INDIANA FROM A-Z

A IS FOR AGRICULTURE, AMISH, ARCHAEOLOGY

• AGRICULTURE is one of the major in Indiana and more than 70% of the state is farmland. Corn and soybeans account for about half of the farm income every year. The state has several specialty cropsincluding mint and tobacco, and 90% of the world's popcorn is grown in Indiana. Dairy production in Indiana is growing at the fastest rate in the country. Indiana is the number-one duck producer in the country, and is second in the country in ice-cream production. Some Indiana farms raise ostriches in addition to other livestock. The National Agriculture Statistic Service and AG in the Classroom provide information about agriculture. The unofficial State Soil is ?Miami?. There are 4-H Clubs and chapters of Future Farmers of America throughout the state.

• Indiana has several AMISH settlements. Two of the most prominent settlements in the mid-west are located in Northern Indiana. Nappanee is the oldest Amish settlement in the country. The Menno Hof at Shipshewana tells the story of the Mennonites and Amish and attracts more than a million visitors each year.

• September is ARCHAEOLOGY Month in Indiana when there are opportunities to visit digs. An Archaeology Learning Kit is available for students. Indiana University has an Archaeology Reseach Unit. Archaeological investigations have been conducted to assess Indiana caves as historic and prehistoric cultural properties.

• Many species of BIRDS are commonly observed in Indiana. Game birds can be found in the forest. Wetlands and shores have waterbirds. Endangered bird species include bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and trumpeter swans. The Indiana Audubon Society promotes and conducts bird and wildlife research in Indiana, and there are a number of Birding Hotspots. The State Bird is the Cardinal.

• Indiana has many historic BRIDGES and covered bridges. There are also Iron Bridges and Suspension Bridges some of which are still in use.

• Indiana has several BYWAYS including the Ohio River Scenic Route and National Historic Road. The state also has a variety of Trails including Horse Trails and participates in National Trails Day. Indiana has many Roadside Attractions

• The CAPITAL of Indiana is Indianapolis which is the largest city in the state. The first State Capital was Corydon and is now a State Historic Site. Lawrence County is called the Limestone Capital of the world. Parke County is called the Covered Bridge Capital of the World. Elkhart is called the Band Instrument Capital of the world. Vintage stadiums and modern sports facilities have made Indiana the Sports Movie Capital of the country. is called the Covered Bridge Capital of the World.

• Indiana has all forms of COMMUNICATIONS including newspapers, radio, television, telephone, and internet. The state has 6 Area Codes, and many Internet Service Providers. Webcams are located throughout the state.The Indiana Telecommunications Network provides access to government, schools, and public libraries.

• Indiana has 92 COUNTIES. La Porte County is the only county in the country that has two functioning courthouses. Allen County is the largest in size. Marion County has the largest population. Ohio County is the smallest in size and population. Marion is the largest. Nappanee is the only town in the country that uses the same letters twice. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states for the level of local government below the state itself.

D IS FOR DAMS, DINOSAURS, & DUNES

• Indiana has several several DAMS and Locks & Hydroelectric Plants. The Cannelton Locks and Dam provide efficient and safe operation of large commercial tows. The Norway and Oakdale Dams near Monticello provide electrical power, recreation, and other benefits to local citizens. The Norway Dam created Lake Shafer and the Oakdale Dam created Lake Freeman. The city of Wabash was the first electrically lighted city in the country. Solar Power and Wind Power are being investigated, and Geothermal Power is being used commercially.

• Indiana does not have any Mesozoic rocks so it probably did not have any DINOSAURS, but the state has several dinosaur exhibits. More than 60 species of Crinoids have been found in Crawfordsville, and Crinoid (Cyathocrinites multibrachiatus) has been proposed as the State Fossil.

• The Indiana DUNES along the shore of Lake Michigan is a National Lakeshore with trees, ravines, ponds, marshes, and bogs. It has a Junior Ranger Program and an Environment Center.

• Indiana has had EARTHQUAKES in the past, but since it lies in the middle of the North American continent it has remained relatively stable. However, On June 2002 there was an earthquake of 4.0 near Darmstadt that was also felt in several other states.

• The Indiana Department of EDUCATION provides many programs and Services. New Harmony was the first place in the country where boys and girls were taught in the same classes. Information about schools in Indiana is available at SchoolBug and GreatSchools.

• Indiana has many EVENTS and festivals throughout the year including state and county fairs. A State Fair in held in mid-August in Indianapolis. Potawatomi is an annual festival, and there is a Hot Dog Festival in Frankfort. There are Irish & Scottish events including an Irish Festival in Indianapolis, and a Scottish Festival In Columbus. Car shows celebrate the automotive past and present in Indiana. Indiana observes Fixed Public Holidays and celebrates other special days.

• Indiana has a variety of FISH. The State Fish is the largemouth bass. Fishing is a popular activity on lakes and rivers. Indiana has several State Fish Hatcheries.

• The State FLAG of Indiana is blue with nineteen gold stars and a flaming gold torch. Some cities and counties have a flag. Some Native American tribes have a flag including The Miami.

• Indiana has FOOD Festivals and Shows. The state is known for several well known brands of food, and many food companies are in Indiana. McCord Candies has been in business since 1912. Follow the Indiana food food timeline.

• Indiana has a number of GHOST TOWNS. Some houses and the oldest high school in the state are in Weedleville. The town of Byron has a few houses and 2 churches. Much of the town of Old English remains and there is a new golf course. Tippecanoe has cleared land and battlefield markers.

• The GLOBAL POSITION of Indiana is approximately latitude 38-41 north by longitude 84-87 degrees west. Boone is the geographic center of the state and was named after frontiersman Daniel Boone. The state lies toward the middle of the North American continent and is bordered on the north by Michigan, the south by Kentucky, the west by Illinois, and the east by Ohio. NOAA provides information about the topography of Indiana. Geocaching is an adventure game using a GPS, and Indiana has many geocaches.

• The GOVERNMENT of Indiana is closely modeled on the United States Federal Government with three branches - Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.

H IS FOR HISTORIC SITES & HISTORY

• Indiana has many HISTORIC SITES and historic places and historical societies. The Historic Landsmarks Foundation is the largest private historic preservation organization in the country. Fort Wayne has 5 real forts. George Rogers Clark National Historical Park is the site of Fort Sackville. Crown Hill CEMETERY is the third largest non-government cemetery in the country.

• The HISTORYof Indiana dates back over 10,000 years. The state has an interesting Fossil History and participates in National History Day.

• Indiana has several INDUSTRIES including manufacturing, agriculture, mining, finance, and construction. The major industry is manufacturing. Indiana is the top steel-producing state and one of the leading steel centers in the world. The first transistor radio was made in Indianapolis. The first U. S. industrial union was founded at Terre Haute. Trade Shows are held throughout the year.

• A wide variety of INSECTS are found in Indiana including many species of Mayflies and BUTTERFLIES. The Hilbert Conservatory at White River Gardens has a summer show called Marsh Presents Butterflies. The Mitchels Satye and Karner Blue butterflies are endangered. The Firefly is being considered for State Insect.

• Indiana has 5 ISLANDS. Four of the islands are on rivers and 1 is in a lake. French Island has a boat dock. Fox Island is a County Park. There is no development & no access to Goose & Heron Island.

• Jazz is popular in Indiana and there are several Jazz Festivals. The state has many other music events including concerts and festivals. There is a Bluegrass Festival in Beanblossom. Indiana has Symphony Orchestras, Opera Companies, and Dance Studios. The National Women's Music Festival is held at Ball State University in Muncie. Indiana is the national leader in production of musical instruments.

• JELLYSTONE PARK is one of the highest rated campgrounds in Indiana.

• Indiana has 2 KARST regions and over 2,000 caves including 3 show caves - Marengo, Wyandotte, and Squire Boone Caverns. Southern Indiana has over 800 caves. Marengo Cave is a National Landmark and has an underground room called the Crystal Palace. Wyandotte Cave is one of the largest caverns in the country and has the highest underground mountain and the largest stalagmite pillar in the world. Squire Boone Caverns have guided tours. Bluespring Caverns is one of the ten largest caves in the world. Twin Caves has guided tours. The Indiana Karst Conservancy is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of karst features in the state. The Indiana Cave Survey catalogs caves and karst in the state. The National Park Service has a Cave and Karst Program. The National Speleological Society has chapters in Indiana.

• Many aspects of life in Indiana focus on KIDS. The Indiana Kid Zone has information about the state. The Indiana Department of Enviromnental Management has a special Kids Page, and Indiana Kids Election is a mock election for kids in grades K-12. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has a Kids Corner.

• Indiana has many LAKES including kettle lakes that were created during the time of the glaciers. Chain O?Lakes Park has 11 kettle-lakes. Monroe Lake is the largest artificial lake in the state. Lake Wawasee is the largest natural lake in the state.

• Indiana has an extensive public library system. There are also academic libraries, Institutional Libraries, and Special Libraries. The State Library is in Indianapolis and is the oldest state govenment agency. The Indiana Library Federaton help libraries all across the state. The State Poem is ?Indiana?.

• Indiana has 2 MILITARY bases. Camp Atterbury is a training and mobilization site. Grissom Air Reserve Base is a combined military-civilian work force and is one of only 5 Reserve Command Bases in the country. Indiana participated in the Civil War and one of its biggest contributions was providing food for Federal Armies. The Indiana War Memorial Museum portrays the history of Indiana's veterans through several wars. The Indiana Military Museum displays everything from military vehicles to uniforms from the Civil War to Desert Storm. The Army Corps of Engineers has several projects in Indiana. The Indiana National Guard traces its beginnings back to 1801.

• MINERALS mined in Indiana include coal,clay, shale, and limestone which is the State Rock. Limestone is often called the building stone of the country, and quarries have supplied stone for construction throughout the country including the Empire State Building and the Pentagon. The Limestone Museum in Bedford recreates how limestone was used in buildings. Coal is Indiana's number-one mineral. A large variety of rocks are found in Indiana. Gold and other treasures have been found in Indiana. The USGS Geological Survey provides information and maps about Indiana.

• MUSEUMS are located throughout Indiana. The Indiana State Museum is located in White River State Park. The Children?s Museu in Indianapolis is the world?s largest museum devoted to kids. The National Model Aviation Museum is the world?s headquarters for model aviation. The Indianapolis Museum of Art has 154 acres of sculpture gardens and trails. The Indiana State Museum has recently been remodeled. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum is a shrine to race cars & their drivers.

• Indiana was created out of Indian Territory and the NAME means Land of the Indians. It is nicknamed The Hoosier State and residents are often called Hoosiers. The state is known for its many unusual place names, such as Gnaw Bone and Bean Blossom. Five interstate highways meet in Indianapolis and the city is called the "Crossroad of America". The original plans of Jeffersonville City were drafted by Thomas Jefferson.

• NATIVE AMERICANS were the first people to inhabit Indiana. The earliest belonged to the Mississippian culture. They left behind beehive-shaped mounds of earth and are often called the Mound Builders. The most famous mound site in Indiana is Angel Mounds near Evansville. Other Indian groups that lived in Indiana included the Miami, Potawatomi, Delaware, Kickapoo, and Shawnee. One of the largest Middle Woodland settlements can be found in Indiana. The Potawatomi is a Federally recognized tribe.

Indiana has several OBSERVATORIES The J. I. Holcomb Observatory is one of the largest public observatories in the world. Kirkwood Obsevatory is open to the public on Wednesday at dusk. The McKim Observatory at DePauw University is an example of an 1800s observatory. Prairie Grass Observatory has a family star party. Several Astronomy Clubs celebrate Astronomy Day.
• OIL and gas development in Indiana began in the mid-1800s. Production peaked in 1956 but has since declined. New technology offers a potential for the discovery of new reserves in the state. Trump's Texaco Museum in Knightstown has memorabilia of the gasoline station.

• Several OLYMPIC sports organizations have their national headquarters in Indiana. USA Track and Field, Gymnastics, Diving, Rowing, and Synchronized Swimming are in Indianapolis. Special Olympics Indiana hosts people from all over the state.

• Indiana has over 300 PARKS including State Parks county parks, theme parks, and water parks. State Parks have Special Events such as wildfower hikes and fossil digs. McCormick's Creek was the first state park. Tippecanoe River State Park includes Bass Lake State Beach. Clifty Falls State Park has views of waterfalls. Harmonie State Park has a 19th-century experimental town. Theme Parks include Bear Creek Farms, Columbian Park, Fun Spot, Holiday World, Indiana Beach, River Fair (River Falls Mall). Water Parks include Deep River Waterpark, Splash Down Dunes, and Splashin' Safari.

• Indiana has a population of nearly 6 million PEOPLE. Notable natives include Wilbur Wright, inventor/aviator; Dan Quayle, former U.S. Vice-President; and James Whitcomb Riley, poet. Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is the site of Abraham Lincoln's home for fourteen years. The home of Benjamin Harrison , 23rd President, is a National Historic Landmark.

• The United States Mint issued a QUARTER for each state in the order in which it became part of the Union. Indiana became a state on December 11, 1817, and a quarter was issued for it in 2002. The U.S. Mint has a special Kids Page

• QUILTING is popular in Indiana. Quilt Guilds are located throughout the state and there is an annual Heritage Quilt Show. The Quilters Hall of Fame is in Marion. The Wabash Weavers Guild has workshops and guest speakers.

• Take a QUIZ about Indiana.

• Indiana is made up of 6 REGIONS - Central, Eastern, Northern, South Central, SoutherN, and Western. The northern part of Indiana is flat and heavily glaciated. The southern part is hilly, and the central part has fertile rolling plains.

• REPTILES and amphibians found in Indiana in the 1930s are still found in the state. The copperbelly watersnake and the eastern massasauge are endangered. Indiana is part of the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program.

• Indiana has many navigable RIVERS. The State River is the Wabash which flows west across the entire state forming part of the Indiana-Illinois border. The name comes from a Native American word for limestone. Indiana?s Lost River travels 22 miles underground. Another major river is the White River. The Ohio River forms Indiana's entire southern border and is a Scenic Byway.

• Indiana has a wide variety of SPORTS. The Hoosier State Games includes athletes of all ages and skill levels from around the state competing for titles in 14 different sports. There are a variety of Race Tracks. Racing cars compete in the Indianapolis 500 every Memorial Day. Golf Courses are located throughout the state. The East Race Waterway is the first artificial whitewater course in North America and hosts national and world-class whitewater shalom races. Fishing is a popular sport.

• The inner circle of the State SEAL has a woodsman, a buffalo, two trees, three hills, and a sun setting.

• Indiana experiences TORNADOS mainly in April, May, and June. Compared with other states Indiana ranks 15 in the frequency of of TORNADOES. An average of 400 funnel clouds are sighted each year in the state.

• Indiana has all forms of TRANSPORTATION and has an Adopt-a-Highway Program. The state offers several types of Personalized Licenses Plates including a Native Heritage plate. Burton Tunnel is one of the longest railroad tunnels in Indiana. The Indiana Transportation Museum preserves railroad history in the state and offers a School Program and special events. The Federal Highway Administration provides information about Traffic and Road Closures in Indiana. To celebrate its 50th birthday, Matchbox cars issued a car for each state in the order in which it was admitted into the Union. The car for Indiana was the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette.

• Indiana has a variety of TREES including oaks, maples, and willows. The State Tree is the Tulip Tree. The Forest Legacy Program helps identify and protect forest lands in the state. Hoosier National FOREST includes smaller sites including the Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest, Hemlock Cliffs, and Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower which is listed on the National Nistoric Lookout Register.

• Many Indiana cities became stations on the UNDERGROUND Railroad in the years before the Civil War. The main station was in Fountain County.

• Indiana has many UNIVERSITIES and colleges. Religious groups founded some of the earliest universities and colleges including Hanover College the oldest private college in the state. Purdue University is called The Cradle of the Astronauts because many alumni have been chosen for space flight. The Elliot Hall of Music Building at Purdue contains the largest theater in the country. Indiana University has 8 campuses. The Art Museum at the University is world famous. The University also has the largest university-based Archives of Traditional Music in the country and a Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior.

• Several USS Navy ships have been named USS Indiana. The USS Indiana BB-01 saw service in the Spanish-American war and was used as a training ship in World War I. The USS Indiana BB-58 was the 3rd ship named after the state but only the 2nd completed and received 9 battle stars for World War II service.

• Indiana has a wide variety of VEGETATION. The Indiana Dunes has over 1,000 plant species. Many prairie wildflowers are native to the state. The State Flower is the Peony. The American Beauty Rose was developed at Richmond. Unusual plants that grow in the state include orchids, prickly pear cactuses, and carnivorous plants. Indiana has Nature Preserves that serve as living museums. The state has number of invasive plants and several toxic plants including the English Yew which is extremely toxic to all animals. Endangered plants include Milkweed, Thistle, and Clover. The Nature Conservancy has projects in Indiana.

• Four US Navy ships have been named USS VINCCENNES after Vincennes which was the capital of the Indiana Territory and is the oldest city in the state. The 1st USS Vincennes was an 18 gun sloop-of-war. The 2nd USS Vincennes (CA-44) was a heavy cruiser. The 3rd USS Vincennes (CL-64) was a light cruiser. The 4th ship to bear the name of the city is the USS Vincennes (CG-49) .

• WEATHER in Indiana is cold in the winter and warm in the summer with fairly high humidity. Weather changes occur every few days as surges of polar air moves south or tropical air moves up. The Gulf of Mexico plays a part in the weather in the state. The Environmental Protection Agency provides information about Global Warming in Indiana. NOAA provides activities for kids about the weather.

• WILDLIFE in Indiana includes raccoons, foxes, skunks, and weasels. Most of the large animals are gone except for deer. The State Mammal is the white-tailed deer Indiana has a number of programs and funds targeted for wildlife habitat acquisition and biodiversity. Indiana Wildlife Federation supports backyard wildlife habitats. Endangered Wildlife include badgers, bobcats, river otterrs, wolves, and several types of bats. The Indiana Bat is a Federally endangered mammal. Indiana participates in the Wildlife Protection Program. There are 3 National Wildlife Refuges in the state.

• XMAS is the abbreviation of Christmas and is celebrated in Indiana the same as it in the rest of the United States and around the world. The post office in the town of Santa Claus postmarks thousands of holiday cards each year. Holiday World is located in this town. Indiana has had 2 Grand Champion Christmas Trees. The National Christmas Tree Association has information about Christmas trees.

• YMCA organizations are located throughout Indiana.

• There are several YOUTH HOSTELS in Indiana. The state also has Elder Hostels.

• The use of ZIP CODES (Zone Improvement Plan) in the United States began in 1963. Zipcodes in Indiana all start with the number 4. The Postal Code is IN

• Indiana has 2 Time ZONES. Eighty counties are in the Eastern Time Zone and 12 are in the Central Time Zone. The entire state observes daylight savings time. Most of the state lies in Plant Hardiness zone 5a to 6b.

• Indiana has several ZOOS including the Columbian Park Zoo and Fort Wayne Children's Zoo. The Potawatome Zoo is the oldest zoo in the state. The Evansville Mesker Park Zoo has more than 500 animals and features a butterfly exhibit during the summer. The Indianapolis Zoo is located in White River State Park. A Llama Farm near Indianapolis offers tours. Black Pine Animal Park in Albion is a sanctuary for rescued and retired animals.