Indiana

Indiana is a U.S. state in the midwestern and Great Lakes regions of North America. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Other cities and towns include Bloomington, Gary, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Evansville, Muncie, Lafayette, and Marion. People who live in Indiana are sometimes called Hoosiers.

Indiana's state bird is the cardinal. Indiana's state flower is the peony. Indiana's state tree is a tulip tree.

Indiana has borders with four other states: Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. It also touches Lake Michigan, which is the only one of the Great Lakes that is completely inside the United States.

History
Before it was called Indiana, most people who lived there were indigenous. France colonized the area, renaming it New France. They enslaved the indigenous peoples, and introduced black slaves. In the 18th century, the United States took the area from France. Many slave owners from Kentucky and Virginia moved into the area. By 1820, it had become a state called Indiana. The government ordered all slaves to be freed, but black people were still enslaved there into at least the 1830s.

Attractions
One attraction of Indiana is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the Indianapolis 500 is held every year. The Indianapolis 500 is one of the biggest car races in the United States. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is not actually in Indianapolis. It is in a town called Speedway, which is completely surrounded by Indianapolis.

Sports
The Indianapolis 500 car race is based in Indianapolis. Professional sports teams include the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL) and the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Colleges and universities in Indiana with well-known sports teams include Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame, and Indiana University.

State Capitol
The Indiana Statehouse is the official State Capitol Complex of the State of Indiana

Related pages
 List of law enforcement agencies in Indiana
 List of counties in Indiana
 List of rivers of Indiana

References

Other websites

 The Official website of the State of Indiana
 Official Indianapolis city government website 


Category:1816 establishments in the United States