Get ready to fall in love! Bloomington is a wonderful place to live, work and play. That's why the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce awarded Bloomington "Community of the Year" in
November 2014! We love this city...check out these videos below and you'll see why.
Community of the Year Submission
Governor Mike Pence - "Indiana is on the move and Bloomington is leading the way with its dynamic business environment."
Bloomington/Monroe County is a contender for the Indiana Chamber's 2014 Community of the Year Award. The Greater Bloomington Chamber submitted an application for the award, focusing on the community's emerging tech industry. The winner will be announced in September and awarded at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce's Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner on November 6th.
Click Here to View our Submission!
Population & Size
With a population nearly 80,500, the City of Bloomington includes 20 square miles and ranks as Indiana's sixth largest city. Monroe County has a total population of nearly 138,000 and covers 394 square miles.
Education
Bloomington's population is substantially more highly educated than state or national averages, reflecting the presence Indiana University, Ivy Tech - a robust community college, and numerous scientific, technical and professional establishments. 
Cultural Diversity
Although the most recent US Census numbers indicate that 92% of the Bloomington MSA's population is Caucasian, the presence of Indiana University ensures a lively mix of cultures and ethnicities in and around Bloomington. Of the remaining population, slightly about 4% are Asian, just over 2% are African American and nearly 2% are Hispanic. Bloomington is home to centers celebrating the cultures of Tibetan Buddhists, African Americans, Asian Americans, Jewish Americans and Hispanics.
Economy & Employment
Bloomington has a thriving economy, thanks in part to Indiana University and Crane Naval Base, two of the largest employers in the area. Other major employers can be found in health care, life sciences, social services, tourism and manufacturing. Employment in the life sciences industry is six times greater in Bloomington than the national average. More than 50% of the area's workforce is employed in white-collar occupations and Bloomington ranks number one among 124 small metro areas for high-tech employment.
Our community is incredibly fortunate to have the resources of Indiana University's Kelley School of Business and its Indiana Research Center. The wealth of information, analysis and insight on economic and demographic issues that they provide is incredible:
- at IU's Kelley School of Business.
- They also produce InContext, a bi-monthly publication (Click on the icon below to go to the latest issue!).
- And each year, The Chamber partners with the Kelley School and our local Rotary clubs to host the Economic Outlook Lunch where IU's top economists provide the upcoming year's economic forecast. Download a copy of the 2014 Economic Outlook information for Indiana and our region,
