History of Indiana in Timeline

Indiana, also known as "the Hoosier State," is located in the Midwestern United States. It is bordered by Lake Michigan and Michigan to the north, Ohio to the east, Kentucky to the south (separated by the Ohio River), and Illinois to the west (separated by the Wabash River). Indiana ranks as the 38th largest state in terms of area and the 17th most populous. Indianapolis is the state's capital and largest city. Indiana became the 19th state to join the Union on December 11, 1816.

1900: Golden Age of Indiana Literature and the Hoosier Identity

Around 1900, Indiana's "golden age of literature" was marked by the publication of several novels that solidified the state's image as the "American heartland," including Meredith Nicholson's "The Hoosiers."

1900: Democratic Presidential Victories

Since 1900, Indiana has supported a Democratic presidential candidate only five times.

1900: Democratic Governors

Since 1900, eleven Democrats have served as governor of Indiana.

1904: Indiana Senator Elected Vice President

Indiana Senator Charles W. Fairbanks was elected vice president in 1904, serving under President Theodore Roosevelt until 1909.

1906: Growth of Industry in Indiana

In 1906, the United States Steel Corporation founded Gary, a new industrial city on Lake Michigan, named after its founding chairman, Elbert Henry Gary.

1909: End of Fairbanks' Vice Presidency

Charles W. Fairbanks, a Senator from Indiana, concluded his term as vice president under President Theodore Roosevelt in 1909.

1909: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Construction

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed in 1909, symbolizing the importance of vehicle and parts manufacturing to Indiana. The Haynes-Apperson company, the nation's first commercially successful auto company, began production in Kokomo in 1896.

1912: Eugene Debs' Presidential Run

In 1912, Terre Haute railroader and Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 901,551 votes (6% of the national vote) in the presidential election.

1912: Woodrow Wilson's Victory

In 1912, Woodrow Wilson became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Indiana in the 20th century.

1913: Thomas R. Marshall's Vice Presidency

Former Indiana Governor Thomas R. Marshall began his term as vice president in 1913, serving under President Woodrow Wilson.

1913: Dayton Triangles Founded

The Indianapolis Colts franchise traces its roots back to 1913 with the founding of the Dayton Triangles.

1915: Rise of the Indiana Klan

The Indiana Klan, a branch of the Ku Klux Klan, was formed in 1915. It targeted groups like "Bolsheviks, Catholics, Jews, Negroes, bootleggers, pacifists, evolutionists, foreigners, and all persons it considered immoral" in the name of "hundred-per-cent Americanism".

1916: Fairbanks' Second Run for Vice President

Charles W. Fairbanks, former Indiana senator, ran for vice president again in 1916 with Charles Evans Hughes. They lost to Woodrow Wilson and former Indiana Governor Thomas R. Marshall.

1918: Ball State University Founding

Ball State University was founded in 1918 as the East Division of Indiana State.

1919: Labor Unrest and Martial Law

In 1919, labor union strikes in Gary led Governor James P. Goodrich to declare martial law.

1921: End of Marshall's Vice Presidency

In 1921, Thomas R. Marshall, a former Indiana Governor, finished his term as vice president under Woodrow Wilson.

1924: Indiana in Presidential Elections

Between 1880 and 1924, Indiana residents participated in nearly all presidential elections, including multiple candidates for president and vice-president from Indiana.

1925: Indiana Klan's Peak and Downfall

By 1925, the Indiana Klan had 250,000 members, including many high-ranking officials. However, the conviction of "Grand Dragon" D.C. Stephenson for the rape and murder of Madge Oberholtzer led to the exposure of Klan corruption and the collapse of its membership.

1925: Naismith Visits Indiana

In 1925, James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, visited Indiana for a state finals game and acknowledged the state's importance to the sport.

1927: D.C. Stephenson's Revelations

In 1927, D.C. Stephenson, denied a pardon, revealed lists of individuals the Klan had bribed to the Indianapolis Times, furthering the Klan's downfall.

1932: Purdue Boilermakers National Championship

In 1932, before the creation of the NCAA tournament, the Purdue Boilermakers were recognized as national champions in men's basketball.

July 14, 1936: Record High Temperature in Indiana

Indiana's record high temperature of 116 °F (47 °C) was recorded on July 14, 1936, in Collegeville.

1936: Franklin D. Roosevelt's Victory

In 1936, Franklin D. Roosevelt won Indiana in the presidential election.

1940: Republican Support

In 1940, Indiana was one of only ten states that supported Republican candidate Wendell Willkie for president.

1949: Desegregation of Indiana Schools

Indiana schools were desegregated in 1949.

1950: Indiana Demographics

The 1950 U.S. Census reported Indiana's population as 95.5% white and 4.4% Black.

1950: Start of Tornado Data Collection

The National Weather Service began collecting data on tornadoes in 1950, which was used in later reports to rank tornado-prone states.

1953: Colts Move to Baltimore

The Colts moved to Baltimore in 1953, becoming an official team.

1954: Milan High School Championship

In 1954, Milan High School won the Indiana state basketball championship, inspiring the movie "Hoosiers".

1954: 181st Fighter Wing Stationed at Terre Haute Regional Airport

The 181st Fighter Wing of the Indiana Air National Guard was stationed at Terre Haute Regional Airport in 1954.

December 8, 1964: Nuclear Weapons Accident

On December 8, 1964, a Convair B-58 carrying five nuclear weapons, including a 9-megaton thermonuclear weapon, crashed and burned at Bunker Hill Air Force Base, contaminating the area with radioactivity.

1964: Lyndon B. Johnson's Victory

In 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson won Indiana with 56% of the vote in the presidential election.

1965: University of Southern Indiana Founding

The University of Southern Indiana was founded in 1965 as the Evansville campus of Indiana State.

1967: Indiana Pacers Begin Play

In 1967, the Indiana Pacers began playing in the American Basketball Association (ABA).

1968: Marion County Voting Trends

From 1968 to 2000, Marion County, Indiana's most populous county, consistently supported Republican presidential candidates.

1970: Indiana's Population Growth

Indiana's population surpassed five million by the 1970 census.

1970: Amendments to Indiana Constitution

Starting in 1970, amendments to the Indiana Constitution were proposed, leading to the creation of the Indiana Court of Appeals and changes in judicial appointment procedures.

1972: Lake County Voting Trends

Lake County, Indiana's second-most populous county, has strongly supported the Democratic party and has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1972.

1973: 1973 Oil Crisis and Indiana's Economy

The 1973 oil crisis caused a recession that negatively impacted Indiana's automotive industry, resulting in downsizing and high unemployment in cities like Anderson, Muncie, and Kokomo.

1975: Northwest Indiana Steel Production

Since 1975, Northwest Indiana has been the largest steel-producing center in the United States.

1976: Pacers Join the NBA

In 1976, the Indiana Pacers joined the NBA following the ABA-NBA merger.

1980: Ancestry in Indiana

The 1980 census revealed the largest reported ancestries in Indiana. German ancestry led with 18.8%, followed by English (11.1%), Irish (9.8%), and Polish (2.6%). A significant portion of those claiming "American" ancestry (7.2%) were likely of European descent, with long-standing family histories in North America.

1981: Larry Bird's First Championship

Larry Bird, an Indiana native, led the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship in 1981.

1984: Colts Move to Indianapolis

In 1984, the Colts relocated to Indianapolis, sparking a rivalry with the Baltimore Ravens.

1984: Larry Bird's Second Championship

Larry Bird led the Boston Celtics to another NBA championship in 1984.

1986: Release of "Hoosiers" Movie

The film "Hoosiers," inspired by the 1954 Milan High School state championship team, was released in 1986.

1988: Dan Quayle Elected Vice President

Indiana Senator Dan Quayle was elected vice president in 1988, serving a single term alongside President George H. W. Bush.

1990: Population Growth in Indiana

Since 1990, Indiana saw concentrated population growth around Indianapolis. Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, and Hancock counties experienced rapid growth, along with Dearborn County near Cincinnati, Ohio. Hamilton County's growth was particularly notable, exceeding that of any county bordering Indiana.

January 19, 1994: Record Low Temperature in Indiana

Indiana's record low temperature of -36 °F (-38 °C) was recorded on January 19, 1994, in New Whiteland.

1994: Former Military Installations in Indiana

In 1994, Grissom Air Force Base near Peru was realigned as an Air Force Reserve installation, while Fort Benjamin Harrison near Indianapolis was closed, with the Department of Defense maintaining a finance center there.

1996: Indiana Gubernatorial Elections

Indiana holds gubernatorial elections concurrently with U.S. presidential elections, such as in 1996. Governors and lieutenant governors are jointly elected for four-year terms, with a limit of two consecutive terms. The governor collaborates with the General Assembly and Supreme Court, possessing powers to call special sessions, appoint and remove state officials, and manage the Indiana National Guard.

2000: Shift in Marion County Voting

After supporting Republicans from 1968 to 2000, Marion County backed Democratic presidential candidates in the 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 elections.

2000: Formula One at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

From 2000 to 2007, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted the United States Grand Prix, a Formula One race.

2000: George W. Bush's Victory

In 2000, George W. Bush won Indiana by a significant margin in the presidential election.

2000: Indiana Gubernatorial Elections

In 2000, Indiana held its gubernatorial election alongside the U.S. presidential election. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected together for four-year terms and can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.

2000: Population Changes in Indiana Cities

Significant population changes occurred in Indiana's largest cities since 2000. Fishers led in growth with a 100% increase. Other substantial growth was seen in Greenwood (81%), Noblesville (39.4%), Carmel (21.4%), Columbus (12.8%), and Lawrence (9.3%).

2002: Indiana Rail Plan

In 2002, Indiana began implementing an extensive rail plan prepared by the Parsons Corporation.

2004: Indiana Gubernatorial Elections

As in previous election cycles aligned with U.S. presidential elections, Indiana held its gubernatorial election in 2004.

2004: George W. Bush's Second Victory

In 2004, George W. Bush again won Indiana by a wide margin in the presidential election.

2004: Marion County Supports Democrats

In 2004, Marion County supported the Democratic presidential candidate, a shift from its previous Republican support.

2005: Military Installations in Indiana

In 2005, Indiana housed active Air National Guard units at Fort Wayne and Terre Haute airports, slated for consolidation at Fort Wayne per the BRAC proposal. Terre Haute would remain open as a non-flying facility. Army National Guard activities took place at Camp Atterbury, Shelbyville Airport, and Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, with the Newport Chemical Depot transitioning into a coal purifier plant.

2005: Mitch Daniels' Governorship and Bay Area Center Study

In 2005, Mitch Daniels became governor of Indiana, ending 16 years of Democratic governors. In the same year, the Bay Area Center for Voting Research conducted a study on the most liberal and conservative cities based on the 2004 presidential election.

2005: Indiana Demographics

In 2005, the majority of Indiana's population resided in metropolitan areas. Specifically, 77.7% lived in metropolitan counties, 16.5% in micropolitan counties, and 5.9% in non-core counties.

2005: Household Income in Indiana

In 2005, the median household income for residents of Indiana was $43,993.

2005: BRAC Proposal and Terre Haute Regional Airport

The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) proposal stated that the 181st Fighter Wing at Terre Haute Regional Airport would lose its fighter mission and F-16 aircraft, leaving the airport solely for general aviation.

April 2006: Daylight Saving Time in Indiana

Starting in April 2006, the entire state of Indiana began observing daylight saving time.

2006: Estimates of Indiana's Wind Capacity

In 2006, estimates of Indiana's wind power generating capacity increased significantly, with higher turbine heights leading to even greater potential capacity.

2006: Gary Chicago International Airport Funding

In early 2006, the proposal to make Gary Chicago International Airport Chicago's third major airport received $48 million in federal funding over ten years.

2007: Indiana's Rivers and Waterways

As of 2007, Indiana had 65 rivers, streams, and creeks designated as environmentally significant or scenic, out of an estimated 24,000 total river miles within the state.

2007: End of Formula One at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

In 2007, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ceased hosting the United States Grand Prix.

March 19, 2008: Property Tax "Circuit Breaker" Law

On March 19, 2008, a "circuit breaker" law was enacted in Indiana, limiting property taxes to 1% of assessed value for homeowners, 2% for rental properties and farmland, and 3% for businesses.

November 2008: Indianapolis International Airport Opening

Indianapolis International Airport opened in November 2008 with a new midfield passenger terminal, concourses, air traffic control tower, parking garage, and airfield improvements.

2008: Indiana Gubernatorial Elections

Following the pattern of holding elections concurrently with U.S. presidential races, Indiana's gubernatorial election took place in 2008.

2008: Shift of Associate Degrees to Ivy Tech

In 2008, Indiana University agreed to transfer most of its two-year associate degrees to Ivy Tech Community College System.

2008: Marion County Continues Democratic Support

In 2008, Marion County continued to support the Democratic presidential candidate.

2010: Median Age in Indiana

According to the 2010 U.S. census, the median age in Indiana was 37.

2010: Indiana Counties and Cities

As of 2010, Indiana was divided into 92 counties and included 117 incorporated cities and 450 towns.

2010: Indiana's Population Center

As of the 2010 U.S. census, Indiana's population center was located northwest of Sheridan in Hamilton County.

2010: Wind Power Capacity

Estimates in 2010 projected Indiana's wind capacity to be as high as 130,000 MW at a 100 m turbine height.

2010: Indiana's Coal and Petroleum Reserves

In 2010, Indiana had an estimated 57 billion tons of coal reserves and produced 35 million tons of coal annually. The state also had at least 900 million barrels of petroleum reserves in the Trenton Field, although they were not easily recoverable.

2010: Indiana's AAA Bond Credit Ratings

Since 2010, Indiana has maintained AAA bond credit ratings with the Big Three credit rating agencies.

2010: 2010 Census Baseline

The 2010 United States census served as the baseline for calculating population growth in the 2020 census.

2010: Religious Demographics in Indiana

While Catholicism was the single largest denomination in Indiana in 2010, with 747,706 members, the majority of Hoosiers identified with various Protestant denominations. The largest of these was the United Methodist Church with 355,043 members. A study showed a substantial number of residents not affiliated with any religion (16%).

2011: Installed Wind Turbine Capacity

By the end of 2011, Indiana had installed 1,340 MW of wind turbines.

2011: Indiana's Business Ranking

In 2011, CEO magazine ranked Indiana first in the Midwest and sixth in the country for the best places to do business.

2011: Age Demographics in Indiana

In 2011, Indiana's estimated age demographics showed 6.6% of the population under five, 24.5% under 18, and 13.2% aged 65 or older.

2011: South Bend and Indianapolis Tornado Rankings

In 2011, South Bend was ranked 15th and Indianapolis 8th among the top 20 tornado-prone U.S. cities.

2012: Indiana Tornado Rankings

A 2012 report ranked Indiana eighth among the top 20 tornado-prone states based on data from 1950 to 2011.

2012: Marion County Still Supports Democrats

Marion County again supported the Democratic presidential candidate in 2012.

2013: Indiana's Basketball Legacy

As of 2013, Indiana produced more NBA players per capita than any other state.

April 2014: New Public School Standards Adopted

Indiana adopted new public school standards in April 2014 to ensure students are prepared for college or the workforce upon graduation.

2016: Indiana Climate Update

By 2016, approximately half of Indiana was classified as having a humid subtropical climate.

2016: Mike Pence Elected Vice President

Governor Mike Pence of Indiana was elected vice president in 2016, serving under President Donald Trump.

2016: Fortune 500 Companies in Indiana

In 2016, Indiana was home to seven Fortune 500 companies with a combined revenue of $142.5 billion.

2016: Indiana Gross State Product

In 2016, Indiana's total gross state product was $347.2 billion.

2016: Marion County's Democratic Support Continues

In 2016, Marion County maintained its support for the Democratic presidential candidate.

2016: American-Made Steel Production

In 2016, Northwest Indiana accounted for 27% of American-made steel.

2017: Indiana's College-Going Rate

In 2017, 65% of Indiana high school students attended college.

2017: Indiana Labor Force

In 2017, Indiana's civilian labor force was nearly 3.4 million, ranking 15th in the U.S.

2017: Indiana State Government Ranking

In 2017, U.S. News & World Report ranked Indiana's government highly, particularly for budget transparency (1st), government digitization (6th), and fiscal stability (8th). Indiana received an average ranking for state integrity (25th).

2017: World's Most Admired Companies

Three Indiana-based companies (Cummins, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, and Simon Property Group) were recognized in Fortune's "2017 World's Most Admired Companies List".

2018: Immigrant Origins in Indiana

In 2018, the leading countries of origin for immigrants in Indiana were Mexico, India, China, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Fort Wayne notably housed a significant Burmese immigrant community.

2020: Voting Access and Abortion Laws in Indiana

A 2020 study ranked Indiana as the 10th most difficult state for citizens to vote in. In addition, Indiana outlawed abortion with limited exceptions.

2020: Increased Installed Wind Turbine Capacity

By 2020, Indiana's installed wind turbine capacity had more than doubled to 2,968 MW.

2020: Marion County Supports Democrats Again

In the 2020 election, Marion County continued its support for the Democratic presidential candidate.

2020: 2020 Indiana Census

Indiana's population reached 6,785,528 in the 2020 United States census, a 4.65% increase from 2010.

2020: Indiana's Largest Cities

The 2020 United States census provided data on Indiana's largest municipalities, with Indianapolis being the state capital and largest city.

2021: Indiana's Economy in 2021

In 2021, Indiana's economy had a gross state product of $352.62 billion. Several metropolitan areas boasted populations greater than 100,000, alongside numerous smaller cities and towns. Indiana is also home to professional sports teams like the Indianapolis Colts (NFL), Indiana Pacers (NBA), and Indiana Fever (WNBA). The state also hosts the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.