towns outside of Bloominton (Bloomington, Valparaiso: sale, loan, how much)

[janegone]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to be moving to the Bloomington area. Having lived in a congested urban area for many years I'm thinking about looking at houses in smaller towns surrounding Bloomington but socially I'm not sure I'll feel comfortable. I'm politically liberal, not religious, uncomfortable with racism. I'm Italian but due to a long-ago goof-up at Ellis Island I have a Spanish last name. Are there places in the country I should look at or should I stick to Bloomington proper?

[Nafster]

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

People around Bloomington are generally very friendly, no matter who you are.

There are nice housing areas around Lake Monroe in unincorparated Monroe County, as well as places north and south of Bloomington like Elletsville, or Bean Blossum.

[StriderMatic]

stay in Bloomington

#1. even in the city of Bloomington everything will be MUCH calmer than you're probably used to.

#2. the countryside away of Bloomington includes Martinsville which is the headquarters for the KKK. I think you'll probably want to be in Bloomington

good luck with b-town

[Capt. Dan]

check out the BEAUTIFUL little town of Nashville, Ind. about 30 minutes out of Bloomington. Brown County state Park, located there was recently named the prettiest park in Indiana. Alot of artisan types live/work there

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by StriderMatic

#2. the countryside away of Bloomington includes Martinsville which is the headquarters for the KKK. I think you'll probably want to be in Bloomington

good luck with b-town

Really? I had no idea!

[McKendan]

I don't think Bloomington is anything near "congested" unless there is a home football or basketball game. Other than that, traffic seems to flow. The only thing I despise is not being able to go out to eat without waiting a long time for a table when school is in session. Many of the outer towns are rural, like Bloomfield, Spencer, Nashville. They are nice places to live as long as you don't mind driving 20 minutes to the grocery store.

[rrah]

How rural or quiet do you want it? How much do you want to drive? Bedford is also south of B-ton, about 1/2 hr away. While the town is much more liberal than the county areas, you'll still be comfortable there. Sometimes I witness true racism, but more often it's just ignorance that something is not appropriate. If you accept that many of the people out in the county areas have lived there for years, as have their families, and do not really mean harm when they identify all Hispanics as Mexicans, or whatever, than you should be fine. (FWI--I do not intend this example to be racist or derogatory in any manner. It's based upon something I heard in a local gas station recently so please do not be insulted by it. That was not the intent!)

[elizz]

Spencer IN is a quiet little town! It is beautiful country around there!

[ecuresident]

Yeah stay away from Martinsville. I am indian, and it is were I got my first and only speeding ticket! When I was at IU I heard some stuff about the mayor of Martinsville saying racist remarks! In general you should be ok anywhere else, although due to a lack of diversity in Southern IN besides the Indy area and Bloomington, things are a lot more conservative and so many of the smaller towns might be a little more racist. As I have only visted some of these towns like bedford (in which I didnt have any problem) I cant tell you for sure. What is funny is that I was raised in Valpo which was supposed to be the original headquarters for the KKK (where VU is now), but the KKK was turned down for a loan from the Bank to buy the land and instead Valpo University won out, what a relief!

[domergurl]

Wow ecuresident ... I was skeptical at first, but you may be right!

From Lowell Public Library's website:

August 2, 1923 [Sixty Years Ago]:
Negotiations are under way for the sale of the Valparaiso University at Valparaiso to the order of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana. The property is valued at $175,000 and from the reports it is said that if the Trustees of the university can furnish a clear title to the property the deal will be closed. The head of the Klan have made the statement that if they purchase the property it will be devoted to the teaching of Americanism. Improvements will be made and they expect to enlarge and the University will be as large as Purdue University.

Obviously, it never happened!