Indiana Fun Facts

I have lived in Indiana all of my life, but I never really knew many unique facts about my home state... until this week. After doing a bit of research, I have found that there are quite a few interesting facts that make the state of Indiana special. Without further ado, here are 10 of those facts:

Interesting Facts About Indiana

1. Out of all of the states in the U.S., Indiana contains the most miles of Interstate Highway per square mile. This truly fulfills the meaning of one of Indiana's mottos, "The Crossroads of America". Indiana first received this name in the 1800's, when river traffic was a popular means of transportation. Later, stagecoach travelling became prevalent in Indiana. Finally, our transportation has evolved into automobiles on Interstate Highways. No matter how they chose to get here, many people have been travelling through Indiana and will continue to do so for years to come.

2. Of all the popcorn in the world, 90% of it is grown in Indiana. This probably has a lot to do with Orville Redinbacher, the famous man with his own brand of popcorn products. Redenbacher was born in Brazil, Indiana and spent his high school and college years in this state. His enormous success inspired Valparaiso, Indiana to start a Popcorn Festival in 1979 that is still celebrated anually today. I personally love to eat popcorn, so I'm glad to know that it's one snack that the stores in Indiana will most likely never run out of. :D

3. On October 6th, 1866, the first train robbery in America occurred in Jackson County, Indiana. The Ohio and Mississippi train was stopped by a gang named the Reno Brothers. These thieves got away with $13,000, which was worth considerably more in those days than it is today with our inflation. Speaking of criminals in Indiana getting away, this leads me to the next fact.

4. John Dillinger escaped from a jail in Crown Point, Indiana that had been thought by police to be "escape-proof". Dillinger allegedly escaped the supposedly unescapable by using a wooden gun that had been carved by hand and blackened with shoe polish. Adding insult to injury, he stole the Sherriff's new car to use as his getaway vehicle. Sherriff Lillian Holley took full credit for being outwitted. She lived with that regret until she died in 1994 at the age of 102. This whole story, plus more true stories of John Dillinger's life, were recently portrayed in the movie "Public Enemies".

5. Another fun fact about Crown Point, Indiana is that it is often called the "Marriage Mill". The town got this nickname because of its reputation for issuing marriage licenses without delay. Rudolph Valentino, Joseph Jackson (the father of the Jackson 5), and other celebrities were married here, probably because they preferred not to wait.

6. Indianapolis, Indiana is the second most populous state capital, with Phoenix, Arizona being the only one that's larger. Indianapolis is also called Indy, Circle City, and Nap Town. Circle City became a nickname because of Monument Circle, which is found in the heart of the city. Nap Town was most likely taken from Indianapolis and later was known as the style of music that became popular in that city.

7. In Indiana, it is illegal to pass a horse on the street. It is also illegal to use spiteful gossip, talk behind a person's back, take a bath between October and March, and wear a mustache if you make it a habit of kissing other humans. I think the oddest of all the wacky laws I found was the one issued in Gary, Indiana: it is illegal for a person to go to a movie theater or basically any public place within four hours of eating garlic. I must have broken this law once or twice because our family cooks with a lot of garlic. :p

8. In Indiana, the average temperature in January is 28 degrees and the average snowfall is 20 inches. We definitely exceeded the average for snowfall this year! In a few days we received a little less than 2 feet in our area, in some places more than 2 feet. It's safe to say that we Hoosiers are used to cold weather. In comparison, the average temperature in July is 75 degrees. This seems surprisingly low to me, but the humidity makes it feel much hotter than it already is so I guess that makes sense.

Indiana's Most Popular Song

9. Although the official state song is "On The Banks of The Wabash", I believe the most well-known Hoosier song is "Back Home Again In Indiana". My dad sings the chorus of this song upon seeing the sign welcoming us to Indiana after we have taken a long road trip. He is a bit tone deaf, so it always makes me laugh, but it also reminds me that I am getting to come home to my own room and bed after a while away from them. I will spare you all from hearing my dad singing this song, but here is Louis Armstrong's version:




10. Last but not least, Indiana is home to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the Indy 500 is held. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the biggest spectator facility in the world, with 253 acres of area. This is big enough to fit the Yankees Stadium, the Roman Colosseum, Vatican City and the Rose Bowl inside of it. It contains more the 250,000 permanent seats and if the boards from the grandstands were laid end to end, they would reach 99.5 miles. This place is huge! It brings in a lot of people (and their money) every year, especially for the Indy 500 race.
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