Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the census of 2000, its population is 791,926, also making it Indiana’s most populous city. It is the county seat of Marion County. As of 2003, Marion County’s population is 863,216.
History
Indianapolis was founded as the state capitol in 1821 by an act of the Indiana General Assembly. Prior to its official founding, Indianapolis was a sparsely settled swampy area. The first white settler is generally believed to be George Pogue, who on March 2, 1819 settled in a double log cabin along the White River in what is now White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis. The state commissioned Alexander Ralston to design the new capital city. Ralston was an apprentice to the French architect Pierre L’Enfant, and he helped L’Enfant plan Washington, DC. Ralston’s original plan for Indianapolis called for a city of only 1 square mile. Under Ralston’s plan, at the center of the city was placed the Governor’s Circle, a large circular commons, which was to be the site of the Governor’s mansion.
It was used as a market commons for over six years. Although an expensive Governor’s mansion was finally constructed in 1827, no Governor ever lived in the house at Governor’s Circle, as the site in the city center lacked any privacy. The Governor’s mansion was finally demolished in 1857. (See HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY INDIANA by B.R. Sulgrove, 1884). Later, Governor’s Circle became Monument Circle after the impressive 284-feet tall neoclassical limestone and bronze State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, designed by German architect Bruno Schmitz, was completed on the site in 1901.
While the city lies on the old east-west National Road, the portion of that road that crosses Indiana was not completed until a decade after the city’s founding. Indianapolis was founded on the White River under the incorrect assumption that the river would serve as a major transportation artery; however, the waterway was too sandy for trade. Through the mid-1800s, a horse-drawn barge canal by-passed the river bringing goods into the city. The Central Canal was one of eight major infrastructure projects authorized by the state’s Mammoth Improvement Bill of 1835. The Central Canal was intended to run 296 miles (476 km) from near Logansport, through Indianapolis, and to Evansville.
The Central Canal was planned to connect the Wabash and Erie Canal to the Ohio River, completing a link between Lake Erie in the State of Ohio with the portion of the Ohio River flowing through southern Indiana in order to promote trade and commerce along its length. Construction of the Central Canal commenced in 1836, but Indiana went bankrupt in 1839 from the loans taken out under the aforementioned bill and all work on the project ceased. At the time, the 24 mile (39 km) portion of the Indianapolis section of the canal was dug and filled, but only an 8.29 mile (13.34 km) portion connecting downtown Indianapolis with the village of Broad Ripple to the north was ever operational.
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Related Travel Information
Indiana Travel Guide
Indiana is an outdoor lover's paradise, with an abundance of opportunities to enjoy fishing, boating, cross-country skiing, hiking, canoeing, biking and hunting. Many of the best spots are to be found in the state's 45 parks, forests, historic sites and recreation areas, where visitors can not only enjoy their favorite activities.
Indiana is known as both the Hoosier State and the Crossroads of America. There are many legends as to why residents of this state are called Hoosiers. Visit southern Indiana, for instance, and you could be forgiven for thinking that the state is all gentle, rolling hills,
Lebanon is a city located in Boone County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 14,222. The city is the county seat of Boone County6. Lebanon is located in central Indiana, northwest of Indianapolis.
Geography
Lebanon is located at 40°3'8" North, 86°28'18" West (40.052137, -86.471570)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.9 km˛ (7.3 mi˛). 18.9 km˛ (7.3 mi˛) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 14,222 people, 5,834 households, and 3,780 families residing in the city.
Fishers, located in Hamilton County, Indiana, is a town of population 52,390 (according to a special census conducted in 2004). A suburb of Indianapolis, Fishers has grown rapidly in recent decades: about 350 people lived there in 1963, 2,000 in 1980, and only 7,200 as recently as 1990.
Fishers hosts the living history museum Conner Prairie, which presents Indiana life in three different periods of the 19th century.
Geography
Fishers is located at 39°57'22" North, 86°0'46" West (39.956177, -86.012754)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 56.4 km˛ (21.8 mi˛). 56.2 km˛ (21.7 mi˛) of it is
Garrett is a city located in DeKalb County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 5,803. Founded in 1875, Garrett was named for John W. Garrett (1820-1884), president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from 1858 to 1884.
Geography
Garrett is located at 41°20'52" North, 85°8'1" West (41.347903, -85.133700)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.1 km˛ (3.1 mi˛). 8.1 km˛ (3.1 mi˛) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 5,803 people, 2,185 households, and 1,516 families
Notre Dame, Indiana is a post office serving an unincorporated community in St. Joseph County, Indiana adjacent to the City of South Bend. The postal service area includes the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College. It has no municipal government, the only government entities being the post office, the colleges' police force, which every accredited college in Indiana is entitled to by law [1], and a fire department. The ZIP Code for the community is 46556.
The postal service area crosses the unicorporated townships of Clay and Portage.
