BELOIT

city, Rock county, southern Wisconsin, U.S. It lies along the Illinois state line at the confluence of the Rock River and Turtle Creek. Settled in 1837 by the New England Emigrating Company, it was known as Blodgett Settlement, The Turtle, New Albany, and finally Beloit. The village pledged land, labour, and money for a college, and Beloit College was founded there in 1846. The centre of a rich farming and dairying area and focal point of area commerce, the town also developed industrially; its manufactures include papermaking and woodworking machinery. Inc. 1856. Pop. (1994 est.) city, 36,644; Janesville-Beloit MSA, 145,959.