Indiana is a state in the north central United States, in the Midwest. It is one of the leading industrial and agricultural states in the Union. Manufacturing is Indiana's single most important economic activity, but agriculture remains a principal activity throughout much of the state. The state motto "the Crossroads of America" reflects the importance of Indiana in the commercial activities of the country, because numerous transportation routes pass through the state. Indianapolis, the state's capital and only large city, is itself a crossroads, situated at the center of the state with most transportation routes going through it.

The state's nickname is the Hoosier State, and the people of Indiana are called Hoosiers. These two names are among the most widely known of all state nicknames, but their origin is a mystery. Among the many explanations is that of Jacob Piatt Dunn. He traced the word back to "hoozer," a dialect word from England that meant any unusually large feature, such as a hill. It eventually came to mean a hill dweller, and as such, was introduced in hilly southern Indiana, the earliest settled part of the state. Another explanation says that the term comes from the many Indiana residents hired by contractor Sam Hoosier, who became known as Hoosiers. Still others believe the word is a corruption of pioneer question "Who's here?"

The Hoosier National Forest covers many acres of the southern portions of the state which still have their ancient terrain of hills and hollows. This hilly region attracts leaf viewers every fall with its colorful array of leaves. Artists such as J.C. Steele, a member of a group of impressionists known as the Hoosiers, established colonies in this impressive area that provided inspiration for their paintings.

As a large part of the land is dedicated to agriculture, huge red barns and silos dominate the countryside. Many of the barns are round and they even have a museum in Rochester dedicated to this fascinating structure. The great agricultural prospects and the hopes of religious freedom brought Amish and Mennonite immigrants to the land. There are popular areas where tourists can visit workshops, auctions, markets, and a variety of things Amish.

From the Indianapolis 500 car race in Indianapolis to the quaint peaceful farms of the Amish, Indiana is a great place to visit.