Where Is Indianapolis? See Its Map Location and State

The metropolitan city of Indianapolis is well-known for a number of things, including the famous Indy 500. This is the only major city in the United States that is not situated near a navigable river. The city does rest by a river, but boat traffic cannot make it through the shallow – and sometimes narrow – channel. But where is Indianapolis and what can you do when you visit? We have all of your answers in the following sections.

Where is Indianapolis?

Indianapolis is a city in Central Indiana. Indiana is a midwestern state that shares borders with Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois. It also shares a small portion of its border with Lake Erie – one of North America’s Great Lakes. The nearest large cities to Indianapolis include Cincinnati, Ohio (99 miles), Louisville, Kentucky (107 miles), and Chicago, Illinois (165 miles). Indianapolis is the state capital of Indiana.

Where is Indianapolis on a Map?

We’ve included this helpful map to help you get a better idea of where Indianapolis is. You can use the interactive map to zoom in and explore the different neighborhoods of Indianapolis, or even check out some local attractions. Indianapolis is in the Central Time Zone.

What is the Population of Indianapolis?

The current population of Indianapolis – according to 2021 census data – is 882,039 people. The median age of this population is 34 years old. This population is spread across 352,238 households with a median household income of 54,321 dollars. The population is 57.7 percent white, 28.8 percent black, and 10.8 percent Hispanic or Latino. There are approximately 2,454 people per square mile in Indianapolis. Indianapolis is the 16th most populated city in the United States, after large metropolitan areas such as Dallas, Texas (1,303,234), New York City, New York (8,772,978), and Chicago, Illinois (2,741,730).

What is the Climate in Indianapolis?

The city has a humid continental climate that experiences four distinct seasons. The average high temperature in the summer months is in the 80s and the average low is in the 60s. For winter, you can expect a mild climate, with average highs in the mid-40s and average lows in the low 20s. Winters are often very rainy while summers are warm and humid.

When was Indianapolis Founded?

Indianapolis was founded in 1821, five years following Indiana’s entry into the Union as its 19th state. It is no coincidence that this event was at the end of the same year that the Delaware people had agreed to leave behind their ceded tribal and native lands. A treaty, the Treaty of Saint Mary’s, established an agreement between the state and the Lenape (Delaware) people in which Delaware would hand over all of their tribal lands in Indiana in exchange for reserved land and a number of other accommodations. Once the Delaware people had left the area, Indianapolis was built.

What is Indianapolis Famous for?

Aside from the Indy 500, Indianapolis has a lot of well-known and deeply loved features. We’ve included a small list below.

• The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
• Fountain Square
• The Central Canal
• Monument Circle
• Broad Ripple Village
• World’s Largest Children’s Museum
• Mass Ave Cultural District

Is Indianapolis a Good Place to Live?

Indianapolis certainly has a lot going for it in terms of livability. It is ranked 16th for most affordable cities in the United States, and 34th in quality of life. However, it receives much lower scores in terms of job availability and ease of public transportation. Low crime rates and good universities may draw many in, but others may be deterred by the city’s lack of diversity and low-quality health care. If you like to have close proximity to other major cities and a strong sports culture, you just might enjoy Indianapolis. But if you’re looking for interesting landscapes and low traffic, maybe you need to search somewhere else.

What is the Geography of Indianapolis?

Indianapolis rests in a very flat plains area. Small, sloping hills surround the city, but the terrain is dominantly level. The city is well-centered in the state – it is only 14 miles south-southeast of the geographic center of Indiana. Indianapolis sits at an elevation of only 718 feet above sea level. The city stretches across almost 368 square miles, of which only 6.3 square miles is water. Indianapolis is the 18th-largest city by land area in the United States. The city of Indianapolis contains around 200 farms that cover thousands of acres of agricultural land. This helps account for the sheer size of the city and lends landscapes of corn and soy to the outskirts of the municipality.

What Wildlife Lives in Indianapolis?

Indianapolis actually has quite a bit of wildlife! This is due, in part, to wonderful city parks such as Marott Woods Nature Preserve. This preserve covers 102 acres in the northern part of the city. It is home to several species of fauna and flora, including the Ohio buckeye and a variety of woodpeckers. Birdwatching is a common activity here, and several squirrels and other small mammals will go skittering through the woods as you walk the unpaved trails and cross wooden bridges over the creek that runs through the preserve. Spring brings opportunities to see many different varieties of fungi and wildflowers.

In the city, you may also stumble across white-tail deer, foxes, squirrels, birds, mice, rats, skunks, opossums, and a number of insect species.

What is the Primary Industry?

Indianapolis has a large collection of remote workers who work in a variety of fields. The primary industry for the entire state is manufacturing. The city itself focuses on life sciences such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and drugs.

What Are Some Fun Facts About Indianapolis?

• Indianapolis has the second-largest population of any capital city in the United States. The first most-populated city is Phoenix, Arizona.
• It is the birthplace of sliced bread. Yes, you read that right! The Indianapolis branch of Wonder Bread was the first place to ever start selling sliced bread.
• The Slippery Noodle Inn is one of the oldest bars in Indiana. It is rumored to now be haunted, but its coolest history is that it served as a stop on the Underground Railroad!
• Crown Hill Cemetery is the third largest cemetery in the United States.
• Indianapolis native Albert Von Tilzer wrote the famous ballpark song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”.
• The city is called the “Crossroads of America” for having the most interstate legs running through it.
• The city contains one of the country’s largest municipal parks – Eagle Creek Park.

What Are Some Fun Things to Do When I Visit?

Indiana hosts some really nice tourism and recreation, so a visit to the capital city is sure to have a little something for everyone. Several museums and art galleries, such as the Indiana State Museum, the NCAA Hall of Champions, and the Anderson Museum of Art, pepper the city. What about food? A variety of cuisines are served at local eateries, such as La Parada with its authentic Mexican food, the comfort food of Milktooth, and the classic pub food with a twist that’s served at Shoefly’s.

Take a stroll down the Central Canal, sip on a cold beverage at a variety of bars and coffee shops, or get wrapped up in the nightlife with live music performances, pub crawls, festivals, exhibits, and sports events! Visit the Broadripple Village on the weekends for lively crowds and good access to food.

Our experiences with the places we visit depend greatly on our mentalities when we go there. So, whether you’re taking a bike ride through the city, having a meal with a friend, or looking for some excitement, you’re sure to find something up your alley if you’re willing to open your mind and heart to the world around you.