About Bloomfield

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 Paleo-Indians have been excavated by Indiana University and Ball State University research teams near the confluence of Richland Creek and the White River north of Bloomfield. [1][2][3][4] [5] [6].

The town of Bloomfield was created 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 north of Bloomfield near present-day Worthington, IN.

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

In 1824, Peter Cornelius Van Slyke donated land to Greene County for the purpose of establishing a new county seat [7]. 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.

 

Geography

Bloomfield is located at 39°1′29″N, 86°56′25″W (39.024634, -86.940307).[4]   (Map)

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 kmē), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,542 people, 1,180 households, and 665 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,841.1 people per square mile (711.2/kmē). There were 1,315 housing units at an average density of 952.4/sq mi (367.9/kmē). The racial makneup 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 nnon-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.

Bloomfield is within 1 mile of the White River, which runs from Logansport to Evansville, where it joins the Ohio and Wabash Rivers.

Bloomfield Schools have been in Bloomfield since the late 1800s. Bloomfield High School is one of the most crowded schools in Greene County, due to the fact that the District is so large. The average class size in the high school is 32. As of the 2006-2007 school year, there are about 356 high school students. 87 seniors, 81 juniors, 99 sophomores, and 89 freshman.

Humorist Don Herold and athlete Elmer Oliphant were born in Bloomfield.

 

Landmarks and Attractions

  • One of the best preserved covered bridges in the state is Bloomfield's Richland-Plummer Creek Bridge, built by A.M. Kennedy and Sons in 1883. It is located approximately 1 3/4 miles south of town.

  • Near Bloomfield is the Tulip Viaduct The world's Second Largest Train Trestle [7].[8]  to see a picture slide show click here.

  • Bloomfield is the home of the Shawnee Summer Theater [9].

  • The man who owned the land where Bloomfield was built (Peter Cornelius Van Slyke) is buried in Bloomfield in the Van Slyke cemetery on the west end of town (behind the old woolen mill).

  • Shawnee Field is approximately 5 miles west of town.

  • Just east of Bloomfield is the source for Walnut Grove premium Spring Water [10]

Festivals

  • Annual Apple Festival and Parade held typically on the first full weekend of October. Website

  • Fireworks held on the 4th of July.

  • Annual Town-Wide Yard Sales (the largest in the county) are the Saturday before Father's Day in June

References