Bloomfield, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bloomfield, Indiana
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Buildings in downtown Bloomfield
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Location of Bloomfield in Greene County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Greene |
| Township | Richland |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.41 sq mi (3.65 km2) |
| • Land | 1.41 sq mi (3.65 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 600 ft (200 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,289 |
| • Density | 1,625.71/sq mi (627.68/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EST) |
| ZIP code |
47424
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| Area code | 812 |
| FIPS code | 18-05716 |
| GNIS ID | 2396592 |
| Website | http://www.bloomfieldin.com/ |
Bloomfield is a town in Indiana, United States. It is the main town, or "county seat," of Greene County. In 2020, about 2,289 people lived there. Bloomfield is also part of the larger Bloomington area.
Contents
History of Bloomfield
Early Days and Native Americans
The land where Bloomfield is now located has been home to Native American tribes for a very long time. Tribes like the Miami tribe, Kickapoo, Piankeshaw, and Wea lived here. Scientists have even found signs of ancient people from the Woodland period near the White River, south of town.
Founding the Town
Bloomfield was officially started in 1824. Greene County needed a new county seat because the old one, Burlington, didn't have enough water. So, Bloomfield was chosen as the new central town for the county.
The very first building in Bloomfield was a log cabin that served as the Greene County Courthouse. Today, a brick courthouse stands in the same spot. This newer courthouse was built in the late 1800s and was updated in 2008. It's so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
Key People in Bloomfield's Past
A man named Peter Cornelius Van Slyke gave the land for Bloomfield to Greene County in 1824. He was born in New York in 1766 and moved to Indiana in 1816. He also fought in the War of 1812.
Two famous brothers, Lovell H. Rousseau and Richard H. Rousseau, came to Bloomfield in 1841. They were lawyers and also served as representatives for Greene County in the state government. Lovell even led a group of men from Greene County to fight in the Mexican War.
Sports History
Bloomfield Jr./Sr. High School has been home to some great basketball coaches. Guy Glover coached from 1954 to 1977, and Steve Brett coached from 1978 to 1993. Both are in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame!
Geography of Bloomfield
Bloomfield is located in Greene County, Indiana. According to the 2010 census, the town covers about 1.38 square miles (3.6 square kilometers) of land.
Population and People
How Many People Live Here?
The number of people living in Bloomfield has changed over the years. Here's a look at the population from 1850 to 2020:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 234 | — | |
| 1870 | 656 | — | |
| 1880 | 988 | 50.6% | |
| 1890 | 1,229 | 24.4% | |
| 1900 | 1,588 | 29.2% | |
| 1910 | 2,069 | 30.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,872 | −9.5% | |
| 1930 | 2,298 | 22.8% | |
| 1940 | 2,270 | −1.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,086 | −8.1% | |
| 1960 | 2,224 | 6.6% | |
| 1970 | 2,565 | 15.3% | |
| 1980 | 2,705 | 5.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,592 | −4.2% | |
| 2000 | 2,542 | −1.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,405 | −5.4% | |
| 2020 | 2,289 | −4.8% | |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau | |||
2010 Census Details
In 2010, there were 2,405 people living in Bloomfield. Most residents were White (98.0%). About 29.7% of households had children under 18. The average age in town was about 39.7 years old.
Education in Bloomfield
Schools and Learning
- The Bloomfield School District teaches students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. All these grades are in the same building.
- Bloomfield also has a public library. It's a part of the Bloomfield-Eastern Greene County Public Library system.
- There's also a Bloomfield Public Library Annex. It's located on the corner of Spring Street and Washington Street.
Fun Things to See and Do
Parks and Bridges
- The Bloomfield Town Park is a great place to visit. It has a bandstand, shelter houses, playgrounds, and basketball courts.
- One of the most well-kept covered bridges in Indiana is the Richland-Plummer Creek Covered Bridge. It was built in 1883 and is about 1.75 miles south of town. It's also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Unique Sights
- You can see the World's Largest Hi-Lift Jack in Bloomfield! It's in front of the Hi-Lift Jack Company. This giant jack is 20 feet tall and weighs almost 3,000 pounds. It was made to celebrate the company's 100th birthday.
- The Tulip Viaduct, a very tall and long bridge, is also near Bloomfield.
- Bloomfield is home to the Shawnee Summer Theatre. It's Indiana's oldest professional summer theater and has been putting on shows since 1960.
- The man who donated the land for Bloomfield, Peter Cornelius Van Slyke, is buried in the Van Slyke cemetery in town.
- Shawnee Field is an area about five miles west of town.
Local Festivals
- The Annual Bloomfield Apple Festival and Parade happens every October. It's a fun event held in the Bloomfield Town Park.
- "Christmas on the Square" is held in December. It includes a lighted parade and the lighting of the park for the holidays.
Famous People from Bloomfield
Many interesting people have connections to Bloomfield:
- Obadiah J. Barker (1856-1908) - Born in Bloomfield, he owned a huge furniture store called Barker Brothers.
- Dr. Thomas Bland (1830-1908) - Born here, he was a surgeon in the Civil War and worked to protect Native American rights.
- Don Herold (1889-1966) - A writer and illustrator who was born in Bloomfield.
- Max Kidd (1901-1975) - Born in Bloomfield, he became a Head Football Coach at Rose-Hulman.
- Gerald W. Landis (1895-1971) - Born in Bloomfield, he was a teacher and a U.S. Representative.
- Robert L. Letsinger (1921-2014) - Born in Bloomfield, he was a chemistry professor known for his work on DNA.
- Elmer Oliphant (1892-1975) - Born in Bloomfield, he was a famous college football player for Purdue and Army.
- Augustus Rhodes (1821-1918) - A lawyer in Bloomfield who later became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California.
- Lovell H. Rousseau (1818-1869) - A lawyer in Bloomfield who served in the state government and was a general in the Civil War.
- Richard H. Rousseau (1815-1872) - Also a lawyer in Bloomfield and a state representative.
Images for kids
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The Richland-Plummer Creek Bridge, a historic covered bridge.
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Part of the Osborn Site, an important archaeological area west of Bloomfield.
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Bloomfield law enforcement officers with the Indiana State Police around 1940.
See also
In Spanish: Bloomfield (Indiana) para niños
