Editing Bloomfield, Indiana

{{For|the community in Spencer County|Bloomfield, Spencer County, Indiana}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Bloomfield, Indiana
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| image_skyline      = Downtown Bloomfield, Indiana.jpg
| imagesize          = 260px
| image_caption      = Buildings in downtown Bloomfield
| image_map          = File:Greene County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Bloomfield Highlighted 1805716.svg
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = Location of Bloomfield in Greene County, Indiana.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| area_note          = 
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Indiana]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Indiana|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Greene County, Indiana|Greene]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Indiana|Township]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Richland Township, Greene County, Indiana|Richland]]
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1824
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_date1  = 1850
| population_footnotes = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 2289
| population_density_sq_mi = 1625.71
| population_density_km2 = 627.68
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| area_land_km2      = 3.65
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_18.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 16, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 3.65
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.41
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.41
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 600
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|01|34|N|86|56|15|W|region:US-IN_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 47424
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code          = [[Area code 812|812]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|18|05716}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] ID
| blank1_info        = 2396592<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396592}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://www.bloomfieldin.com/}}
| footnotes          = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
}}

'''Bloomfield''' is a town within [[Richland Township, Greene County, Indiana|Richland Township]] and the [[county seat]] of [[Greene County, Indiana]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The population was 2,405 at the 2010 census.

Bloomfield is part of the [[Bloomington, Indiana metropolitan area]].

== 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 people|Kickapoo]], [[Piankeshaw]] and [[Wea]]. A settlement of [[Woodland period]] people has been excavated by Indiana and Ball State Universities research teams near the confluence of Richland Creek and the [[White River (Indiana)|White River]] south of Bloomfield.<ref>{{cite web
  |url = http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/abstracts/IHS/bib.html
  |title = Introduction to the Prehistory of Indiana
  |publisher = Kellar, James H.
  |access-date = January 23, 2013
  |url-status = dead
  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120909034214/http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/abstracts/IHS/bib.html
  |archive-date = September 9, 2012
  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
  |url = http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/abstracts/87/tankersley_87.html
  |title = Patterns in lithic resource procurement and exploitation among early paleo-Indians of the midwestern United States
  |publisher = Tankersley, Kenneth B.
  |access-date = January 23, 2013
  |url-status = dead
  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120207175258/http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/abstracts/87/tankersley_87.html
  |archive-date = February 7, 2012
  }}</ref>

The town of Bloomfield was laid out 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 west of Bloomfield near the [[White River (Indiana)|west fork of the White River]].

The Greene County Courthouse, a log building in the town's center, was the town's first building. The current [[Greene County Courthouse (Indiana)|Greene County Courthouse]], a brick structure built in the late 19th century, stands at the same location.  An expansion and renovation project was completed in 2008.  It was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2008.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

In 1824, [[Peter Cornelius Van Slyke]] donated land to Greene County for the purpose of establishing a new county seat.
<ref>{{cite web
  |url = http://www.countyhistory.com/greene/more.htm
  |title = Greene County Indiana History and Genealogy
  |publisher = County History Preservation Society
  |access-date = January 23, 2013
  |url-status = dead
  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120205031844/http://www.countyhistory.com/greene/more.htm
  |archive-date = February 5, 2012
  }}</ref>  
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.

The well-known Rousseau brothers, [[Lovell Rousseau|Lovell H. Rousseau]] and [[Richard H. Rousseau]], both located in Bloomfield in 1841 to practice law. They served as Greene County State Representatives and Lovell as State Senator until returning to Kentucky in 1849. During that period, Lovell raised a company of Greene County men (Co. E, 2nd Indiana Infantry) to fight in the [[Mexican–American War|Mexican War]], who were conspicuous at the [[Battle of Buena Vista]] (1847).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Lee |first=Dan |title=Kentuckian in Blue: A Biography of Major General Lovell Harrison Rousseau |publisher=McFarland |year=2010}}</ref> Following their return to Kentucky, Lovell became nationally famous/distinguished, and the local Bloomfield Chapter of the [[Grand Army of the Republic]] was named for him (Post #326).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indiana GAR Posts 300 thru 399 – Department of Indiana |url=https://suvcwin.org/?page_id=252 |access-date=February 25, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Bloomfield was incorporated as a town in 1850.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hellmann |first=Paul T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC&pg=PA310 |title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States |date=2006-02-14 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-94859-7 |page=310 |language=en}}</ref>

Bloomfield Jr./Sr. High School has also been home to Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame coaches Guy Glover (1954-1977) and Steve Brett (1978-1993).

==Geography==
According to the 2010 census, Bloomfield has a total area of {{convert|1.38|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1805716
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=July 13, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213070129/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1805716
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 234
|1870= 656
|1880= 988
|1890= 1229
|1900= 1588
|1910= 2069
|1920= 1872
|1930= 2298
|1940= 2270
|1950= 2086
|1960= 2224
|1970= 2565
|1980= 2705
|1990= 2592
|2000= 2542
|2010= 2405
|2020= 2289
|footnote=Source: U.S. Census Bureau<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.stats.indiana.edu/population/PopTotals/historic_counts_cities.asp|title = Indiana City/Town Census Counts, 1900 to 2010|work = STATS Indiana|publisher = [[Indiana Business Research Center]]|access-date = June 30, 2014}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]],<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web | title = U.S. Census website | url = https://www.census.gov | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date = December 11, 2012}}</ref> there were 2,405 people, 1,109 households, and 628 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1742.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,263 housing units at an average density of {{convert|915.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 1,109 households, of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.4% were non-families. 40.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the town was 39.7 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 18.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 2,542 people, 1,180 households, and 665 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,841.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,315 housing units at an average density of {{convert|952.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.31% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.20% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.08% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.43% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.31% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.67% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-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.

==Education==
* [[Bloomfield School District (Indiana)|Bloomfield School District]] consists of grades K-12.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18055_greene/DC20SD_C18055.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Greene County, IN|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-06-12}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18055_greene/DC20SD_C18055_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> All grades are contained in the same location/building.
* Bloomfield has a public library, a branch of the Bloomfield-Eastern Greene County Bloomfield Public Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf | title=Indiana public library directory | publisher=Indiana State Library | access-date=March 7, 2018 | archive-date=February 18, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218220414/http://in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* The Bloomfield Public Library Annex is located on the corner of Spring Street and Washington Street.

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Richland-Plummer Creek Covered Bridge, southern side and eastern end.jpg|thumb|The Richland-Plummer Creek Bridge]]
[[File:Osborn Site near Bloomfield.jpg|thumb|Part of the Osborn Site, an archaeological site west of Bloomfield]]

[[Image:Bloomfield Indiana Police with Indiana State Police circa 1948.jpg|thumb|upright|Bloomfield law enforcement officers (Deputy Sheriff Lem Clark, center) with the Indiana State Police circa 1940]]

* The Bloomfield Town Park is located at 61 West Main Street adjacent to the Bloomfield School. Located in the park is a Turn-of-the-Century Bandstand, 2 enclosed shelter houses, 2 open shelter houses, an array of play ground equipment, two basketball open basketball courts and one enclosed basketball courts. 
* One of the best preserved covered bridges in the state is Bloomfield's [[Richland-Plummer Creek Covered Bridge]], built by [[Archibald M. Kennedy|A.M. Kennedy]] and Sons in 1883. It is located approximately 1{{fraction|3|4}} miles south of town. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.<ref name=nris/>
* The World's Largest Hi-Lift Jack is located in front of the Hi-Lift Jack Company/Bloomfield Manufacturing Company on Spring Street in Bloomfield. The replica jack, produced to commemorate the company's 100th anniversary, is made of cast iron, stands 20 feet tall, and weights 2,980 pounds.
* Near Bloomfield is the [[Tulip Viaduct]].
* Bloomfield is the home of the Shawnee Summer Theatre Indiana's oldest continuously running professional summer theater.  Shawnee has operated, uninterrupted, since 1960.
* 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). 
* A sign near the Van Slyke cemetery states the following: "The history stars in 1816, when Peter C. Van Slyke moved from New York State to Indiana.  Van Slyke purchased land in Greene County next to the White River.  By the year 1824 he had in his possession at least sixty-two acres of land.  He had some of his land cleared to allow settlers to stay for a season and rest on their travels to the west. At this time the county court was located in Burlington, Indiana.  Due to a major shortage of water the area was unable to support the growing number of people.  In 1824 State legislators appointed commissioners to meet and decide where the new county seat would be located.  Van Slyke put in an offer to donate his land for the purpose of the new town.  This was the best offer that the commissioners had received.  They decided to make the land the county seat and to name it Bloomfield, after a city in New York."
* [[Shawnee Field]] is approximately five miles west of town.

===Festivals===
* Annual Bloomfield Apple Festival and Parade held typically on the first full weekend of October in the Bloomfield Town Park. 
* Annual Christmas on the Square, Lighted Christmas Parade and Lighting of the Park is held in December.

== Notable people ==

* [[Obadiah J. Barker]] (1856-1908) - Born in Bloomfield; owner of ''Barker Brothers'', at one time one of the world's biggest furniture stores.
* [[Thomas Bland|Dr. Thomas Bland]] (1830-1908) - Born in Bloomfield; Civil War surgeon and Indian Rights Activist.
* [[Don Herold]] (1889-1966) - Born in Bloomfield; writer and illustrator.
* [[Max Kidd (American football)|Max Kidd]] (1901-1975) - Born in Bloomfield; Head Football Coach at Rose-Hulman (1959–61).
* [[Gerald W. Landis]] (1895-1971) - Born in Bloomfield; Teacher & U.S. Representative (1939–49).
* [[John Letsinger]] (1911-2002) - College Football Player at Purdue University (1931–32). 
* [[Robert L. Letsinger]] (1921-2014) - Born in Bloomfield; Professor of Chemistry at [[Northwestern University]] (1946–91); best known for his research and development of chemical synthesis of DNA.
* [[Elmer Oliphant]] (1892-1975) - Born in Bloomfield; acclaimed college football player for Purdue and Army.
* [[Augustus Rhodes]] (1821-1918) - Lawyer in Bloomfield (1845-1854); married Elizabeth Cavins, daughter of Samuel Cavins, one of the first settlers of Bloomfield; later the 10th Chief Justice of the [[Supreme Court of California]] (1870–72).<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=http://library.courtinfo.ca.gov/included/docs/SCJC_Vol_1.pdf |access-date=February 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227124913/http://library.courtinfo.ca.gov/included/docs/SCJC_Vol_1.pdf |archive-date=December 27, 2016 }}</ref>  
* [[Lovell Rousseau|Lovell H. Rousseau]] (1818-1869) - Lawyer in Bloomfield 1841-1849; Indiana State Representative, Greene County (1844–46); Mexican War - Captain, Co. E, 2nd Indiana Infantry (Greene County); Indiana State Senator, Greene & Owen Counties (1847–50). Later Brevet Major General (Civil War), U.S. Congressman (1865–67), and Commander, Department of Louisiana.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Indiana Politicians By Letter">{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2015 |title=Indiana Politicians By Letter |url=https://www.capitolandwashington.com/politicians/pol/ |access-date=February 25, 2024 |website=Capitol & Washington |language=en}}</ref> 
* [[Richard H. Rousseau]] (1815-1872) - Lawyer in Bloomfield 1841-49; Indiana State Representative, Greene County (1848–49).<ref name="Indiana Politicians By Letter"/>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bloomfield, Indiana}}
* [http://www.bsd.k12.in.us/ Bloomfield School District]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091022080625/http://www.bloomfieldfiredept.org/ Bloomfield Volunteer Fire Department]

{{Greene County, Indiana}}
{{County Seats of Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Greene County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Towns in Indiana]]
[[Category:County seats in Indiana]]
[[Category:Bloomington metropolitan area, Indiana]]