America at 250 : Indiana Uncovered — 20 Facts About the Hoosier State, the Crossroads of America and Home of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing

America at 250: Indiana Uncovered — 20 Facts About the Hoosier State, the Crossroads of America and Home of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing

As the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, a state-by-state journey — from the Indianapolis 500 and basketball fever to steel, RVs and the King of Pop’s hometown — through the numbers, the history and the emergency lifelines every traveler should carry.

As the United States marks the landmark 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026 — its semiquincentennial — our state-by-state journey reaches Indiana: the “Hoosier State,” a Midwestern crossroads whose highways, railroads and flight paths have long tied the nation together. Its motto, the “Crossroads of America,” captures a state where more major interstates meet than almost anywhere else.

Home of the world’s largest single-day sporting event, a basketball obsession bordering on religion, and a manufacturing economy that helps build America, Indiana blends heartland tradition with industrial muscle. What follows is a fact-checked portrait drawn from official sources — the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, state agencies and federal registries — followed by the safety information every visitor should keep close at hand.

How Big Is Indiana? About 7 Million People Across 36,420 Square Miles

Indiana is a mid-sized state with a large population. The U.S. Census Bureau put its population at about 7,011,912 in 2024, making it the 17th most populous state, packed into roughly 36,420 square miles — the 38th-largest state by area, and one of the smaller states west of the Appalachians.

The capital and largest city is Indianapolis, a major metro of more than two million in its wider region and the 15th-largest U.S. city. Other significant centers include Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend (home of the University of Notre Dame) and the industrial northwest around Gary, which lies within the economic orbit of Chicago.

Indiana’s geography is mostly gentle: flat glaciated plains and rich farmland in the north and center, rolling hills and limestone country in the south along the Ohio River, and a short but important stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline that includes the Indiana Dunes and heavy industry. Its central location is the key to its identity as a transportation crossroads.

A Heartland History: The 19th State, Admitted in 1816

The land that became Indiana — the name means “Land of the Indians” — was home to the Miami, Potawatomi and other Native peoples before American settlement pushed westward. After the Northwest Territory era and conflicts such as the Battle of Tippecanoe, Indiana entered the Union as the 19th state on December 11, 1816.

The 19th and 20th centuries transformed Indiana into a manufacturing and agricultural powerhouse. Steel mills rose along Lake Michigan, automotive and machinery industries spread through its cities, and the state became famous for its farms and small towns. The origin of the nickname “Hoosier” is famously debated, but its meaning is clear: it is a proud badge of Indiana identity.

The Economy: About $480 Billion GDP Built on Making Things

Indiana’s economy, with a GDP of roughly $480 billion, is one of the most manufacturing-intensive in the country — a larger share of its output comes from making things than almost any other state. It is a leader in steel production, motor-vehicle and auto-parts manufacturing, pharmaceuticals (Eli Lilly is headquartered in Indianapolis), medical devices and machinery.

The Elkhart area in the north is the recreational-vehicle manufacturing capital of the world, building the majority of America’s RVs. Agriculture remains vital too — Indiana is a top producer of corn, soybeans, hogs and poultry. And logistics is central: Indianapolis International Airport is one of the largest FedEx hubs in the world, reinforcing the state’s role as a distribution crossroads.

Schools and Universities: About 1 Million Pupils and Notre Dame

Indiana’s public schools enroll roughly one million K-12 students, and the state has been a national leader in school choice, with one of the country’s largest voucher programs alongside its public and charter schools.

In higher education, Indiana boasts flagship research universities with global reputations: Indiana University, centered in Bloomington, and Purdue University in West Lafayette, a powerhouse in engineering, agriculture and the sciences that has educated numerous astronauts. The University of Notre Dame, near South Bend, is one of the most famous Catholic universities in the world, and a network of regional public universities and community colleges rounds out the system.

Hospitals and Health Care: About 206 Hospitals

Indiana has roughly 206 hospitals, anchored by major systems such as Indiana University Health (the state’s largest), Ascension, Community Health Network and Parkview. IU Health’s academic medical center in Indianapolis, tied to the Indiana University School of Medicine — one of the largest medical schools in the country — is a leading center for care and research.

As with many states, rural health-care access is a continuing concern in Indiana’s smaller communities, addressed through regional and critical-access hospitals. The Indiana Department of Health oversees statewide public-health services.

Getting Around: 1 Major FedEx Hub and the Crossroads of America

Indiana lives up to its “Crossroads of America” motto. Indianapolis International Airport is the busiest in the state and one of the largest FedEx package hubs on the planet, making Indiana a critical node in global logistics. The state has about 118 public-use airports overall.

On the ground, an unusually dense web of interstates converges in Indiana — I-65, I-70, I-69, I-74, I-80/90 and I-94 among them — and Indianapolis is sometimes said to have more interstate highways meeting at its beltway than any other U.S. city. Freight rail and the Ohio River and Lake Michigan ports add further connections.

Culture: The Indy 500 and Hoosier Basketball

Indiana’s culture is defined by two great passions: motor racing and basketball. The Indianapolis 500, held each Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is billed as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and is the largest single-day sporting event in the world, drawing crowds of around 300,000. And basketball is woven into the state’s soul — “Hoosier Hysteria” and the legend of small-town high-school teams inspired the classic film “Hoosiers.”

Beyond sport, Indiana offers the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (the largest of its kind in the world), and rich musical and literary traditions. Columbus, Indiana, is famous worldwide for its modernist architecture.

Sport and the Outdoors: Major Pro Teams and the Dunes

Beyond the Indy 500, Indianapolis hosts the Indianapolis Colts (NFL) and Indiana Pacers (NBA), and the city has become a favorite host for major events, from the Super Bowl to the NCAA Final Four (the NCAA is headquartered there). College sports, especially Indiana University and Purdue basketball, command deep loyalty.

Outdoors, Indiana offers Indiana Dunes National Park along Lake Michigan, the caves and forests of the limestone-rich south, and a network of state parks, rivers and trails. Hunting, fishing and lake recreation are popular across the Hoosier State.

Faith and Places of Worship: Thousands of Congregations

Indiana sits in the American heartland, and religion is a strong presence. The population is predominantly Christian, with large Catholic, Baptist, Methodist and evangelical communities, a notable Amish and Mennonite presence in the northern counties (the Elkhart–Lagrange area has one of the largest Amish settlements in the country), and growing Muslim, Jewish and other communities in the cities.

Because no single official registry counts every congregation, the closest reliable measures come from religious censuses and the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns data on religious organizations, which together point to many thousands of congregations statewide.

The Justice System: About 25,000 People Incarcerated

The Indiana Department of Correction is responsible for roughly 25,000 to 27,000 people in its state prisons, a population that rose again after declining during the pandemic. The department operates around 18 state correctional facilities, while Indiana’s 92 counties run their own jails.

Indiana has pursued sentencing and corrections reforms in recent years, alongside investment in reentry and community-corrections programs designed to reduce recidivism and manage costs.

5 Indiana Laws and Distinctions That Set It Apart

Indiana’s conservative politics and manufacturing economy shape several distinctive laws:

1. Abortion: Indiana was the first state to pass a near-total abortion ban after the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, with narrow exceptions.

2. Right-to-work: Indiana is a right-to-work state, where workers cannot be required to join a union or pay dues as a condition of employment.

3. Permitless carry: Since 2022, Indiana has allowed eligible adults to carry handguns without a permit.

4. Property-tax caps: Indiana’s constitution caps property taxes as a percentage of a property’s value, a voter-approved limit unusual in its constitutional status.

5. Time zones: Indiana has a famously complicated relationship with time, split between Eastern and Central zones and having only fully adopted daylight saving time statewide in 2006.

Famous Hoosiers: World-Changing Talent From the Crossroads

Indiana’s roster of famous natives is extraordinary. Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, was born in Gary, and basketball legend Larry Bird in French Lick. Late-night television icon David Letterman and Grammy-winning producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds were born in Indianapolis, and rebel film star James Dean was raised in Fairmount.

The state also produced author Kurt Vonnegut (Indianapolis), songwriter Cole Porter (Peru), rocker John Mellencamp (Seymour) and many astronauts trained at Purdue — including Gus Grissom and Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon, who earned his degree there. From music to the Moon, Hoosiers have left a giant mark on America.

Who Runs Indiana? Governor Mike Braun and His Cabinet

Indiana’s executive branch is led by Governor Mike Braun, a Republican who became the state’s 52nd governor in January 2025. A businessman who built a national auto-parts distribution company before entering politics, Braun served in the Indiana House and then as a U.S. Senator before winning the governorship, and he has emphasized government efficiency, tax relief and economic development.

On taking office, Braun reorganized the executive branch around a set of cabinet secretaries overseeing groups of agencies, alongside Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith. Key members of his administration include:

As listed by the Office of the Governor (in.gov/gov), key members of the Governor’s cabinet include:

Source: Office of the Governor of Indiana (in.gov/gov). The Attorney General is independently elected; cabinet secretaries are appointed. Officeholders change over time.

Traveling to Indiana? 1 App for Every Emergency Number

Whether you are exploring Indiana during this 250th-anniversary year, following its history, or simply passing through, one piece of preparation matters more than any other: knowing who to call in an emergency. The free InfoCons app puts that information in your pocket. Its dedicated SOS section gathers the essential emergency and consumer-protection numbers for the United States and for the individual states, so travelers and residents alike can reach the right service instantly — without searching, without roaming confusion, and without wasting the precious minutes that matter most in a crisis.

Nationwide Emergency Numbers (as listed in the InfoCons app)

Across the United States, the single universal emergency number is 911, which connects callers to police, firefighters, and ambulance services alike. For non-emergency municipal services and information in many cities, 311 is available. The app also lists 1-800-342-3377 for telecommunications complaints and 202-326-2180 for consumer-protection matters at the federal level.

Indiana Emergency and Assistance Numbers (as listed in the InfoCons app)

For Indiana specifically, the InfoCons SOS section provides a detailed directory. The core lifelines are:

Police, Ambulance, and Firefighters: 911. State Police: 317-232-8248. Electricity emergency: 317-261-8111. Gas emergency: 812-738-3235 and 1-800-589-8142.

Consumer protection: Attorney General — Consumer Protection: 317-232-6330 and 1-800-382-5516. Department of Financial Institutions: 317-232-3955 and 1-800-382-4880. Department of Insurance: 317-232-2395 and 1-800-622-4461. Secretary of State: 317-232-6681 and 1-800-223-8791. Utility Regulatory Commission: 317-232-2712 and 1-800-851-4268.

Support: Child abuse reporting: 1-800-800-5556. Poison Control Center: 800-222-1222. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233. National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888. Animal protection: 877-747-3038. (The nationwide Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached at any time by dialing 988.)

These numbers are provided for convenience and may change over time; in any life-threatening situation, always dial 911 first.

The InfoCons Travel Passport: 1 App, 33 Languages, Every Destination

The InfoCons app is more than an emergency directory — it is designed to function as a genuine “travel passport” for the modern consumer. Available free of charge and offered in 33 internationally spoken languages, it gives users access to accurate, transparent, and independent information wherever they go. For a traveler moving between states — or between countries — that means the emergency numbers, consumer-protection contacts, and practical guidance for each destination are all gathered in a single place, ready before you even land.

The idea is simple but powerful: your safety information should travel with you as reliably as your passport does. Whether you are exploring Indiana during this 250th-anniversary year or planning a trip abroad next month, the InfoCons app aims to be the first thing you check when you arrive somewhere new — helping you make informed decisions, protect your rights as a consumer, and know exactly whom to call if something goes wrong. Download the free InfoCons app and let your phone become your travel passport for a safer, smarter 250th-anniversary year and beyond.

A Fitting Way to Celebrate 250 Years of Independence

Indiana’s story — of Hoosier basketball gyms and roaring race cars, of steel mills and cornfields, of the King of Pop and the first man on the Moon — is a heartland chapter of the American saga, sitting quite literally at the nation’s crossroads. As the country marks 250 years of independence, Indiana embodies the industrious, sports-loving spirit of the American Midwest.

To visit Indiana is to travel through the crossroads where America connects. And to visit it prepared — with the InfoCons app and its emergency lifelines close at hand — is simply to travel wisely. Here is to the next 250 years — happy semiquincentennial, America.

InfoCons Communication Department