Bloomington, IN

This hilly city in southern Indiana has a population of 69,291 but a median age of only 23, and that youthful attitude is reflected in the popular amenities and activities offered in Bloomington. The city has a well-developed transit system, which includes Bloomington Transit (public buses), Indiana University (IU) Campus Bus System, and even Rural Transit, which provides public transportation to outlying areas. Commuting by bicycle is encouraged here, and plenty of dedicated bike paths and bike lanes are plotted throughout the town. Perhaps the most well-known location in Bloomington is the campus of Indiana University (IU), home of the Big Ten Hoosiers college basketball and football teams. The approximately 40,000 students who attend IU each year bring with them a host of cultural perspectives that serve to make Bloomington a worldly oasis in the heart of the Midwest. IU was selected as a "Best Value" for 2009 by the test-preparation company the Princeton Review based on the services, financial aid, and opportunities afforded to its students.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Bloomington is a great city in which to do business. It was ranked number three on Forbes magazine's "Best Small Places for Business and Careers" list in 2008. The city offers incentives, loans, training programs, and other resources, making it attractive for potential businesses to relocate there. It is a strategy that has worked to give Bloomington the strongest economic standing in the region. The biggest employer in Bloomington is Indiana University. Other major employers include:

• Bloomington Hospital
• Cook Inc. (medical instruments)
• Monroe County Community School Corporation
• Baxter Pharmaceuticals
• General Electric
• Marsh Supermarkets

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Bloomington's neighborhoods run the gamut from historic districts to subdivisions full of newly constructed homes:

• Azalea Lane: This quiet residential neighborhood is filled with newer homes but has an established look, thanks to plenty of mature trees.
• Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD): This thriving downtown area is home to a lively music, theater, and performing arts scene.
• McDoel Gardens: This neighborhood is currently undergoing renewal activities and is populated mainly by artists and craftspeople.
• Near Westside: Most of the older homes in this neighborhood have undergone renovation, but there is still plenty of charm and character here.
• Prospect Hill: This downtown neighborhood is known for its well-preserved historic homes, particularly the Paris Dunning House.
• Winslow Farm: Winslow Farm includes the newer subdivisions of Sweetbriar, Laurelwood, New Bent Tree, Bent Tree, and Olde Mill.

FOR VISITORS

Bloomington has plenty to offer out-of-towners. From locally produced libations to art to relaxation, you can find it in Bloomington

• Oliver Winery: Indiana's oldest and largest winery offers wine tastings as well as a stunning outdoor setting.
• Bloomington Brewing Company: Handcrafted, unfiltered, unpasteurized beers made in small batches are the order of the day at this exclusive brewery.
• Starlite Drive-In Movie Theatre: The nostalgic pleasure of seeing a drive-in movie is alive and well each summer at the Starlite Drive-In.
• John Waldron Arts Center: This community arts venue houses performance spaces, art galleries, meeting spaces, and classrooms.
• Tibetan Cultural Center: Classes and meditation sessions are offered in this over-90-acre center, which supplies a soothing setting for individual meditation and reflection.

BEST BETS

The sheer diversity of Bloomington's cultural and entertainment offerings is staggering:

• Buskirk-Chumley Theater: Regional and national performances, as well as film showings, are staged at this venue; the historic exterior belies the state-of-the-art technology used inside.
• Hinkle-Garton Farmstead Community Historic Site: The Queen Anne-style farmhouse was built in 1892 and, along with the existing outbuildings, was part of a much larger farm settled early in Bloomington's history.
• Mathers Museum of World Cultures: Educational exhibits at this Indiana University anthropology museum explore the diversity of people from around the world.
• Monroe County History Center: The area's history is depicted in a museum, genealogy library, and museum store that carries locally crafted gifts.
• Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center: This facility, run by Indiana University, honors the history of black culture in America and is home to the African American Arts Institute.

EVENTS

This happening college town has something exciting planned nearly every month of the year:

• Chocolate Festival: Another festival involving food, the February Chocolate Festival is an opportunity for visitors to nominate the best-tasting chocolate dessert.
• Eagle Watch Weekend: Birders flock together for three days of bird-watching and other wildlife programs every winter. Locations vary, but birders will travel to some of Lake Monroe's bird hotspots.
• Bloomington Early Music Festival: The only event of its kind in the Midwest, this festival occurs in the waning days of May and features local and regional performers at a variety of locations.
• Bloomington Beer Festival: Visitors can taste different imported beers and microbrews at this annual event at the Bloomington Convention Center.
• Hilly Hundred Weekend bicycle tour: This classic annual touring bicycle event is a challenging weekend trip through the scenic hills of southern Indiana.
• IU First Nations Pow Wow: Visitors are treated to Native American traditions and traditions.
• Lotus World Music and Arts Festival: The not-for-profit Lotus Education and Arts Foundation (LEAF) sponsors this festival every fall at a variety of venues.