Bloomington, the “Gateway to Scenic Southern Indiana,” is often described as an oasis by visitors and residents alike. Nestled among the hills and forests of southern Indiana, it is vastly different from the flat farmlands to the north. Established in 1818, the settlers from the south were impressed with this “haven of blooms.”
Two years later, Indiana University was established. Its gothic-styled gates open to paths winding through historic Indiana limestone buildings and gorgeous floral and tree-lined landscapes.
Thomas Gaines, author of The Campus as a Work of Art, named the Bloomington campus one of the five most beautiful in America. In 2011, Travel and Leisure named IU Bloomington one of America’s Most Beautiful College Campuses. The New York Times says Bloomington is among “The Big 10 of College Towns” and USA Today determined that “as one of the country’s top college towns, Bloomington proves that a small city with a big heart can have it all.”
Because of IU’s highly ranked Jacobs School of Music and Kelley School of Business and nationally successful college sports programs, Bloomington has international appeal and a reputation for educational excellence, cultural diversity, and world-class athletes.
Bloomington has a thriving arts scene, international music festivals such as the renowned Lotus World Music and Arts Festival, and wide-ranging culinary options that include foods from around the world, as well as world-famous local hangouts. Bloomington was ranked one of the Best Small Towns for Food in America by USA Today and Rand McNally in 2012.
IU’s annual Little 500 bicycle race and famous rock quarries are featured in the Academy Award-winning movie “Breaking Away.” The National Geographic Society’s Adventure Magazine chose a 50-mile bike ride through the hills of Bloomington, Harrodsburg and Springville as #65 on their list of the 100 best adventures in the United States. The route includes “a two-lane country road past small farms, limestone quarries and quaint towns.” The League of American Bicyclists named Bloomington one of only 13 bicycle-friendly communities in the nation.
Bloomington and the surrounding area are great vacation and retirement destinations with its beautiful lakes, national forests, and great golf courses. Warren Bland’s book Retire in Style: 60 Outstanding Places Across the USA and Canada named Bloomington among the best places to retire. “In reality this small southern Indiana college town is one of America’s best places for an active retirement. Indiana University, the scenic hill country surrounding Bloomington and the city itself offer an unbeatable combination of culture and recreation to suit every taste from grand opera and ballet to basketball and fishing. All in all, Bloomington is a safe and friendly place that offers a plethora of cultural and recreational amenities at low cost.”
Enjoy Bloomington!
