What is Bloomington like?
Where is Bloomington?
Nestled in the hills of southern Indiana, Bloomington is within a day's drive of more than half of the population of the United States. It is a half of a day's drive or less to locations in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri.
What is Bloomington like physically? Monroe County?
Bloomington and Monroe county are situated in beautiful forested rolling hills and farmland. In contrast to northern Indiana and Illinois, it is not flat here! (We have a fall bicycle tour called "The Hilly Hundred.") Located in the heart of the American Midwest, Bloomington is surrounded by state and national forests, state parks and other recreational facilities. Bloomington is less than an hour from the Morgan Monroe State Forest, Hoosier National Forest, Brown County State Park, McCormick's Creek State Park, Spring Mill State Park, Griffy Lake, Lake Lemon, and Lake Monroe (the largest lake in the state). The countryside surrounding Bloomington is renowned for the beauty of its autumn leaves.
What is the campus itself like?
The Bloomington campus of Indiana University has been described as "one of the five most beautiful campuses in the nation." Its limestone buildings (remember the movie "Breaking Away"?) are situated among trees and woods. The campus is wooded, beautifully landscaped, and includes a meandering stream and an arboretum. The 20-acre area of campus known as the Old Crescent Historic District contains nine buildings built between 1884 and 1908 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At the center of campus is Dunn Woods, which features more than 80 varieties of trees.
What is the weather like in Bloomington?
Bloomington has four distinct seasons. Summer is warm and often humid, with average highs in the mid 80s. Early fall is crisp with an occasional rainstorm, average highs in the low seventies, November and December average highs in the 40s. Winter is usually fairly mild with some but usually not excessive snowfall, and average highs in the 30s and 40s. Spring is mild and windy, with average highs between 50-70.
How big is Bloomington?
Sixty thousand people live in Bloomington and 108,000 in Monroe County. Thirty-five thousand of these are students, many of whom vacate the campus during the summer months.
Where is the campus in relation to the town?
The campus is in the northern part of the town, within the city limits and an easy walk to downtown and other shopping areas.
Do I need a car to live in Bloomington?
No. The university and city bus service is good, and many people walk to get to where they are going. Bicycling is also a popular way to get around.
What kinds of housing are available in the area?
You can choose between on-campus housing in family apartments or a graduate student dormitory, and off-campus housing. Off-campus housing includes both houses and apartment living. The local newspaper, The Herald Times, offers a lengthy selection of rental ads.
Can I find inexpensive housing that provides a high quality of life?
Living either on-campus or off-campus, you can expect to pay around $5000 per academic year. Off-campus living can entail more expenditure for transportation and groceries, but roommates are easy to find and can help bring costs down.
How about the crime rate? Is Bloomington a relatively safe place to stay?
Bloomington and IU boast a fairly low crime rate, but that doesn't stop the IU Administration from offering an outstanding number of safety programs including a Safety Escort Service which can be reached at 855-SAFE.
What cultural activities are available in Bloomington?
With an art museum on campus that includes work from the major artistic traditions of the world, and many small art galleries in town, Bloomington is a great place for students interested in the visual arts. The Mathers museum houses a collection of local and international archaeological treasures. The IU Auditorium, the Brown County Playhouse, the IU Theater, and the Waldron Arts Center give students a chance to see great performances without having to go all the way to Broadway. Bloomington has a tradition of offering about as wide a variety of musical styles being performed as you will find anywhere in the country. At the various clubs in town you might hear anything from Bluegrass to Industrial. The Musical Arts Center on campus offers eight full-scale operas each year.
The John Waldron Arts Center offers art, music and theater for local citizens. Every year the Bloomington Early Music Festival and the Lotus World Music Festival present opportunities for people to see performances of traditional music, from the European Renaissance to Zydeco.
What are some other ways that students can relax and enjoy themselves while in Bloomington?
Bloomington offers numerous athletic and cultural events for students with all sorts of interests. Besides the 19 varsity sports on campus, you can participate in all kinds of intramural sports, from Ultimate Frisbee to Whiffleball to Euchre! The new IU Recreational Sports center provides you with all sorts of fitness training, including strengthening exercises and aerobic activities. Bicycling is also a popular activity. Many local parks have running tracks for outdoor exercise.
What sites of interest are near Bloomington?
Indianapolis houses the home of Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley. Closer to Bloomington, you can visit the home of Indiana's own Impressionist artist Theodore Clement Steele. Nearby Lake Monroe is a prime spot for boating and recreation.
What larger cities are within easy access to Bloomington?
Bloomington is within four hours of Chicago, Saint Louis, and Columbus. It is less than two hours from Cincinnati, Louisville, Kentucky, and only one hour to Indianapolis, the largest city and capital of Indiana, with a metropolitan area of more than one million people.
How can I get help with questions about living in Bloomington?
Feel free to contact the SLIS office if you have questions about living in Bloomington. If you have specific questions about on-campus living, you can e-mail the housing office at housing@indiana.edu. The Graduate Student Organization (GSO) can also provide information about living and studying in Bloomington. You may reach them at (812)855-8747.
