Indianapolis, Indiana
The city of Indianapolis is a economically vibrant and culturally rich place to live. Diversification of economy from manufacturing to include the services and tourism sector means that the city is booming with commercial opportunities.
The culturally sensitive individual will enjoy Indianapolis as it is second only to Washington DC as far as number of monuments inside city limits is concerned. Other heritage attractions like Lockerbie Square, Cole-Noble District, Madame Walker Theatre, and Obelisk Square provide ample recreation and relaxation opportunities to the residents of the city. Indy 500 is just one of the many sporting events that take place in the city. Such events can be combined with numerous other attractions in the city like the ''Dolphinarium'' in the Indinapolis zoo for a great time with family and friends.
The city plays hosts to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra at Hilbert Circle Theater and also the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, which is the largest museum dedicated solely for the entertainment and education of children. The combination of these attractions and the friendly and warm people who reside here makes it a great city to live in
Indianapolis is a warm and welcoming city that is connected to all major cities in America through its excellently maintained road network. The city is an urban center with healthy balance between commerce, culture, sports, and entertainment facilities for its citizens.
Indianapolis History
The capital city Indianapolis was established by a proclamation of law in 1816. The location was identified in 1821 very close to the center of the State. This was done to facilitate migration from the west. The site was chosen near the White State river because it was presumed that the river would help in transportation and setting up of industry.
The capital city of Indiana was designed on the lines of Washington DC with the city spreading in four directions from the center. This sprawling city was first designed to be built over just one of the four square miles allotted because the surveyor believed the city would never need to grow beyond the on square mile limit! Canals were built to exploit the city for commerce but it proved to be too shallow. In 1831, a national highway was routed through the city and the construction of railroads in 1847 further solved the problem of transportation and connectivity with nearby regions.
The city was a major center during the Civil War and was the first to have electric street lighting in 1881. The original Governor's circle had proved unsuitable as a residence, was demolished, and was replaced by Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the city was a bustling hub of automobile manufacture in America. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed in 1911 and became host to the Indy 500, now popular all over the world. The city transformed from a manufacturing to a cosmopolitan cultural hub in the 1960s when charitable organizations were required by law to spend more money. A 69000 seater football stadium was the result of this new legal requirement.
Natural gas reserves discovered nearby were completely utilized by 1920 and the Great Depression accentuated its negative impact to the economy. The period from 1921 to 1928 saw the rapid rise of the Klu Klux Klan, which had set up its State headquarters in the capital city. Segregation and racial tension followed but the secular and resilient character of the city resurfaced and the organization had been disbanded by 1944.
The city, due to its migration friendly location, had a significant black population. Many great jazz artists were born or brought up in the city and this added to the cultural heritage of the city. Indianapolis escaped riots caused by Martin Luther King's assassination in 1968. It was the only major city in America to enjoy this distinction.
The process of consolidation of the city and county governments in the 70s suddenly propelled Indianapolis as the 11th largest city in the country. After a brief economic downturn in the 80s, the city bounced back with redevelopment of its suburbs in the 90s. The IT revolution has helped the city exploit its connectivity to become a preferred distribution hub for ecommerce websites.
About Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the 12th largest city in the country and is the second largest city in the Midwest after Chicago. Not surprisingly, it is a major urban center and a commercial hub in the region. Its close proximity to the corn belt has enhanced its reputation as the best place to business in and around the region. Its connectivity has made it a distribution hub and this has led to the development of the insurance industry. The city is considered as the headquarter of the insurance industry in the Midwest.
The city has invested in education and vocational training. Major companies in and around the city have access to a million strong labor pool that is qualified and skilled in some of the best institutions in the region. Three out of the top four corporate employers in the city happen to be Universities. This ensures quality of education always remains high.
In the past two decades, the city has moved from an industrial town and has transformed into a tourism, logistics and cultural hub as well. After the national capital, this city has the largest number of monuments in the city limit. The city is less than 700 miles from 55% of the entire American population. It is also the most accessible city amongst the top 100 cities in the country. Further, the presence of 26 rail corridors further enhances movement of freight.
The lawmakers have recognized the tourism potential of the cultural attractions. The renewed interest in the cultural glory of the city combined with the hype generated around the sporting events held in the city has boosted tourism and has made the city more cosmopolitan in its lifestyle. Social events now revolve around the museums, theaters, parks, stadiums, and racetracks.
The city is filled with sights and sounds designed to provide best value for money for its visitors. The airport, the first to be designed after 9/11, provides maximum comfort to passengers even as high security is maintained at all times. The city boasts of some of the best hotels in the region. There is a lot of choice for the travelers ranging from ultra plush luxury hotels to budget B&B establishments.
Food tourism is becoming very popular in the city even as eating outlets like Shapiro's, Goose The Market, and St. Elmo Steak House are awarded top honors by the likes of USA Today, Bon Appetit and the Travel Channel. Visiting the city to enjoy its sporting action makes sense because the biggest and second biggest single day sporting events in the world, The Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400, are held in this city.
Music events like the International Violin Competition, Indy Jazz Fest, and DCI World Championships attract connoisseurs of good music from all over the world. Those who prefer traditional entertainment options can visit state fairs that are held in the city on a regular basis.
About Marion County, Indiana
Indianapolis is the county seat of the Marion County. Marion is the largest county in the state of Indiana in terms of population. The county has a population of close to a million people. Marion County is often considered coterminous with the city of Indianapolis.
Marion County in located in the center of the state of Indiana. It has a total area of 403 square miles, of which 6.7 miles is water and the rest land. Neighboring counties include Hamilton County, Hancock County, Shelby County, Boone County, Hendricks County, Morgan County and Johnson County.
Marion County was officially declared as a county in 1822. It was formed after the Delaware New Purchase on April 1 of the same year. The county was named after Francis Marion, the South Carolina Brigadier General who took part in the American Revolutionary War.
Marion County has a Unigov or a consolidated city county government, in which 4 municipalities retain complete government control. The rest of the municipalities in the county exercise limited authority and are called as included towns. These towns however retain rights to levy taxes. Until 2000, the county was a Republican stronghold in prior presidential elections. However since 2000, the county has reverted towards Democrats. Marion County is the 7th congressional district of Indiana.
The racial makeup of the county is dominated by White Americans, who make up 70 percent of the population, followed by African Americans making up 24.12 percent. Other races that make up the rest of the population are Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islander and a few others.
Marion County is famous for its horse farms and unspoiled lakes. The county is regarded as one of the most livable counties in United States. The County organizes various events and fests that bring in thousands of tourists each year.