Indiana Fun Facts
Information About Indiana, Indiana Geography,
and Indiana Schools

The largest city and capital in Indiana is Indianapolis. The abbreviation for Indiana is IN. People who live in Indiana are known as either “Indianans” or “Hoosiers.” The unofficial name of Indiana is the “ Hoosier State.” The name “Hoosier” came from a famous poem that was printed in the newspaper. The governor liked it so much that he decided to nickname Indiana after it.

Indiana’s state song is “On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away.” The state bird is the Cardinal. The state flower of Indiana is the Peony and the state tree is the Tulip Tree. Indiana’s motto is “The Crossroads of America.”

Indiana is ranked 38th in population and received its statehood on December 11, 1816. The origin of Indiana’s state name is “ Land of Indians.”

Indiana is bordered by Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. It is also bordered by Lake Michigan. The Ohio River runs through Indiana.

There were 982,876 K12 students in the Indiana public schools in 1996. Out of those students 82,221 were first grade students. There were also 56,708 K12 public school teachers in the Indiana public schools system. There were a total of 1,929 Indiana public schools in 1996. (Source: IES National Center for Education Statistics)