Beloit

Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 census, Beloit had a population of 36,966. The greater Beloit area is home to more than 91,000 residents.

 

History

Beloit lays claim to such inventions as the speedometer, Korn Kurls, and John Francis Appleby's twine binder. Korn Kurls, which resemble present day Cheetos, are credited for the founding of the snack food industry.

 

Historic buildings

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

 

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.7 square miles (43 km2), of which 16.4 square miles (42 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) 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.

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

As of the census of 2010, there are 36,966 people, 13,781 households, and 8,867 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,213.5 inhabitants per square mile (840.2/km²). There are 15,177 housing units at an average density of 335.0 persons/km² (867.7 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city is 74.57% White, 15.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 10.0% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. 17.1% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. Beloit has the 3rd highest percentage of African Americans in the state, after Racine and Milwaukee.

There are 13,781 households, out of which 32.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% are married couples living together, 18.3% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 35.7% are non-families. 29.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.2% 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 3.16.

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.

                     % minority

Beloit               25.43%

Wisconsin         8.47%

United States    23.11%

 

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). The city also had an electric interurban railroad. 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.

 

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.

Beloit's riverfront is popular with many of the city's dwellers. The downtown, home to many small shops and boutiques, has seen a recent renewal. Upscale downtown condominiums are now visible, with the additions of such venues as Heritage View and the Beloit Inn.

 

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:

Beloit International Film Festival

Winterfest

Southern Wisconsin AirFest

Beloit Heritage Days

Beloit Autorama

Beloit Riverfest

 

Recognition

Beloit is the only city in the state of Wisconsin to be home to three multi-billion dollar international companies: ABC Supply Company, Regal-Beloit, Kerry Ingredients

Beloit is the only city in Rock County to have been named an All-America City.

In 2007, America in Bloom, a national competition among cities declared Beloit "the best-kept secret of the midwest"

In September,[when?] America in Bloom named Beloit the overall winner in its population class. Beloit also received top honors for any size city in the category of landscaping.

Anthropologist Margaret Mead described Beloit as "America in microcosm"

Beloit has been a Tree City for the past 22 years, earning its place as one of the longest running tree cities in the state, and nation.

 

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

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

Jim Caldwell, Beloit Memorial High School Alumnus and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts

Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin, geologist

Franklin Clarke, professional football player for the Dallas Cowboys (1960–1967) and the Cleveland Browns (1957–1959)

Ray Dickop, Distinguished Service Cross recipient

John E. Erickson, NBA executive

Theodore Erickson, Navy Cross recipient

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

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[10]

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)

Ettore J. Marsolo, Navy Cross recipient

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)

 

City of Beloit

Visit Beloit

 

 

Beloit, WI Office

820 Broad Street, Suite 4

Beloit, WI 53511

Phone: 608.512.5180  Call Anytime 24/7 In Emergency to talk with an Staff Member

           1.800.DURRANI

           1.800.387.7264 Anytime