According to babyinger, Indiana is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by Michigan to the north, Ohio to the east, Kentucky to the south, and Illinois to the west. Indiana covers an area of 36,418 square miles and has a population of 6.7 million people as of 2019. The state is divided into two regions: northern Indiana and southern Indiana. Northern Indiana consists mainly of flat plains while southern Indiana consists of rolling hills with steep valleys and deep gorges carved out by rivers such as White River and Wabash River.
The highest point in Indiana is Hoosier Hill at an elevation of 1,257 feet above sea level while its lowest point is along the Ohio River at an elevation of 320 feet above sea level. The climate in Indiana varies from humid continental in northern parts to humid subtropical in southern parts with cold winters and hot summers throughout most areas. The average annual temperature ranges from 40-50°F (4-10°C) in winter months to 70-80°F (21-27°C) during summer months with higher temperatures recorded along its western border near Illinois.
Indiana is home to several large cities such as Indianapolis – the capital city – Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Hammond, Gary, Bloomington, Lafayette among others. The state also has numerous lakes including Lake Michigan on its northern border as well as several rivers that run through it such as White River and Wabash River among others.
Overall, Indiana is a diverse state with a unique geography that offers various opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, boating among others. With its varied terrain ranging from flat plains to rolling hills and deep valleys carved out by rivers; its temperate climate; its large cities; and its numerous lakes and rivers; it’s no wonder why so many people choose to live in or visit this beautiful midwestern state every year.
Administrative Regions in Indiana
According to COUNTRYAAH.COM, Indiana is divided into 92 counties, making it the 19th most populous state in the US. These counties are further divided into townships, cities, and towns. The state’s capital and largest city is Indianapolis, located in Marion County. Other major cities include Fort Wayne in Allen County, Evansville in Vanderburgh County, South Bend in St. Joseph County, Hammond in Lake County, and Gary in Lake County.
The state of Indiana is further divided into several administrative regions. The northern region consists of Elkhart, LaGrange, Kosciusko, St. Joseph and Marshall Counties while the central region includes Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks and Madison Counties. The eastern region consists of Delaware and Henry Counties while the southern region includes Clark and Floyd Counties. The western region includes Lake and Porter Counties as well as the Illinois border which consists of Jasper and Newton Counties.
Each county has its own elected board of commissioners who are responsible for setting policies on taxation and other local matters such as zoning laws or public works projects within their jurisdiction. Each county also has a sheriff who is responsible for law enforcement within their jurisdiction as well as a coroner who investigates deaths that occur within their jurisdiction.
In addition to counties there are also several smaller jurisdictions such as townships which have their own elected officials responsible for providing services to their area such as road maintenance or garbage collection; cities which are typically larger than townships but still small enough to be managed by a mayor; or towns which are even smaller than cities but still have their own elected officials responsible for providing services to their area such as water or sewage treatment plants or police departments among others.
Demographics of Indiana
Indiana is a diverse state with a population of 6.7 million people. According to the US Census Bureau, Indiana is 83.4% White, 9.5% Black or African American, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 2.7% Asian and 0.6% Native American and Alaskan Native alone. There are also small percentages of people from other racial and ethnic backgrounds such as Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (0.2%) and two or more races (1%).
The median age in Indiana is 38 years old with the largest age group being 25-44 year olds (29%). Following this group are those aged 45-64 (26%), those aged 18-24 (17%), those aged 65 and over (13%), those aged under 18 years old (12%) and finally those aged 85 years or older (3%).
The state has a higher percentage of women than men with 50.7% of the population being female compared to 49.3% male in 2017 according to the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 5-year Estimates.
Indiana has a relatively low poverty rate compared to other states in the US with 12.5% of its population living below poverty level according to 2017 estimates from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 5-year Estimates while the national average for that same year was 13%. The median household income for Indiana was $53,482 in 2017 which was slightly lower than the national average of $57,652 for that same year according to data from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 5-year Estimates as well as estimates from 2015 using Current Population Survey data from both sources.
Transportation in Indiana
Indiana has a well-developed transportation system that connects people and goods throughout the state. The main modes of transportation in Indiana include highways, railroads, airports, public transit, waterways, and bicycle paths.
Highways: Indiana is crisscrossed by a network of interstate highways and state highways that provide access to all parts of the state. The major interstate highways in Indiana are I-64, I-70, I-69, I-80/90 (the longest interstate in the US), and I-65. The state also has numerous other scenic routes such as the National Road (US 40) which is one of the oldest routes in the US.
Railroads: There are over 4500 miles of railroad track in Indiana that connect it to other states and countries. Amtrak provides passenger rail service to many cities throughout the state including Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Hammond and others. Freight rail is also an important mode of transportation for goods traveling through Indiana with CSX Transportation being one of the largest freight rail companies operating in the state.
Airports: There are two major international airports located in Indianapolis (IND) and Fort Wayne (FWA). In addition to these two airports there are also several smaller regional airports located throughout the state including Evansville Regional Airport (EVV), South Bend Regional Airport (SBN), Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) and more.
Public Transit: Indiana has several public transit systems that serve its major cities including Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IPTC), South Shore Line commuter rail between Chicago and South Bend/Michigan City area as well as buses operated by IndyGo connecting various parts of Indianapolis Metropolitan Area. Other public transit systems include Fort Wayne Public Transportation Corporation (FWPTC) which operates bus services within city limits as well as commuter buses to neighboring towns such as New Haven and Huntington; Bloomington Transit which operates buses within city limits; Muncie Public Transportation Corporation which serves Muncie metropolitan area; Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation which serves Lafayette metropolitan area; South Bend Transpo which serves South Bend metropolitan area; Valparaiso Interurban Transit System which serves Valparaiso metropolitan area; Terre Haute Urban Mass Transit District which serves Terre Haute metropolitan area; Evansville Metropolitan Area Planning Organization’s bus system serving Evansville metropolitan area among others.
Waterways: There are two main waterways in Indiana – Ohio River on northern border with Kentucky and Wabash River on southern border with Illinois – that provide shipping access from ports along their banks to other states or even countries via Mississippi River or Great Lakes respectively. Several smaller rivers such as White River also serve as important shipping routes for goods traveling through Indiana’s interior regions while lakes such as Lake Michigan provide recreational opportunities for residents living nearby or visiting from other parts of the country or world.
Bicycle Paths:
Indiana is also home to a number of trails and bicycle paths, including the Indiana National Road Heritage Trail, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, and the Cardinal Greenway. The Indiana National Road Heritage Trail is a two-lane, paved pathway that stretches from Richmond to Terre Haute and passes through historic towns such as Cambridge City. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is an eight-mile urban trail that connects neighborhoods, cultural districts, parks and attractions in downtown Indianapolis. The Cardinal Greenway is a sixty-one mile long trail that runs from Marion to Richmond and passes through historic sites such as Whitewater Memorial State Park and Levi Coffin House State Historic Site. These trails provide opportunities for biking enthusiasts to explore the state’s natural beauty while also providing transportation options for those who do not own cars or simply prefer an alternative mode of transportation.