Indiana, constituent state of the United States of America. The state sits, as its motto claims, at “the crossroads of America.” It borders Lake Michigan and the state of Michigan to the north, Ohio to the east, Kentucky to the south, and Illinois to the west, making it an integral part of the American Midwest. It ranks 38th among the 50 U.S. states in terms of total area and, except for Hawaii, is the smallest state west of the Appalachian Mountains. With a name that is generally thought to mean “land of the Indians,” Indiana was admitted on December 11, 1816, as the 19th state of the union. Its capital has been at Indianapolis since 1825.
With a total area (land and water) of 36,418 square miles (94,320 km2), Indiana ranks as the 38th largest state in size. The state has a maximum dimension north to south of 250 miles (400 km) and a maximum east to west dimension of 145 miles (233 km).
Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and its largest city. Indiana’s four largest metropolitan areas are Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, and South Bend. The table below lists the state’s twenty largest municipalities based on the 2020 United States Census.
Indiana has four distinct seasons and a temperate climate, usually escaping extremes of cold and heat. In July, temperatures in both the north and the south normally drop into the mid-60s F (about 17 °C) and rise into the mid- to upper 80s F (28–32 °C) daily.
Indiana has an extensive history with auto racing. Indianapolis hosts the Indianapolis 500 mile race over Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway every May. The name of the race is usually shortened to „Indy 500“ and also goes by the nickname „The Greatest Spectacle in Racing“. The race attracts more than 250,000 people every year, making it the largest single-day sporting event in the world.
While other states might quibble with Indiana’s claim to be the most basketball-crazy state in the country, the game is undeniably a way of life for many Indianans, and almost every citizen seems to participate in Hoosier Hysteria, the state’s annual high-school tournament. The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle celebrates this rich tradition and pays homage to a long list of outstanding players and coaches.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana; https://www.britannica.com/place/Indiana-state