Native American Indians migrated west into Indiana as European settlers took their lands during the late 1600s. The Shawnee, Miami, Delaware, Mohican, and Potawatomi tribes were just a few of these tribes.

In 1679, French-Canadian Robert Cavelier became the first white man to see Indiana. He was searching for a water route to the Pacific Ocean. French fur traders soon followed, establishing trading posts throughout the area. Forts were built during the 1720s in Miami (near Fort Wayne) and Quiatenon (near Lafayette). Vincennes became the first permanent settlement in Indiana about 1732.

Mining also became a big industry. Natural gas was discovered near Portland and oil near Keystone. In 1889, Standard Oil built one of the largest oil refineries in the world in Whiting. Nearby, United States Steel built its largest steel mill and founded the city of Gary. The automobile and other metal-product industries also greatly expanded. In 1911, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway held the first Indianapolis 500 car race.

Fast Facts!

Indianas Flag

- When did Indiana become a state?

Indiana became a state in 1816.

- What is the population?

6,423,113

- Capital city of Indiana - Indianapolis

- The Constitution - Indiana was the 19th State to be admitted to the Union

- 3 Largest Cities in Indiana - Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Evansville

-Facts about the State Nickname - " The Crossroads of America " ( the junction of interstate highways )

-Name of the State Song is " On the banks of the Wabash " the words and music of the song are by Paul Dresser

-Origin of the name - Named after the Indian word meaning 'Land of the Indians'

Famous People from Indiana:

George Ade humorist, Kentland
Leon Ames actor, Portland
Anne Baxter actress, Michigan City
Larry Bird basketball player, French Lick
Bill Blass fashion designer, Fort Wayne
Hoagy Carmichael songwriter, Bloomington
James Dean actor, Marion
Eugene V. Debs Socialist leader, Terre Haute
Theodore Dreiser writer, Terre Haute
Bernard F. Gimbel merchant, Vincennes
Virgil Grissom astronaut, Mitchell
Alfred Bertram Guthrie author, Bedford
Phil Harris actor, band leader, Linton
John Milton Hay statesman, Salem
James R. Hoffa labor leader, Brazil
Michael Jackson singer, Gary
Buck Jones actor, Vincennes
David Letterman TV host, comedian, Indianapolis
Eli Lilly pharmaceuticals, Indianapolis
Carole Lombard actress, Fort Wayne
Shelley Long actress, Fort Wayne
Marjorie Main actress, Acton
James McCracken tenor, Gary
John Cougar Mellencamp singer,songwriter, Seymour
Joaquin Miller poet, Liberty
Andrew J. Moyer inventor, Star City
Paul Osborn playwright, Evansville
Cole Porter songwriter, Peru
Ernest Taylor Pyle journalist, Dana
J. Danforth Quayle vice president, Indianapolis
James Whitcomb Riley poet, Greenfield
Ned Rorem composer, Richmond
Red Skelton comedian, Vincennes
Rex Stout mystery writer, Noblesville
Booth Tarkington author, Indianapolis
Twyla Tharp dancer, choreographer, Portland
Forrest Tucker actor, Plainfield
Harold C. Urey physicist, Walkerton
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. author, Indianapolis
Jessamyn West author, North Vernon
Wendell Willkie lawyer, Elwood
Wilbur Wright inventor, Millville
Willis Van Devanter Supreme Court justice, Marion

Why Indiana?

I actually chose Indiana because I don't know anything about it. I would like too learn about the shopping, famous people, and just general things about it.