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City of Beloit, Wisconsin
Downtown BeloitWI
Downtown Beloit
BeloitFlag
Flag
Nickname(s): Gateway To Wisconsin
Rock County Wisconsin incorporated and unincorporated areas Beloit highlighted
Location in Rock County and the state of 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 Mark Spreitzer (President)
Charles Haynes (Vice President)
Sheila De Forest
Ana Kelly
Chuck Kincaid
Kevin Leavy
David F. Luebke
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 (2012[3]) 36,842
Website www.ci.beloit.wi.us

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]

History[]

Beloit lays claim to such inventions as the speedometer,[6] Korn Kurls,[7] and John Francis Appleby's twine binder.[8] Korn Kurls, which resemble Cheetos, are credited with the founding of the snack food industry.

Historic buildings[]

Beloit's 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.

Downtown Beloit and the riverfront[]

Downtown Beloit is the historical 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.[9]

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. The Canadian Pacific Railway operates other trackage in Beloit.[10] The city also had an electric interurban railroad.

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, -89.03167.

The city is located 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[]

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 Neal Kedzie and Tim Cullen in the Wisconsin State Senate, Amy Loudenbeck and Janis Ringhand 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.

Economy[]

Beloit's major industries:

  • ABC Supply Company
  • Beloit Daily News
  • Bio-Systems International
  • Broaster Company
  • Fairbanks-Morse
  • FatWallet
  • Frito Lay
  • Genecor International Wisconsin, Inc. (A Danisco Division)
  • Hormel
  • Kerry Ingredients & Flavours Americas (A Kerry Group Division)
  • Metso
  • Kettle Foods
  • Murmac Paint Manufacturing, Inc.
  • Patch Products
  • Regal-Beloit
  • Staples, Inc. Online Fulfillment Center

† indicates Beloit is home to the company's world headquarters.

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.[11] Upscale downtown condominiums and hotels were introduced post-2000 with the construction of the Hotel Hilton Apartments (2001), the Beloit Inn (2003), Heritage View (2005), and the Phoenix Project (2013).

From the 1990s to 2011, downtown Beloit has received direct public and private investment totaling more than $75 million.[12] In 2011 Beloit was a Great American Main Street Award winner.[13] In 2012 Beloit was listed #17 on Travel and Leisure's list of America's Greatest Mainstreets.[14][15]

Education[]

The School District of Beloit serves close to 7,000 students in 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools and 1 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 sign

Beloit College entrance

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.

National Louis University, an online (distance learning) college, has a campus in Beloit.

Culture[]

  • Beloit Janesville Symphony
  • Beloit Civic Theatre
  • Beloit International Film Festival
  • Wright Museum of Art
  • Logan Museum of Anthropology
  • The Angel Museum

Festivals[]

Beloit's main festivals include:

Recreation[]

Beloit is home to a professional minor league baseball team, the Beloit Snappers. The Snappers are a part of the Oakland Athletics organization.

Recognition[]

  • Beloit is the only city in Rock County to have been named an All-America City.[16]
  • Beloit was one of Travel + Leisure's top 20 Greatest American Main Streets[17] for 2014.

Notable people[]

  • Thomas Ryum Amlie, U.S. Representative
  • Danica Patrick, Auto racing driver and model
  • Roy Chapman Andrews, adventurer and naturalist
  • Fred Ascani, U.S. Air Force Major General
  • Alan E. Ashcroft, Jr., Illinois State Representative
  • Clinton Babbitt, U.S. Representative
  • George B. Belting, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
  • Jim Breton, MLB player
  • Jason W. Briggs, leader in the development of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
  • Richard Burdge, Wisconsin State Senator
  • Jim Caldwell, Beloit Memorial High School Alumnus and head coach of the Detroit Lions
  • Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin, geologist
  • Franklin Clarke, professional football player for the Dallas Cowboys (1960–1967) and the Cleveland Browns (1957–1959)
  • 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")
  • Patsy Gharrity, MLB player
  • The Felix Culpa, post-hardcore band
  • 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
  • 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
  • Gary Johnson, elected majority leader of the Wisconsin Assembly in 1980 and 1983[18]
  • Jerry Kenney, major league baseball player for the New York Yankees (1967, 1969–1972) and the Cleveland Indians (1973)
  • John Baxter Kinne, Medal of Honor recipient
  • Gene Knutson, NFL player
  • Richard LaPiere, sociologist at Stanford University
  • Eugene Lee, Tony Award-winning set designer, (Wicked, Saturday Night Live)
  • Juan Conway McNabb (John Conway McNabb), Roman Catholic bishop, missionary-Peru
  • Max Maxfield, Wyoming Secretary of State
  • Elmer Miller, MLB player
  • Tommy Mills, head coach of the Creighton Bluejays, Georgetown Hoyas and Arkansas State Indians football teams; Creighton Bluejays and Arkansas State Indians men's basketball teams and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball team
  • Orsen N. Nielsen, U.S. diplomat
  • Russ Oltz, NFL player
  • George Perring, MLB player
  • Alan S. Robertson, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
  • Robert P. Robinson, Wisconsin State Senator
  • Judy Robson, former majority leader, Wisconsin Senate
  • Jane Sherman, actress, writer, composer
  • Richard Shoemaker, Wisconsin State Senator
  • Tracy Silverman, violinist
  • Robert C. Strong, U.S. diplomat
  • William Barstow Strong, former president of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
  • Dean Sturgis, MLB player
  • Tyree Talton, NFL player
  • Rusty Tillman, NFL player and assistant coach, XFL head coach
  • Sarah Turner, journalist
  • Arthur Pratt Warner, aviator and inventor
  • Kyle Weaver, professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder
  • John D. Wickhem, Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
  • Zip Zabel, MLB player
  • Robin Zander, musician (Cheap Trick)

References[]

  1. ^ a b "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt. Retrieved 2012-11-18. 
  2. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml. Retrieved 2012-11-18. 
  3. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html. Retrieved 2013-06-24. 
  4. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1&prodType=table
  6. ^ Arthur Warner
  7. ^ Beloit Historical Society
  8. ^ Appleby, John Francis 1840 - 1917
  9. ^ "Wisconsin Main Street map and founding years". Wisconsin Main Street Association. http://inwisconsin.com/content/uploads/2013/06/MS-Contacts.pdf. Retrieved 26 September 2013. 
  10. ^ Beloit Railroad History and Photos
  11. ^ "The 2011 Great American Main Street Award Winners". Preservation Nation. http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/awards/gamsa/2011-gamsa/downtown-beloit-wisconsin.html. Retrieved 26 September 2013. 
  12. ^ "The 2011 Great American Main Street Award Winners". Preservation Nation. http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/awards/gamsa/2011-gamsa/downtown-beloit-wisconsin.html. Retrieved 26 September 2013. 
  13. ^ Stewart, Erica (23 May 2011). "The 2011 Great American Main Street Award Winners: Places You’ll Want to Know (and Visit!)". PreservationNation Blog. http://blog.preservationnation.org/2011/05/23/the-2011-great-american-main-street-award-winners-places-you%E2%80%99ll-want-to-know-and-visit/#.UkOmGmQ4Vrw. Retrieved 26 September 2013. 
  14. ^ "America's Greatest Mainstreets 2012". http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-greatest-main-streets/17. 
  15. ^ Adams, Barry. "Downtown Beloit an Emerging Destination". Wisconsin State Journal. http://host.madison.com/news/local/on-wisconsin-beloit-s-downtown-an-emerging-destination/article_557b143b-29f4-5b59-9e54-809703f30212.html. Retrieved 24 March 2014. 
  16. ^ http://www.ci.beloit.wi.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={AA77531B-C0D5-4BC2-A0AE-B58551C3F8C7}
  17. ^ name=http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-greatest-main-streets/17
  18. ^ http://www.legis.state.wi.us/spotlight/spotl339.htm

External links[]

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Coordinates: 42°30′30″N 89°01′54″W / 42.50833, -89.03167


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Beloit, Wisconsin. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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