Just like other states of Midwestern America, Indiana had many Native American tribes and indigenous communities.Nicknamed ‘The Hoosier State’, Indiana received its statehood on December 11, 1816, becoming the 19th state to join the Union. The capital and the largest city of Indiana today is in Indianapolis.Indiana is a midwestern state that is situated in the region of the Great Lakes. It is well acclaimed globally too for its high-ranked education system and its diverse economy. The state constitution of Indiana which was established in 1816 pushed the legislature to launch some public schools but it was only in the ’50s that it actually happened. As mentioned earlier, Indiana was largely a Native American state. The name ‘Indiana’ literally means land of the Indians or Indian Land. Apart from Indians, Indiana’s state has a mixed population of Hispanic and African-American people. During the Civil War, the state of Indiana played a very important role in helping slaves escape to their freedom.Fountain City, was earlier called Newport. Indiana’s original capital used to be Corydon until it was moved to Indianapolis in 1825. The Indianapolis state capitol building was constructed in 1888. Indiana is a state with many interesting facts, famous locations, and unique cultures and history that are sure to catch your interest. Gary, a small town in the Indiana state saw the birth of the famous King of Pop, Michael Jackson along with his equally famous siblings who went on to form the famous band, Jackson 5. Southern Indiana is also famous for its fried food, friendly people, and extensive farmland. The famous basketball team with a huge fan base across the States is The Indiana Hoosiers. The very first professional baseball game was played at Fort Wayne, Indiana in the year 1871. The famous basketball player Larry Bird also hails from Indiana. The Indiana State Flag consists of 19 stars. The reason for the 19 stars is because Indiana was the 19th state in the nation to be admitted to the Union. The phenomenal 16th president of the United States, President Abraham Lincoln was brought up in Spencer County, Indiana. Another sport Indiana is famous for is motor racing and on May 30, 1911, the very first long-distance auto race conducted in the United States was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Today, it is a massive landmark for sports as many people all over the country and tourists flock to view this spectacle. Another attraction to visit is the Indiana Dunes which are sand dunes that are found along Lake Michigan. Some famous rivers you can find in Indiana are the White River, Ohio River, and the Kankakee River.The main industries through which Indiana and its population make a living and generate revenue are agriculture, steel, farming, steel, machinery, and tourism. Indiana also has a city named Santa Claus and each Christmas season brings loads of letters mailed to the city. Believe it or not, each letter that is mailed to the city goes back answered! Corn is a crop that is widely grown in the farmlands of Indiana, which is also why Indiana produces more popcorn than any other state in the US! Fort Wayne in Indiana saw the first-ever gasoline pump in 1885 and Wabash was the first city in the whole of the United States of America to use street lights that were electric. Transportation industries and transporters of goods and commodities often refer to Indiana as the ‘Crossroads to America’ or ‘Railroad City’ as Indiana is a state with a high number of interstate roads and highways. This American state’s colors are blue and gold. Indiana is also the first state to construct a chapel in its state capitol.Fun Facts About IndianaIndiana is an extremely interesting state in the United States of America and is its 17th most populated state. It received its statehood on December 11, 1816, becoming the 19th state to join the American Union. Since it was the 19th state to join the Union, the Indiana state flag has 19 stars in it and has the state’s official colors which are blue and gold. The neighboring states of Indiana are Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky, and Ohio. Indianapolis, Indiana’s state capital, has a high commercial advantage for its central position in the state.Indiana is often called the ‘Hoosier State’ and its residents are called the ‘Hoosiers’. To date, no one knows how or why the nickname came up. However, some believe that ‘Hoosier’ came into being when a visitor knocked on the cabin of a settler, he asked ‘Who’s yere?’ and after that, every person living in Indiana was called a ‘Hoosier’! Bedford in Indiana is called the ’limestone capital’ of the world due to its rich availability of limestone. Education, agriculture, mineral mining, and manufacturing are the main industries in this state. So far, six men from Indiana have made it to the White House as presidents. Indiana, originally, had a lot of Native Americans who lived there. That is also why the name ‘Indiana’ has been assigned to the state because it is called the ’land of the Indians’. Indiana is also quite famous in history as the first-ever train robbery seen anywhere in the world was committed there. A band of robbers who called themselves the ‘Reno Brothers’ stopped an Ohio and Mississippi train in Jackson County and stole around $13,000!Facts About Indiana’s Sports TeamsThe three sports that are massively followed by the people of Indiana are basketball, baseball, and motor racing. Basketball, out of these three, is a sport that is greatly supported by the locals. The National Basketball Association or NBA produces the most basketball players each season from Indiana. Even baseball is a sport that Indiana state closely follows. The National Association of Professional Baseball players kicked off with the first professional baseball league game in the United States played at Fort Wayne in 1871. The game was between the Fort Wayne Kekiongas and the Cleveland Forest Cities. The people of Indiana state also love a good spectacle of motor racing. At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the first-ever long-distance auto race in the US was held on May 30, 1911. It is also the site of the greatest event in sports, the Indianapolis 500.Facts About Indiana’s EconomyFrom the 20th century onwards, Indiana’s economy was largely dominated by the industries of agriculture, farming, and manufacturing. Most of the labor force in the region is employed in the areas of manufacturing and agriculture. Easy access and availability of labor, natural resources, and other materials have helped Indiana state to grow economically. However, severe industrialization is believed to be the reason for the state experiencing recession. Of late, tourism has also helped the land bring in a high level of revenue too! Indianapolis is considered to be the hub of the state where most economic activities take place.Geographical Facts About IndianaThe major landforms you would find in Indiana are mountains, rivers, plains, forests, lakes, and farmlands. The state of Indiana is largely divided into three main regions that are the Great Lakes Plains, the Till Plains, and the Southern Plains and Lowlands. The state’s highest point is found at the Till Plains and is called ‘Hoosier Hill’. Lake Michigan, Ohio river, Browning Hill, and Hoosier Hill are some places you should definitely see if you plan on making a visit to Indiana!
Just like other states of Midwestern America, Indiana had many Native American tribes and indigenous communities.
