Indiana (IN) is located in the American Midwest, the state is the site of the famous Indianapolis 500 automobile race. Indianapolis is the state’s capital and largest city. The automotive and steel industries are important to Indiana’s economy, while agriculture is centered on corn and soybean production. Major tourist attractions include the Indiana Dunes National Park.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Indiana Abbreviation IN Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis (Population: 879 293) Current time 9:46 Time zone EST (UTC-5) time zone is in effect in most of the state’s districts, CST (UTC-6) is in effect in the remaining 12 districts. The state observes Daylight Saving Time EDT (UTC-4) and CDT (UTC-5) Population 6,785,442 (#17 most populous US state) Area 36,417 mi² (#38 largest US state) Admitted to the Union December 11, 1816 (#19 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Indiana
The capital of the state of Indiana is Indianapolis, which was incorporated in 1821. It became the capital when it was completed in 1825.
🏙️ Largest City in Indiana
The largest city in Indiana is Indianapolis, with a total population of 879,293 in 2023. The second largest city is Fort Wayne with a population of 269,994, and the third largest city is Evansville with a population of 115,332.
🕒 Time in Indiana
The current time in Indianapolis is 9:46. Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) is in effect in the 80 counties of the state of Indiana, with a switch to Daylight Saving Time (UTC-4) from March to November. The remaining 12 counties recognize Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) and switch to CDT (UTC-5) during the summer months.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Indiana
As of 2023, Indiana had a population of 6,785,442, making it the 17th most populous state in the USA.
📍 Area of Indiana
Indiana’s total area is 36,417 mi², of which 35,868 mi² is land and 550 mi² is water. Indiana is the 38th largest US state in terms of land area.
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Fun Facts About Indiana
🧩 Indiana Neighboring States
Indiana has land borders with four US states. Illinois to the west, Michigan to the north, Ohio to the east, and Kentucky to the south. In addition, it has a long shoreline of Lake Michigan to the north 40 mi.
📅 Date of Indiana Statehood
Indiana entered the Union on December 11, 1816, as the 19th state in line to be formed on the foundations of the original Indiana Territory.
📛 Nickname of the State of Indiana
Indiana is nicknamed “The Hoosier State”, which one theory suggests refers to the traditional designation of the state’s inhabitants. The origin of the word “Hoosier” is not clear, but it dates back to about the 1840s and is still commonly used in the names of stores or sports teams.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Indiana
The highest point in Indiana is with 1,257 ft Hoosier Hill, which is located in Wayne County.
🏞️ Rivers in Indiana
The longest river in Indiana is the Ohio River with a total length of flow in all states of 981 mi. It is followed by the Wabash River (503 mi), White River (362 mi), St. Joseph River (206 mi), and East Fork White River (192 mi).
🎓 Universities in Indiana
The largest university in Indiana is Purdue University, which was founded in 1869 in West Lafayette and is attended by around 52,000 students. Other major universities include Indiana University Bloomington with 47 thousand students or Ball State University with around 20 thousand students.
✉️ Indiana ZIP Codes
Indiana has a dedicated ZIP code range of 460xx-479xx. For more information, see the ZIP Codes in the USA article, and to look up the ZIP code for a specific address, visit the USPS website.
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Weather in Indiana
The best time to visit Indiana is in September and early October, when temperatures are still pleasant and nature is at its best.
Spring in Indiana is characterized by a significant warming, while in March temperatures in Indianapolis usually range between 34°F and 52°F, in May it is already very pleasant 54°F to 73°F. As temperatures rise, rainfall also increases, with the heaviest rainfall in April and May. Heavy thunderstorms, sometimes accompanied by hail, can occur when weather fronts pass.
Summers in Indiana tend to be humid and warm, with temperatures ranging from 64°F to 84°F between June and August. High humidity can cause the sensible temperature to be even higher. In July and August, thunderstorms are frequent and can bring intense rain and strong winds.
Fall in Indiana brings a drop in temperatures from the 55°F to 79°F usual in September to the much cooler 36°F to 52°F in November. The rainfall is regular, but rather light, so the first half of autumn in particular is a good time to admire the beauty of the local countryside.
Winters in Indiana tend to be very cold, with temperatures from December to February staying around 25°F to 39°F. On some days and in some areas it can drop significantly below 14°F. Snowfalls are frequent, with the highest increments occurring in January. Especially in rural areas of Indiana, freezing rain can cause traffic complications.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Indiana
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Things to Do in Indiana
1️⃣ Indiana Dunes National Park
Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, the main attraction of Indiana Dunes National Park is its three specific sand dunes. The tallest Mount Baldy measures 120 ft. A popular activity is a competition to conquer all three dunes in time. Across the dunes, forests and wetlands, there are 50 mi hiking trails of varying difficulty.
2️⃣ Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the track where one of the most prestigious races, the Indianapolis 500, is run. The capacity of the stadium is a staggering 250,000 people. The stadium includes a museum that displays trophies and historic race cars. For motorsports fans, a tour of the track is also a great experience.
3️⃣ The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
The world’s largest children’s museum is easily recognizable by the giant dinosaur that decided to demolish its building. The museum offers visitors a wide range of interactive exhibits focused on science, history, culture or art.
All of them are designed to be understood by children, but adults won’t get bored. Among the most popular parts of the museum is the section dedicated to dinosaurs and space, a great stop for families with children.
4️⃣ Holiday World Amusement Park & Splashin’ Safari
Holiday World combines a traditional amusement park with roller coasters and a water world with attractions you won’t leave dry. The range of slides and water slides is extensive, some of which have held various world records.
Sections of the park are themed around various holidays such as Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving. There is a compelling reason why this is the case, the park is located in the town of Santa Claus.
5️⃣ Marengo Cave
Marengo Cave is one of the largest and most famous caves in Indiana, found in the town of Marengo, where it was discovered in 1883. Visitors to the cave can choose from two trail options that give the opportunity to see the beautiful stalactite formations for themselves. The cave is a protected national monument, and in addition to the tours themselves, there are hiking trails available in the area.
6️⃣ Indianapolis Zoo
The Indianapolis Zoo is one of the best zoos in the United States, with an aquarium and botanical garden. Over 1,400 animals from around the world live in the pavilions, and the zoo is known for its interactive exhibits, where visitors can touch stingrays or watch dolphins in training. In the botanical garden it is possible to see some exotic and endangered plants.
7️⃣ Brown County State Park
Brown County is the largest state park in Indiana, its main attraction being the views of the hilly landscape. The best time to visit is fall, when the deciduous trees turn orange and red, attracting photographers and nature lovers. The entire park is crisscrossed with a network of hiking trails, and overnight campgrounds give visitors the opportunity to stay overnight.
8️⃣ Newfields Museum of Art
The Newfields Museum of Art in Indianapolis houses an extensive collection of art that ranges from ancient times to the present. The museum’s collection includes works by European masters, Asian art, African sculpture and American modern art. The museum is part of the larger Newfields complex, which regularly hosts exhibitions, workshops and other cultural events.
9️⃣ Clifty Falls State Park
Clifty Falls State Park is located east of Indianapolis and is known for its rugged landscape and beautiful waterfalls. There are several hiking trails leading to the falls, which also offer beautiful views of the canyon and rock formations. The old railroad tunnels, some of which may not be open to the public, provide an interesting opportunity for exploration. There are several campsites in the park where you can stay overnight.
🔟 White River State Park
White River State Park is located in downtown Indianapolis. It is one of the largest city parks in the state and includes a zoo, museum and several cultural institutions. It offers visitors a variety of outdoor activities, bike trails, or picnic opportunities on the banks of the White River.
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Largest Cities in Indiana
The table below shows the ten largest cities in the state of Indiana in 2023, the source of the data is the United States Census Bureau, a federal agency whose main job is to count the population.
City County Population 1 Indianapolis Marion 879,293 Map of Indianapolis 2 Fort Wayne Allen 269,994 Map of Fort Wayne 3 Evansville Vanderburgh 115,332 Map of Evansville 4 Fishers Hamilton 104,094 Map of Fishers 5 South Bend St. Joseph 103,395 Map of South Bend 6 Carmel Hamilton 102,296 Map of Carmel 7 Bloomington Monroe 78,840 Map of Bloomington 8 Hammond Lake 76,193 Map of Hammond 9 Noblesville Hamilton 73,916 Map of Noblesville 10 Lafayette Tippecanoe 71,216 Map of Lafayette -
Sports Teams in Indiana
🏒 Ice Hockey (NHL)
There are no teams from Indiana in the NHL.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
TheIndianapolis Colts are the only team from Indiana in the NFL, having played in the league since the 1953 season and belonging to the Southern Division of the AFC Conference. Until 1983, the team was based in Baltimore, Maryland and was named the Baltimore Colts. The club colors are royal blue and white. The team plays its home games at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
TheIndiana Pacers have been part of the NBA basketball league since the 1976 season, the team is part of the Central Division in the Eastern Conference. The club colors are navy blue, gold and silver, the venue for home games is the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
No team from Indiana plays in the MLB league.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
There is no team from Indiana in the MLS soccer league.
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Indiana State Symbols
Official symbols are decided by the Indiana General Assembly and are only valid after a new law is signed by the Governor. This article lists just a few of the symbols.
State Flag of Indiana
The current flag was adopted on May 31, 1917, based on a design by Paul Hadley, a native of Indianapolis who worked as an art designer and watercolorist. The thirteen stars in the outer circle symbolize the thirteen original American colonies. The five stars in the inner circle represent the five other states that were admitted to the Union before Indiana. The remaining one star at the top of the torch is the symbol of Indiana.
Great Seal of Indiana
The Great Seal of Indiana was adopted in 1816 when the state joined the Union, as indicated by the year at the bottom. The main motifs of the seal are a leaping bison, a forester cutting down a tree, and the sun setting over the hills.
State Flower
In 1957, the peony (Paeonia), which grows throughout the state, was chosen as the state flower symbol.
State Bird
The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a 21 cm to 23 cm long-billed warbler, with males typically being a deep red color, while females are more brown with a hint of red. The state symbol has been the cardinal since 1933, and they are found year-round in Indiana.
State Tree
The official tree of the state of Indiana was declared in 1931 to be the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), which is commonly found in the eastern United States and grows up to 190 ft.
State River
In 1996, the Wabash, which originates in Ohio, flows through Indiana, and forms part of the border with Illinois, became the official river. The total length of the Wabash River’s course in all states is 503 mi.
State Snack
According to the USA Department of Agriculture, Indiana was the largest popcorn producer in the country in 2021, with the most farms located in White and Pulaski counties. That same year, the local legislature recognized popcorn as the official snack of the state of Indiana.
State Stone
Indiana limestone is a concept in the United States, having been used to build the Empire State Building, the Pentagon, and 35 of the 50 US state capitols, to name a few. The typically white-gray stone is traditionally quarried around the town of Bedford in southern Indiana. Limestone has been the state stone of Indiana since 1971.
State Firearm
Among the official symbols since 2012 is a firearm, the Grouseland Rifle, made in the early 19th century by gunsmith John Small for then Indiana Governor William Henry Harrison. It was named after the governor’s mansion, Grouseland.
State Poem
Since 1963, the official symbol has been the Indiana poem by poet Arthur Franklin Mapes, which describes the natural beauty of the state.
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