Indiana Overview

The nickname’s origin is not really clear: some say it derived from Sam Hoosier who preferred to hire workers from certain regions of the state because he said they were the best and better than from other regions. Other say that it just derived from the slang form of: Who is here.

The name, “Indiana”, was coined by Congress in 1800 which means, “Land of the Indians”.

The state flag of Indiana has 19 gold stars and gold torch on a blue field. The torch represents liberty and enlightenment. The rays represent far-reaching influence. The stars in the outer circle represent the 13 original states; those in the inner circle are for the five states admitted to the Union next. The star above above the torch represents Indiana, the 19th state. The flag was adopted in 1917.

From 1805-1813, the capital of the Indiana Territory was Vincennes and moved to Corydon from 1813 to 1825. Now a state memorial, the building also served as the Harrison County Courthouse. Indianapolis became the capital on January 12, 1825.

You may know that James Dean was born in Indiana. But did you know that Steve McQueen was as well?

You may know that the Indianapolis 500 race is the largest single-day sporting event in the world, but did you know that Wolf Park near Lafayette is the only known private facility where wolves are allowed to interact with bison?

And did you know that it’s quite likely that the microwave popcorn you’re munching was grown in Indiana’s golden fields?

Daylight Saving Time or not?
Most of Indiana remains permanently on Eastern Standard Time without observing Daylight Savings Time. However, 11 counties in northwest and southwest Indiana observe Central Daylight Time. In addition, five counties in the south and southeast unofficially observe Eastern Daylight Time. Daylight Savings Time begins at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in April, when clocks are advanced one hour, and ends at 2 a.m. the last Sunday in October, when clocks are turned back one hour.

Famous people from Indiana

Read more: Famous people from Indiana

Lincoln’s Boyhood in Indiana

Read more: Lincoln’s Boyhood in Indiana

The Studebaker brothers wrote automobile history

In the mid 19th century, a couple of brothers owned and operated a blacksmith shop in South Bend. Not a particularly interesting fact, until you find out that those brothers were named Clement and Henry Studebaker. Eventually, the Studebakers made wagons for the U.S. Army, and became the only manufacturer to successfully make the transition from horse-drawn to gasoline-powered vehicles. The Studebaker National Museum in South Bend displays 100+ years of Studebaker history. Among the vehicles on display: the carriage President Lincoln rode in the night he was assassinated.

Web: https://studebakermuseum.org/

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, authorized by Congress in 1966, is located approximately 50 miles southeast of Chicago, Illinois in the counties of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte in Northwest Indiana. The national lakeshore runs for nearly 25 miles along southern Lake Michigan, bordered by Michigan City, Indiana on the east, and Gary on the west. The park contains approximately 15,000 acres, 2,182 of which are located in Indiana Dunes State Park and managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Miles of beaches, sand dunes, bog, wetlands, woodland forests, an 1830’s French Canadian homestead, and a working 1900 era farm combine to make the national lakeshore a unique setting for studying humans and their impact on the environment. Dr. Henry Cowles conducted his landmark ecological studies in the Indiana Dunes. Indiana Dunes is ranked 7th among national parks in native plant diversity. Research conducted over the last two decades has revealed 1,418 vascular plant species within park boundaries, of which over 90 are on the state of Indiana’s threatened or endangered list.

Visitors can access the national lakeshore via Interstate Highway I-94; the Indiana Toll Road, I-80/90; U.S. 20, or Indiana State Hwy 12 and various state roads. The Visitor Center is located 3 miles east of Hwy 49 at the intersection of Hwy 12 and Kemil Road, Beverly Shores, Indiana.
Visitors can travel park roads in personal vehicles. Bicycles are permitted on the main roads but are prohibited on all hiking trails except: Calumet Bike Trail, Long Lake Trail, Marquette Trail, and the Lake Michigan shore line from Lake Front Drive to Central Avenue Beach. Bicycles are strictly prohibited off-trail or on sand dunes.

NPS Website: https://www.nps.gov/indu/

Indianapolis 500 – Indy500 car race

Indianapolis 500 race is named the largest single-day sporting event in the world.
It takes place every year on Memorial Day Weekend (Last Monday in May) in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Stadion which is located about 8 mi west of Indianaplis.
About a half million people attend the car spectacle each year.

Web: https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500

Michael Jackson’s Childhood Home and Memorial in Gary, Indiana

Read more: Michael Jackson’s Childhood Home and Memorial in Gary, Indiana

State Essentials

State Name
Indiana  – State Abbr.: IN
Statehood
11-Dez-1816
– Statehood Ranking: 19
Land Area
35,867 sqaremiles  (92,892 qkm)
– Land Area Ranking: 38
Population
6.67 Mio (2017); 6,080,485 (2000)
Capital
Indianapolis
Biggest City
Indianapolis
Nickname
The Hoosier State
Motto
The Crossroads of America
Highest Point
383 m / 1,256 ft (Franklin Township)
Lowest Point
97,5 m / 320 ft (Ohio River)
Timezone
Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5hrs, MEZ-6hrs) as well as Central Standard Time (GMT-6hrs, MEZ-7hrs)
– Dayligh Saving Time
– not in the entire state; only around Louisville, Cincinnatti, Chicago and Evansville
Tree
Tulip Tree
Flower
The Peony
Bird
Cardinal
Song
On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away (Lyrics/Music: Paul Dresser)