Bloomington, University city in Monroe County, Indiana
Bloomington is a university city in Monroe County in southern Indiana, spreading across gentle hills and linking limestone facades with shaded avenues. The central campus borders residential districts with low houses, while shopping streets lie to the east and parks with walking trails extend to the west.
The founding took place in 1818 when the site was designated as the administrative seat of the newly formed Monroe County and early settlers arrived from Kentucky. The decision to establish a state university here in 1820 changed the character of the place permanently and attracted scholars as well as craftsmen.
The town's music scene thrives with regional bands and jazz evenings in small clubs around Courthouse Square, where live performances often take place after sunset. Local breweries open their doors to students and families gathering in beer gardens on weekends to sample regional beers.
Most neighborhoods can be explored on foot or by bicycle, as bike paths connect the main areas. Visitors arriving in autumn or spring find milder weather and can take longer walks through the wooded hills surrounding the town.
The limestone quarries in the surrounding area supplied material for well-known buildings across the country, including parts of the Pentagon in Washington. In some abandoned quarries south of town, clear lakes have now formed and are visited by anglers and divers.
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