloomington's Story

See why
the locals
think
Bloomington
is a great
place to live
and work,
courtesy of
Sherwood
Oaks
Christian
Church.

Established in 1818 in Monroe County, Indiana, all of Bloomington was once a wheat field and a public square with 276 feet on each side. While no one knows exactly how the town was given its name, most oral traditions contend that the name was suggested when a group of early settlers, gazing at the open land from a nearby hill, were struck by the impressive foliage and flowers in bloom.

Today, Bloomington is home to more than 70,000 residents and Indiana University is one of the nation's foremost higher education institutions. The culture of learning present so early and prominently in the the community's history has helped to shape the city's character, so it is not surprising Bloomington has produced countless celebrated academics, artists, musicians, athletes and actors.

Indiana's arts and entertainment capital

Images via BuskirkChumley.org and Bloomington.in.gov

John Mellencamp, Hoagy Carmichael and numerous other Hoosiers have sparked an artistic sensibility in the community and helped solidify Bloomington's reputation as the cultural gem of Indiana. Every year, Bloomington hosts the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival, one of the top such festivals in the nation.

Bloomington's cultural diversity matured as the community and the University grew through the 20th century. A significant arts community began to emerge and venues such as the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, which still operates today, were built to to cater to the changing population. This expansion of the arts brought with it not only entertainment, but economic opportunity.

Bloomington continues to be a city of innovation. With the creation of the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD), the City has made a commitment to economic development through the arts. This approach to economic prosperity has placed the City at #6 on Forbes' 2007 Best Small Places for Business and Careers.

An economy built on science and sustainability

Images via Bloomington.in.gov and BloomingtonLifeSciences.com

Along with economic development through the arts, the City is committed to fostering nationally-recognized life-sciences and technology companies that will flourish and reinvest in the community. The Bloomington Economic Development Corporation and the City have joined together through the Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership and the Bloomington Technology Partnership to maintain growth on both of these fronts.

Sustainability is another important piece of the Bloomington approach to business. Responsible environmental stewardship goes hand-in-hand with responsible economic development. With the City taking the lead through the Sustainable City program and Sustainability Partnership (SuPar) Grant Program, many businesses and nonprofits have implemented green initiatives of their own.