History of Indiana in Timeline

Indiana, nicknamed "the Hoosier State", is a Midwestern U.S. state bordering Lake Michigan, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois. It's the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous state. Indianapolis is the state's capital and largest city. Indiana was admitted to the Union as the 19th state on December 11, 1816.

1900: Publications in Indiana

Indiana developed a reputation as the "American heartland" after the publication of several widely read novels, beginning with Booth Tarkington's "The Gentleman from Indiana" in 1899, Meredith Nicholson's "The Hoosiers" in 1900, and Thompson's "Alice of Old Vincennes" in 1900.

The Hoosiers

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1900: Presidential elections

Roosevelt's victory in 1932 was one of only five occasions since 1900 in which the state has favored a Democrat for president.

1900: Democratic Presidential Nominees

While only five Democratic presidential nominees have carried Indiana since 1900, 11 Democrats were elected governor during that time.

1904: Charles W. Fairbanks elected Vice President

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

1906: United States Steel Corporation creates Gary

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

1909: End of Fairbanks's Vice Presidency

In 1909, Charles W. Fairbanks's term as Vice President under President Theodore Roosevelt ended.

1909: Construction of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

In 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed, symbolizing the importance of vehicle and parts manufacture to the state.

1912: Woodrow Wilson in Indiana

In 1912 Woodrow Wilson won Indiana with 43% of the vote.

1912: Eugene Debs' Socialist Candidacy

In the 1912 presidential election, Eugene Debs, the Socialist candidate from Terre Haute, received 901,551 votes, accounting for 6.0% of the national vote.

1913: Thomas R. Marshall Became Vice President

In 1913, former Indiana Governor Thomas R. Marshall served as vice president under President Woodrow Wilson.

1913: Dayton Triangles

The Indianapolis Colts have roots back to 1913 as the Dayton Triangles.

1915: Rise of the Indiana Klan

In 1915, the Indiana Klan was first organized as a branch of the Ku Klux Klan. It appealed to white Protestants alarmed by social and economic trends, including immigration from southern and central Europe.

1916: Fairbanks's Failed Vice Presidential Run

In 1916, Charles W. Fairbanks made another run for vice president with Charles Evans Hughes, but they both lost to Woodrow Wilson and former Indiana Governor 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, Governor James P. Goodrich declared martial law in Gary due to labor union strike activities.

1921: End of Thomas R. Marshall's Vice Presidency

In 1921, Thomas R. Marshall's term as Vice President ended.

1924: Indiana Resident in Presidential Election

From 1880 to 1924, a resident of Indiana was included in all but one presidential election.

1925: Klan Membership Peak and Scandal

By 1925, the Klan had 250,000 members, with considerable influence in Indiana government. "Grand Dragon" D.C. Stephenson was charged and convicted for the rape and murder of Madge Oberholtzer.

1925: Naismith Visited Indiana

In 1925, James Naismith visited an Indiana basketball state finals game and stated that basketball really had its origin in Indiana.

1927: Stephenson's List and Collapse of Klan Membership

In 1927, D.C. Stephenson provided the Indianapolis Times with lists of people the Klan had paid, contributing to the collapse of Klan membership.

1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt Won Indiana

In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt won the state of Indiana with 55% of the vote.

1932: Paul V. McNutt Elected Governor

In 1932, amidst the Great Depression, Democrat Paul V. McNutt was elected governor and initiated a state-funded welfare system, reorganized state government, introduced state income tax, and ended Prohibition.

1932: Roosevelt's victory in Indiana

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's record high temperature of 116 °F (47 °C) was set at Collegeville.

1940: Indiana Supported Wendell Willkie

In 1940, Indiana was one of only 10 states to support Republican Wendell Willkie.

1949: Indiana Schools Desegregated

In 1949, Indiana schools were desegregated.

1950: Indiana's Population Composition

In 1950, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Indiana's population as 95.5% white and 4.4% black.

1950: Tornado data

National Weather Service started collecting the data on tornado-prone states. The collection continued until 2011.

1953: Baltimore Colts

The Indianapolis Colts became an official team after moving to Baltimore, MD, in 1953.

1954: 181st Fighter Wing Stationed

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

1954: Milan High School Basketball Team

The 1986 film Hoosiers is inspired by the story of the 1954 Indiana state champions Milan High School.

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 began play

The NBA's Indiana Pacers began play in 1967 in the American Basketball Association (ABA).

1968: Marion County Supported Republicans

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

1970: Indiana Population Exceeds Five Million

By the 1970 census, Indiana's population had grown, exceeding five million residents.

1972: Lake County Voting Republican

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

1973: Oil Crisis Recession

In 1973, the oil crisis created a recession that hurt the automotive industry in Indiana, leading to downsizing and high unemployment in manufacturing centers.

1975: Northwest Indiana Steel Production

Since 1975, Northwest Indiana has been the largest steel producing center in the U.S.

1976: Pacers joined NBA

The NBA's Indiana Pacers joined the NBA when the leagues merged in 1976.

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 making the state 42% German, 32% English and 24% Irish.

1981: Boston Celtics won NBA championship

Professional basketball player Larry Bird led the Boston Celtics to the NBA championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986.

1984: Colts Relocated to Indianapolis

In 1984, the Colts relocated to Indianapolis, leading to an eventual rivalry with the Baltimore Ravens.

1984: Boston Celtics won NBA championship

Professional basketball player Larry Bird led the Boston Celtics to the NBA championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986.

1986: Hoosiers Film

In 1986, the film Hoosiers was released and is inspired by the story of the 1954 Indiana state champions Milan High School.

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1988: Dan Quayle Elected Vice President

In 1988, Senator Dan Quayle was elected vice president, serving one term with George H. W. Bush.

1990: Concentrated Population Growth

Population growth since 1990 has been concentrated in the counties surrounding Indianapolis: Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, and Hancock.

January 19, 1994: Record Low Temperature

On January 19, 1994, the record low temperature of −36 °F (−38 °C) was recorded in New Whiteland, Indiana.

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 election in Indiana ran concurrently with the United States presidential election.

2000: End of Republican Support in Marion County

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

2000: United States Grand Prix

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

2000: Gubernatorial Election

In 2000, the gubernatorial election in Indiana ran concurrently with the United States presidential election.

2000: Population rise in Fishers

Since 2000, Fishers has seen the largest population rise amongst the state's twenty largest cities with an increase of 100%.

2002: Indiana Rail Plan

Indiana is implementing an extensive rail plan prepared in 2002 by the Parsons Corporation.

2004: Marion County Backed Democrats

In 2004, Marion County backed the Democrats in the presidential election.

2004: Gubernatorial Election

In 2004, the gubernatorial election in Indiana ran concurrently with the United States presidential election.

2004: Voting Research

In 2005, The Bay Area Center for Voting Research rated the most liberal and conservative cities in the United States on voting statistics in the 2004 presidential election.

2005: Indiana Residents in Metropolitan Areas

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: Mitch Daniels Became Governor

In 2005, Mitch Daniels became governor of Indiana; before him, Democrats had held the office for 16 consecutive years.

2005: Median Household Income

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

2005: Republicans Dominate Governorship

Republicans have dominated the governorship of Indiana since 2005.

2005: BRAC Proposal Impact

The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Proposal of 2005 stated the 181st would lose its fighter mission and F-16 aircraft.

April 2006: Statewide Daylight Saving Time

Since April 2006, the entire state of Indiana observes Daylight Saving Time (DST).

2006: Indiana Wind Capacity Estimates

Estimates in 2006 raised Indiana's wind capacity from 30 MW at 50 m turbine height to 40,000 MW at 70 m, and to 130,000 MW at 100 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 approval of $48 million in federal funding over the next ten years.

2007: Rivers and Streams of Environmental 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 in Indiana.

2007: United States Grand Prix

Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted the United States Grand Prix (Formula One) until 2007.

March 19, 2008: Indiana Circuit Breaker Law

On March 19, 2008, Indiana enacted a "circuit breaker" law, 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 Rebuilt

In November 2008, the Indianapolis International Airport was rebuilt, offering a midfield passenger terminal, concourses, air traffic control tower, and parking garage.

2008: Barack Obama in Indiana

In 2008 Barack Obama won Indiana by a narrow margin of 50% to 49%.

2008: Marion County Backed Democrats

In 2008, Marion County backed the Democrats in the presidential election.

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 election in Indiana ran concurrently with the United States presidential election.

2010: Indiana's Divisions

As of 2010, Indiana includes 16 metropolitan and 25 micropolitan statistical areas, 117 incorporated cities, 450 towns, and several other smaller divisions and statistical areas.

2010: Population Center

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

2010: Median Household Income

As of the 2010 census, Indiana's median household income was $44,616.

2010: Indiana Wind Capacity Estimates

Estimates in 2010 raised Indiana's wind capacity from 30 MW at 50 m turbine height to 40,000 MW at 70 m, and to 130,000 MW at 100 m.

2010: Median Age

From the 2010 U.S. census demographic data for Indiana, the median age is 37.

2010: Indiana Coal and Petroleum Reserves

In 2010, Indiana had estimated coal reserves of 57 billion tons. The state also has petroleum reserves in the Trenton Field.

2010: Religious Denominations in Indiana

In 2010, the United Methodist Church was the largest Protestant denomination in Indiana, with 355,043 adherents.

2010: Indiana Bond Credit Ratings

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

2011: State population estimation for 2011

Based on population estimates for 2011, 6.6% of the state's population is under the age of five, 24.5% is under the age of 18, and 13.2% is 65 years of age or older.

2011: Installed Wind Turbines

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

2011: Tornado-Prone Cities Ranking

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

2012: Marion County Backed Democrats

In 2012, Marion County backed the Democrats in the presidential election.

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 National Weather Service data from 1950 through 2011.

2013: Indiana Produced More NBA Players

As of 2013, Indiana has produced more National Basketball Association (NBA) players per capita than any other state.

April 2014: New Public School Standards

In April 2014, modern public school standards were adopted in Indiana.

2014: Uninsured Rate in Indiana

In 2014, before the expansion of Medicaid eligibility in Indiana, the uninsured rate was 14%.

2015: Indiana Expanded Medicaid Eligibility

In 2015, Indiana expanded Medicaid eligibility from ACA provisions. A study showed the uninsured rate in Indiana dropped from 14% in 2014 to 8.5% in 2015 after the expansion.

2016: Climate Classification Update

As of the 2016 update, about half of Indiana is now classified as humid subtropical.

2016: Mike Pence Elected Vice President

In 2016, Governor Mike Pence was elected vice president and served one term with Donald Trump.

2016: Marion County Backed Democrats

In 2016, Marion County backed the Democrats in the presidential election.

2016: Donald Trump Carried Indiana

In 2016, Republican Donald Trump carried the state of Indiana.

2016: Indiana Gross State Product

In 2016, the total gross state product in Indiana was $347.2 billion.

2017: Indiana Civilian Labor Force

In 2017, Indiana had a civilian labor force of nearly 3.4 million, ranking as 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%.

2018: Indiana's Economy Ranking

In 2018, Indiana's economy ranked 25th in the U.S. News & World Report's annual report on how well all 50 states in the United States serve citizens.

2018: Top Countries of Origin for Immigrants

In 2018, the top countries of origin for Indiana's immigrants were Mexico, India, China, Myanmar, and the Philippines.

March 6, 2020: Public Health Emergency Declared

On March 6, 2020, Governor Eric Holcomb and state health officials declared a public health emergency following the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the state.

2020: Largest Municipalities based on census

Based on the 2020 United States census, the four largest metropolitan areas are Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, and South Bend.

2020: Largest cities of Indiana in 2020

In 2020 census, Indianapolis is the largest city in Indiana and the 15th-largest in the United States, with a population of 887,642.

2020: Indiana Wind Turbines

In 2020, Indiana had 2,968 MW of wind turbines.

2020: Marion County Backed Democrats

In 2020, Marion County backed the Democrats in the presidential election.

2020: Donald Trump Carried Indiana

In 2020, Republican Donald Trump carried the state of Indiana.

2021: Graduation Rate

In 2021, the overall graduation rate in Indiana was slightly higher than 2022, one percent higher.

March 3, 2022: End of Public Health Emergency

On March 3, 2022, Governor Holcomb signed a bill to end the public health emergency related to COVID-19.

2022: Homeless Population

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 5,449 homeless people in Indiana.

2022: Graduation Rate

In 2022, the Indiana Department of Education reported that the state's overall graduation rate was 86.7%.

2022: College Attendance Rate

In 2022, the rate of Indiana high school students attending college fell to 53%.

2022: Increase in Small Businesses

Since the end of the COVID pandemic in 2022, the number of small businesses has increased without a large rise in employment.

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: Marion County Backed Democrats

In 2024, Marion County backed the Democrats in the presidential election.

2024: Donald Trump Carried Indiana

In 2024, Republican Donald Trump carried the state of Indiana.

May 2025: Indiana Unemployment Rate

As of May 2025, Indiana's unemployment rate was 3.7%.

2025: Fortune 500 Companies in Indiana

In 2025, Indiana was home to seven Fortune 500 companies, including Eli Lilly and Company. The state ranked fifth among U.S. states in pharmaceutical product sales and shipments and second in biopharmaceutical jobs.