Indiana Wesleyan University

Capital: Indianapolis

State abbreviation/Postal code: Ind./IN

Governor: Mitchell Daniels, R (to Jan. 2009)

Lieut. Governor: Becky Skillman, R (to Jan. 2009)

Senators: Evan Bayh, D (to Jan. 2011); Richard G. Lugar, R (to Jan. 2007)

U.S. Representatives: 9

Secy. of State: Todd Rokita, R (to Jan. 2011)

Treasurer: Richard E. Mourdock, R (to Jan. 2011)

Atty. General: Stephen Carter, R (to Jan. 2009)

Organized as territory: May 7, 1800

Entered Union (rank): Dec. 11, 1816 (19)

Present constitution adopted: 1851

Motto: The Crossroads of America

State Symbols:

First explored for France by sieur de la Salle in 1679-1680, the region figured importantly in the Franco-British struggle for North America that culminated with British victory in 1763.

George Rogers Clark led American forces against the British in the area during the Revolutionary War and, prior to becoming a state, Indiana was the scene of frequent Indian uprisings until the victory of Gen. William Henry Harrison at Tippecanoe in 1811.

Indiana's 41-mile Lake Michigan waterfront-one of the world's great industrial centers-turns out iron, steel, and oil products. Products include automobile parts and accessories, mobile homes and recreational vehicles, truck and bus bodies, aircraft engines, farm machinery, and fabricated structural steel. Wood office furniture and pharmaceuticals are also manufactured.

The state is a leader in agriculture with corn the principal crop. Hogs, soybeans, wheat, oats, rye, tomatoes, onions, and poultry also contribute heavily to Indiana's agricultural output. Much of the building limestone used in the U.S. is quarried in Indiana, which is also a large producer of coal.

Wyandotte Cave, one of the largest in the U.S., is located in Crawford County in southern Indiana, and West Baden and French Lick are well known for their mineral springs. Other attractions include Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, and the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park.

Nickname: Hoosier State

Origin of name: Meaning "land of Indians"

10 largest cities (2005 est.): Indianapolis, 784,118; Fort Wayne, 223,341; Evansville, 115,918; South Bend, 105,262; Gary, 98,715; Hammond, 79,217; Bloomington, 69,017; Muncie, 66,164; Lafayette, 60,459; Carmel, 59,243

Land area: 35,867 sq mi. (92,896 sq km)

Geographic center: In Boone Co., 14 mi. NNW of Indianapolis

Number of counties: 92

Largest county by population and area: Marion, 863,133 (2005); Allen, 657 sq mi.

State parks: 23 (56,409 ac.)

Residents: Indianan, Indianian, Hoosier

2005 resident population est.: 6,271,973

2000 resident census population (rank): 6,080,485 (14). Male: 2,982,474 (49.0%); Female: 3,098,011 (51.0%); White: 5,320,022 (87.5%); Black: 510,034 (8.4%); American Indian: 15,815 (0.3%); Asian: 59,126 (1.0%); Other race: 97,811 (1.6%); Two or more races: 75,672 (1.2%); Hispanic/Latino: 214,536 (3.5%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 74.1; 65 and over: 12.4; median age: 35.2.