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Indiana
More About Indiana State
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g. In the winter, skiing, ice skating, and tobogganing are popular sports.
Indiana's highways and roads are lined with reminders of its colorful history. A pre-Columbian race of mound builders developed a highly ceremonial culture here. Their earth structures can still be seen in many parts of the state. In 1673 two Frenchmen, Pére Marquette and Louis Jolliet, wandered across northern Indiana and preached to the Native Americans. Between 1679-1685 Indiana was thoroughly explored by Robert de La Salle and became a part of the French provinces of Canada and Louisiana. After the French and Indian War, most of Indiana came under British control (1763), which was violently opposed by a Native American confederation led by Chief Pontiac. In 1779 General George Rogers Clark occupied southern Indiana with French assistance and claimed it for the state of Virginia. But Virginia was as unable to control the region as the British. Indiana became public domain in 1784 and remained chiefly Native American territory during the next 15 years.
Continuing pressure by the federal government in Washington and by white settlers on Native American land led the great Shawnee chief Tecumseh to form an unsuccessful confederation of Indian Nations, extending from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. The Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, brought about by General William Henry Harrison while Tecumseh was in the South, dealt a fatal blow to the Native American organization. In 1812, Native Americans, their towns and granaries burned by federal troops and militia, made a last furious attempt to defend their land. But Tecumseh's death in the Battle of the Thames in 1813 marked the end of the Native American era. In 1816 Indiana became the 19th state of the Union. Abraham Lincoln was 7 years old when his family moved to southern Indiana in 1816. He lived here for 14 years.
Today, Indiana's industries manufacture transportation equipment, electrical supplies, heavy industrial machinery, and food products. More than 60 percent of the building limestone used in the United States is supplied by quarries in the Hoosier State. Soft coal deposits, mainly found in southwest Indiana, are the most abundant natural resource. Indiana's principal farm products are soybeans, tomatoes, corn, spearmint, peppermint, livestock, poultry, and wheat and dairy products.
Several explanations have been offered as to why Indianans are called "Hoosiers." The most logical is that in 1826, a contractor on the Ohio Falls Canal at Louisville, Samuel Hoosier, gave employment preference to men living on the Indiana side of the river. The men in his work gangs were called "Hoosier's men," then "Hoosiers."
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Indiana
Statistics & Vital Data |  |
| Population: | 6080485 |
| Area: | 35,936 square miles |
| Timezone: | Eastern and Central |
| Elevation: | 320-1,257 feet |
| High
point: | Near Bethel (Wayne County) |
| Joined
Union: | December 11, 1816 (19th state) |
| State
Capital: | Indianapolis |
| State
Motto: | "The crossroads of America" |
| State
Flower: | Peony |
| State
Bird: | Cardinal |
| State
Tree: | Tulip |
| State
Fair: | Mid-August in Indianapolis |
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Indiana Events >> | | View
Indiana Attractions >> |
Indiana Parks, Recreation Areas, & Historical Landmarks:
State Parks - Water-related activities, hiking, biking, various other sports, picnicking and visitor centers, as well as camping, are available in many of these areas. Standard admission fees to state parks are: $4/carload (out-of-state, $5/carload); $22/year permit; use of horses, fee varies. Camping, limited to 2 weeks, is on a first-come basis at most parks: $8-$21/night/site/family; winter, half price. Camping permitted all year except at Bass Lake. Campsite reservations are accepted for all parks except at Harmonie, Huntington Lake, Shades, Summit Lake, and Tippecanoe. Several parks have housekeeping cabins. Six parks have inns, open all year. Pools and beaches are open from Memorial Day-late Aug (varies at each park); swimming permitted only when lifeguards are on duty. Pets on leash only. For detailed information contact the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks and Reservoirs, 402 W Washington, W-298, Indianapolis 46204; 317/232-4124.
View
list of all parks in Indiana >> | |
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Indiana
Weather and Climate:
Hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters are the norm in Indiana. The flat terrain provides no buffer against wind and storms, and tornadoes are not uncommon in spring and summer. | |
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Fishing/Hunting
Opportunities in Indiana:
Nonresident licenses are available for hunting, 5-day hunting, deer hunting, fishing (1-, 3- and 7-day; annual), and trapping; trout/salmon, game bird, and waterfowl stamps. Resident licenses are available for hunting, deer hunting, fishing, 1-day fishing, trapping, and turkey hunting. Youth hunting license allows children under 18 to hunt all game. Residents ages 17-65 and all non-residents must obtain fishing license. For additional information, including exceptions, bag limits, and license fees, contact Division of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, 402 W Washington St, Room W273, Indianapolis 46204; 317/232-4080. A free quarterly newsletter, Focus, is available to keep sportspersons up to date on division activities. Write to Focus at the same address. | |
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| | Additional Indiana Visitor Information:
Six-issue subscriptions to Outdoor Indiana may be obtained by contacting Department of Natural Resources, 402 W Washington, Room W-160, Indianapolis 46204; 317/232-4200. This official publication of the Department of Natural Resources is $10 for 1 year or $18 for 2 years.
Brochures on attractions, calendar of events, information about historic sites, and other subjects are available from the Indiana Department of Commerce, Tourism & Film Development Division, One N Capitol St, Suite 700, Indianapolis 46204; 800/289-6646.
There are Welcome Centers on highways entering southern Indiana as well as travel information centers located at highway rest areas throughout Indiana. Those who stop by will find information and brochures most helpful in planning stops at points of interest. All are open daily, 24 hours. |
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