Indianapolis – The Indy City

Indianapolis is located in the Midwestern United States, in the center of Indiana, of which it is the state capital. It is the fourteenth most populous city in the United States, with over 800,000 people. Indianapolis has a land mass of 365 square miles. The Indianapolis area was originally inhabited by the native Miami and Lenape tribes which were removed in the 1820’s. The first railroad reached Indianapolis in 1847. By the end of the 1800’s Indianapolis was competing as a center for automotive manufacturing with nearby rival Detroit. Indianapolis became a center for regional transport due to its central location and rail and road routes that passed through it. As with many American cities, Indianapolis saw its population grow rapidly in the first half of the 1900’s. The city struggled with race relations in the 1960’s, and experienced urban decay and white flight in the 1970’s and 1980’s. The city embarked on major revitalization efforts in the 1990’s which are paying dividends today. Indianapolis is a major tourism and convention destination. The city is also a major sports center, with various sports teams, and hosts the Indianapolis 500 auto race each year.

The Indianapolis Economy: Indyconomy

Indianapolis is a major business and commercial center. The main drivers of the Indianapolis economy today are: manufacturing, energy, insurance, government services, professional services, education, health care, transportation, food production, and finance. Tourism and trade are also crucial elements of the Indianapolis economy, and the city hosts numerous conventions and sporting events each year.

Education in Indianapolis: On the Mark

Educational attainment among the Indianapolis populace is on par with that of the U.S. as a whole. As of 2000, roughly 81% of its residents aged 25 and older had completed high school and 25% had completed college. There are numerous colleges and universities located in Indianapolis. The public state institution, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, is home to over 30,000 students across 21 schools. Among other institutions of higher learning in Indianapolis are: Butler University, Marian University, and the University of Indianapolis.

The Crime Scene in Indianapolis: Needs Improvement

Indianapolis ranks behind its fellow large cities Los Angeles and New York for both violent crime and property crime. The Indianapolis murder rate appears to be on track for a substantial increase in 2010 over 2009. Property crimes have also been increasing for most of this decade. Most of Indianapolis’ crime statistics on a per capita basis mirror those of fellow large U.S. city Houston, which is not the best role model.

The Indianapolis Population and Politics: Mixed

Indianapolis has a population of over 800,000 people. Its population has been growing modestly, at a rate of 0.4% per year over the past decade. While Republicans held a firm grasp on Indianapolis politics from the late 1960’s through the 1990’s, Indianapolis’ political preferences now appear more balanced. Among the over 370,000 votes cast in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, Indianapolis voters chose Democratic candidate Barack Obama over Republican candidate John McCain by a ratio of nearly two to one.