The Indiana State Flag

The design of the Indiana State Flag is the result of a design competition sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution during the state's 1916 Centennial celebration. The winning design by Mooresville,Indiana artist Paul Hadley was adopted by the Indiana General Assembly in 1917. Originally described as the state "banner", the name was changed to "flag" by the the 1955 General Assembly.

On a field of blue, the flag displays a torch, colored gold or buff, surrounded by an outer circle of thirteen stars and an inner circle of five stars.

The flaming torch stands for "..liberty and enlightenment." The six rays radiating from the torch are meant to sybolize the expansive nature of those two concepts. The thirteen stars of the outer circle represent the thirteen original colonies of the United States. The five stars of the inner circle represent the next five states admitted to the Union. The largest star, positioned at the top of the torch and below the state name, represents Indiana, the nineteenth state.

Facts and Statistics about Indiana

Date of Statehood

December 11, 1816 (the 19^th state)

State Capital

Indianapolis (Corydon was the state capital until 1825)

Lowest Point in Indiana

320 feet above sea level (Posey County)

Highest Point in Indiana

1,257 feet above sea level (Wayne County)

Current Governor

Governor Mitch Daniels
Lieutenant Governor Rebecca C. Skillman

Origin of the Name Indiana

The name "Indiana" simply means "land of the Indians."  This refers to a large number of Indians that were located throughout the state when the first settlers to this state arrived.

Origin of the Nickname Hoosier

Indiana may have been referred to as the "Hoosier State" as early as the 1830s.  There are many explanations as to why we are called Hoosiers.  Some of the explanations are funny, illogical and believable.  Here are some of the most common explanations.

The Who's Here Story-on the early Indiana frontier, log homes were few and far between in the Indiana interior.  There were no real close neighbors, so when someone knocked on a cabin door or was heard  coming through the woods, a person would yell out "Who's here" or "Who's yere."  This evolved into the word "Hoosier."

The Who's Ear Story-this story was popularized by the Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley.  In frontier Indiana there were many small taverns and saloons scattered throughout the state.  Continually fights broke out in these bars with punching, biting, scratching and gouging occurring.  The next morning the bartender was likely to find an ear on the floor of the saloon, nudge it with his foot and call out "Who's Ear?"  This evolved into the word "Hoosier."

The Hoosier River Men Story-Along the waterways of the state there were bullying and rambunctious Indiana rivermen, always ready for a brawl, who were reputed to be quite successful in winning all of their fights, "hushing" their opponents.  They became known as "Hushers" and eventually "Hoosiers."

 Mr. Hoosier Story-it is said that a contactor named Hoosier liked to hire Indiana men to work on the Louisville and Portland Canal.  These men became known as "Hoosier's men" and later, "Hoosiers."

State Population

Indiana State Population (2000 estimate)  6,114,745

Indiana's Size

35,867 square miles (makes it the 38^th largest state).  Indiana is the smallest state west of the Appalachian Mountains (not counting Hawaii).

Indiana's Governmental Structure

The head of Indiana's government is the governor

• The governor is elected for a term of four years (and can only serve eight out of every twelve years).

The legislative body of Indiana is called the General Assembly

• It consists of a 50 elected member called the Senate
• And 100 elected members called the House of Representative
  • The members of the state Senate are elected for a term of four years
  • The members of the state House of Representatives are elected for a two year term.

The Judicial Branch of the Indiana government has five justices that serve in the state Supreme Court.

• Twelve judges make up the state Court of Appeals and circuit courts
  • The General Assembly has the right to create new courts if necessary.
• Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor for an initial two-year term of office
  • At the completion of the two years if a yes-no ballot decides they are to be retained, the justices will serve a ten-year term of office.
• Circuit courts consist of judges elected by citizens of Indiana for six-year terms.

Animals That Once Called Indiana Home

Species that once roamed free through Indiana disappeared as settlers moved in and cleared lands.  The following is a list of animals that use to roam throughout Indiana.