Geography

• Indiana is located in the north-central United States. It is bordered on the west by Illinois, the north by Michigan and Lake Michigan, the east by Ohio and the south by Kentucky. Indiana is located in both the Central and Eastern time zones. The Wabash River divides Indiana diagonally from northeast to southwest.
  
  

History of

• The United States officially claimed Indiana as a territory in 1800. Prior to this, the area was inhabited by various Indian tribes, including the Mississippians. Once the United States laid claim on the territory, the area grew steadily, despite the frontier terrain and lack of transportation. Following Indiana's admission into the Union as the nineteenth state on December 11, 1816, the United States began to lay railroads throughout the state. During the Civil War, Indiana was a major source of support for the Yankee troops.
  
  

Features

• Indiana is the home of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which hosts the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day weekend. In addition, Indiana is home to a variety of professional sports teams, including the Indianapolis Colts and the Indiana Pacers. You will find 24 state parks in Indiana. Some of these protect sand dunes located along the Lake Michigan beach front. The Lincoln Boyhood National Museum, which honors Abraham Lincoln, is located in Lincoln City. This museum is located on the farmland where Lincoln grew up from 1816 to 1830, when he turned 21.
  
  

Identification

• Indiana is a state of extremes. Summers are warm enough in northern Indiana for residents to enjoy the Lake Michigan beach. The winters in this area of the state often produce blizzards and lake-effect snow. Southern Indiana is warm in the summer and cold in the winter. On an average day, there is a fifteen degree difference from the daytime high and the nighttime low in Indiana.
  
  

Significance

• Indiana is one of the nation's leading manufacturing states. The northeastern portion of Indiana is the top producing steel manufacturing region in the United States. Additionally, Indiana produces a variety of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. Another significant product of Indiana is automobile parts, many of which are shipped to nearby Detroit. Corn for animal feed and soybeans are agriculture products produced in Indiana.