Monroe County Historical Museum

Monroe County was created by an Act of the Indiana General Assembly in 1818. Its present county boundaries were established by 1836. Bloomington first became a settlement about 1816 when President James Monroe selected the site for a seminary. A few people had settled here, probably because it was on a trading route, springwater was available in abundance and drainage was good. In 1818 the settlement was surveyed and losts were sold to create a town that was made the county seat of the newly established Monroe County.

In 1820 the state confirmed Bloomington as the site of Indiana University, at that time called Indiana Seminary. The site was then near the center of population of the state. The location her of the university has had a major influence upon the growth adn development of the town.

There are many legends surrounding the naming of Bloomington. One oral tradition maintains that the name was suggested when a group of early settlers, gazing from a hill overlooking the site, were impressed by the flowers and foliage which were in bloom. Another legend suggests that the name honors an early settler, William Bloom.

Looking for information on your relatives and more historical information about Monroe County? Your best resource is the Monroe County Historical Museumpage.

I truly wish I knew more about Bloomington history. Hopefully someone will see this page soon and fill me in so I can add some information quickly. Email me if you have info - including any good family history stories you'd like me to include. This should be a fun page.