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Overview
Indiana, situated in the Midwest, is known as the 'Crossroads of
America', with multiple highways intersecting within its borders.
This makes it easy to travel through the state's scenic stretches
of rural land. In the north, Indiana borders the tip of Lake
Michigan, and the peaceful Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
encompasses sandy beaches and expanses of wildflowers. Visitors
might then explore the lanes of the Amish country in the northeast,
wander through the antique alleys of Wayne County, see the historic
covered bridges of Parke County or drive the picturesque Ohio River
byway in the south.
Perhaps because of its long history of settlers and their
clashes with Native Americans, or its strength in corn and soybean
production, the state's name tends to conjure images of endless
farmland and the pastoral lifestyle. In fact, the nickname for
Indiana residents, 'Hoosiers', may derive from the pioneers' shout
of 'Who's here?' when travellers knocked on remote cabin doors. The
origin remains a subject of debate, but Hoosiers are quite proud of
the nickname regardless.
The Hoosier state, however, is not without action. Indiana is a
powerhouse in the sports world. It is home to the Indy 500, one of
the world's premier racing events, and to the Indianapolis Colts,
one of the most competitive teams in the NFL. And, of course there
is Indiana basketball, immortalized in the film 'Hoosiers', which
approaches a religion. The state has a professional NBA team, the
Indiana Pacers, but Hoosiers are equally enthusiastic about college
basketball, including the Indiana University team (called what
else? The Hoosiers), as well as high school basketball. In
education, too, Indiana is at the forefront. Top institutions like
the University of Notre Dame, Purdue University and DePauw
University, and of course their sports teams, are located here.
