Population
Monroe County has a population of approximately 148K people with a median age of 28.8 years old. 4.3% of residents are under 5 years old, 15.6% under 18 years old, and 13.6% 65 or older. 21.4% of county residents are considered to be living below the poverty line.
Industry
The largest industries in Monroe County are Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, and Accommodation & Food Services. The most common job groups are in Office & Administrative Support Occupations (8,320 people), Education Instruction & Library Occupations (8,119 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (7,186 people). Compared to other counties, Monroe County has an unusually high number of residents working as Education Instruction & Library Occupations (1.87 times higher than expected), Art, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media Occupations (1.62 times), and Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (1.51 times).
Economy
The economy of Monroe County employs roughly 71.8K people. Median household income in Monroe County is $45,689, and median property value is roughly $167,900. The homeownership rate in Monroe County is 54.2%. Residents of Monroe County have an average commute time of 17.9 minutes.
Health
91.6% of the population of Monroe County has health coverage, with 55.5% on employee plans, 10.7% on Medicaid, 9% on Medicare, 15% on non-group plans, and 1.39% on military or veteran plans. Per capita personal health care spending in the county is approximately $8,300. Primary care physicians see an average yearly ratio of 1,626 patients: 1 physician, and mental health providers see an average yearly ratio of 444 patients: 1 provider.
Education
92% of Monroe County residents have a high school degree or higher, and 46% have a bachelors degree or higher. 93% of households have a computer present, and 82.8% of households have broadband internet subscriptions. Monroe County has a school dropout rate of 8%.
Diversity
94% of Monroe County residents are citizens. The largest ethnic groups in Monroe County are White (83%), Asian alone (7.3%), Black or African American alone (3.7%), Hispanic or Latino (3.6%), Two or More Races (2.6%), and Native American (0.3%).
Monroe County Highlights
Monroe County Courthouse
The Monroe County Courthouse is a Beaux Arts building constructed in 1908. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It is located in the Courthouse Square Historic District and is the seat of government for Monroe County. The very first Monroe County Courthouse was ordered built in 1818 by the county commissioners, as one of the earliest items of business for the new county. The weather vane from this first building, made of copper and shaped like a fish, was saved and used on the dome of the current courthouse.
Gaden Khachoeshing Monastery
Gaden KhachoeShing is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery dedicated to preserving the Buddah’s teachings as transmitted by the Gelugpa lineage for the benefit of all beings. Encircled by a wide stream, the property rises 128 acres through lush forest to an area that opens up into several meadows, including a clearing that from aerial photographs looks like the shape of a left hand. This combination of seclusion and proximity to Bloomington provides the ideal environment for religious study by offering benefits of isolation from worldly affairs as well as easy access to all necessary amenities of daily life.
Little 500 Bike Race
Made famous by Academy Award-winning movie Breaking Away, the Little 500 is one of Indiana University’s most loved traditions and is often referred to as “The World’s Greatest College Weekend.” Join the more than 25,000 fans that flock to Bloomington each April to be a part of this storied tradition. Little 500 riders compete in four-person teams, racing relay-style around a quarter-mile cinder track at Bill Armstrong stadium. Just like the world-famous Indianapolis 500, which the Little 500 is modeled after, 33 teams are selected in qualifications to compete in the main race. The women’s race is 100 laps (25 miles) and the men’s race is 200 laps (50 miles).
Monroe Lake
Created in 1963 by the Army Corps of Engineers operated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Monroe Lake contains over 10,700 acres of water and is partially surrounded by several thousand acres of Hoosier National Forest lands. It is the largest man-made lake in the state of Indiana. Monroe Lake is home to several fishing tournaments throughout the year. Sectioned into idle and speed zones, the lake is ideal for rowing, triathlons or endurance events and adventure races. Several sailing regattas are also held at the lake each year.
Oliver Winery
Oliver Winery started from modest roots back in the 1960s, as a hobby of Indiana University law professor William Oliver. His enthusiasm for the craft led him to establish a vineyard northwest of Bloomington, in the Indiana Uplands wine grape-growing region. Soon, the flourishing vines produced grapes far in excess of his needs as a hobby winemaker, so he decided to open a commercial winery. Today, Oliver Winery distributes award-winning, fruit-forward wines to 27 states across the country!
Buskirk-Chumley Theatre
The Indiana Theatre – or simply “The Indiana”, as it is known to many Bloomington residents – has been a downtown attraction and anchor since its creation in 1922. Today, The Indiana is also known as the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre. The BCT is a primary venue for the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival, Cardinal Stage Company, the PRIDE Film Festival, and IU’s African American Arts Institute, along with many other local and regional favorites. The theatre depends on community support and cherishes the role it has played in downtown Bloomington and south central Indiana.
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