My Home State Of Indiana

About three months ago, I started writing "State Of The Month" articles for the WOSIB Newsletter. My first article was on my home state of Indiana. That was because I just signed up for to do the article and there was only about three or four days to get the article done before deadline, lol. So I pick a state I was fimiliar with. I am putting it up in my blog because got to clean my archives out. I will be putting up the other two state articles in my blog too.

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State Of The Month
Indiana
Written By Kathleen

The name Indiana means ‘The Land of Indians’ or ‘Indian Land’. Indiana is known as the Hoosier State. The people from the State of Indiana are know as Hoosiers. How Indiana got the name of Hoosier State and people of Indiana Hoosiers is unknown. There are a lot of stories and legends how it came about. You can find a few of the stories and legends at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoosier

Indiana Symbols

Indiana’s State Flag

The Seal Of Indiana

Indiana Bird: Cardinal
Indiana Flower: Peony
Indiana Motto: The Crossroads of America
Indiana Poem: ’Indiana’ by Arthur Franklin Mapes
Indiana Song: ‘On The Banks Of The Wabash’, ‘Far Away’
Indiana River: Wabash River
Indiana Stone: Limestone
Indiana Tree: The Tulip Tree

Indiana History

It was originally thought that Indiana was inhabited by migratory tribes of ’Native Americans’ as early as 8000 B.C. In 2003, archeologists found a tool carved from deer bone dating back 10,400 years ago. Which basically proved the first thought wrong.
By 900 A.D. a mound building Native Americans called Mississippians settled in Indiana. The Mississippians were dominant in Indiana until 1450 in which their entire civilization totally disappeared for some unknown reason. You can learn more about the Mississippians at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippian_culture
Indiana entered into recorded history when Europeans started to settle here. We were known as part of the ‘Kingdom Of France’ until ‘The French And Indian Wars‘. The British won that war and we became the ’Kingdom Of Great Britain’.
But due to our American rebellious nature called ‘The American Revolutionary War‘, the ’Kingdom Of Great Britain’ was short lived. We, here in Indiana, became a territory of the United States in which we placed under the governorship of William Henry Harrison. Indiana became the 19th state of the United States in 1816.
Following statehood, our new government (Indiana) set out to transform our state from a wilderness frontier into a populated and thriving state. Our state founders started programs for railroad, canals, roads, and public schools which almost bankrupt us. Due to the increase land value and produces saved our butts.
During the American Civil War, Indiana became a political influence in our nation. We were one of the first western states to mobilize our soldiers at the start of the Civil War.
In the 1900’s, we became a strong manufacturing state. Of course, the depression almost destroyed our manufacturing. We recovered during World War 2.
This is only a brief history of my home state of Indiana. If your interested in learning more like the birth place of Abraham Lincoln, Tecumseh’s War, War Of 1812, etc. Here are some webpages that will give you a start in the world of discovering more of my home state of Indiana‘s history: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana#State_symbols http://www.answers.com/topic/indiana

Indiana Economy

Our highest income percentage is in manufacturing like pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, steel, automobiles, electrical equipment, transportation equipment, chemical products, rubber, petroleum and coal products, and factory machinery.
Our major crop is corn and soybeans. Believe me when I say, you can’t take a ride on the highway or a back road here in Indiana during the summertime without seeing rows of corn or soybeans.
We are becoming one of the leading state in the biofuels. Reynolds, located north of Lafayette is now known as BioTown, USA. The town is experimenting with using biofuels and organic fuels, such as those made with manure, to power the town.
Our mining is in limestone and coal.

Fun Facts In Indiana

Santa Claus, Indiana: During Christmas season Santa Claus, Indiana receives over a million letters and requests.
Stolen Profits: In June of 1972, Lowell Elliot of Peru, Indiana was said to have found $500,000 in cash on his farm. It looked like the money fell from the sky. It did. A skyjacker parachuting out of a plane had dropped his stolen profits over Elliot’s farm. Elliot returned the money to the authorities.
Corn: Half the cropland in Indiana is corn.
The Slippery Noodle Inn: Was establish in 1850. It is one of Indiana’s oldest bars. During Prohibition, the Al Brady and John Dillinger gangs were patrons of the inn. The gangs used the building in the rear (originally a horse stable for the Inn) for target practice. Today, several bullets remain embedded in the lower east wall.

Places To Visit In Indiana:

Indiana has plenty of places to visit depending on the kind of person you are. Turkey Run State Park is a park one can go hiking, canoeing, fishing, camping and enjoy nature.
There is Indiana Beach, an amusement park on Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana. They have over 30 rides and attractions. I am not sure if one can do it now but when I was a kid, my brothers, sisters, and I use to throw our popcorn in the lake to watch the cod pop up to eat it. What can I say it was amusing to us besides the rides.
There is Wolf Park. A park which is a preserve for wolfs.
Mounds State Park is known for its prehistoric Indian mounds in Anderson, Indiana. You can go fishing, swimming, hiking, and picnicking.
You can go to Parke County and visit the 30 Cover Bridges driving tour. Parke County has the largest concentrate of covered bridges in our nation.
In Battleground, Indiana, there is a small graveyard and monument dedicated to the soldiers that fought in the ‘Battle Of Tippecanoe’. Behind this is a lovely creek one can sit and enjoy the tranquility of the area.
If you are a person that enjoys art, Lafayette, Indiana, has a lovely art museum.
Oh, yeah, I can’t forget Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace in southern Indiana. The park has hiking, the old Lincoln homestead, the gravesite of Good Ole Abe’s mother.
There are other places to visit in my home state. To find out more go to the website: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/index.aspx