Indianapolis
City of Indianapolis, Indiana | |
|---|---|
| Nicknames: The Circle City, Indy, Naptown | |
 Location in the state of Indiana | |
| County | Marion |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Bart Peterson (D) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • City | 791,926 |
| • Metro | 1,607,486 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Website | http://www.indygov.org/ |
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana. According to the 2000 Census, its population is 791,926, making it Indiana's most populous city and the 12th largest city in the U.S. The U.S. Census July 1, 2004 estimate for the Consolidated City of Indianapolis is 794,160 and the combined Metro Area (an agglomeration called the Nine-County Region) has a population approaching 2 million residents. Indianapolis is the third largest city in the midwest after Chicago and Detroit and is one of only three major cities in the midwest which had a growth rate above 5%. At the current rate, Indianapolis will be the second largest city in the midwest by 2010. Indianapolis is the county seat of Marion County. As of 2004, Marion County's population is 863,596.
History
Indianapolis was founded as the state capital in 1821 by an act of the Indiana General Assembly. Prior to its official founding, Indianapolis was a sparsely settled swampy area. The first European American 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.
Transportation Hub
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 (10 km) portion connecting downtown Indianapolis with the village of Broad Ripple to the north was ever operational. The portion of the completed Central Canal and adjoining White River have been turned into the White River State Park.
The first railroad to service Indianapolis, the Madison & Indianapolis, began operation on October 1, 1847, and subsequent railroad connections enlarged the town. The population soared from just over 8,000 in 1850 to more than 169,000 by 1900. Later, the automobile, as in most American cities, caused a suburban explosion. With automobile companies as Duesenberg, Marmon, National, and Stutz, Indianapolis was a center of production rivaling Detroit, at least for a few years. The internationally renowned automobile races that take place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway every year are a notable residual from that booming industry at the beginning of the 20th century. With roads as the spokes of a wheel, Indianapolis was on its way to becoming a major "hub" of regional transport connecting to Chicago, Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus and St. Louis. Today, four interstate roads intersect in Indianapolis: routes 65, 69, 70, and 74. The city is a major trucking center, and the extensive network of highways has allowed Indianapolis to enjoy a relatively low amount of traffic congestion for a city its size.
Economic and Political Development
Indianapolis entered a period of great prosperity at the beginning of the 20th century, and during this time the city witnessed great economic, social, and cultural progress. Much of this was due to the discovery of a large natural gas deposit in central Indiana in the 1890s. The state government offered a free supply of natural gas to factories that were built there. This led to a sharp increase in industries such as glass and automobile manufacturing. However, the natural gas deposits were depleted by 1915, and this contributed to an abrupt end of the golden era.
Racial Relations
A darker period of Indianapolis history began with the rise of the second Ku Klux Klan movement in the United States. The Indiana chapter of the Klan was founded in 1920 and quickly became the most powerful Klan organization in the United States. In 1922, D. C. Stephenson was appointed the Klan Grand Dragon of Indiana and 22 other states; he promptly moved the Indiana Klan's headquarters to Indianapolis, which was already coming under the Klan's influence. The Klan became the most powerful political and social organization in the city during the period from 1921 through 1928. The Klan continued to solidify its stronghold on the state, taking over the Indiana Republican Party and using its new political might to establish a Klan-backed slate of candidates which swept state elections in 1924. The elections allowed the Klan to seize control of the Indiana General Assembly and place the corrupt Governor Edward Jackson in office. By then, more than 40 percent of the native-born white males in Indianapolis claimed membership in the Klan. Klan-backed candidates took over the City Council, the Board of School Commissioners, and the Board of County Commissioners. Through the Klan, Stephenson ruled over the State of Indiana, leading a powerful national movement set on gaining control of the United States Congress and the White House. However, the power of the Klan would quickly begin to crumble after Stephenson was convicted at the end of 1925 for the rape and murder of a young Indianapolis woman, Madge Oberholtzer. Following Stephenson's conviction, the Klan suffered a tremendous blow and quickly lost influence. When Governor Jackson refused to pardon Stephenson, he retaliated by going public with information of corruption which brought down several politicians throughout Indiana. The Mayor of Indianapolis and several local officials were convicted of bribery and jailed. Governor Jackson was indicted on charges of bribery, but he was acquitted in 1928 because the statute of limitations had run out; he completed his term in disgrace. The Klan continued to dwindle in popularity in Indiana and nationwide, and the national organization officially disbanded in 1944.
Years later, Indianapolis would witness an historic moment in the Civil Rights Movement. On April 4, 1968, while on route to a presidential campaign rally in Indianapolis, Robert F. Kennedy would learn of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. earlier that day. Kennedy would deliver an impromptu speech on race reconciliation to a mostly African-American crowd in a poor inner-city Indianapolis neighborhood. While rioting broke out in cities across the United States following the news of King's assassination, Indianapolis was the only major city where rioting did not occur.
Unigov
As the result of a 1970 consolidation between city and county government (known as "Unigov"), the city of Indianapolis merged most government services with those of the county. For the most part, this resulted in a unification of Indianapolis with its immediate suburbs. Four communities within Marion County (Beech Grove, Lawrence, Southport and Speedway) are partially outside of the Unigov arrangement. Also, 11 other communities (called "included towns") are legally included in the Consolidated City of Indianapolis under Unigov, per Indiana Code 36-3-1-4 sec. 4(a)(2), which states that the Consolidated City of Indianapolis includes the entire area of Marion County, except the four previously mentioned "excluded" communities. The 11 "included towns" elected to retain their "town status" under Unigov as defined according to the Indiana Constitution (there were originally 14, but 3 later dissolved), but the Indiana Constitution does not define "town status."
These "included towns" are fully subject to the laws and control of the Consolidated City of Indianapolis, but some still impose a separate property tax and provide police and other services under contract with township or county government or the City of Indianapolis. Additionally, throughout Marion County certain local services such as schools, fire and police remain unconsolidated. However, the mayor of Indianapolis is also the mayor of all of Marion County, and the City-County Council sits as the legislative body for all of Marion County. Currently, Indianapolis is undergoing serious internal debate over how much, or whether, more of local taxation, government, and services should be further integrated. Further consolidation of city and county services and functions would require passage of new legislation by the Indiana General Assembly.
A bill, dubbed Indianapolis Works, was proposed by the current mayor, Bart Peterson, and introduced in the 2005 legislative session of the state General Assembly, which would have further consolidated local government in the City of Indianapolis and Marion County. After a very contentious and partisan debate, the Assembly passed an extremely watered-down version off the original bill; the final enacted legislation consolidates budgetary functions of the City and County, permits the Indianapolis City-County Council to vote to consolidate the Indianapolis Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff's Department, and theoretically permits consolidation of the Indianapolis Fire Department with township fire departments based upon approval of all affected parties.
Police consolidation was defeated at the Council level in November 2005, but the bill was revived and passed by the City-County Council on December 19, 2005 after slight revision. Indianapolis will now have a combined metropolitan police force starting January 1, 2007. However, this "metropolitan" police force will still not be the sole police agency within Marion county or even pre-Unigov Indianapolis. The four excluded cities of Beech Grove, Lawrence, Southport, and Speedway will still maintain seperate police forces, as will eight metropolitan school districts. In addition to these well-defined exceptions, no less than seven "legacy" police organizations, pre-dating Unigov, will still be maintained by various "included towns" or townships within Marion County.
Geography and Climate
According to the United States Census Bureau, "the balance" (that part of Marion County not part of another municipality) has a total area of 953.5 km² (368.2 mi²). 936.2 km² (361.5 mi²) of it is land and 17.3 km² (6.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.81% water. These figures are slightly misleading because they do not represent the entire Consolidated City of Indianapolis (all of Marion County, except the four "excluded" communities). The total area of the Consolidated City of Indianapolis, which does not count the four "excluded" communities, covers approximately 966.3 km² (373.1 mi²).
At the center of Indianapolis is the One-Mile Square, bounded by East, West, North, and South Streets. Four diagonal streets pass through the corners of the Square but stop one to five blocks (depending on the street) before reaching the Circle. Nearly all of the streets in the One-Mile Square are named after U.S. states. (The exceptions are Meridian Street, which numerically divides west from east; Market Street, which intersects Meridian Street at Monument Circle; and Capitol and Senate Avenues, where many of the Indiana state government buildings are located. The street-numbering system centers not on the Circle, but rather one block to the south, where Meridian Street intersects Washington Street — National Road.)
Indianapolis experiences a continental climate typical of cities at this latitude which lie far from any significant body of water. It experiences hot summers, with high reaching into the 90s at times and lows in the 60s. Humidity varies, depending on the position of weather fronts and prevailing winds. Winters are rather long and cold, with significant snowstorms blowing in from the Great Lakes region. Wind chills can reach into the negative 20s, with no natural features like mountains to protect the area from the onslaught of arctic Canadian air. Spring and fall bring pleasant temperatures and the occurrence of many thunderstorms which, due to the lack of hills or mountains, often bring tornadoes.
The average July high is 86°F (30°C), with the low being 61°F (16°C). January highs average 34°F (1°C), and lows 18°F (-8°C). The record high for Indianapolis is 104.0°F (40°C), on July 14th, 1954. The record low is -27°F (-33°C), on January 19th, 1994. Snowfall varies from about 20 to 30 inches a year.
Demographics
| City of Indianapolis Population by year [1] | |
| 1850 | 8,091 |
| 1860 | 18,611 |
| 1870 | 48,244 |
| 1880 | 75,056 |
| 1890 | 105,436 |
| 1900 | 169,164 |
| 1910 | 233,650 |
| 1920 | 314,194 |
| 1930 | 364,161 |
| 1940 | 386,972 |
| 1950 | 427,173 |
| 1960 | 476,258 |
| 1970 | 744,624 |
| 1980 | 700,807 |
| 1990 | 731,327 |
| 2000 | 791,926 |
Note: The statistical data in this article represents the entire consolidated Indianapolis-Marion County metropolitan government. For statistical data on the portion of the governmental area that is Indianapolis only (i.e., not counting included towns), see Indianapolis (balance), Indiana. As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 791,926 people, 320,107 households, and 192,704 families residing in the city, but the metropolitan population was nearing 1.5 million. The population density was 835.1/km² (2,163.0/mi²). There were 352,429 housing units at an average density of 376.4/km² (975.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the balance was 69.09% white, 25.50% black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.04% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. 3.92% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. The majority of the non-white population lives in the central and north portions of the inner-city area.
There are 320,107 households out of which 29.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% are married couples living together, 15.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% are non-families. 32.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 3.04.
The age distribution is: 25.7% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.2 males.
The median income for a household in the balance is $40,051, and the median income for a family is $48,755. Males have a median income of $36,302 versus $27,738 for females. The per capita income is $21,640. 11.9% of the population and 9.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.2% of those under the age of 18 and 8.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The following are statements of the populations of Indianapolis, Indiana from 1850 to 1940: 1850, 8,091; 1860, 18,611; 1870, 48,244; 1880, 75,056; 1890, 105,436; 1900, 169,164; 1910, 233,650. The population in 1910 included 19,767 foreign born and 21,816 blacks. In 1920, 314,194 people lived here, and in 1940, 386,972.
Education
Indianapolis is the home of Butler University, the University of Indianapolis, Marian College, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. The last was originally an urban conglomeration of branch campuses of the two major state universities, Indiana University in Bloomington and Purdue University in West Lafayette, created by the state legislature. A merged campus created downtown in 1969 at the site of the Indiana University School of Medicine has continuously grown, with a student body today of just under 30,000, the third-largest campus in the state.
Indianapolis has eleven unified public school districts (eight township educational authorities and three legacy districts from before the unification of city and county government) each of which provides primary, secondary, and adult education services within its boundaries. The boundaries of these districts do not exactly correspond to township (or traditional) boundaries due to political concerns and the influence of a 1971 federal court ruling which held that the Indianapolis public schools were unlawfully segregated.
Indianapolis also has several Roman Catholic high schools, including Brebeuf High School, Bishop Chatard High School, Cathedral High School, Roncalli High School, Scecina Memorial High School, and Cardinal Ritter High School.
Cultural features
Indianapolis prides itself on its rich cultural heritage. Several initiatives have been made by the Indianapolis government in recent years to increase Indianapolis' appeal as a destination for arts and culture.
Cultural Districts
The city has designated several areas as "Cultural Districts" (listed from the center of the city, moving north, then going clockwise): Monument Circle, the War Memorial Plaza Broad Ripple Village, Massachusetts Avenue, Fountain Square, The Wholesale District, The Canal & White River State Park, and Indiana Avenue,
Monument Circle
At the center of Indianapolis is Monument Circle, a traffic circle at the intersection of Meridian and Market Streets, featuring the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. (Monument Circle is depicted on the city’s flag, and is generally considered the city’s symbol.).
War Memorial Plaza
A five-block plaza at the intersection of Meridian and Vermont surrounding a large memorial dedicated to Hoosiers who have fought in American wars. It was originally constructed to honor the Indiana soldiers who died in World War I, but construction was halted due to lack of funding during the Great Depression, and it was finished in 1951. The purpose of the memorial was altered to encompass all American wars in which Hoosiers fought.
The monument is modeled after the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus and is 64 meters tall, making it taller than the original Mausoleum, according to historical accounts (it was demolished to build a fort during the Crusades). Blue lights on the side of the building between the columns make it easy to spot.
Broad Ripple Village
Originally an independent municipality, Broad Ripple was annexed by Indianapolis in 1922.
It currently hosts an active social scene, fueled by the near presence of Butler University as well as a large number of private art galleries, bars, and independently owned restaurants.
Massachusetts Avenue
Located just a few blocks northeast of Monument Circle, Massachusetts Avenue was designed in 1821 as one of Downtown's four original diagonal streets. It began as a commercial area that mainly served the surrounding residential area. The Avenue gained popularity as service-oriented businesses sprung up with the development of streetcar lines. Positioned along several streetcar and interurban routes, the Avenue was a continuously growing between 1870 and 1930.
Bernard Vonnegut, grandfather of author Kurt Vonnegut, and Arthur Bohn designed the Athenaeum in 1893 as a home for German societies in Indianapolis to gather. Both were American-born sons of German immigrants, a culture that had a strong influence in the area around this time. Following these many years of good fortune and commercial growth, "Mass Ave", along with all of downtown, hit a downward spiral.
Currently, the redevelopment of "Mass Ave" is focused on developing on independently owned restaurants, theatres and shops, including a revival of the destined-for-demolition Athenaeum building, now the home of the American Cabaret Theatre.
Fountain Square
Fountain Square is a neighborhood on the southeast side of the city located approximately 1.5 miles from downtown and centered at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Shelby Street. A center of commerce for more than 100 years, the historic community is undergoing a period of rebirth and restoration, and is emerging as an ethnic and arts center in the city.
Originally, all of the land was owned by one farmer and was used as a working apple orchard. Over time, plots were sold off and houses were built. The neighborhood was economically strong for many decades, but now suffers from a high unemployment rate and increasing crime and drug problems. In the 1970's, the state of Indiana built the I-65 interstate through Indianapolis, severing Fountain Square from the city proper, resulting in a period of decline. Currently, there are a number of neighborhood development corporations and community groups working to revitalize the area with increasing success.\
Wholesale District
Around the turn of the century Indianapolis had one of the largest networks of railroads in the nation and hundreds of trains passed through Union Station daily, the streets local to the station were lined with businesses, hotels, warehouses, retail shops and more. Wholesale grocers sold fresh goods daily before the advent of the modern grocery store. The district had many such grocers, but also wholesalers who sold dry and finished goods. The House of Crane, whose facade remains part of Circle Centre, sold cigars; Hanson, VanCamp & Co. sold hardware. In addition, South Delaware Street became known as Commission Row, where farmers brought their produce to merchants who sold the goods for a commission fee. The Wholesale District was of primary importance in the transformation of Indianapolis from small town to big city. No longer did shoppers have to rely on retailers who sold finished goods shipped from Louisville or Cincinnati. They could now go to a central location and buy the same items at wholesale prices. With Union Station nearby, wholesalers could ship goods more cheaply and more easily. Unfortunately, the Great Depression devastated the area and few businesses remained.
Since 1995, more than $686 million has been invested in the area, transforming it into the city's premier arts and entertainment district. Recent additions, more than 35 new businesses, include Circle Centre, Conseco Fieldhouse, and a number of upscale restaurants.
Canal and White River State Park
The long defunct Central Canal located in Indianapolis was refurbished and re-opened as a city recreational area. This new incarnation was inspired by Venetian canals. Gradually, cultural attractions were built along the Canal in the 1990s. The north end of the Canal is now home to a burgeoning bio-sciences initiative, anchored by a state-certified technology park. An extension of the Canal into the heart of the growing White River State Park was completed in 1996. The extension was part of a $20 million infrastructure improvement project that included renovation of the Old Washington Street Bridge, built in 1916 as part of the National Road, into a pedestrian crossing that links park attractions.
Indiana Avenue
In 1870, more African-Americans were calling Indiana Avenue home as the original Irish and German populations began to move outward. The population had risen to 974 residents, more than one-third of the city's total African-American population. As the population escalated, African-American residents remained and opened more and more businesses. Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest African-American congregation in Indianapolis, was organized in 1836. The first African-American businesses appeared on the 500 Block of Indiana Avenue as early as 1865: Samuel G. Smother's grocery store; William Franklin's peddler shop and the city's first African-American-owned newspaper, The Indianapolis Leader in 1879.
The Avenue continued to culturally develop, in much the same was as the Harlem Renaissance. Many prominent historical figures have their roots on Indiana Avenue: Madame C.J. Walker, jazz greats including Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy Coe, Noble Sissle, Erroll "Groundhog" Grandy and Wes Montgomery. Mary Ellen Cable was one of the most important African-American educators in Indianapolis. She also organized and was the first president of Indiana's first NAACP chapter.
However, by the late 1950s, the African-American middle class had begun to leave Indiana Avenue for northwestern Marion County, settling in Pike and Washington townships. The Walker Building was shut down in 1965, removing a vital economic anchor for the area. By the early 1970s, Indiana Avenue was suffering from severe urban blight. By the 1980s, much of the area was demolished and replaced by office buildings or townhouses, although the Walker Building was re-opened in 1988 as a theatre. While no longer a blighted zone, Indiana Avenue's legacy now consists of a few historic buildings and a plaque.
Festivals
Beginning in 1999 the city became host to the annual Indy Jazz Festival. The festival is a three day event held in Military Park near the canal. Past stars have included B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Hornsby, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Kool and the Gang, Ray Charles, The Temptations, Dave Brubeck, Emmylou Harris, Chris Isaak, Jonny Lang, Norah Jones and regional and local favorites such as Jennie DeVoe, Cathy Morris and Buselli Wallarab Jazz Orchestra.
Indianapolis is also home to the Indiana State Fair.
St. Joan of Arc school holds a French Market every September with raffles, food, live music, and free admission.
Every May Indianapolis holds the 500 Festival, a month of events culminating in the Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade the day before the running of the Indianapolis 500.
Circle City Classic - The Coca-Cola Circle City Classic enters its third decade as one of America’s top football classics and favorite weekend celebrations. While the name and the quality of the game remains the same, the weekend has gained a name of its own, The American Family Insurance Classic Weekend featuring the Coca-Cola Circle City Classic. The football game is the showcase event as it features some of the best rivalries in black college football. The weekend is a celebration of cultural excellence and educational achievement while showcasing the spirit, energy and tradition of America’s historically black colleges and universities. Over 175,000 spectators visit downtown Indianapolis for this historic event.
In 2003, Indianapolis began hosting Gen Con, the largest role-playing game convention in the nation (record attendence thus far being numbered in excess of 30,000), at the Indiana Convention Center. Future expansion of the convention space is expected by many to further increase attendence numbers in coming years. The convention center has also recently played host to such events as Star Wars Celebration III, which brought in Star Wars fans from around the world, and including George Lucas.
Sports
Indianapolis is the home of the Indianapolis Indians, a minor league baseball team in the International League, the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association, the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. In addition, the headquarters of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the main governing body for U.S. collegiate sports, is in Indianapolis, as is the National Federation of Highschool Sports. Starting with the 2006 event, the NCAA will hold the Final Four (the semifinals and final of the men's basketball tournament) in Indianapolis every four years. The city has been referred to as "The Amateur Sports Capital of the World".
Indianapolis has a large municipal park system, including Eagle Creek Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the nation.
In 1987 Indianapolis played host to the Pan American Games.
| Club | Sport | League | Stadium (or Arena) | Logo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | Football | National Football League (AFC) | RCA Dome | Indianapolis Colts logo |
| Indiana Pacers | Basketball | National Basketball Association | Conseco Fieldhouse | Indiana Pacers logo |
| Indiana Fever | Basketball (women's) | WNBA | Conseco Fieldhouse | Indiana Fever logo |
| Indianapolis Indians | Baseball | International League | Victory Field | Indianapolis Indians logo |
| FC Indiana | Soccer | Women's Premier Soccer League | Kuntz Stadium | FC Indiana logo |
| Indiana Ice | Hockey | United States Hockey League | Pepsi Coliseum/Conseco Fieldhouse | Indiana Ice logo |
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis is most noted for the largest single-day sporting event in the world: the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race which is held at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the largest stadium in the world.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, is the site of the Indianapolis 500, an open-wheel automobile race held each Memorial Day weekend on the 2.5 mile (4 km) oval track. The track is often referred to as "the Brickyard," as it was paved with 3.2 million bricks shortly after its initial construction in 1909. Today the track is paved in asphalt, although there remains a yard of bricks at the start/finish line.
The first 500-Mile Race (804.67 km), held in 1911, was won by driver Ray Harroun driving a Marmon Wasp. (Marmon, incidentally, was an Indianapolis manufacturer.) The "500" is currently part of the Indy Racing League series.
The Speedway also hosts the NASCAR stock car series' largest attended race, the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard, still generally referred to by its former name of the "Brickyard 400" (currently scheduled in August), and the Formula One United States Grand Prix (moved between 2005 and 2006 from mid-June to the July 4th weekend). Smaller series host races at nearby Indianapolis Raceway Park, which is also the site of the annual "Nationals," the most prestigious drag-racing meet of the year for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
As measured by the number of fans in attendance (estimated at close to 350,000, permanent grandstand seating plus infield attendence), the Indianapolis 500 is the largest annual single-day sporting event in the world.
Museums
- Children's Museum of Indianapolis
- Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum
- Conner Prairie
- Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art
- Indiana State Museum
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum
- Indianapolis Museum of Art
Other Points of interest
- Lockerbie Square
- Butler University
- Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens
- Holcomb Gardens
- Slippery Noodle Inn
- White River Gardens
- Indianapolis Zoo
Local media
The Indianapolis Star is the most widely-read daily newspaper in the city. It is owned by Gannett, which also publishes a weekly newspaper called The Topics that focuses on local and community-related news for northern Indianapolis and the surounding suburbs. Other popular publications include Nuvo Newsweekly, Indianapolis Monthly, and Indy Men's Magazine.
Indianapolis is served by the following major local broadcast Television stations:
- WTTV —Channel 4, a WB affiliate
- WRTV —Channel 6, an ABC affiliate
- WISH —Channel 8, a CBS affiliate
- WTHR —Channel 13, an NBC affiliate
- WIIH —Channel 17, a Univision affiliate (Spanish speaking)
- WFYI —Channel 20, a PBS member station
- WNDY —Channel 23, a UPN affiliate
- WCLJ —Channel 42, a TBN affiliate
- WXIN —Channel 59, a FOX affiliate
- WIPX —Channel 63, a PAX affiliate
- WDNI —Channel 65, IMC- Indy's Music Channel, plays a variety of music videos
In radio, The Bob & Tom Show, syndicated across the United States, airs from Indianapolis.
Transportation
Airports
- Indianapolis International Airport serves Indianapolis and Marion County.
Highways
- Six Major Interstates serve the Indianapolis area including I-70, I-74, I-65, I-69, I-465 Beltway, and I-865 Connector.
Transit
- Central Indiana Commuter Services (CICS) funded by IndyGo to reduce pollution serves Indianapolis and surrounding counties.
People Mover
- A monorail type People Mover connects two downtown-area hospitals and is available for public use. Plans are possible for a more expansive People Mover transportation system throughout downtown.
Law & Government
Until the 1990s, Indianapolis was considered to be one of the most conservative metropolitan areas in the country compared to other major U.S. cities. For thirty six years Republicans dominated city/county government, thirty two of which were at the mayor's office. In 1999, Democrat Bart Peterson defeated Republican Secretary of State Sue Anne Gilroy, fifty two percent to forty one percent, respectively. Four years later, Peterson won in a landslide with sixty three percent of the vote. However, Republicans lost control of the City-County Council by just thirteen votes -- the first time Democrats seized control since the inception of Unigov. In 2004, Democratic power increased yet again in Marion County as the offices of Marion County Treasurer, Surveyor and Coroner swung their way, also the first time since Unigov. Republicans still claim other county offices such as Prosecutor, Auditor, Clerk and Recorder.
Other facts
The most common nickname for Indianapolis is ‘Indy’. Other nicknames include ‘Circle City’ (after Monument Circle) and ‘Naptown’ (presumably shortened from ‘IndiaNAPolis’, but often taken derogatorily to mean "sleepy" or "boring").
Both of the United States Navy ships named USS Indianapolis were named for this city.
Indianapolis is the international headquarters of the pharmaceutical corporation Eli Lilly and Company, the US headquarters of Roche Diagnostics and Thomson SA, and the world headquarters of Dow AgroSciences.
Indianapolis' Union Station, one of the busiest rail depots in its time, employed a young Thomas Edison as a telegraph operator.
The mayor of Indianapolis (as of 2005) is Bart Peterson. Past mayors include Steve Goldsmith (R), Peterson's predecessor 1992-1999, Bill Hudnut (R), 1976-91, and U.S. Senator Dick Lugar (R), who served 1968-1975.
Indianapolis is the second most populous capital city in the United States (including Washington, DC), after Phoenix, Arizona.
Television sitcom One Day at a Time was set in Indianapolis. The opening credits of the show include a shot of the Pyramids, a set of distinctive office buildings located near the northern edge of the city. Men Behaving Badly, and CBS's 2005 drama Close to Home were also set in Indianapolis.
See also
Sister cities
Indianapolis has five sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):
External links
Definitions from Wiktionary
Media from Commons
News from Wikinews
Quotations from Wikiquote
Texts from Wikisource
Textbooks from Wikibooks
Resources from Wikiversity
Government
- IndyGov - Official city government website
Cultural and Recreation
- Indianapolis Cultural Tourism Initiative
- Children's Museum of Indianapolis
- The Indianapolis Museum of Art
- White River State Park
- Indianapolis Music.Net (Not-for-profit website promoting local music)
- FC Indiana (Women's Premier Soccer League team)
Professional Media
- Indianapolis Recorder (Local weekly, focuses on African-American issues)
- The Indianapolis Star ("Local" daily, owned by Gannett)
- INtake (Local weekly, concentrates on nightlife and other activities: Subsidiary of The Indianapolis Star)
- Nuvo (Local weekly, concentrates on arts and entertainment)
- Northside Topics (Local weekly, concentrates on northern Marion County and the northern communities of the Nine-County Region)
- Southside Times (Local weekly, concentrates on southern Marion County and Greenwood, Indiana)
- Indianapolis Business Journal (Local business weekly)
- The Sagamore (IUPUI campus paper)
- Butler Collegian (Butler University campus paper)
- The Reflector (University of Indianapolis campus paper)
Business
- Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce
- Indianapolis Downtown
- Indianapolis Bio-Crossroads Initiative
- Indianapolis FOCUS Initiative
- The Indy Partnership
- IndySiteFinder, city-wide office, industrial and retail property database
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