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Indiana Facts

Indiana Facts
The State of Indiana is located in the Great Lakes and mid-west region of the United States. Indiana shares state borders with Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois. It is the 38th largest U.S. state with 36,418 square miles. Indiana is the 16th most populated state with approximately 16,571,000 residents. It is also the 16th most densely populated state. Following the Ice Age, it was the Paleo-Indians who first arrived in Indiana, in about 8000 BC. Various cultures settled throughout Indiana's region until the arrival of Europeans in the 1600s. Struggle for control of the area between British, French and Native American tribes continued until 1816 when Indiana became the 19th state to join the Union.
Interesting Indiana Facts:
The name Indiana originates from its Indian territorial history, meaning 'Indian land', or 'Land of the Indians'.
Rene-Robert Cavalier, Sieur de La Salle was a French explorer and the first to reach Indiana, arriving in 1679 at South Bend.
Indiana's motto is 'The Crossroads of America'.
Indiana's nickname is the 'Hoosier State'.
Indiana's capital city and largest city is Indianapolis.
Indiana's state flower is the peony.
The state tree is the tulip tree.
Indiana's state bird is the cardinal.
Indiana's state song is 'On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away'. It was written by Paul Dresser.
Indiana has 92 counties, 23 state parks, and 17 state historic sites.
Indiana residents are called Hoosiers or Indianians.
The major rivers in Indiana include Tippecanoe River, White River, Wabash River and Ohio River.
Indiana's major lakes include Lake Michigan and Mississinewa Lake.
Indiana has 41 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline.
Indiana's state flag was designed by Paul Hadley in 1916. After winning the flag design contest, Indiana chose this design for the state flag, making it official in 1917.
Indiana's agriculture includes growing soybeans, wheat, rye, oats, onions, tomatoes, poultry and hogs. Corn is Indiana's main crop.
Indiana is considered to be one of the world's major industrial centers, producing oil, steel and iron products.
Indiana is responsible for a large amount of the limestone used in the United States.
Lewis and Clark set out on their Northwest Territory exploration from Fort Vincennes, Indiana.
The Raggedy Ann doll was created in Indianapolis in 1914 by Marcella Gruelle.
More than half a million letters to Santa are sent each year to Santa Claus, Indiana every year around Christmas.
The Covered Bridge Capital of the World is Historic Parke County, where there are 32 of these bridges in existence.
Indiana has more than 100 tree species native to the region. Prior to European settlement approximately 80% of Indiana was covered in forest. Today this has decreased to 17%.
John Dillinger, a gangster from Chicago, escaped from Lake County Jail in Crown Point in 1934. He carved a pistol from wood and used it as his weapon.
The rapid fire machine gun was invented in Indianapolis in 1862 by Richard Gatling.
The Pan American Games were held in Indianapolis in 1987.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway was home to the first long-distance car race, in 1911. Today, this speedway is home to the Indianapolis 500 each year on Memorial Day weekend.


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