Geography and Climate of Indiana
Considered one of the Great Lakes states and nicknamed the “Hoosier State,” Indiana borders Lake Michigan and the state of Michigan to the north, Kentucky and part of the Ohio River to the south, Ohio to the east and Illinois to the west. The Wabash River transverses the state northeast to southwest, flowing south along the Illinois border, making it the longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi River.
The White River also cuts through central Indiana, whereas the Kankakee River weaves through northern Indiana. Nine reservoirs and hundreds of smaller lakes ensure the state’s waterway access, especially in Northeastern Indiana.
Although Chicago is in Illinois, the greater Chicago metro area spills over into neighboring Indiana. The northwest corner of the state is heavily populated, with suburbs such as Gary, bordering Lake Michigan. Fort Wayne, the second largest city, is in the north central region, or the South Bend, where the land is very flat and part of the Great Black Swamp.
The central part of Indiana has many smaller cities, rural areas made up of fields and rolling hills and Indianapolis, the largest city. In the southern tri-state area where Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky meet, there is a mix of farmland and hills, along with Indiana’s third largest city, Evansville. Southern Indiana also has many caves and one of the biggest limestone quarries in the country, used to build the Empire State Building and multiple state capitols.
Indiana has a humid continental climate with cold winters and hot, humid summers. The southern part of the state parallels a humid subtropical climate, featuring more mild winters, while the north has low temperatures and snowfall.
Overall, Indiana has an average rainfall of 40 inches. Snowstorms and thunderstorms occur regularly. Although Indiana does not receive as much snow as other Great Lakes states, it does experience intermittent blizzards from lake effect snow, as well as some tornado activity and flooding.
History of Indiana
An advanced culture of the Mississippi Native American tribe inhabited the Indiana area until around 1450, when the civilization disappeared for unknown reasons. French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier arrived in the region in 1679, claiming the area for France.
Groups of the Miami and Pottawatomie tribes entered Indiana in the late 17th century, fighting with the French for control of the Great Lakes. Later, the land became part of the British Empire, resulting from the French and Indian War. The U.S. won possession of Indiana after the American Revolutionary War, partly from the help of George Rogers Clark, who crossed the Ohio River and took control of several villages in the area.
Vincennes and Clark’s Grant were the only two established settlements in Indiana when the U.S. took control. In order to develop the area further, the U.S. created the Indiana Territory in 1800 and placed William Henry Harrison in charge as governor. Harrison managed the purchase of land from Native American tribes. Tecumseh’s War in 1811 forced Harrison to lead his army against Shawnee tribes and take complete control of the territory.
Indiana officially became a state in 1816, with the goal of becoming a populous, growing area instead of a frontier setting. The construction of railroads, canals and public schools nearly bankrupted the state. However, by the 1850s, the population increased to over a million people. The value of the land also increased more than four times its original worth.
During the Civil War, Indiana became politically active, both as a swing state for presidential elections and as the first state in the west to mobilize for the Union. However, because the Mississippi and Ohio rivers blocked traffic, the population shifted northward to the Great Lakes and railroads in order to export goods.
Indiana’s industry, which included iron, steel production and a pharmaceutical company named Eli Lilly, continued to thrive. Indiana became a strong manufacturing state as part of the Rust Belt.
In 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway launched the state’s auto industry. The speedway became a premier auto racing track and event venue for auto companies to parade the latest products.
The Great Depression was a severe setback to the state’s economy. However, by World War II, mobilization called for steel to make tanks, submarines and battleships, putting Indiana back in business. Urbanization led to a boom in population as auto, pharmaceuticals and steel remained Indiana’s biggest industries.
Demographics of Indiana
As of 2006, Indiana’s estimated population is 6,313,520, with population growth in the counties around Indianapolis and Cincinnati.
Over a fifth of Indiana’s population is of German ancestry, while American, English, Irish and Polish are other major ancestry groups. In the last 15 years, minority groups such as African-Americans, Hispanics and Asian-Americans have doubled in population, particularly in newer counties in the suburbs.
Catholics make up about 20 percent of the population, while 14 percent claim to be Baptist. Other predominant Protestant groups include Methodists and Lutherans. Around 16 percent do not have ties to any religion.
Economy of Indiana
In 2005, Indiana’s total gross state product was $214 billion, with a per capita income of $31,150.
Most of the state’s economy revolves around manufacturing, especially steel in the Calumet region in northwest Indiana. Other manufacturing industries include pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, electrical equipment, chemical products, rubber, transportation equipment, machinery, petroleum and coal, as well as the automobile industry. Although a decline in manufacturing affected much of the Rust Belt, Indiana has managed to keep its economy stable through friendly business practices and employment in a highly skilled labor force.
As part of the Corn Belt, Indiana’s agricultural outputs include soybeans, eggs, dairy products, melons, grapes, tomatoes, and corn used to fatten hogs and cattle. The state is a leader in biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel, as well as limestone mining.
Indiana Law and Government
Republican Mitch Daniels is the current Governor for Indiana, with 10 congressional representatives in the U.S. House. Democrat Evan Bayh and Republican Richard Lugar serve in the U.S. Senate. Indianapolis is the state capital.
Although Indiana was historically a swing state, it has shifted in the 20th century to become a strong Republican state. Democrats have more sway in the northwest and southern parts of the state near major cities. The suburbs, eastern and central parts of Indiana lean heavily towards Republicans.
Indiana Transportation
The Indianapolis International Airport serves the Indianapolis metro area and is currently under construction for expansion. Three other regional airports serve other areas in Indiana, while the Louisville International Airport and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport cater to residents in the southern part of the state. Additionally, northwestern Hoosiers use Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and the Chicago Midway International Airport.
Numerous highways in and around Indianapolis have given it the nickname the “Crossroads of America.” In addition to state routes that pass through Indiana, the main thoroughfares in Indianapolis include I-69, I-70 and I-65, running north to south through the city. I-94 follows the Lake Michigan shoreline, while I-74 connects Indianapolis to Cincinnati and I-64 crosses the Wabash River and Evansville.
The South Shore Line is a commuter rail going from Chicago to the South Bend, while Amtrak and Canadian Pacific Railway have lines running through the state. Over half of Indiana’s borders are water, which means that more than 70 million tons of cargo ships every year through the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Ohio River.
Major Cities and Towns of Indiana
Indianapolis is one of the largest cities in the Midwest. It's a major center of transportation due to location between Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Chicago.
The Hoosier city is known for its love of basketball, as the host to NCAA tournaments. The annual Indy 500 celebrates the finest in speed racing. Ethnic festivals commemorating the heritage of Irish, German, Greek and Italian ancestries occur throughout the year. There are more monuments inside of Indianapolis outside of Washington, D.C. than any other city, including the World War Memorial Plaza.
Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend and Gary are among the other major cities in Indiana.
Indiana Educational System
Indiana University in Bloomington is the state’s flagship university. Purdue University has its own system, renowned as one of the top engineering universities in the nation. The University of Notre Dame consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top schools.
Learn more by visiting the Indiana Department of Education.
Indiana Sports Teams and Recreational Activities
Indiana’s major sports franchises are based in the most populous city, where the Indianapolis Colts play for the NFL and the Indianapolis Pacers for the NBA. Many other minor league teams for basketball, hockey, baseball and soccer play in different cities.
The state’s basketball history comes from the expansion of basketball into high school, where the sport still reigns as the top spectacle. Indiana also has a strong tradition in collegiate sports, with 11 of the state’s universities involved in NCAA Division I athletic programs.
Indiana University has won five NCAA basketball championships, along with seven NCAA soccer championships and six swimming and diving NCAA championships. Notre Dame has won 11 football championships.
The Indianapolis 500, or Indy 500, race takes place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway over Memorial Day weekend every year. During the rest of the year, the speedway hosts the U.S. Grand Prix for Formula One racing and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard for NASCAR.
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