A few good things to know when moving to Indiana.
Indiana is a four season state. Summer is hot and winter is cold. Spring is damp and autumn is outstanding in climate and beauty. Air conditioning and a good snow shovel are both must-haves in Indiana.
Indiana topography differs widely from north to south. While the north is pretty much flatland, the southern part of the state is rolling hills that have been compared to the Smoky Mountains. This area of the state draws thousands of visitors in the fall that come to enjoy the colors of autumn.
With over one million acres devoted to recreation areas, there's always plenty to do in Indiana. Twenty-three state parks offer camping, fishing, swimming, canoeing, bicycling, snow-mobiling, and off-road vehicles. Seven parks have attractive lodges with rooms available at comparable rates. Nine parks have cabins that may sleep four to sixteen people. Hunting is allowed in some forest and conservation areas. For those who want to hunt or fish, a license is required.
Every county is home to one or more museums, from the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis to the Mid-America Windmill Museum in Kendalville. Festivals abound all year long all across the state to suit every interest, from the Rockville Covered Bridge Festival to the Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival.
Indiana has 172 public libraries, many with branch locations and most have a web site, many that are interactive and others that are information only sites. In addition, over forty college and university libraries around the state are available to the public.
Hoosiers, as those from Indiana are called, have access to four International airports, Chicago's O'Hare in the north, Indianapolis in the center of the state, Cincinnati in the southeast, and Louisville in the south.
New residents are required to apply for an Indiana driver's license and vehicle title and registration within 60 days of moving to the state. As with most states, acceptable identification is necessary. Auto insurance is required to obtain a license plate.
Indiana has a statewide 6% sales tax on all purchases except food items. This does not include restaurant food; purchased meals are taxable. The state income tax rate is 3.4% of federal adjusted gross income. County tax rates vary and are deducted from wages, just like federal and state taxes. Property tax is assessed on real and personal property at 100% value. Be sure to ask at the county tax office about any exemptions that will help to lower your tax
Many businesses are required to have a specific business license. Business information is available through the office of the Secretary of State.
There are a few oddities in Indiana law that seem strange to newcomers. You can't buy a car or a mobile home in Indiana on Sunday. Alcohol can't be served on Sunday before noon and sales must end at 12:30 AM. Hotels that have special permits may be allowed to start serving at 11:00 AM, but the ending hour remains the same. Liquor stores are not open on Sunday and are not allowed to sell milk at any time. No alcohol is allowed to be sold on any election day until the polls have closed at 6 PM and not at all on Christmas Day. While establishments may serve alcohol on New Year's Day, no carry-out is permitted. Children are not allowed in establishments that serve alcohol unless there is a family area available.
Indiana has a web site that is full of information for new residents. A free eighteen page brochure is available for download that has information about schools, state agencies, and driver's information.
