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Indiana is located in the region of the United States commonly referred to as the Midwest. Indiana's bordering states are; Ohio to the east, Illinois to the west, Michigan to the north, and Kentucky to the south.
Indiana is nicknamed the Hoosier State, and residents are known as "Hoosiers". The publication entitled "Indiana", from Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2001, published by Microsoft Corporation, says the true meaning of this expression is not known, but there are some theories. Jacob Piatt Dunn traced the word "Hoosier" back to the dialect word "hoozer" from northwest England's Cumberland district. "Hoozer" meant any very large land feature. As time went on, this word took on the meaning of "hill dweller". The southern part of the state was the area that was settled first. Another suggested theory is, the word may be a derivative of the phrase "Who's here?" One other suggestion is that "Hoosier" may have originated from the name of a popular Indiana contractor named Sam Hoosier. It is said that people who worked for this man may have been known as "Hoosiers".
Indiana has three individual natural land regions. "The New Book of Knowledge", published in 1996 by Grolier Incorporated, provides the following information on these regions. Two to three million years ago, three massive glaciers moved over the area we know today as Indiana. All but the southern central portion of the area was leveled by these glaciers.
The Southern Hills and Lowlands, which were untouched by the glaciers, have many underground streams, caves, sinkholes, and underground limestone deposits. Two of the most breathtaking caves in the United States are Marengo and Wyandotte caves, which are located in Crawford County.
Central Indiana, where large amounts of till were pushed by the glaciers, is known as the Central Till Plain. Most of this area is flat, and the soil is extremely fertile. Much of the land in this region is used for farming.
The northern section of Indiana is known as the Moraine and Northern Lake Region. This area has many natural lakes, marshlands, bogs, large rock deposits, moraines, and plains. A spectacular result of the glaciers moving through this area are the giant sand dunes bordering Lake Michigan.
According to the publication "Indiana", there are approximately one thousand lakes in the entire state, but most are located in the upper portion. It says the largest natural lake is Wawasee, which is in Kosciusko county. This magnificent lake covers an area of five square miles. The largest artificial lakes are Eagle Creek and Geist reservoirs located near Indianapolis, Monroe Lake Reservoir near the city of Bloomington, and Huntington Reservoir near Marion. "The New Book of Knowledge" adds that 143,000 acres of Lake Michigan belongs to Indiana.
"The New Book of Knowledge" says most rivers in Indiana connect with the Mississippi river. The Wabash river is the longest in Indiana, flowing approximately four hundred thirty-five miles. Two thirds of Indiana drains into this river, says "The New Book of Knowledge". The Kankakee river is located in northwest Indiana. This major river flows west into Illinois. On the border between Indiana and Kentucky flows the Ohio river. The main tributary of the Ohio river is the Wabash. The majority of rivers in Indiana lead to the Mississippi. The publication entitled "Indiana" says many smaller rivers in the state flow north to Lake Michigan or across Ohio and into Lake Erie.
Indiana experiences a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions from one season to the next. "The New Book of Knowledge" lists the average temperatures and amounts of annual precipitation. In a typical January, in the northern region of Indiana, the temperature averages twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit. Down south, the average daily temperature in January is thirty-five degrees Fahrenheit. July temperatures in the north average a pleasant seventy-three degrees Fahrenheit. In the south the average temperature is seventy-nine degrees Fahrenheit during the month of July.
Yearly rainfall in northern Indiana averages about thirty-six inches, and in the southern regions the average is approximately forty-four inches. The north receives about forty inches of snow each year, and the south receives approximately ten inches.
Animals commonly found in the state of Indiana, according to the publication "Indiana", are cottontail rabbits, raccoon, opossum, muskrat, chipmunk, mink, gray squirrel, woodchuck, striped gopher, white-tailed deer, and red fox. "The New Book of Knowledge" includes coyotes in this list. There are also areas where black squirrels can be found. This interesting breed is located mainly in the northeastern part of the state. "The New Book of Knowledge" also lists many game birds including quail, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, and pheasant.
Indiana is known for its many farms. The unmistakable aroma of spearmint and peppermint drifting through the air is quite common on rural Indiana roads. "The New Book of Knowledge" says Indiana has in excess of seventy thousand farms, most of which are less than one thousand acres in size. The same book says hog farming is the chief livestock operation in the state. Cattle and dairy farms are also common.
Indiana has many natural resources to contribute. "The New Book of Knowledge" says limestone is mined from the hills in the south. Gravel, sand, crushed stone, peat, clay, and gypsum are also a natural resource in Indiana. Also mentioned is coal, which comes from the southwestern and western part of Indiana. Major fossil fuels in the state are natural gas and petroleum.
"The New Book of Knowledge" says Indiana ranks ninth in manufacturing in the United States. Indiana's Calumet region, which is located in the northwest, produces almost a quarter of the steel in the United States. Other metals are also produced, and from these metals many useful products are manufactured within the state. Indiana also has manufacturers of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and food products.
Another important part of Indiana's economy comes from the service industries. "The New Book of Knowledge" says retail and wholesale trade employs approximately two-thirds of the workers in Indiana. Service industries include products sold as well as insurance companies, financial services, transportation, social services, utilities, government services, and many other businesses.
Indiana's five largest cities are described by the publication "Indiana". Fort Wayne, with a population of 185,716, is the largest city in northeast Indiana. Machinery and metal products are manufactured there. Evansville, which is located in southern Indiana, borders the Ohio river. This commercial center had a population of 122,779 in 1998. Indianapolis is Indiana's state capital and had a population of 741,304 in 1998. This number one industrial and commercial center is the largest city in the state. Gary had a 1998 population of 108,469. This northwestern city, which was founded in 1906, has played a major role in steel production in the state of Indiana. Lastly, the industrial city of South Bend had a 1998 population of 99,147, and is known for transportation equipment manufacturing.
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