Indiana: Basic Facts and State Overview

Indiana is the 17th most populous state with 6.8 million residents and 36,418 square miles — the smallest of the Midwestern states but among the most densely populated in the region.

Capital and Major Cities
Indianapolis is the capital and largest city (880,000; metro 2.1 million). Other major cities: Fort Wayne (270,000), Evansville (116,000), South Bend (103,000), Carmel (100,000), and Fishers (100,000).

Nickname and Motto
Indiana is the "Hoosier State" — the origin of "Hoosier" is uncertain; the most plausible explanation is that it derives from an English dialectal word meaning "highlander" (brought by Virginia and Kentucky settlers). The state motto is "The Crossroads of America" — Indiana has more interstate highways per square mile than any other state. The state flower is the peony; the state bird is the cardinal.

Geography
Indiana is predominantly flat — the glaciers leveled most of the state. The northern third (drained by the Kankakee and St. Joseph Rivers to Lake Michigan) has extensive wetlands (much now drained for agriculture). The central Indiana till plain is the agricultural heartland. The southern tier (unglaciated) has rolling hills, the Hoosier National Forest, and the Ohio River border. Indiana Dunes on Lake Michigan is the state's most dramatic natural landscape.

Economy
Indiana's economy is primarily manufacturing — the state has the highest manufacturing-to-GDP ratio of any US state. Major industries: pharmaceutical manufacturing (Eli Lilly, headquartered in Indianapolis, is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies), automotive (Subaru of Indiana in Lafayette, Honda in Greensburg, Stellantis/Chrysler in Kokomo and Belvidere), steel (Gary — the largest steel-producing complex in the US), and agricultural processing.

Notable Facts
The Indianapolis 500 (run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1911) is the world's most attended single-day sporting event (250,000+). Indiana has the highest concentration of covered bridges of any state (more than 90 remain, with Parke County having 31 — the most of any county in the US).