The state of Indiana is the 19th US state that is satiated in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. At present, it is ranked as 14th most populated and 17th most dense populated in the country. Indiana is a diverse state with some urban areas and plenty of small industrial cities. The state is world famous for its Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500 automobile race that is held annually over the Memorial Day weekend. The residents of Indiana are known as Hoosiers. The Indiana records its glorious history. The area of the place has been settled since before the establishment and development of an ancient Hopewell culture that dates back 100-400 CE. It was considered as Mississippian culture for the period of 1000-1400 years roughly. They were Miami and Shawnee as being first territories established by the Native Americans. In the seventeenth century, the area was claimed for the New France and was then handed over to the Kingdom of the Great Britain. This was a part of the settlement at the end of the French and Indian War.
The area was given back to the United States after the American Revolution. The state was then included in the Northwest Territory and then the Indianan Territory. In the year of 1816, Indiana adopted a constitution in the month of June and in December; it became the 19th state to join the Union.
The state was not so popular in early years of its establishment till the migration, mostly from Kentucky and Ohio came to an account. Indiana was getting filled up rapidly as the migration was so high in 1820s and 1830s. It is estimated that in 1820s, the population was 147,176 and in 1930s the sales of the public lands for the previous decade reached very high and the population skyrocketed up to 343,031. The figure was almost doubled since 1820s. The first state capital was the city of Corydon, in the southern Indiana.
Another noticeable part in Indiana history is the transportation. In early years, the Indiana was having small, flat boat as its main reliance. The roads suitable for carrying heavy loads were few up to the middle of the century. The most important project was started in the year of 1832 for Wabash and Erie Canal. It became the great factor in the developing the state in spite of the bad financing and bad times it had. The canal turned to be potential for the state as many started migrating towards the Indiana. Later this giant canal fell into disuse and lastly was abandoned because railway mileage increased in the state.
Today, the state has been modernized and is powered with great transportation run by local government. The state is navigated by waterway, roadway, railway and airway. It is one of the most potential states in the United States as annually, over 70 million tons of cargo by waterway reaches and departs from the Indiana. More than half of the Indiana's border is water and therefore, for seaway, it is extremely important port.
