1. Indiana Is A Safe Place To Call Home
The crime rate in
Indiana is slightly higher than the national average of 3,099 reported criminal acts per 100,000 residents, with an average of 3,211 reported criminal acts per 100,000 statewide. However, it’s important to mention that most parts of Indiana are extremely safe and that this number is likely inflated due to higher crime rates in Indianapolis, as well as the Northwest part of the state near Chicago.
2. Indiana Has A Great Cost Of Living
As a whole, the cost of living in Indiana scores an 87 on the same cost of living index that puts average America at a score of 100. Some places are even cheaper, with cities like Fort Wayne scoring an 83 and Evansville at an 84. One of the most notable areas that residents tend to save is in housing, with the average home value in Indiana hovering around $123,400, a far cry from the national average of $181,400.
3. You Never Know What Will Fall From The Sky Here
Home to weather that’s notorious for changing moods at the drop of a dime, Indiana experiences four mild seasons throughout the year, with some hotter days during the summer and an occasional frigid week during the winter.
Summers tend to stick around a humid 75 degrees on average, while the winter months drop down to a consistent low to mid 30s. Aside from the occasional snow storm or tornado warning, there’s not much to worry about when it comes to the weather in this state.
However, it always a good idea to carry an umbrella with you, regardless of what the sky looks like. Every Hoosier knows that even though it’s sunny now, the next few hours might bring rain, sleet, or worse.
4. Getting Around Indiana Is A Breeze
One nice thing about Indiana is how easy it is to get around the state. You might be driving through cornfields most of the time, but the infrastructure is easy to understand and most of the roads are flat, straight shots to your destination. Even the commutes in larger cities aren’t bad, ranging from an average commute time in Evansville of 18 minutes to the still tolerable 23 minute average you’ll find in Indianapolis.
5. Jobs Are Plentiful In The Hoosier State
Finding a job in Indiana is a relatively easy task, as the statewide unemployment rate tends to hover right around the national average of 6 percent, with most of the problem areas isolated to larger cities, something that’s typical nationwide.
However, with an economy that’s growing in diversity every year, this state is constantly becoming even more attractive to big business.
6. Basketball Reigns Supreme In This State
The southern states have their football, the East Coast has its lacrosse, and Indiana has its basketball. One of the most competitive places to play this sport in the country, the residents of Indiana go crazy for a good game of hoops regardless of whether it’s being played at a local high school or at the professional level.
7. That Giant Sandwich You Keep Seeing Has A Name
Featuring a flattened piece of pork that’s been breaded and deep-fried, the pork tenderloin sandwich is one of the most recognizable foods coming out of the Hoosier State.
It’s said to have originated in Huntington at Nick’s Kitchen and is typically topped with pickle, mustard, onion, and mayonnaise. You’ll even see other crazy variations around the state that toss this deep-fried meat on top of a burger or even in a grilled cheese sandwich.
8. The Word “Hoosier” Gets Thrown Around Quite A Bit
Nationally known thanks to being the nickname of Indiana University athletics, the entire state of Indiana is a little unclear on where this term originated. Just know that the word “Hoosier” generally means someone who’s proudly from Indiana.
9. The Indy 500 Really Is That Big Of A Deal
With race day attendance reaching numbers in the 300,000 range, the Indy 500 is one of the biggest sporting events in the entire world. Where else can you drink a ton of beer while watching cars worth millions of dollars speed around a track at 230 miles per hour? Most race-goers prefer to get tickets in the stands, but infield passes are also an option, letting you explore the complex and get super close to the track.
10. You Might As Well Start Cheering For The Colts
Headquartered in the center of the state, Hoosiers love Colts football. With an exception to those living close to Cincinnati or Chicago, everyone in this state bleeds white and blue come kickoff time Sunday.
11. Indianapolis Might Be The Most Underrated Big City In The Country
Home to several professional sports teams, multiple nightlife districts, world class restaurants, and huge annual events, Indy has it all. For some reason, most of America hasn’t realized the tourism value that this city has yet. That’s just fine though, it keeps the streets less crowded for the locals that love it so much.
12. Indiana Is Home To Some Great Universities That You Didn’t Know Where There
While a lot of schools tend to feature their home state in their name, some of the more noteworthy schools located in Indiana shy away from this. A few places that most outsiders don’t realize are in the Hoosier state include Purdue, Notre Dame, Butler, Valparaiso, Ball State, and Rose-Hulman, all noteworthy at a national scale for certain programs that they offer.
13. Don’t Go Searching For Pawnee
Thanks to the very popular television show “Parks and Recreation,” featuring a star studded cast with the likes of Amy Poehler, Rob Lowe, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, and Rashida Jones, Pawnee, IN became a very famous town. Unfortunately, it doesn’t exist. You won’t find Paunch Burger in Indiana either.
However, if you want to get as close to Pawnee as possible, it’s said that the map featured in the show is actually just a map of Muncie that’s been flipped upside down, home to Ball State University.
14. Despite What You Thought, Indiana Has Some Great Beach Towns
Indiana might be landlocked, but its proximity next to Lake Michigan gives it some pretty awesome water destinations, with tiny towns spread all along the shoreline leading towards Chicago. One cool spot to check out during the warm summer months is the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. With sandy beaches stretching 15 miles along the lake, this is one day trip the whole family is sure to love.
15. The Craft Beer Scene In Indiana Is World-Class
The Hoosier stat is also home to one of the most recognizable breweries in the world, Three Floyd’s Brewing. But the awesome beer making in this state doesn’t just stop in Munster. Indiana has more than 50 craft breweries spread around the state, a couple other must tries include Bloomington’s Upland Brewery and Indy’s Sun King.
16. Time Zones Get A Little Funky Around These Parts
Indiana is pretty unique in that part of the state is on Central Time while part of the state is on Eastern Time, making it really awkward when you’re going to meet someone and your phone suddenly adjusts to reveal you’re actually an hour late. Make sure you know what time zone you’re headed to before you make plans.
17. Always Keep Both Eyes Peeled For Deer
Thanks to the vast amount farmland and wooded areas in Indiana, deer absolutely love this state. Unfortunately, they don’t always obey the local traffic laws, refusing to yield to oncoming traffic. That being said, any time you’re behind the wheel, especially in rural areas at night, watch the sides of the road to avoid a dangerous collision.
18. You Might Occasionally Have To Dodge A Tractor While Driving, Too
The farming community is huge in Indiana and one side effect of this industry is that tractors tend to make their way out onto the roads from time to time. If it’s not safe to pass, know that typically these machines are only on the road for short lengths of time commuting from one field to another.
19. The Corn Stereotypes You’ve Heard Are True
No, everyone in Indiana isn’t a farmer…but that doesn’t change the fact that there’s a ton of corn around the Hoosier State. A quick drive through the state will reveal just how huge the farming industry in this state is, as it’s possible to drive for hours without seeing anything but tall rows stretching out towards the horizon, broken up by the occasional patch of soybeans.
Don’t complain though, the corn here is some of the best in the world, capable of making you excited about eating your veggies again.
20. There’s This Crazy Game Called Euchre
If someone says they’re a Hoosier, it’s generally a given that they’re an expert at tossing hands in Euchre. Outsiders tend to find this regional card game pretty strange, mostly because Jacks are the highest card in the deck and the most powerful suit changes every hand. It can be a little confusing to learn at first, but after watching a few hands you’ll be having fun playing it yourself in no time—as long as you can find someone willing to partner with a rookie.
21. It’s Always A Holiday In Indiana.
Indiana is home to one of the best theme parks in the country. Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari lives up to its motto of being “#1 for family fun.” Located in Santa Claus, it’s got 51 rides, including three wooden roller coasters and 23 water rides, making for the perfect summer activity.
Plus, despite being as awesome as it is, Holiday World doesn’t gouge visitors with prices, offering tons of special deals throughout the year, as well as free soda and sunscreen.
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