INIndiana Map
Indiana on the US map
Indiana sits in the Midwest region of the United States — specifically the midwest rust subregion as defined by the US Census Bureau. With an area ranking of #38 of 50, Indiana is mid-sized for the United States. The map above highlights Indiana in gold and color-codes the 49 other states by region.
Whether you're a student studying US geography, a traveler planning a road trip, a teacher building a lesson plan, or simply curious, the goal of this page is to give you a complete picture of where Indiana is and what surrounds it. Click any other state on the map above to navigate to its dedicated page.
Capital and largest city
The capital of Indiana is Indianapolis — which is also the largest city in the state. About 17 of the 50 US state capitals also hold the title of largest city; Indiana is one of them.
The historical reason for these mismatches dates to the late 18th and 19th centuries. When state founders chose capitals, they often deliberately picked smaller, more centrally located towns to avoid concentrating political and commercial power in the same place. They worried that a capital in a major port or commercial city would be too vulnerable to mob influence (a real concern at the time) and would skew political decisions toward commercial interests.
Borders and neighbors
Indiana shares land borders with 4 other US states: Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky. Each link goes to that state's dedicated page where you can see its own map, history, and facts.
Geographic features at a glance
- Total area rank: #38 of 50
- Population: 5 to 10 million
- Coastline: great_lakes
- Mountain ranges: no major mountain ranges
- Time zone: Eastern (spans multiple)
- Region: Midwest — midwest rust subregion
Major highways and transportation
Indiana is connected to the rest of the country by the federal Interstate Highway System (planned by President Eisenhower in the 1950s). Major airports serve Indianapolis, with regional connections to the rest of the state. Amtrak rail service connects parts of Indiana to the national passenger rail network, though geographic isolation and population density vary.
Indiana notable firsts
- Birthplace of one or more US presidents
🌟 Indiana trivia
- The Indianapolis 500, held every Memorial Day weekend, is the largest single-day sporting event in the world.
- Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana in 1958, the 7th of 10 children.
- The state name means "Land of the Indians" — though the state's Native population was forcibly removed by the 1840s.
- Indiana is the only state with a basketball religion — high school games regularly sell out 20,000-seat arenas.
Indiana vs similar states
How does Indiana compare with 3 other states in the same region and size category?
| State | Capital | Pop | Area rank | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | Indianapolis | 5 to 10 million | #38 | 1816 |
| Illinois | Springfield | over 10 million | #25 | 1818 |
| Iowa | Des Moines | 1 to 5 million | #26 | 1846 |
| Ohio | Columbus | over 10 million | #34 | 1803 |
Bordering states (4)
Indiana shares borders with 4 other US states, listed alphabetically below. Each link goes to the dedicated state page.
Practice US geography daily — free
Statedoku is a 3×3 daily geography puzzle. Indiana appears as an answer or constraint clue on most days that match its region, borders, time zone, or quirks. Five minutes a day.
Play today's puzzle →Similar states to Indiana
If this page interested you, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture. These states share Indiana's region (Midwest) and similar size category: