Monroe County Fair
5700 W. Airtport Road
Bloomington, Indiana 47403
ph: 812-825-7439
Fairs have been a part of Monroe County's history since its earliest days. The first Agricultural Society was organized in 1835; but it is not known if they held a fair. The first annual county fair of the Monroe County Agricultural Society was held in 1855. It was not the first fair; however, it apparently was the first one to be established on an annual basis. These fairs were discontinued during the Civil War, then renewed in 1868 and continued until the early 1880's. Early fairs were located just east of Bloomington on the land now known as Dunn Meadow on the Indiana University campus. From the early 1880's until 1946, the county fairs were held at various locations. In the early 1890's the fair was located in permanent brick buildings at the site of the present Duke Energy. West 2nd Street and Walker Street. For a number of years. around 1910, the fair was located at the corner of Vernal Pike and Curry Pike. People from town took the Monon train to the fair. During the late 1920's and early 1930's the fair was held around the court house square, with the 4-H projects being housed in the public library. The county fair was discountinued and became an exhibit of 4-H projects only when space on the square was no longer available. In the middle 1930's the 4-H projects were exhibited in the old high school gym, located at the corner of West 2nd Street and College Avenue. During the late 1930's and 1940's the 4-H projects were exhibited at the Ellettsville Fall Festiv
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