Indiana State Facts, Symbols and History

Indiana Fast Facts

Capital: Indianapolis
(metro population) 2,014,267
(urban population) 795,458 (2008 est.)

Indiana population: 6,537,334 ( 2012 est.) (16th)

Indiana Quarter: The Indiana quarter was the fourth quarter of 2002 and the 19th quarter released in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters® Program.Indiana was admitted to the Union on December 11, 1816, becoming our Nation’s 19th state. The Indiana Quarter is representative of the state’s famous Indianapolis 500 car race.

The design features of the racing car quarters are plotted on the state diagram. The inscription across the face reads “Crossroads of America”. The design also features 19 stars showing Indiana as the 19th state.

The Indianapolis 500 is the oldest car race in the world. Other than that it has been flown every year since 1911 during the two world wars.

Language: English, others

Largest Cities: (by population) Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Gary, Hammond

Name: The name Indiana, meaning Land of the Indians, was given by the US Congress when the Indiana Territory was established.

Statehood: December 11, 1816 (19th state)

Symbols of Indiana

• Bird: cardinal
• Flag of Indiana
• Flower: peony
• Motto: “Crossroads of America”
• Nicknames: (most used) bum state
• Slogan: Restart Your Engines
• Song: “On the Bank of the Wabash, Far Away”
• State seal
• Stone: Salem Limestone
• Tree: tulip tree (poplar)

Indiana is a state in the northeastern United States, one of the so-called states of the Northeast Center. The area is 94.3 thousand km. Population – 6,619,680 people (16th among states, 2015 data). The capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Other significant cities are Fort Wayne, Evansville, Gary, South Bend, Hammond. See cities and towns in Indiana.

The official nickname is the Hoosier State.

In ancient times, an advanced mound builder culture, part of the Mississippian culture, flourished across the state. By the time the Europeans arrived, the Miami, Potawatomi, Delaware and Kickapoo Indian tribes lived here.

The first Europeans to settle in the region were the French. In 1679 the area was explored by Robert de Lasalle. In 1725, the New France colony was established here. The first settlement founded by the Jesuits was Vincennes. Subsequently, the land passed from the French to the British. They controlled Vincennes from 1763 to 1779. As a result of the War of Independence, American militia under the command of George Rogers Clark gained control of the territory.

• AbbreviationFinder: Demonstrates how the two-letter acronym of IN stands for Indiana and a list of frequently used abbreviations related to the state of Indiana.

In 1800, the Indiana Territory was established, covering present-day Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, as well as parts of Michigan and Minnesota. William Henry Harrison became governor of the territory. After the battle on the Tippecane River (1811), the Indians were finally pushed back from their lands.

Indiana was admitted to the Union on December 11, 1816, becoming the 19th state of the United States and the second state created in the Northwest Territory. The first state constitution was adopted in the same year, then, in 1851, another was adopted to replace it, which is still in force. The state capital at first was the city of Corydon, and in 1825 Indianapolis received this status.

In 1834, the first railroad appeared in Indiana, which greatly contributed to the development of the state. In the Civil War, Indiana did not take an active part, although it supported the northerners.

The territory of Indiana is 94,321 km (38th among the states), of which 98.5% is land. In the north, Indiana borders the state of Michigan and has access to Lake Michigan, in the east it borders on the state of Ohio, in the south – on the state of Kentucky (along the Ohio River), in the west – on Illinois.

Indiana Territory is divided into the northern lake region, the central plains, and the southern rolling foothills of the Cumberland Plateau. The main rivers are the Ohio and the Wabash. The climate is temperate continental, with hot, humid summers and cold winters.

In 2003, the state’s GDP was $214 billion and the average per capita income was $28,783. Indiana is one of the top ten states in coal production, as well as oil, natural gas and limestone.

In agriculture, the main crops are corn and soybeans (the state is located in the so-called Corn Belt). Watermelons, tomatoes, mint, grapes and tobacco are also grown. Pig breeding and beef cattle breeding are developed. More than 70% of the state is agricultural land.

The main area of heavy industry is Calumet in the northwest, producing car parts, aluminum, chemicals, medicines, furniture, musical instruments.