Bloomfield, Indiana Explained

Official Name:Bloomfield, Indiana
Settlement Type:Town
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Indiana
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Greene
Subdivision Type3:Township
Subdivision Name3:Richland
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:2289
Population Density Sq Mi:1625.71
Population Density Km2:627.68
Timezone:EST
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EST
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Area Land Km2:3.65
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:3.65
Area Total Sq Mi:1.41
Area Land Sq Mi:1.41
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Elevation Ft:600
Coordinates:39.0261°N -86.9375°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:47424
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:812
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank1 Name:GNIS ID
Blank1 Info:2396592
Website:http://www.bloomfieldin.com/
Unit Pref:Imperial

Bloomfield is a town within Richland Township and the county seat of Greene County, Indiana, United States.[2] The population was 2,405 at the 2010 census.

Bloomfield is part of the Bloomington, Indiana metropolitan area.

History

The area where Bloomfield is located has been inhabited by Native Americans since prehistory. Tribes that have lived in the area include the Miami tribe, Kickapoo, Piankeshaw and Wea. A settlement of Woodland period people has been excavated by Indiana and Ball State Universities research teams near the confluence of Richland Creek and the White River south of Bloomfield.[3] [4]

The town of Bloomfield was laid out in 1824 when Greene County needed a new county seat due to the lack of a reliable water source for the town of Burlington. Burlington was located west of Bloomfield near the west fork of the White River.

The Greene County Courthouse, a log building in the town's center, was the town's first building. The current Greene County Courthouse, a brick structure built in the late 19th century, stands at the same location. An expansion and renovation project was completed in 2008. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

In 1824, Peter Cornelius Van Slyke donated land to Greene County for the purpose of establishing a new county seat.[5] Van Slyke was born on the Mohawk River in Schenectady County, New York, on April 5, 1766. He migrated to southern Indiana in 1816. Van Slyke was a veteran of the War of 1812 and died on September 25, 1834.

The well-known Rousseau brothers, Lovell H. Rousseau and Richard H. Rousseau, both located in Bloomfield in 1841 to practice law. They served as Greene County State Representatives and Lovell as State Senator until returning to Kentucky in 1849. During that period, Lovell raised a company of Greene County men (Co. E, 2nd Indiana Infantry) to fight in the Mexican War, who were conspicuous at the Battle of Buena Vista (1847).[6] Following their return to Kentucky, Lovell became nationally famous/distinguished, and the local Bloomfield Chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic was named for him (Post #326).[7]

Bloomfield Jr./Sr. High School has also been home to Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame coaches Guy Glover (1954-1977) and Steve Brett (1978-1993).

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Bloomfield has a total area of 1.38sqmi, all land.[8]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the 2010 census,[9] there were 2,405 people, 1,109 households, and 628 families living in the town. The population density was 1742.8PD/sqmi. There were 1,263 housing units at an average density of 915.2/sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.0% White, 0.5% African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 1,109 households, of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.4% were non-families. 40.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the town was 39.7 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 18.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,[10] there were 2,542 people, 1,180 households, and 665 families living in the town. The population density was 1841.1sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,315 housing units at an average density of 952.4sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 98.31% White, 0.20% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.

There were 1,180 households, out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 40.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,224, and the median income for a family was $42,656. Males had a median income of $31,864 versus $23,879 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,045. About 12.0% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Arts and culture

Festivals

Notable people

References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. March 16, 2022.
  2. Web site: Find a County . June 7, 2011 . National Association of Counties . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx . May 31, 2011 .
  3. Web site: Introduction to the Prehistory of Indiana . Kellar, James H. . January 23, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120909034214/http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/abstracts/IHS/bib.html . September 9, 2012 .
  4. Web site: Patterns in lithic resource procurement and exploitation among early paleo-Indians of the midwestern United States . Tankersley, Kenneth B. . January 23, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120207175258/http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/abstracts/87/tankersley_87.html . February 7, 2012 .
  5. Web site: Greene County Indiana History and Genealogy . County History Preservation Society . January 23, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120205031844/http://www.countyhistory.com/greene/more.htm . February 5, 2012 .
  6. Book: Lee, Dan . Kentuckian in Blue: A Biography of Major General Lovell Harrison Rousseau . McFarland . 2010.
  7. Web site: Indiana GAR Posts 300 thru 399 – Department of Indiana . February 25, 2024 . en-US.
  8. Web site: G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1 . July 13, 2015 . . https://archive.today/20200213070129/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1805716 . February 13, 2020 . dead .
  9. Web site: U.S. Census website . . December 11, 2012.
  10. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .
  11. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Greene County, IN. U.S. Census Bureau. 2024-06-12. - Text list
  12. Web site: Indiana public library directory . Indiana State Library . March 7, 2018 . February 18, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170218220414/http://in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf . dead .
  13. Web site: February 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161227124913/http://library.courtinfo.ca.gov/included/docs/SCJC_Vol_1.pdf . December 27, 2016 .
  14. Web site: March 6, 2015 . Indiana Politicians By Letter . February 25, 2024 . Capitol & Washington . en.
  15. Web site: March 6, 2015 . Indiana Politicians By Letter . February 25, 2024 . Capitol & Washington . en.

External links