Indiana

There are 24 Indiana state parks, nine man-made reservoirs and hundreds of lakes in the state. The opening credits of the show include a shot of the Pyramids, a set of distinctive office buildings located near the northern edge of the city. Many other astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan, were graduates of Purdue University in West Lafayette ([1] (http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/history/space_program/hoosier_astronauts.html)). Neil Armstrong's Purdue class ring may be the only such object that has ever traveled to the moon and back. Television sitcom One Day at a Time and Men Behaving Badly were situated in Indianapolis. Indiana is the home state of a disproportionately large number of Astronauts, including such notables as "Gus" Grissom, and Frank Borman. Indianapolis is the second most populous capital city in the United States (including Washington, DC), after Phoenix, Arizona. Counties would remain under their current time zones, but the bill also asks the federal Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over time zones, to reconsider whether more counties should switch to the Central zone. Senator Dick Lugar, who served in the 1970s.

On April 28, 2005, the state legislature voted 51-46 for the entire state to observe daylight saving time starting April, 2006. Past mayors include Steve Goldsmith, Peterson's predecessor, and U.S. More recently, support has begun to grow for returning Indiana to the Central time zone with Central time zone DST, but this has not been popular enough to implement. The mayor of Indianapolis (as of 2005) is Bart Peterson. In the past several years, there have been attempts to place the entirety of Indiana in the Eastern time zone, with Eastern DST, but these have proved impossible to implement. Indianapolis's Union Station, one of the busiest rail depots in its time, employed a young Thomas Edison as a telegraph operator. Eventually, a long-fought battle in the Indiana state legislature led to the current compromise. Indianapolis is the international headquarters of the pharmaceutical corporation Eli Lilly and Company, the US headquarters of Roche Diagnostics, and the world headquarters of Dow AgroSciences.

However, many parts of the state stayed on Central DST the entire year. Both of the US navy ships named USS Indianapolis were named for this city. When DST was formally adopted, Indiana was in the Central time zone. Other nicknames include ‘Circle City’ (after Monument Circle) and ‘Naptown’ (presumably shortened from ‘IndiaNAPolis’, but often taken derogatorily to mean "sleepy" or "boring"). The history of this unique arrangement is fairly convoluted. The most common nickname for Indianapolis is ‘Indy’. Several counties in the northwestern corner of Indiana, near Chicago, and several counties in the southwestern corner of Indiana are in the Central time zone and remain subject to daylight saving time. Republicans still claim other county offices such as Prosecutor, Auditor, Clerk and Recorder.

The area that is within the Eastern time zone is legally exempt from daylight saving time; some counties within this area, particularly Floyd, Clark, and Harrison counties near Louisville, Kentucky, and Ohio and Dearborn counties near Cincinnati, Ohio, observe daylight saving time unofficially and illegally by local custom. In 2004, Democratic power increased yet again in Marion County as the offices of Marion County Treasurer, Surveyor and Coroner swung their way, also the first time since Unigov. Most of Indiana has historically exempted itself from the observation of daylight saving time (DST). However, Republicans lost control of the City-County Council by just 13 votes -- the first time Democrats seized control since the inception of Unigov. The three largest Protestant denominations in Indiana are: Baptist (17% of the total state population), Methodist (10%), Lutheran (5%). In 1999, Democrat Bart Peterson defeated Republican Secretary of State Sue Anne Gilroy, 52 percent to 41 percent, respectively. Four years later, Peterson won in a landslide with 63 percent of the vote. Indiana's percentage composition by religious affiliation is as follows:. cities. For 36 years Republicans dominated city/county government, 32 of which were at the mayor's office.

Indiana is home to a significant proportion of Mennonite and Amish Christians. Until the 1990's, Indianapolis was considered to be one of the most conservative metropolitan areas in the country compared to other major U.S. The Catholic presence is perhaps better known than its size would imply due to the existence of the University of Notre Dame in the state. Transit. Religiously, Indiana is predominantly Protestant, although there is also a moderate-sized Roman Catholic population. Highways. The five largest ancestries in the state are: German (22.7%), American (12%), Irish (10.8%), English (8.9%), African American (8.4%). Airports.

Racially, the state is:. The boundaries of these districts do not exactly correspond to township (or traditional) boundaries due to political concerns and the influence of a 1971 federal court ruling which held that the Indianapolis public schools were unlawfully segregated. Its largest city and capital is Indianapolis, where the nation's most famous auto race, the Indianapolis 500, is held each year. Indianapolis has eleven unified public school districts (eight township educational authorities and three legacy districts from before the unification of city and county government) each of which provides primary, secondary, and adult education services within its boundaries. Indiana is a state of mostly small towns and midsize cities. A merged campus created downtown in 1969 at the site of the Indiana University School of Medicine has continuously grown, with a student body today of just under 30,000, the third-largest campus in the state. As of 2003, the population of Indiana was 6,195,643. The last was originally an urban conglomeration of branch campuses of the two major state universities, Indiana University in Bloomington and Purdue University in West Lafayette, created by the state legislature.

Like most Great Lakes states Indiana has small to medium operating petroleum fields; the principal location of these today is in extreme southwest Indiana in an area somewhat confusingly called the " Illinois Field"". Indianapolis is the home of Butler University, the University of Indianapolis, Marian College, and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. One of the many public buildings faced with this stone is The Pentagon, and after the attack of September 11, 2001, a special effort was made by the mining industry of Indiana to replace those damaged walls with as nearly identical type and cut of material as the original facing. There are also large coal mines in the southern portion of the state. As measured by the number of fans in attendance (estimated at close to 300,000), the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 are the two largest annual single-day sporting events in the world. In mining Indiana is probably best known for its decorative limestone fron the southern, hilly portion of the state. Grand Prix (recently moved from September to June). ( Source for basic manufacturing facts in the above two paragraphs is generally McCoy and McNamara, "Manufacturers in Indiana", Purdue University Center for Rural Development, Research Paper 19, July 1998 ). The Speedway also hosts the NASCAR Brickyard 400 stock car race (currently scheduled in August) and the Formula 1 U.S.

In other words, firms often see in Indiana a chance to obtain higher than average skills at lower than average wages for those skills, which often makes location in the state desirable. (Marmon, incidentally, was an Indianapolis manufacturer.) The "500" is currently part of the Indy Racing League series. This makes it possible for firms to offer, and labor accept, somewhat lower wages for these skills than would normally be paid. The first 500-Mile Race (804.7 km), held in 1911, was won by driver Ray Harroun driving a Marmon Wasp. Second, Indiana's labor force is located primarily in medium-sized and smaller cities rather than in very large and expensive metropolises. Today the track is paved in asphalt, yet there remains a yard of bricks at the start/finish line. First, much of the heavy manufacturing, such as industrial machinery and steel, requires highly skilled labor, and firms are often willing to locate where hard-to-train skills already exist. The track is often referred to as "the Brickyard," as it was paved with 3.2 million bricks shortly after its initial construction in 1909.

The explanation appears to be certain factors in the labor market. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, is the site of the Indianapolis 500, an open-wheel automobile race held each Memorial Day weekend on the 2.5 mile (4 km) oval track. However, Indiana has been much less hit by declines in traditional Rust Belt manufactures than many of its neighbors. In 1987 Indianapolis played host to the Pan American Games. Like most interior states, Indiana is poorly located with respect to emerging coastal markets and new overseas sources of raw materials for manufacturing. Indianapolis has a large municipal park system, including Eagle Creek Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the nation. Surprisingly, in view of the large agricultural sector, comparatively little food processing occurs in the state. Indianapolis also is the home of the Champ Car World Series, formerly known as CART, an auto racing series that competes worldwide.

In addition, Indiana has the international headquarters of the Eli Lilly and the US headquarters of the Roche pharmaceutical companies. The city has been referred to as "The Amateur Sports Capital of the World". Indiana's other manufactures include electrical equipment, transportation equipment, chemical products, rubber, petroleum and coal products, and factory machinery. In addition, the headquarters of the NCAA is in Indianapolis. The Calumet region of northwest Indiana is the largest steel producing area in the USA, and this activity also requires that very large amounts of electric power be generated. Indianapolis is the home of the Indianapolis Indians, a minor league baseball team in the International League, the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association, the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. In the state industry tends to be concentrated in its northern half. Out of the total population, 16.2% of those under the age of 18 and 8.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

A high percentage of Indiana's GDP comes from manufacturing, and much of this activity is heavy manufacturing. 11.9% of the population and 9.1% of families are below the poverty line. Many isolated parcels of woodland remain, and much of the southern, hilly portion is heavily forested ( a condition which supports a local furniture-making sector in that part of the state). The per capita income is $21,640. It should be remembered that while the state is in the Corn Belt, the original land was not prairie and had to be cleared of deciduous trees. Males have a median income of $36,302 versus $27,738 for females. Specialty crops include melons ( southern Wabash Valley), tomatoes (concentrated in central Indiana), grapes, and mint ( Source: USDA crop profiles). The median income for a household in the balance is $40,051, and the median income for a family is $48,755.

The state's nearness to large urban centers, such as Chicago also assures that much dairying, egg production, and specialty horticulture occur. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.2 males. Soybeans are also a major cash crop. For every 100 females there are 93.7 males. Indiana is located well within the Corn Belt, and the state's agricultural methods and principal farm outputs reflect this: a feedlot-style system raising corn, to fatten hogs and cattle. The median age is 34 years. Indiana's Per Capita Income was $28,783 as of 2003. The age distribution is: 25.7% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who are 65 years of age or older.

The total gross state product in 2003 was $214 billion. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 3.04. See also: List of Indiana counties, Watersheds of Indiana. 32.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The 475 mile long Wabash River bisects the state from northeast to southwest and has given Indiana two themesongs, the state song On the Banks of the Wabash as well as The Wabash Cannonball. There are 320,107 households out of which 29.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% are married couples living together, 15.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% are non-families. Indiana is one of the Great Lakes states. The majority of the non-white population lives in the central and north portions of the inner-city area.

Indiana is bounded on the north by Lake Michigan and the state of Michigan, on the east by Ohio, on the south by Kentucky with which it shares the Ohio River as a border, and on the west by Illinois. 3.92% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. See: List of Indiana Governors, Indiana General Assembly. The racial makeup of the balance was 69.09% white, 25.50% black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.04% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. Lugar (Republican). There were 352,429 housing units at an average density of 376.4/km² (975.0/mi²). Evans "Evan" Bayh III (Democrat) and Richard G. The population density was 835.1/km² (2,163.0/mi²).

senators are B. As of the census² of 2000, there were 791,870 people, 320,107 households, and 192,704 families residing in the city, but the metropolitan population was nearing 1.5 million. The state's U.S. For statistical data on the portion of the governmental area that is Indianapolis only (i.e., not counting included towns), see Indianapolis (balance), Indiana. The current governor of Indiana is Mitch Daniels, whose campaign slogan was "My Man Mitch," elected on November 2, 2004. Note: The statistical data in this article represents the entire consolidated Indianapolis-Marion County metropolitan government. The area was claimed for New France in the 17th century, handed over to the Kingdom of Great Britain as part of the settlement at the end of the French and Indian War, given to the United States after the American Revolution, soon after which it became part of the Northwest Territory, then the Indiana Territory, and joined the Union in 1816 as the 19th state. (The street-numbering system centers not on the Circle, but rather one block to the south, where Meridian Street intersects Washington Street — National Road.).

The specific Native American tribes that inhabited this territory at that time were primarily the Miami and the Shawnee. states. 100-400CE). It was part of the Mississippian culture from roughly 1000CE up to the conventional end of Mississippian dating ("contact with Europeans"). Nearly all of the streets in the One-Mile Square are named after U.S. The area of Indiana has been settled since before the development of the Hopewell culture (ca. (Monument Circle is depicted on the city’s flag, and is generally considered the city’s symbol.) Four diagonal streets pass through the corners of the Square but stop one to five blocks (depending on the street) before reaching the Circle. USS Indiana was named in honor of this state. At the center of the Square is Monument Circle, a traffic circle at the intersection of Meridian and Market Streets, featuring the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

A resident of Indiana is called a Hoosier and it is also the mascot for Indiana University, located in Bloomington, in southern Indiana. At the center of Indianapolis is the One-Mile Square, bounded by East, West, North, and South Streets. postal abbreviation for the state is IN. The total area of the Consolidated City of Indianapolis, which does not count the four "excluded" communities, covers approximately 966.3 km² (373.1 mi²). The U.S. These figures are bit misleading because they do not represent the entire Consolidated City of Indianapolis (all of Marion County, except the four "excluded" communities). Its capital is Indianapolis. The total area is 1.81% water.

Indiana, meaning the "Land of the Indians", is a state of the United States. 936.2 km² (361.5 mi²) of it is land and 17.3 km² (6.7 mi²) of it is water. State tree: Tulip tree. According to the United States Census Bureau, "the balance" (that part of Marion County not part of another municipality) has a total area of 953.5 km² (368.2 mi²). State stone: Salem limestone. After a very contentious and partisan debate, the Assembly passed an extremely watered-down version off the original bill; the final enacted legislation consolidates budgetary functions of the City and County, permits the Indianapolis City-County Council to vote to consolidate the Indianapolis Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff's Department, and theoretically permits consolidation of the Indianapolis Fire Department with township fire departments based upon approval of all affected parties. State river: Wabash. Initially proposed by the current Mayor, Bart Peterson, a bill was introduced in the 2005 legislative session of the General Assembly which would have further consolidated local government in the City of Indianapolis and Marion County.

State poem: Indiana (http://www.in.gov/sic/about/emblems/state_poem.html), by Arthur Franklin Mapes. Further consolidation of city and county services and functions would require passage of new legislation by the Indiana General Assembly. State motto: "The Crossroads of America". Currently, Indianapolis is undergoing serious internal debate over how much, or whether, more of local taxation, government, and services should be further integrated. State flower: Peony. However, the mayor of Indianapolis is also the mayor of all of Marion County, and the City-County Council sits as the legislative body for all of Marion County. State bird: Cardinal. Additionally, throughout Marion County certain local services such as schools, fire and police remain unconsolidated.

Non-Religious – 8%. The 11 "included towns" elected to retain their "town status" under Unigov as defined according to the Indiana Constitution (there were originally 14, but 3 later dissolved), but the Indiana Constitution does not define "town status." These "included towns" are fully subject to the laws and control of the Consolidated City of Indianapolis, but some still impose a separate property tax and provide police and other services under contract with township or county government or the City of Indianapolis. Other Religions – 1%. 4(a)(2), which states that the Consolidated City of Indianapolis includes the entire area of Marion County, except the four previously mentioned "excluded" communities. Other Christian – 1%. Also, 11 other communities (called "included towns") are legally included in the Consolidated City of Indianapolis under Unigov, per Indiana Code 36-3-1-4 sec. Roman Catholic – 20%. Four communities within Marion County (Beech Grove, Lawrence, Southport and Speedway) are partially outside of the Unigov arrangement.

Protestant – 67%. For the most part, this resulted in a unification of Indianapolis with its immediate suburbs. 1.2% Mixed race. As the result of a 1970 consolidation between city and county government (known as "Unigov"), the city of Indianapolis merged most government services with those of the county. 0.3% American Indian. While rioting broke out in cities across the United States following the news of King's assassination, Indianapolis was the only major city where rioting did not occur. 1% Asian. Kennedy would deliver an impromptu speech on race reconciliation to a mostly African-American crowd in a poor inner-city Indianapolis neighborhood.

3.5% Hispanic. earlier that day. 8.4% Black. Kennedy would learn of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. 85.8% White. On April 4, 1968, while on route to a presidential campaign rally in Indianapolis, Robert F. Years later, Indianapolis would witness an historic moment in the Civil Rights Movement.

The Klan continued to dwindle in popularity in Indiana and nationwide, and the national organization officially disbanded in 1944. Governor Jackson was indicted on charges of bribery, but he was acquitted in 1928 because the statute of limitations had run out; he completed his term in disgrace. The Mayor of Indianapolis and several local officials were convicted of bribery and jailed. When Governor Jackson refused to pardon Stephenson, he retaliated by going public with information of corruption which brought down several politicians throughout Indiana.

Following Stephenson's conviction, the Klan suffered a tremendous blow and quickly lost influence. However, the power of the Klan would quickly begin to crumble after Stephenson was convicted at the end of 1925 for the rape and murder of a young Indianapolis woman, Madge Oberholtzer. Through the Klan, Stephenson ruled over the State of Indiana, leading a powerful national movement set on gaining control of the United States Congress and the White House. Klan-backed candidates took over the City Council, the Board of School Commissioners, and the Board of County Commissioners.

By then, more than 40 percent of the native-born white males in Indianapolis claimed membership in the Klan. The elections allowed the Klan to seize control of the Indiana General Assembly and place the corrupt Governor Edward Jackson in office. The Klan continued to solidify its stronghold on the state, taking over the Indiana Republican Party and using its new political might to establish a Klan-backed slate of candidates which swept state elections in 1924. The Klan became the most powerful political and social organization in the city during the period from 1921 through 1928.

Stephenson was appointed the Klan Grand Dragon of Indiana and 22 other states; he promptly moved the Indiana Klan's headquarters to Indianapolis, which was already coming under the Klan's influence. C. In 1922, D. The Indiana chapter of the Klan was founded in 1920 and quickly became the most powerful Klan organization in the United States.

A darker period of Indianapolis history began with the rise of the second Ku Klux Klan movement in the United States. However, the natural gas deposits were depleted by 1915, and this contributed to an abrupt end of the golden era. This led to a sharp increase in industries such as glass and automobile manufacturing. The state government offered a free supply of natural gas to factories that were built there.

Much of this was due to the discovery of a large natural gas deposit in central Indiana in the 1890s. Indianapolis entered a period of great prosperity at the beginning of the 20th century, and during this time the city witnessed great economic, social, and cultural progress. The city is a major trucking center, and the extensive network of highways has allowed Indianapolis to enjoy a relatively low amount of traffic congestion for a city its size. Today, four interstate roads intersect in Indianapolis: routes 65, 69, 70, and 74.

Louis. With roads as the spokes of a wheel, Indianapolis was on its way to becoming a major "hub" of regional transport connecting to Chicago, Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus and St. With automobile companies as Duesenburg, Marmon, National, and Stutz, Indianapolis was a center of production rivaling Detroit, at least for a few years. The population soared from just over 8,000 in 1850 to more than 169,000 by 1900. Later, the automobile, as in most American cities, caused a suburban explosion.

The first railroad to service Indianapolis, the Madison & Indianapolis, began operation on October 1, 1847, and subsequent railroad connections enlarged the town. At the time, the 24 mile (39 km) portion of the Indianapolis section of the canal was dug and filled, but only an 8.29 mile (13.34 km) portion connecting downtown Indianapolis with the village of Broad Ripple to the north was ever operational. Construction of the Central Canal commenced in 1836, but Indiana went bankrupt in 1839 from the loans taken out under the aforementioned bill and all work on the project ceased. The Central Canal was planned to connect the Wabash and Erie Canal to the Ohio River, completing a link between Lake Erie in the State of Ohio with the portion of the Ohio River flowing through southern Indiana in order to promote trade and commerce along its length.

The Central Canal was one of eight major infrastructure projects authorized by the state's Mammoth Improvement Bill of 1835. The Central Canal was intended to run 296 miles (476 km) from near Logansport, through Indianapolis, and to Evansville. Through the mid-1800s, a horse-drawn barge canal by-passed the river bringing goods into the city. Indianapolis was founded on the White River under the incorrect assumption that the river would serve as a major transportation artery; however, the waterway was too sandy for trade. While the city lies on the old east-west National Road, the portion of that road that crosses Indiana was not completed until a decade after the city's founding.

Later, Governor's Circle became Monument Circle after the impressive 284-feet tall neoclassical limestone and bronze State Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, designed by German architect Bruno Schmitz, was completed on the site in 1901. Sulgrove, 1884). (See HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY INDIANA by B.R. The Governor's mansion was finally demolished in 1857.

Although an expensive Governor's mansion was finally constructed in 1827, no Governor ever lived in the house at Governor's Circle, as the site in the city center lacked any privacy. It was used as a market commons for over six years. Under Ralston's plan, at the center of the city was placed the Governor's Circle, a large circular commons, which was to be the site of the Governor's mansion. Ralston's original plan for Indianapolis called for a city of only 1 square mile.

Ralston was an apprentice to the French architect Pierre L'Enfant, and he helped L'Enfant plan Washington, DC. The state commissioned Alexander Ralston to design the new capital city. The first white settler is generally believed to be George Pogue, who on March 2, 1819 settled in a double log cabin along the White River in what is now White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis. Prior to its official founding, Indianapolis was a sparsely settled swampy area.

Indianapolis was founded as the state capital in 1821 by an act of the Indiana General Assembly. As of 2003, Marion County's population is 863,216. It is the county seat of Marion County. As of the census of 2000, its population is 791,926, also making it Indiana's most populous city.

state of Indiana. Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. Kurt Vonnegut, novelist. Booth Tarkington, Novelist author of many books, including The Magnificent Ambersons.

Marc Summers, game show host. Ted Stevens, U.S. Senator from Alaska. Oscar Robertson, Basketball Hall of Famer (born in Tennessee, but grew up in Indianapolis). James Whitcomb Riley, writer (born in nearby Greenfield).

vice president. Dan Quayle, former U.S. Jane Pauley, television personality. Wes Montgomery, jazz guitarist.

Jake Lloyd, actor (resident),. David Letterman, talk show host. president (born in North Bend, Ohio). Benjamin Harrison, U.S.

Michael Graves, architect. Fox, actress. Vivica A. Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, R&B music producer and performer.

John Dillinger, bank robber. Joyce DeWitt, comedy actress (born in West Virginia, but grew up in the suburb of Speedway). Senator from Washington. Maria Cantwell, U.S.

Philip Warren Anderson, theoretical physicist and 1977 Nobel Prize winner. Margaret Caroline Anderson, founder and editor of The Little Review. Central Indiana Commuter Services (CICS) funded by IndyGo to reduce pollution serves Indianapolis and surrounding counties. Six Major Interstates serve the Indianapolis area including I-70, I-74, I-65, I-69, I-465 Beltway, and I-865 Connector.

Indianapolis International Airport serves Indianapolis and Marion County.