kids encyclopedia robot

Beloit, Wisconsin facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Beloit, Wisconsin
City of Beloit
Downtown Beloit
Downtown Beloit
Flag of Beloit, Wisconsin
Flag
Nickname(s): 
"Gateway To Wisconsin"
Location of Beloit in Rock County, Wisconsin
Location of Beloit in Rock County, Wisconsin
Beloit, Wisconsin is located in the United States
Beloit, Wisconsin
Beloit, Wisconsin
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  Wisconsin
County Rock
Founded 1836
Incorporated February 24, 1846 (village)
March 31, 1856 (city)
Area
 • City 17.66 sq mi (45.73 km2)
 • Land 17.33 sq mi (44.89 km2)
 • Water 0.33 sq mi (0.84 km2)
Elevation
751 ft (228.9 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • City 36,966
 • Estimate 
(2019)
36,926
 • Density 2,130.51/sq mi (822.60/km2)
 • Metro
160,331
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Zip code
53511
Area code(s) 608
FIPS code 55-06500
Website beloitwi.gov

Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 36,966 people.

History

Twelve men in Colebrook, New Hampshire created the "New England Emigrating Company" in October 1836 and sent Dr. Horace White to find a suitable region of Wisconsin in which to settle. The level fields and the water power of Turtle Creek and the "unlimited gravel" in the area around what is now Beloit fixed the site of the intended village and farms. White purchased the land. At the same time as the Colebrook settlers, six families from Bedford, New Hampshire arrived and settled in the region. They said that the Rock River Valley had a "New England look", which made them feel at home. The village was platted in 1838 and was planned with wide streets which built on the New England model.

Beloit was originally named New Albany (after Albany, Vermont) in 1837 by its founder, Caleb Blodgett. The name was changed to Beloit in 1838. The name Beloit was coined to be reminiscent of Detroit.

Beloit lays claim to such inventions as the speedometer, Korn Kurls, which resemble Cheetos, are credited with the founding of the snack food industry.

Historic buildings

Beloit's 1889 Water Tower Place began demolition in 1935, which was halted because of the cost. A historic pump station is located nearby.

The Fairbanks Flats were built in 1917 to house the rush of African Americans moving to the area from the Southern United States.

Pearsons Hall of Science was designed by the architectural firm Burnham and Root for Beloit College to use as a science center.

Downtown Beloit and the riverfront

Downtown Beloit is the historical economic, cultural and social center of the community. Located north of the confluence of the Rock River and Turtle Creek, the downtown is anchored by a core of historic buildings and the Ironworks office and industrial campus. Beloit's riverfront park system, mainly Riverside Park, extends north of the downtown along the east bank toward the Town of Beloit.

Downtown Beloit is one of two inaugural members of the Wisconsin Main Street designation.

Railroad heritage

Beloit was served by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, better known as the Milwaukee Road, and the Chicago & North Western Railroad (C&NW). In its 1980 bankruptcy, the Milwaukee Road disposed of the Southwestern Line. The Union Pacific Railroad, which took over the C&NW, operates in Beloit today over a remnant of the former Milwaukee Road, providing a rail connection to Fairbanks-Morse Engine. The Canadian Pacific Railway operates other trackage in Beloit. The city also had an electric interurban railroad.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.70 square miles (45.84 km2), of which 17.37 square miles (44.99 km2) is land and 0.33 square miles (0.85 km2) is water. Location: 42°30′30″N 89°01′54″W / 42.50833°N 89.03167°W / 42.50833; -89.03167.

The city is located adjacent to the Town of Beloit, Town of Turtle, and the Illinois municipality of South Beloit.

Most of Beloit's development is occurring on the east side, adjacent to Interstates 39/90 and Interstate 43, where the city annexed rural land for the extensive Beloit Gateway Industrial Park, as well as in the newly revitalized downtown located along the Rock River.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 4,098
1870 4,396 7.3%
1880 4,790 9.0%
1890 6,315 31.8%
1900 10,436 65.3%
1910 15,125 44.9%
1920 21,284 40.7%
1930 23,611 10.9%
1940 25,365 7.4%
1950 29,590 16.7%
1960 32,846 11.0%
1970 35,729 8.8%
1980 35,207 −1.5%
1990 35,573 1.0%
2000 35,775 0.6%
2010 36,966 3.3%
2019 (est.) 36,926 −0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 36,966 people, 13,781 households, and 8,867 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,128.2 inhabitants per square mile (821.7/km2). There were 15,177 housing units at an average density of 873.7 per square mile (337.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 68.9% White, 15.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 10.0% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.1% of the population.

There were 13,781 households, of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.7% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.16.

The median age in the city was 33.1 years. 27.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 23.1% were from 45 to 64; 12% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

Government

Beloit is represented by Janis Ringhand and Stephen Nass in the Wisconsin State Senate, Amy Loudenbeck and Mark Spreitzer in the Wisconsin State Assembly, Mark Pocan in the United States House of Representatives, and Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin in the United States Senate.

Beloit has a council-manager system of government, with seven council members, each elected for two year terms. Four members are elected in even years and three in odd years. City council elections are held annually in April. The city council establishes policies for the city and appoints a city manager to implement those policies. The current city manager, Lori S. Curtis Luther, was appointed on June 1, 2015.

Economy

Industries with headquarters in Beloit include ABC Supply Company, Bio-Systems International, Broaster Company, Fairbanks-Morse Defense, Hendricks Holding Company, Murmac Paint Manufacturing, PlayMonster, and Regal Beloit.

Downtown Beloit is a dense cluster of mostly small shops and boutiques. The area has been recognized for increased investment and renewal since the 1990s. Upscale downtown condominiums and hotels were introduced after 2000 with the construction of the Hotel Hilton Apartments (2001), the Beloit Inn (now the Ironworks Hotel, 2003), Heritage View (2005), and the Phoenix Project (2013).

From the 1990s to 2011, downtown Beloit received direct public and private investment totaling more than $75 million. In 2011, Beloit was a Great American Main Street Award winner. In 2012, Beloit was listed #17 on Travel and Leisure's list of America's Greatest Mainstreets.

Education

The School District of Beloit serves more than 6,800 students in six primary schools, four intermediate schools, and one high school, with alternative programming and charter schools. Beloit Memorial High School is the city's public high school. The Roy Chapman Andrews Academy, a project-based charter school, is part of the School District of Beloit and serves grades 6 through 12.

Beloit College sign
Beloit College entrance

Beloit College, a private liberal arts college with undergraduate enrollment around 1,300, is in the city, with the main campus adjacent to downtown. The campus has a number of prehistoric Native American mounds.

Blackhawk Technical College, a public technical school, has a campus in downtown Beloit.

Beloit is also home to Concordia University's Beloit location, Beloit Center. The center offers courses designed for working adults interested in getting their associate's, bachelor's, and graduate degrees.

Beloit has a public library that is part of the Arrowhead Library System.

Culture

  • The Angel Museum
  • Beloit Civic Theatre
  • Beloit Fine Arts Incubator
  • Beloit Historical Society
  • Beloit International Film Festival
  • Logan Museum of Anthropology
  • Rock River Philharmonic
  • Turtle Creek Chamber Orchestra
  • Wright Museum of Art

Festivals

Beloit's main festivals include:

Recreation

Beloit is home to a professional minor league baseball team, the Beloit Snappers. The Snappers are a part of the Oakland Athletics organization.

Recognition

  • Beloit is the only city in Rock County to have been named an All-America City.
  • Beloit was one of Travel + Leisure's top 20 Greatest American Main Streets for 2014.
  • The 2015 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index ranked the Janesville-Beloit metropolitan area #4 by how well they created and sustained jobs and economic growth.
  • In 2017, Beloit's main street was named one of five "Most Romantic" Main Streets for 2017 by National Main Street Center.

Notable people

  • Thomas Ryum Amlie, U.S. Representative
  • Marcia Anderson, U. S. Army Major General
  • Roy Chapman Andrews, adventurer and naturalist
  • Fred Ascani, U.S. Air Force Major General
  • Alan E. Ashcraft, Jr., Illinois State Representative
  • Clinton Babbitt, U.S. Representative
  • George B. Belting, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Jim Breton, MLB player
  • Jason W. Briggs, leader in development of Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
  • James A. Brittan, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Tony Brizzolara, MLB player
  • Richard Burdge, Wisconsin State Senator
  • Jackson J. Bushnell, educator
  • Jim Caldwell, Beloit Memorial High School alumnus, former head coach of NFL's Detroit Lions
  • Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin, geologist
  • Franklin Clarke, professional football player for Dallas Cowboys (1960–1967) and Cleveland Browns (1957–1959)
  • Lawrence E. Cunningham, Wisconsin State Senator
  • Horatio N. Davis, Wisconsin State Senator
  • Delmar DeLong, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Burger M. Engebretson, Wisconsin State Representative
  • John E. Erickson, NBA executive
  • Betty Everett, rock and jazz singer ("The Shoop Shoop Song")
  • Edward A. Everett, Wisconsin State Representative
  • The Felix Culpa, post-hardcore band
  • Dorr Felt, inventor of comptometer
  • Edwin G. Fifield, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Bill Flannigan, NFL player
  • Patsy Gharrity, MLB player
  • Danny Gokey, American Idol contestant, choir director at a Beloit church
  • Bernie Graham, professional baseball player
  • John Hackett, businessman and politician
  • Jim Hall, professional boxer
  • Edward F. Hansen, Wisconsin State Representative
  • William O. Hansen, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Bill Hanzlik, NBA player and coach
  • Jonathan Harr, journalist and author of A Civil Action
  • Ken Hendricks, founder of ABC Supply, listed on the Forbes 400
  • William H. Hurlbut, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Gary Johnson, elected majority leader of Wisconsin Assembly in 1980 and 1983
  • Jerry Kenney, baseball player for New York Yankees (1967, 1969–1972) and Cleveland Indians (1973)
  • John Baxter Kinne, Medal of Honor recipient
  • Stephanie Klett, television personality, Miss Wisconsin 1992
  • Gene Knutson, NFL player
  • Richard LaPiere, sociologist at Stanford University
  • Eugene Lee, Tony Award-winning set designer (Wicked, Saturday Night Live)
  • Wallace Leschinsky, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Alonzo J. Mathison, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Max Maxfield, Wyoming Secretary of State
  • Juan Conway McNabb (John Conway McNabb), Roman Catholic bishop, missionary in Peru
  • Sereno Merrill, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Elmer Miller, MLB player
  • Tommy Mills, head coach of Creighton Bluejays, Georgetown Hoyas and Arkansas State Indians football teams; Creighton and Arkansas State men's basketball, Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball
  • Orsen N. Nielsen, U.S. diplomat
  • David Noggle, Wisconsin State Representative, Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Idaho Territory
  • Russ Oltz, NFL player
  • Terell Parks, professional basketball player
  • Danica Patrick, Indy Car & NASCAR auto racing driver and model
  • George Perring, MLB player
  • Samuel L. Plummer, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Alan S. Robertson, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Robert P. Robinson, Wisconsin State Senator
  • Judy Robson, former majority leader, Wisconsin Senate
  • David Roth, opera director
  • Jane Sherman, actress, writer, composer, dancer with The Rockettes
  • Richard Shoemaker, Wisconsin State Senator
  • Tracy Silverman, violinist
  • Mark Simonson, font designer
  • Erastus G. Smith, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Simon Smith, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Robert C. Strong, U.S. diplomat
  • William Barstow Strong, former president of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
  • Tyree Talton, NFL player
  • Rusty Tillman, NFL player and assistant coach, XFL head coach
  • S. J. Todd, Wisconsin State Senator
  • Allen F. Warden, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Arthur Pratt Warner, aviator and inventor
  • Kyle Weaver, professional basketball player for Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Floyd E. Wheeler, Wisconsin State Representative and lawyer
  • John D. Wickhem, Justice of Wisconsin Supreme Court
  • Albert J. Winegar, Wisconsin State Representative
  • Zip Zabel, MLB player
  • Robin Zander, musician (Cheap Trick)

Transportation

Transit

The Beloit Transit System is the primary provider of mass transportation. Four regular routes provide service from Monday through Saturday. In collaboration with the Janesville Transit System, BTS operates an express route between the two cities.

Routes

  • Red East Side Cranston
  • Blue West Side
  • Yellow North End-Prairie
  • Brown Beloit-Janesville

Roads

I-90.svg
Interstate 90 Westbound (Northbound) routes to Janesville and Madison. Eastbound (Southbound) routes to Rockford, Illinois. This is a full interstate grade freeway that runs on the east side of the city, although the I-90 is overall a west/east interstate the section in Beloit runs north/south.
I-39.svg
Interstate 39 runs entirely concurrently with Interstate 90 through the city of Beloit.
I-43.svg
Interstate 43 terminates at I-90/39 in Beloit, it routes Northbound to Milwaukee
US 51.svg
U.S. Route 51 runs through the center and partly the south side of the city. Northbound routes to Janesville, Madison, and Wausau. Southbound routes to South Beloit, Illinois and Rockford.

Air

Beloit Airport is a small public-use GA airport within the city. It offers hangars for storing aircraft, gliders, and sky diving.

Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport is a public airport north of Beloit in Rock County. Formerly known as Rock County Airport, it is owned and operated by the Rock County government. The airport has no scheduled commercial passenger service.

Dane County Regional Airport and Rockford International Airport are the closest airports to Beloit that offer scheduled airline service.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Beloit (ciudad del condado de Rock, Wisconsin) para niños

kids search engine
Beloit, Wisconsin Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.