🌳 Founding and Early Days of Bloomington, Indiana

Bloomington was officially established in 1818 by settlers from Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Virginia, who were captivated by the area's natural beauty—calling it a “haven of blooms.” The town quickly grew around a public square laid out on a former wheat field, with 30 families settling by early 1819.

Key early developments included:

- 1818–1820: Monroe County was created, and Bloomington was chosen as its seat.

- 1821–1827: Infrastructure grew with a courthouse, blacksmith shops, and salt and iron works.

- 1853–1854: The arrival of the railroad spurred industrial growth, especially in limestone and furniture manufacturing.

- Civil War era: Bloomington played a role in the Underground Railroad, with local Covenanters aiding escaped slaves.

The town’s economy initially centered on farming, timber, and limestone. Over time, it evolved into a vibrant community with banks, schools, and manufacturing, eventually becoming known as the “Gateway to Scenic Southern Indiana”. [A](https://bloomington.in.gov/about/history?

🎓 Founding and Early History of Indiana University Bloomington

Indiana University began as the State Seminary of Indiana, established by legislative act on January 20, 1820. Construction started in 1822, and classes commenced in 1825 with just one professor, Baynard Rush Hall, and 10 male students.

Major milestones:

- 1828: Renamed Indiana College.

- 1830: First graduating class.

- 1838: Became Indiana University.

- 1867: Among the first state universities to admit women.

- 1895 & 1919: Marcellus Neal and Frances Marshall became IU’s first African American male and female graduates.

The original campus was located at Seminary Square, and early buildings included the Professor’s House and the Seminary Building. Fires in 1854 and 1883 destroyed key structures, prompting relocation and expansion. IU steadily grew in academic stature, eventually becoming a leading public research university with a strong liberal arts foundation

Photo collections of early Bloomington

Early Bloomington Photography Studios – Wylie House

Exhibit https://collections.libraries.indiana.edu/wyliehoueexhibits/show/early-photography-wylie/bloomington-photography-studio

- Monroe County History Center – Looking Back on Old Bloomington https://monroehistory.org/2022/10/03/looking-back-on-old-bloomington

- Indiana Memory Collections – Historic Bloomington Treasures https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p1819coll6/id/6900