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Indiana, US (Population: 6,313,520)
State Capitol: Indianapolis

Major Cities: Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Gary, Hammond, Bloomington, Muncie, Anderson, Terre Haute

State Nickname/Motto: Hoosier State – The Crossroads of America

Statehood Granted: December 11,1816

History: The area of Indiana has been settled since before the development of the Hopewell culture (ca. 100–400 CE). It was part of the Mississippian culture from roughly the year 1000 up to 1400.). The specific American Indian tribes that inhabited this territory at that time were primarily the Miami and the Shawnee. The area was claimed for New France in the 17th century, handed over to the Kingdom of Great Britain as part of the settlement at the end of the French and Indian War, given to the United States after the American Revolution, soon after which it became part of the Northwest Territory, then the Indiana Territory, and joined the Union in 1816 as the 19th state. Emigration, mostly from Kentucky and Ohio, was so rapid that by 1820 the population was 147,176, and by 1830 the sales of public lands for the previous decade reached 3,588,000 acres (5,600 sq mi; 14,500 km²) and the population was 343,031. It had more than doubled since 1820. The first state capital was in the southern Indiana city of Corydon.

Geography: Highest point: Hoosier Hill; 1,257 feet. Indiana is bounded on the north by Lake Michigan and the state of Michigan; on the east by Ohio; on the south by Kentucky, with which it shares the Ohio River as a border; and on the west by Illinois. Indiana is one of the Great Lakes states. The northern boundary of the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois was originally defined to be a latitudinal line drawn through the southernmost tip of Lake Michigan. Since such a line would not provide Indiana with usable frontage on the lake, its northern border was shifted ten miles north. The northern borders of Ohio and Illinois were also shifted from this original plan.

Ethnic Diversity: One Race (98.5%), White (86.1%), Black or African American (8.6%), American Indian and Alaska Native (0.2%), Asian (1.2%), Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (0.0%), Some other race (2.4%), Two or more races (1.5%), Hispanic or Latino (4.6%)*

Famous State People:
  • Jim Davis (1945 - ) Creator of Garfield; born in Marion.
  • Benjamin Harrison (1833 - 1901) 23rd President of the United States; lived in Indianapolis, where he practiced law.
  • Michael Jackson (1958 - ) Singer and songwriter famous for songs such as Thriller and Beat It; born in Gary.
  • James Dean (1931 - 1955) Famous actor for movies like Rebel Without a Cause; born in Marion.
  • Larry Bird (1956 - ) Basketball Hall of Famer who led the Boston Celtics to three NBA championships (1981, 1984, 1986); born in West Baden.
  • Wilbur Wright (1867 -1912) Inventor; born near Millville.
  • David Letterman (1947- ) Comedian late night talk show host; born in Indianapolis.
  • Jane Pauley (1950 - ) Television journalist that hosts Dateline; born in Indianapolis.
  • Bill Blass (1922 - ) Fashion designer; born in Fort Wayne.
  • Kurt Vonnegut (1922 - ) Well-known author of books such as Slaughterhouse Five; born in Indianapolis.
  • John Cougar Mellencamp (1951 - ) singer, songwriter; born in Seymour.
  • Anne Baxter (1923 - 1985) Famous actress; born in Michigan City.


  • Major Colleges/Universities: Indiana University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Purdue University, University of Notre Dame, Indiana-Purdue at Indianapolis, Indiana Wesleyan University, Butler University, Ball State University, Valparaiso University, Wabash College, DePauw University

    State Parks: Brown County, Chain O' Lakes, Charlestown, Clifty Falls, Falls of the Ohio, Fort Harrison, Harmonie, Indiana Dunes, Lincoln, McCormick's Creek, Mounds, O'Bannon Woods, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Prophetstown, Shades, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Summit Lake, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run, Versailles, Whitewater Memorial

    Misc: Indiana is known as the "Brain Bank of the Midwest" as Indiana's colleges and universities attract the fourth largest number of out-of-state students in the nation and the largest out-of-state student population in the Midwest. In addition, Indiana is the third best state in the country at keeping high school seniors in-state as Indiana colleges and universities attract 88% of Indiana's college attendees. Indiana universities also lead the nation in the attraction of international students with Purdue University and Indiana University ranked #3 and #17 respectively in the total international student enrollment of all universities in the United States. This exceptional popularity is attributed to the high quality of the research and educational universities located in the state.

    *U.S. Census - 2005