Indiana

Capital: Indianapolis

State abbreviation/Postal code: Ind./IN

Governor: Mitchell Daniels, R (to Jan. 2013)

Lieut. Governor: Becky Skillman, R (to Jan. 2013)

Senators: Dan Coats, R (to Jan. 2017); Richard G. Lugar, R (to Jan. 2013)

U.S. Representatives: 9

Historical biographies of Congressional members

Secy. of State: Connie Lawson, R (to Jan. 2017)

Treasurer: Richard E. Mourdock, R (to Jan. 2015)

Atty. General: Greg Zoeller, R (to Jan. 2013)

Organized as territory: May 7, 1800

Entered Union (rank): Dec. 11, 1816 (19)

Present constitution adopted: 1851

Motto: The Crossroads of America

State symbols:

flower	peony (1957)
tree	tulip tree (1931)
bird	cardinal (1933)
song	“On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away” (1913)
river	Wabash
stone	limestone

Nickname: Hoosier State

Origin of name: Meaning “land of Indians”

Official language: English

10 largest cities (2010): Indianapolis, 820,445; Fort Wayne, 253,691; Evansville, 117,429; South Bend, 101,168; Hammond, 80,830; Bloomington, 80,405; Gary, 80,294; Carmel, 79,191; Fishers, 76,794; Muncie, 70,085

Land area: 35,867 sq mi. (92,896 sq km)

Geographic center: In Boone Co., 14 mi. NNW of Indianapolis

Number of counties: 92

Largest county by population and area: Marion, 903,393 (2010); Allen, 657 sq mi.

State parks: 23 (56,409 ac.)

State historic sites: 17 (2,007 ac.)

Residents: Indianan, Indianian, Hoosier

2010 resident population: 6,483,802

2010 resident census population (rank): 6,483,802 (15). Male: 3,189,737 (49.2%); Female: 3,294,065 (50.8%); White: 5,467,906 (84.3%); Black: 591,397 (9.1%); American Indian: 18,462 (0.3%); Asian: 102,474 (1.6%); Other race: 173,314 (2.4%); Two or more races: 127,901 (2.0%); Hispanic/Latino: 389,707 (6.0%). 2010 population 18 and over: 4,875,504; 65 and over: 841,108 (12.8%); median age: 37.0.

See additional census data

Area codes

Tourism office

Map of Indiana

First explored for France by Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, in 1679–1680, the region figured importantly in the Franco-British struggle for North America that culminated with British victory in 1763. George Rogers Clark led American forces against the British in the area during the Revolutionary War and, prior to becoming a state, Indiana was the scene of frequent Indian uprisings until the victories of Gen. Anthony Wayne at Fallen Timbers in 1794 and Gen. William Henry Harrison at Tippecanoe in 1811.

During the 19th century, Indiana was the site of several experimental communities, including those established by George Rapp and Robert Owen at New Harmony.

Indiana's 41-mile Lake Michigan waterfront—one of the world's great industrial centers—turns out iron, steel, and oil products. Products include automobile parts and accessories, mobile homes and recreational vehicles, truck and bus bodies, aircraft engines, farm machinery, and fabricated structural steel. Wood office furniture and pharmaceuticals are also manufactured.

The state is a leader in agriculture with corn the principal crop. Hogs, soybeans, wheat, oats, rye, tomatoes, onions, and poultry also contribute heavily to Indiana's agricultural output.

Much of the building limestone used in the U.S. is quarried in Indiana, which is also a large producer of coal. Other mineral commodities include crushed stone, cement, and sand and gravel.

Wyandotte Cave, one of the largest in the U.S., is located in Crawford County in southern Indiana, and West Baden and French Lick are well known for their mineral springs. Other attractions include Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, and the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park.

See more on Indiana:
Encyclopedia: Indiana
Encyclopedia: Geography
Encyclopedia: Economy
Encyclopedia: Government
Encyclopedia: History
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