Beloit, Wisconsin

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City of Beloit, Wisconsin
Beloit Water Tower, constructed in 1889.
Beloit Water Tower, constructed in 1889.
Flag of City of Beloit, Wisconsin
Flag
Nickname: Gateway To Wisconsin or "Petunia City"
Location of Beloit in Wisconsin
Location of Beloit in Wisconsin
Coordinates: 42°30′30″N 89°01′54″W / 42.50833, -89.03167
Country Flag of the United States United States
State Flag of Wisconsin Wisconsin
County Rock
Founded 1836
Incorporated February 24, 1846 (village)
March 31, 1856 (city)
Government
 - Manager Larry Arft
 - City Attorney Tom Casper
 - City Council James Van De Bogart (President)
Chad Murry (Vice President)
Sheila De Forest
Martin Densch
Charles Haynes
Kevin Leavy
Eric Newnham area_magnitude = 1 E9
Area
 - Total 16.7 sq mi (43.2 km²)
 - Land 16.4 sq mi (42.6 km²)
 - Water 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²)
Elevation 751 ft (228.9 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 35,775
 - Density 2,176.6/sq mi (840.2/km²)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Website: www.ci.beloit.wi.us

Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2007 census estimate Beloit has a population of 37,710 people. Beloit is the location of Beloit College. Beloit is home to a Hormel plant, the world's largest can of chili,[1] and the Beloit Snappers baseball club of the Midwest League. Beloit lays claim to such inventions as the speedometer,[2]Korn Kurls,[3] and John Francis Appleby's twine binder.[4]Korn Kurls are credited for the founding of the snack food industry, and resemble present day Cheetos.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.7 square miles (43.2 km²), of which, 16.4 square miles (42.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it is water. The total area is 1.38% water. Location: 42°30′30″N, 89°01′54″W.

The city is located adjacent to the Town of Beloit, Town of Turtle, and the Illinois municipality of South Beloit. There is very little agricultural land remaining between Beloit and Janesville or between Beloit and Rockford, Illinois. The city is normally considered part of the Janesville MSA.

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.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 35,775 people, 13,370 households, and 8,904 families residing in the city. The population density is 840.2/km² (2,176.6/sq mi). There are 14,262 housing units at an average density of 335.0 persons/km² (867.7 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city is 75.57% White, 15.37% African American, 0.38% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 4.62% from other races, and 2.85% from two or more races. 9.10% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 13,370 households out of which 34.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% are married couples living together, 16.6% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 33.4% are non-families. 27.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.57 and the average family size is 3.10.

In the city the population is spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $36,414, and the median income for a family is $42,083. Males have a median income of $32,870 versus $23,925 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,912. 12.5% of the population and 9.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 16.4% are under the age of 18 and 6.3% are 65 or older.

Beloit's Diversity % of minorities
Beloit 25.43%
Wisconsin 8.47%
United States 23.11%

[edit] Historical Roots

Located at the confluence of the Rock River and Turtle Creek, what is now Beloit was long home to various tribes of Native-Americans, from the ancient Mound Builders to the Winnebagos, the last to have a semi-permanent settlement at the future Beloit. This last tribe abandoned their settlement in 1832 when Black Hawk and his followers were pursued through the area during the Black Hawk War.[5]

Joseph Thibeau was the first white man in Beloit following the departure of the Winnebagos. A French fur trader who had a good reputation with the Indians, Thibeau settled at the southwestern corner of present day State St. and Shirland Ave. It was he who greeted Caleb Blodgett, Beloit’s first permanent settler. Thibeau sold to Caleb “three looks” of land, and this purchase marks Beloit’s beginning as a village. [6]

With the arrival of the New England Immigrating Company in 1836, the future of the fledgling community was assured. This group came from Colebrook, New Hampshire, and was led by the able scout Dr. Horace White. They bought land from Caleb Blodgett, started developing it, and soon family and friends were moving to the area. Eleven years later the cornerstone of Beloit College was laid. Churches and schools were planned, mills were running using the water of the Rock River, and business took root in the village to be named Beloit. [7]

[edit] Recreation and Development

Beloiters enjoy a large variety of recreational activities, in part because of the city's uncommon diversity. Beloit is home to a professional minor league baseball team, the Beloit Snappers, as well as a lively riverfront popular to many city dwellers. The downtown, home to many small shops and boutiques has seen a recent renewal, after decades of lost business due to Interstates 90 and 43. Up-scale downtown condominiums are now visible, with the additions of such venues as Heritage View and the Beloit Inn. Opportunity and easy access to other communities have led to a spurt of growth in the area, some calling it a renaissance of sorts.

Downtown Beloit Association

[edit] Recognition

  • In 2007, America in Bloom, a national competition between cities declared Beloit as "the best-kept secret of the midwest."
  • In September, America in Bloom named Beloit the overall winner in its population class, Beloit also received top honors for any sized city in the category of landscaping.
  • Anthropologist Margaret Mead described Beloit as, "America in microcosm."
  • Beloit has been a Tree City for the past 19 years, earning its place as one of the longest running tree cities in the state, and nation.
  • In February 2008 Beloit resident Keely Givhan served six days in jail for failing to return overdue books to the Public Library.[8]
List of Tree Cities in Rock County # of years First Year
Beloit 21 Years 1987
Evansville 6 Years 2001
Clinton 4 Years 2003
Janesville 3 Years 2004

[edit] Beloit Festivals

Beloit's main festivals include:

[edit] Businesses/Organizations

Beloit's Major Industry

A † indicates Beloit is home to the company's World Headquarters.

[edit] Education

  • Beloit College, a liberal arts college with undergraduate enrollment around 1,300. The campus is notable for numerous prehistoric Indian mounds.
    Beloit College, Prehistoric indian mounds along with the Middle College
    Beloit College, Prehistoric indian mounds along with the Middle College
  • Blackhawk Technical College, which has its main campus between Beloit and Janesville, has an adult education center in downtown Beloit.
  • Beloit Memorial High School is the city's public high school. The school is part of the School District of Beloit.
  • The Roy Chapman Andrews Academy, part of the School District of Beloit, is Beloit's "project based" charter high school located at the Eclipse Center.
  • F. J. Turner High School is a public high school that enrolls 381 students from grades 9-12.

[edit] Notable people

[edit] Historic buildings

  • Beloit's Famous Water Tower Place went under demolition in 1935, but was halted shortly after because of the sheer cost of tearing down the tower.

Fairbanks-Morse complex

Construction along riverfront, downtown Beloit

[edit] Athletic championships

Beloit Memorial High School State Championship Years
High School Basketball 1973, 1969, 1947, 1937, 1934, 1933, 1932
High School Baseball 1965
High School Hockey 1999
High School Golf 1932, 1945
High School Swimming 1975, 1976
High School Track & Field 1949, 1977, 1991
American Legion Baseball 2000, 1973, 1966, 1961, 1949
American Jr. Legion Baseball 2007, 1998

[edit] References

  1. ^ WLRA - Can of Chili
  2. ^ Arthur Warner
  3. ^ Beloit Historical Society
  4. ^ Appleby, John Francis 1840 - 1917
  5. ^ Beloit Historical Society
  6. ^ Beloit Historical Society
  7. ^ Beloit Historical Society
  8. ^ {{cite web| date=March 3, 2008 | url=http://www.channel3000.com/news/15466146/detail.html | title=Woman Jailed For Failing To Return Books | publisher=The Associated Press | accessdate = 2008-03-03 }

[edit] External links

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Coordinates: 42°30′30″N, 89°01′54″W