History of Indiana in Timeline
Indiana, nicknamed "the Hoosier State," is a Midwestern U.S. state. It's the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous state. Bordered by Lake Michigan, Michigan, Ohio, the Ohio River (Kentucky), and the Wabash River (Illinois), its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana joined the Union as the 19th state on December 11, 1816.
21 hours ago : Smucker Closing Indianapolis Hostess Plant by 2026, Impacting Local Manufacturing
J.M. Smucker Company announced it will close its Hostess manufacturing facility in Indianapolis by 2026. This decision impacts local manufacturing and the future of the Hostess brand within the region, resulting in job losses.
1900: Publication of Novels
In 1900, Meredith Nicholson's "The Hoosiers" and Maurice Thompson's "Alice of Old Vincennes" were published.
1900: Democratic Governors Since 1900
Since 1900, 11 Democrats have been elected governor of Indiana.
1900: Presidential Voting Trends Since 1900
Since 1900, the state has favored a Democrat for president only five times.
1904: Charles W. Fairbanks Elected Vice President
In 1904, Indiana Senator Charles W. Fairbanks was elected vice president, serving under President Theodore Roosevelt.
1906: Creation of Gary, Indiana
In 1906, the United States Steel Corporation established Gary, a new industrial city on Lake Michigan, named after its founding chairman, Elbert Henry Gary.
1909: End of Fairbanks' Vice Presidency
In 1909, Charles W. Fairbanks' term as vice president under President Theodore Roosevelt ended.
1909: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Construction
In 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed, symbolizing the importance of vehicle and parts manufacture to the state.
1912: Woodrow Wilson Wins Indiana
In 1912, Woodrow Wilson won Indiana with 43% of the vote.
1912: Eugene Debs' Presidential Run
In the 1912 presidential election, Terre Haute railroader and Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 901,551 votes (6.0% of the national vote).
1913: Thomas R. Marshall Becomes Vice President
In 1913, former Indiana Governor Thomas R. Marshall served as vice president under President Woodrow Wilson.
1913: Indianapolis Colts Roots
The Indianapolis Colts have roots back to 1913 as the Dayton Triangles.
1915: Ku Klux Klan Organized
The Indiana Klan was first organized in 1915 as a branch of the Ku Klux Klan.
1916: Fairbanks' Failed Vice Presidential Run
In 1916, Charles W. Fairbanks made another run for vice president with Charles Evans Hughes, but they lost to Woodrow Wilson and Thomas R. Marshall.
1918: Ball State University Founded
Ball State University was founded in 1918 as the East Division of Indiana State.
1919: Martial Law Declared in Gary
In 1919, labor union strike activities in Gary induced Governor James P. Goodrich to declare martial law.
1921: End of Thomas R. Marshall's Vice Presidency
In 1921, Thomas R. Marshall's term as vice president ended.
1924: End of Era in Presidential Elections
From 1880 to 1924, a resident of Indiana was included in all but one presidential election.
1925: Klan Influence and Membership Peak
By 1925, the Klan had 250,000 members and significant influence in Indiana politics, including over half the elected members of the Indiana General Assembly and the governor.
1925: Naismith Visits Indiana State Finals
In 1925, James Naismith visited an Indiana basketball state finals game and later wrote "Basketball really had its origin in Indiana, which remains the center of the sport."
1927: Stephenson Scandal
In 1927, "Grand Dragon" D.C. Stephenson, convicted of rape and murder, provided the Indianapolis Times with lists of people the Klan had paid, leading to a collapse in membership.
1932: Election of Governor Paul V. McNutt
In 1932, Democrat Paul V. McNutt was elected governor of Indiana amidst a nationwide landslide for Franklin Roosevelt and worked to build a state-funded welfare system and reorganized the state government.
1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt Wins Indiana
In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt won the state of Indiana with 55% of the vote.
1932: Roosevelt's Victory
Roosevelt's victory in 1932 was one of only five occasions since 1900 in which the state has favored a Democrat for president.
1932: Purdue Boilermakers National Champions
The Purdue Boilermakers were selected as the national champions in 1932 before the creation of the tournament.
July 14, 1936: Record High Temperature
On July 14, 1936, Indiana recorded its record high temperature of 116 °F (47 °C) at Collegeville.
1940: Indiana Supports Wendell Willkie
In 1940, Indiana was one of only 10 states to support Republican Wendell Willkie.
1949: Desegregation of Indiana Schools
In 1949, Indiana schools were desegregated.
1950: Data Collection Start Date
A 2012 report ranked Indiana as the eighth tornado-prone state, based on National Weather Service data from 1950 through 2011.
1950: Indiana's Population Demographics
In 1950, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Indiana's population as 95.5% white and 4.4% black.
1953: Colts Became Official Team
In 1953, the Dayton Triangles became an official team after moving to Baltimore, MD, and becoming the Baltimore Colts.
1954: 181st Fighter Wing Stationed at Terre Haute
Since 1954, the 181st Fighter Wing of the Indiana Air National Guard was stationed at Terre Haute Regional Airport.
1954: Milan High School State Championship
The 1986 film Hoosiers is inspired by the story of the 1954 Indiana state champions Milan High School.
December 8, 1964: Bunker Hill Air Force Base Incident
On December 8, 1964, a Convair B-58 carrying nuclear weapons crashed and caught fire at Bunker Hill Air Force Base, causing radioactive contamination.
1965: University of Southern Indiana Founded
The University of Southern Indiana was founded in 1965 as the Evansville campus of Indiana State.
1967: Indiana Pacers Begin Play
In 1967, the NBA's Indiana Pacers began play in the American Basketball Association (ABA).
1968: Marion County Supports Republicans
From 1968 to 2000, Marion County supported Republican candidates.
1970: Amendments to the State Constitution
Beginning in 1970, a series of amendments to the Indiana state constitution were proposed, leading to the creation of the Indiana Court of Appeals.
1970: Indiana's Population Exceeds Five Million
By the 1970 census, Indiana's population had grown to exceed five million.
1972: Lake County's Last Republican Vote
Since 1972, Lake County has not voted for a Republican.
1973: Oil Crisis Impact on Automotive Industry
The 1973 oil crisis created a recession that negatively impacted Indiana's automotive industry, leading to downsizing in companies like Delco Electronics and Delphi.
1975: Largest Steel Producing Center
Northwest Indiana has been the largest steel producing center in the U.S. since 1975.
1976: Indiana Pacers Join NBA
In 1976, the Indiana Pacers joined the NBA when the leagues merged.
1980: Ancestry Claims
In the 1980 census 1,776,144 people claimed German ancestry, 1,356,135 claimed English ancestry and 1,017,944 claimed Irish ancestry out of a total population of 4,241,975.
1981: Larry Bird Championship Win
In 1981, Larry Bird led the Boston Celtics to the NBA championship.
1984: Larry Bird Championship Win
In 1984, Larry Bird led the Boston Celtics to the NBA championship.
1984: Colts Relocate to Indianapolis
In 1984, the Colts relocated to Indianapolis, leading to an eventual rivalry with the Baltimore Ravens.
1986: "Hoosiers" Film Release
In 1986, the film Hoosiers was inspired by the story of the 1954 Indiana state champions Milan High School.
1988: Dan Quayle Elected Vice President
In 1988, Senator Dan Quayle was elected vice president and served one term with George H. W. Bush.
1990: Population Growth Concentration
Since 1990, population growth in Indiana has been concentrated in the counties surrounding Indianapolis, with Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, and Hancock counties experiencing rapid growth.
January 19, 1994: Record Low Temperature
On January 19, 1994, Indiana recorded its record low temperature of −36 °F (−38 °C) at New Whiteland.
1994: Grissom Air Force Base Realigned
In 1994, Grissom Air Force Base near Peru was realigned to an Air Force Reserve installation.
1996: Gubernatorial Election
In 1996, the gubernatorial elections ran concurrently with United States presidential elections.
2000: Marion County Supports Republicans
From 1968 to 2000, Marion County supported Republican candidates.
2000: First United States Grand Prix
From 2000 to 2007, Indiana hosted the United States Grand Prix (Formula One).
2000: Largest population declines
Gary and Hammond have had the largest population declines regarding the 20 largest cities since 2000, with a decrease of 21.0% and 6.8% respectively.
2000: Gubernatorial Election
In 2000, the gubernatorial elections ran concurrently with United States presidential elections.
2002: Indiana Rail Plan
In 2002, Indiana implemented an extensive rail plan prepared by the Parsons Corporation.
2004: Marion County Backs Democrats
In 2004, Marion County started backing the Democrats in elections.
2004: Gubernatorial Election
In 2004, the gubernatorial elections ran concurrently with United States presidential elections.
2004: Voting Research Results
In 2005, the Bay Area Center for Voting Research rated cities based on 2004 presidential election voting statistics, mentioning five Indiana cities.
2005: Indiana Residents
In 2005, 77.7% of Indiana residents lived in metropolitan counties, 16.5% lived in micropolitan counties and 5.9% lived in non-core counties.
2005: BRAC Proposal for Air National Guard Fighter Units
In 2005, Air National Guard fighter units at Terre Haute and Fort Wayne airports were proposed to be consolidated at Fort Wayne under the BRAC proposal.
2005: Mitch Daniels Becomes Governor
In 2005, Mitch Daniels became governor of Indiana after 16 consecutive years of Democratic governorship.
2005: Indiana's Median Household Income
In 2005, the median household income for Indiana residents was $43,993.
2005: Republicans Dominate Indiana Government
Since 2005, Republicans have dominated the governorship and hold supermajorities in both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly.
2005: BRAC Proposal Affects 181st Fighter Wing
The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Proposal of 2005 stated that the 181st Fighter Wing would lose its fighter mission and F-16 aircraft, leaving the Terre Haute facility a general-aviation-only facility.
April 2006: Statewide Daylight Saving Time
Since April 2006, the entire state of Indiana observes Daylight Saving Time (DST).
2006: Wind Capacity Estimates
In 2006, estimates raised Indiana's wind capacity from 30 MW at 50 m turbine height to 40,000 MW at 70 m.
2006: Gary Chicago International Airport Funding Approval
In early 2006, a proposal to turn Gary Chicago International Airport into Chicago's third major airport received a boost with the approval of $48 million in federal funding over the next ten years.
2007: Rivers and Streams of Interest
According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, as of 2007, there were 65 rivers, streams, and creeks of environmental interest or scenic beauty.
2007: Last United States Grand Prix
From 2000 to 2007, Indiana hosted the United States Grand Prix (Formula One).
March 19, 2008: Enactment of "circuit breaker" law
On March 19, 2008, a "circuit breaker" law was enacted, which limited property taxes to 1% of assessed value for homeowners, 2% for rental properties and farmland, and 3% for businesses.
November 2008: Indianapolis International Airport Rebuilt
In November 2008, the Indianapolis International Airport was rebuilt. The airport now offers a midfield passenger terminal, concourses, air traffic control tower, parking garage, and airfield and apron improvements.
2008: Barack Obama Wins Indiana
In 2008, Barack Obama won Indiana by a narrow margin of 50% to 49%.
2008: Marion County Backs Democrats
In 2008, Marion County continued to back the Democrats in elections.
2008: Indiana University and Ivy Tech Agreement
In 2008, the Indiana University system agreed to shift most of its associate (2-year) degrees to the Ivy Tech Community College System.
2008: Gubernatorial Election
In 2008, the gubernatorial elections ran concurrently with United States presidential elections.
2010: Indianapolis Population
According to the 2010 census, Indianapolis had a population of 829,817, making it the largest city in Indiana and the 12th-largest in the United States.
2010: Statistical Areas and Government
As of 2010, Indiana includes 16 metropolitan and 25 micropolitan statistical areas, 117 incorporated cities, 450 towns, and a consolidated city-county government known as Unigov in Marion County/Indianapolis.
2010: U.S. Census Population Center
As of the 2010 U.S. census, Indiana's population center was northwest of Sheridan, in Hamilton County.
2010: Indiana's Median Household Income
As of the 2010 census, Indiana's median household income was $44,616, ranking it 36th among the United States and the District of Columbia.
2010: Demographic Data for Indiana
Based on the 2010 U.S. census demographic data for Indiana, the median age is 37.
2010: Indiana Coal Reserves and Renewable Resource Commitment
In 2010, Indiana was estimated to have 57 billion tons of coal reserves with 35 million tons produced annually. The state also has at least 900 million barrels of petroleum reserves. Indiana has made commitments to increasing the use of renewable resources but progress has been slow.
2010: Wind Capacity Increase
In 2010, Indiana's estimated wind capacity increased to 130,000 MW at 100 m, the height of newer turbines.
2010: Religious Denominations
In 2010, the largest Protestant denomination by number of adherents in Indiana was the United Methodist Church, with 355,043.
2010: Indiana Receives AAA Bond Credit Ratings
Since 2010, Indiana has consistently received AAA bond credit ratings from the Big Three credit rating agencies, which is the highest possible rating.
2011: South Bend and Indianapolis Tornado Rankings
A 2011 report ranked South Bend as the 15th most tornado-prone U.S. city, while another report from 2011 ranked Indianapolis eighth.
2011: Population Estimates
Based on population estimates for 2011, 6.6% of Indiana's population was under the age of five, 24.5% was under the age of 18, and 13.2% was 65 years of age or older.
2011: Wind Turbine Installation
By the end of 2011, Indiana had installed 1,340 MW of wind turbines.
2011: Indiana Ranked as Best Place to do Business
In 2011, CEO magazine ranked Indiana first in the Midwest and sixth in the country for best places to do business.
2012: Marion County Backs Democrats
In 2012, Marion County continued to back the Democrats in elections.
2012: Tornado-Prone States Ranking
In a 2012 report, Indiana was ranked eighth in a list of the top 20 tornado-prone states based on data from 1950 through 2011.
2013: NBA Players per Capita
As of 2013 Indiana has produced more National Basketball Association (NBA) players per capita than any other state.
April 2014: Adoption of New Public School Standards
In April 2014, modern, public school standards were adopted throughout Indiana, aiming to ensure students have the necessary skills for college or the workforce.
2016: Climate Classification Update
As of the 2016 update, about half of Indiana is now classified as having a humid subtropical climate.
2016: Mike Pence Elected Vice President
In 2016, Governor Mike Pence was elected vice president and served one term with Donald Trump.
2016: Indiana Fortune 500 Companies
In 2016, Indiana was home to seven Fortune 500 companies with a combined $142.5 billion in revenue.
2016: Marion County Backs Democrats
In 2016, Marion County continued to back the Democrats in elections.
2016: Steel Production in Northwest Indiana
In 2016, Northwest Indiana accounted for 27% of American-made steel.
2016: Donald Trump Carries Indiana
In 2016, Republican Donald Trump carried the state of Indiana.
2016: Total Gross State Product
In 2016, the total gross state product in Indiana was $347.2 billion.
2017: Indiana Companies Recognized
In 2017, Cummins, Eli Lilly, and Simon Property Group were recognized in Fortune's "World's Most Admired Companies List".
2017: Indiana's Labor Force
In 2017, Indiana had a civilian labor force of nearly 3.4 million, the 15th largest in the United States.
2017: Indiana Ranked First in Government Listing
In 2017, U.S. News & World Report ranked Indiana first in the publication's inaugural Best States for Government listing.
2017: College Attendance Rate
In 2017, the rate of Indiana high school students attending college was 65%.
2020: Largest Municipalities
Based on the 2020 United States census, Indianapolis is the capital and largest city in Indiana, followed by Fort Wayne, Evansville, and South Bend.
2020: Doubled Wind Turbine Capacity
By 2020, Indiana's installed wind turbine capacity had more than doubled to 2,968 MW.
2020: Marion County Backs Democrats
In 2020, Marion County continued to back the Democrats in elections.
2020: Donald Trump Carries Indiana
In 2020, Republican Donald Trump carried the state of Indiana.
2020: Indiana Ranked as 10th Hardest State to Vote In
In a 2020 study, Indiana was ranked as the 10th hardest state for citizens to vote in.
2020: Population Increase
In the 2020 United States census, Indiana recorded a population of 6,785,528.
2021: Indiana Graduation Rate
In 2021, the graduation rate was reported at 87.7%.
2022: Homeless Population Estimate
According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 5,449 homeless people in Indiana.
2022: Indiana Graduation Rate Decreases
In 2022, the Indiana Department of Education reported the state's overall graduation rate was 86.7%, which is down one percent from 2021.
2022: College Attendance Rate Decline
In 2022, the rate of Indiana high school students attending college fell to 53%, a significant decline from 65% in 2017.
2023: Indiana's Gross State Product
In 2023, Indiana had a diverse economy with a gross state product of $404.3 billion.
2023: University of Notre Dame Endowment
In 2023, the University of Notre Dame had the seventh largest endowment among private postsecondary institutions in the U.S. (11th overall).
2024: Donald Trump Carries Indiana
In 2024, Republican Donald Trump carried the state of Indiana.
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