Beloit, Wisconsin
City of Beloit, Wisconsin | ||
---|---|---|
Downtown Beloit | ||
| ||
Nickname(s): Gateway To Wisconsin | ||
Location of Beloit in Rock County, Wisconsin | ||
Coordinates: 42°30′30″N 89°01′54″W / 42.50833°N 89.03167°W / 42.50833; -89.03167 | ||
Country | United States | |
State | Wisconsin | |
County | Rock | |
Founded | 1836 | |
Incorporated | February 24, 1846 (village) March 31, 1856 (city) | |
Area [1] | ||
• Total | 17.70 sq mi (45.84 km2) | |
• Land | 17.37 sq mi (44.99 km2) | |
• Water | 0.33 sq mi (0.85 km2) | |
Elevation | 751 ft (228.9 m) | |
Population (2010)[2] | ||
• Total | 36,966 | |
• Estimate (2016)[3] | 36,757 | |
• Density | 2,127.8/sq mi (821.5/km2) | |
Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
FIPS code | 55-06500 | |
Website | www.beloitwi.gov |
Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 36,966.[4][5]
Contents
1 History
1.1 Historic buildings
1.2 Downtown Beloit and the riverfront
1.3 Railroad heritage
2 Geography
3 Demographics
3.1 2010 census
4 Government
5 Economy
6 Education
7 Culture
7.1 Festivals
8 Recreation
9 Transit
9.1 Routes
10 Recognition
11 Notable people
12 Images
13 References
14 External links
History
Twelve men in Colebrook, New Hampshire created the "New England Emigrating Company" in October 1836 and sent Dr. Horace White to find a suitable region of Wisconsin in which to settle. The level fields and the water power of Turtle Creek and the "unlimited gravel" in the area around what is now Beloit fixed the site of the intended village and farms. White purchased the land. At the same time as the Colebrook settlers, six families from Bedford, New Hampshire arrived and settled in the region. They said that the Rock River Valley had a "New England look", which made them feel at home. The village was platted in 1838 and was planned with wide streets which built on the New England model.
Beloit was originally named New Albany (after Albany, Vermont) in 1837 by its founder, Caleb Blodgett. The name was changed to Beloit in 1838.[6][7] The name Beloit was coined to be reminiscent of Detroit.[6]
Beloit lays claim to such inventions as the speedometer,[8]Korn Kurls,[9] and John Francis Appleby's twine binder.[10] Korn Kurls, which resemble Cheetos, was the original puffed cheese snack.[11][12]
Historic buildings
Beloit's 1889 Water Tower Place began demolition in 1935, which was halted because of the cost. A historic pump station is located nearby.
The Fairbanks Flats were built in 1917 to house the rush of African Americans moving to the area from the Southern United States.
Pearsons Hall of Science was designed by the architectural firm Burnham and Root for Beloit College to use as a science center.
The Lathrop-Munn Cobblestone House was originally built for politician John Hackett.
Downtown Beloit and the riverfront
Downtown Beloit is the historic economic, cultural and social center of the community. Located north of the confluence of the Rock River and Turtle Creek, the downtown is anchored by a core of historic buildings and the Ironworks office and industrial campus. Beloit's riverfront park system, mainly Riverside Park, extends north of the downtown along the east bank toward the Town of Beloit.
Downtown Beloit is one of two inaugural members of the Wisconsin Main Street designation.[13]
Railroad heritage
Beloit was served by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, better known as the Milwaukee Road, and the Chicago & North Western Railroad (C&NW). In its 1980 bankruptcy, the Milwaukee Road disposed of the Southwestern Line. The Union Pacific Railroad, which took over the C&NW, operates in Beloit today over a remnant of the former Milwaukee Road, providing a rail connection to Fairbanks-Morse Engine.[clarification needed] The Canadian Pacific Railway operates other trackage in Beloit.[14] The city also had an electric interurban railroad.[when?]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.70 square miles (45.84 km2), of which 17.37 square miles (44.99 km2) is land and 0.33 square miles (0.85 km2) is water.[1] Location: 42°30′30″N 89°01′54″W / 42.50833°N 89.03167°W / 42.50833; -89.03167.
The city is adjacent to the Town of Beloit, Town of Turtle, and the Illinois municipality of South Beloit.
Most of Beloit's development is occurring on the east side, adjacent to Interstates 39/90 and Interstate 43, where the city annexed rural land for the extensive Beloit Gateway Industrial Park, as well as in the newly revitalized downtown located along the Rock River.
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1860 | 4,098 | — | |
1870 | 4,396 | 7.3% | |
1880 | 4,790 | 9.0% | |
1890 | 6,315 | 31.8% | |
1900 | 10,436 | 65.3% | |
1910 | 15,125 | 44.9% | |
1920 | 21,284 | 40.7% | |
1930 | 23,611 | 10.9% | |
1940 | 25,365 | 7.4% | |
1950 | 29,590 | 16.7% | |
1960 | 32,846 | 11.0% | |
1970 | 35,729 | 8.8% | |
1980 | 35,207 | −1.5% | |
1990 | 35,573 | 1.0% | |
2000 | 35,775 | 0.6% | |
2010 | 36,966 | 3.3% | |
Est. 2016 | 36,757 | [3] | −0.6% |
U.S. Decennial Census[15] |
2010 census
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 36,966 people, 13,781 households, and 8,867 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,128.2 inhabitants per square mile (821.7/km2). There were 15,177 housing units at an average density of 873.7 per square mile (337.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 68.9% White, 15.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 10.0% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.1% of the population.
There were 13,781 households of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.7% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.16.
The median age in the city was 33.1 years. 27.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 23.1% were from 45 to 64; and 12% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.
Government
Beloit is represented by Janis Ringhand and Stephen Nass in the Wisconsin State Senate, Amy Loudenbeck and Mark Spreitzer in the Wisconsin State Assembly, Mark Pocan in the United States House of Representatives, and Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin in the United States Senate.
Beloit has a council-manager system of government, with seven council members, each elected for two year terms. Four members are elected in even years and three in odd years. City council elections are held annually in April.[16] The city council establishes policies for the city and appoints a city manager to implement those policies. The current city manager, Lori S. Curtis Luther, was appointed on June 1, 2015.[17]
Economy
Industries with headquarters in Beloit include ABC Supply Company, Bio-Systems International, Broaster Company, Fairbanks-Morse Engines, Murmac Paint Manufacturing, PlayMonster, and Regal Beloit.
Downtown Beloit is a dense cluster of mostly small shops and boutiques. The area has been recognized for increased investment and renewal since the 1990s.[18] Upscale downtown condominiums and hotels were introduced post-2000 with the construction of the Hotel Hilton Apartments (2001), the Beloit Inn (now the Ironworks Hotel) (2003), Heritage View (2005), and the Phoenix Project (2013).
From the 1990s to 2011, downtown Beloit received direct public and private investment totaling more than $75 million.[18] In 2011, Beloit was a Great American Main Street Award winner.[19] In 2012, Beloit was listed #17 on Travel and Leisure's list of America's Greatest Mainstreets.[20][21]
Education
The School District of Beloit serves more than 6800 students in six primary schools, four intermediate schools, and one high school, with alternative programming and charter schools. Beloit Memorial High School is the city's public high school. The Roy Chapman Andrews Academy, a project-based charter school, is part of the School District of Beloit and serves grades 6 through 12.
Beloit College, a private liberal arts college with undergraduate enrollment around 1,300, is located in the city. The campus has a number of prehistoric Indian mounds.
Blackhawk Technical College, a public technical school, has a campus in downtown Beloit.
Beloit is also home to Concordia University's Beloit location, Beloit Center. The center offers courses designed for working adults interested in getting their associate's, bachelor's, and graduate degrees.[22]
Beloit has a public library which is part of the Arrowhead Library System.
Culture
- The Angel Museum
- Beloit Civic Theatre
- Beloit Fine Art Center
- Beloit Historical Society
- Beloit International Film Festival
- Beloit Janesville Symphony
- Logan Museum of Anthropology
- Turtle Creek Chamber Orchestra
- Wright Museum of Art
Festivals
Beloit's main festivals include:
- Beloit International Film Festival
- Winterfest
- Beloit Heritage Days
- Beloit Autorama
- Music at Harry's Place
Recreation
Beloit is home to a professional minor league baseball team, the Beloit Snappers. The Snappers are a part of the Oakland Athletics organization.
Transit
The Beloit Transit System is the primary provider of mass transportation in Beloit, Wisconsin. Four regular routes provide service from Monday through Saturday. In collaboration with the Janesville Transit System, BTS operates an express route between the two cities.
Routes
- Red East Side Cranston
- Blue West Side
- Yellow North End-Prairie
- Brown Beloit-Janesville
Recognition
- Beloit is the only city in Rock County to have been named an All-America City.[23]
- Beloit was one of Travel + Leisure's top 20 Greatest American Main Streets[24] for 2014.
- The 2015 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index ranked the Janesville-Beloit metropolitan area #4 by how well they created and sustained jobs and economic growth.
- In 2017, Beloit's main street was named one of five "Most Romantic" Main Streets for 2017 by National Main Street Center.[25]
Notable people
Thomas Ryum Amlie, U.S. Representative
Marcia Anderson, U. S. Army Major General
Roy Chapman Andrews, adventurer and naturalist
Fred Ascani, U.S. Air Force Major General
Alan E. Ashcraft, Jr., Illinois State Representative
Clinton Babbitt, U.S. Representative
George B. Belting, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Jim Breton, MLB player
Jason W. Briggs, leader in development of Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
James A. Brittan, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Tony Brizzolara, MLB player
Richard Burdge, Wisconsin State Senator
Jackson J. Bushnell, educator
Jim Caldwell, Beloit Memorial High School alumnus, former head coach of NFL's Detroit Lions
Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin, geologist
Franklin Clarke, professional football player for Dallas Cowboys (1960–1967) and Cleveland Browns (1957–1959)
Lawrence E. Cunningham, Wisconsin State Senator
Horatio N. Davis, Wisconsin State Senator
Delmar DeLong, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Burger M. Engebretson, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
John E. Erickson, NBA executive
Betty Everett, rock and jazz singer ("The Shoop Shoop Song")
Edward A. Everett, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
The Felix Culpa, post-hardcore band
Dorr Felt, inventor of comptometer
Edwin G. Fifield, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Bill Flannigan, NFL player
Patsy Gharrity, MLB player
Danny Gokey, American Idol contestant, choir director at a Beloit church
Bernie Graham, professional baseball player
John Hackett, businessman and politician
Jim Hall, professional boxer
Edward F. Hansen, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
William O. Hansen, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Bill Hanzlik, NBA player and coach
Jonathan Harr, journalist and author of A Civil Action
Ken Hendricks, founder of ABC Supply, listed on the Forbes 400
William H. Hurlbut, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Gary Johnson, elected majority leader of Wisconsin Assembly in 1980 and 1983[26]
Jerry Kenney, baseball player for New York Yankees (1967, 1969–1972) and Cleveland Indians (1973)
John Baxter Kinne, Medal of Honor recipient
Stephanie Klett, television personality, Miss Wisconsin 1992
Gene Knutson, NFL player
Richard LaPiere, sociologist at Stanford University
Eugene Lee, Tony Award-winning set designer (Wicked, Saturday Night Live)
Wallace Leschinsky, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Alonzo J. Mathison, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Max Maxfield, Wyoming Secretary of State
Juan Conway McNabb (John Conway McNabb), Roman Catholic bishop, missionary in Peru
Dr. Edward Strong Merrill, Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, multi-sport athlete, Beloit College, '02[27]
Sereno Merrill, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Elmer Miller, MLB player
Tommy Mills, head coach of Creighton Bluejays, Georgetown Hoyas and Arkansas State Indians football teams; Creighton and Arkansas State men's basketball, Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball
Orsen N. Nielsen, U.S. diplomat
David Noggle, Wisconsin State Assemblyman, Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Idaho Territory
Russ Oltz, NFL player
Danica Patrick, NASCAR auto racing driver and model
George Perring, MLB player
Samuel L. Plummer, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Alan S. Robertson, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Robert P. Robinson, Wisconsin State Senator
Judy Robson, former majority leader, Wisconsin Senate
David Roth, opera director
Jane Sherman, actress, writer, composer, dancer with The Rockettes
Richard Shoemaker, Wisconsin State Senator
Tracy Silverman, violinist
Erastus G. Smith, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Simon Smith, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Robert C. Strong, U.S. diplomat
William Barstow Strong, former president of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Tyree Talton, NFL player
Rusty Tillman, NFL player and assistant coach, XFL head coach
S. J. Todd, Wisconsin State Senator
Allen F. Warden, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Arthur Pratt Warner, aviator and inventor
Kyle Weaver, professional basketball player for Oklahoma City Thunder
Floyd E. Wheeler, Wisconsin State Assemblyman and lawyer
John D. Wickhem, Justice of Wisconsin Supreme Court
Albert J. Winegar, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Zip Zabel, MLB player
Robin Zander, musician (Cheap Trick)
Images
Fairbanks-Morse
Beloit Water Tower, constructed in 1889
Beloit Ironworks, a group of restored industrial buildings along the city's downtown riverfront
Middle College, on the Beloit College campus, Wisconsin's oldest academic building still in use
The Lathrop-Munn Cobblestone House
References
^ ab "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2012-11-18..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ ab "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
^ ab "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
^ "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
^ ab Callary, Edward. 2009. Place Names of Illinois. Champaign: University of Illinois Press, p. 326.
^ "Frank Blodgett Dies at Age 82". Janesville Daily Gazette. March 21, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved August 26, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
^ D.V.M., Ralph S. Cooper. "Arthur P. Warner". www.earlyaviators.com. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
^ Beloit Historical Society Archived July 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
^ Appleby, John Francis 1840 - 1917 Archived February 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
^ "REMEMBER - This Is Beloit". This Is Beloit |. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
Internet Archive: This is Beloit - Remember Retrieved May 26, 2018
^ Atlas Obscura: Brief History of the Cheese Curl Retrieved May 26, 2018
^ "Wisconsin Main Street map and founding years" (PDF). Wisconsin Main Street Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
^ "Beloit, WI, Operations". www.glenviewcreek.com. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
^ "City Council - Welcome to the City of Beloit". www.beloitwi.gov. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
^ "City Manager - Welcome to the City of Beloit". www.beloitwi.gov. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
^ ab "The 2011 Great American Main Street Award Winners". Preservation Nation. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
^ Stewart, Erica (23 May 2011). "The 2011 Great American Main Street Award Winners: Places You'll Want to Know (and Visit!)". PreservationNation Blog. Archived from the original on 2013-10-20. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
^ "America's Greatest Mainstreets 2012".
^ Adams, Barry. "Downtown Beloit an Emerging Destination". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
^ "Beloit - Concordia University Wisconsin". Concordia University Wisconsin. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
^ http://www.ci.beloit.wi.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={AA77531B-C0D5-4BC2-A0AE-B58551C3F8C7}
^ "Beloit, WI". Retrieved 21 June 2017.
^ "Most Romantic Main Streets 2017". mainstreet.org. Archived from the original on 2017-03-24. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
^ "Legislative Spotlight". www.legis.state.wi.us. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
^ Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, 1964 inductee
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beloit, Wisconsin. |
- City of Beloit
- Visit Beloit
- Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce
- Downtown Beloit Association
Coordinates: 42°30′30″N 89°01′54″W / 42.50833°N 89.03167°W / 42.50833; -89.03167