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Cities: Bloomington Bloomington Bloomington (2000 Population = 69,291, seventh largest city in the State) is located is near the center of Monroe County, about 50 miles south-southwest of Indianapolis. It serves as the seat of Monroe County and is the home of Indiana University. European settlers began moving into the area in the 1810s, and the educational institution that was to become Indiana University opened in 1825. Various attempts to form a stable local government failed until the 1870s, when the limestone industry began to come to prominence in the area. In any case, the University continued to grow in fits and starts, and a variety of industrial concerns made their home in the area. Unfortunately, several major employers active in the manufacture of elevators, television sets, and appliances, began relocating to other countries or otherwise substantially reducing the scope of their operations in the 1990s. Despite its shifting economic base, the Bloomington area continues to enjoy an influx of new residents, attracted perhaps by the intellectual ambience and opportunities offered by the University and the scenery and recreational opportunities that abound nearby. Official Web Site