Indiana
| Indiana |
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Jim Banks (R) |
2 Democratic Party (United States) |
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Indiana is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 United States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th state on December 11, 1816. It is bordered by Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the south and southeast, and the Wabash River and Illinois to the west.
Various indigenous peoples inhabited what would become Indiana for thousands of years, some of whom the U.S. government expelled between 1800 and 1836. Indiana received its name because the state was primarily inhabited by native tribes even after being granted statehood. Since then, settlement patterns in Indiana have reflected regional cultural segmentation present in the Eastern United States; the state's northernmost tier was settled primarily by people from New England and New York, Central Indiana by migrants from the Mid-Atlantic states and adjacent Ohio, and Southern Indiana by settlers from the Upland South, particularly Kentucky and Tennessee.
Indiana has a diverse economy with a gross state product of $352.62 billion in 2021. It has several metropolitan areas with populations greater than 100,000 and many smaller cities and towns. Indiana is home to professional sports teams, including the NFL's Indianapolis Colts and the NBA's Indiana Pacers. The state also hosts several notable competitive events, such as the Indianapolis 500, held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Etymology
Indiana's name means "Land of the Indians", or simply "Indian Land". It also stems from Indiana's territorial history. On May 7, 1800, the United States Congress passed legislation to divide the Northwest Territory into two areas and named the western section the Indiana Territory. In 1816, when Congress passed an Enabling Act to begin the process of establishing statehood for Indiana, a part of this territorial land became the geographic area for the new state.
Sexual attitudes in Indiana
Sexual attitudes in Indiana are shaped by conservative educational policies, evolving public opinion, and significant public health concerns. Here's an overview:
- Sex Education Policies
No Statewide Mandate: Indiana does not require schools to teach sex education. However, instruction on HIV/AIDS is mandated and must emphasize abstinence as the expected social standard. The curriculum is not required to be medically accurate, evidence-based, or comprehensive. Topics such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and consent are not mandated.
- Parental Consent: Students must have parental permission to opt-in for participation in sex education instruction.
- Recent Legislative Actions: In 2024, Indiana lawmakers advanced a bill requiring schools to seek school board approval for their sex education materials and to publicize information about who teaches the courses and when. Additionally, in 2025, a bill was proposed to mandate that schools show students a rendering or animation of the fertilization process and each stage of fetal development, including a high-definition ultrasound video of early fetal development.
- Public Opinion
- Reproductive Health: A survey by Planned Parenthood found that 50% of Indiana voters identify as pro-choice, with 28% believing abortion should be legal in all cases.
- LGBTQ+ Rights: Indiana has limited statewide protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. Only 33% of the state population is protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in private employment, housing, and public accommodations.
- Public Health Trends
- STI Rates: In 2023, Indiana reported 50 cases of congenital syphilis, with a rate of 62.8 per 100,000 live births. Chlamydia is the most common STD in Indiana, with a rate of 495.7 cases per 100,000 people.
- Rising Infections: From 2017 to 2021, primary and secondary syphilis rates in Indiana increased by 125%, outpacing the national increase of 72%.
- In conclusion
Indiana's sexual attitudes reflect a conservative approach in educational policies, with increasing public support for reproductive rights. Public health data indicates a need for comprehensive sexual education to address rising STI rates and promote informed decision-making among youth.
History of the Indiana Flag
The Indiana State Flag features a vibrant blue background with a centrally placed golden torch emitting rays. Surrounding the torch and rays is an outer circle of thirteen gold stars. Inside the first circle is a second half-circle of five gold stars located on the lower half of the first circle. At the top of the torch is a large golden star, with the word "Indiana" written in an arch shape above it in gold.
The torch on the flag symbolizes liberty and enlightenment, while the rays represent the state's influence both domestically and abroad. The thirteen stars pay homage to the original thirteen colonies, while the five stars indicate the five states that joined the union before Indiana. The large star and the word "Indiana" signify Indiana's admission as the 19th state to join the United States. The Indiana State Flag was designed by Paul Hadley, an outstanding watercolor artist from Indiana, who won a competition sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The current design for the Indiana State Flag was adopted on May 31st, 1917.
Indiana is located in the Midwestern Region and Great Lakes Region of North America. It shares borders with Lake Michigan, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois. Indiana translates as "Land of the Indians." The most populous city and capital of Indiana is Indianapolis, which was founded in 1821. Indiana is nicknamed "The Hoosier State," a name that became popular after Indiana resident John Finley's poem, "The Hoosier's Nest," which was published in 1833. The word "Hoosier" applies to residents or anyone who was born in Indiana.
The first inhabitants of Indiana date back to 8000 BC and were the Paleo-Indian tribes and migratory Native American tribes. In 1679, the first European to arrive in the area was the French explorer Robert Cavalier Sieur De La Salle. He returned a year later to claim the land for New France and was soon followed by Canadian traders. In 1702, the first trading post was established by Sieur Juchereau, and in 1715, Sieur de Vincennes established Fort Miami. British colonists soon began to arrive to revolt against the Canadian trade, which resulted in fighting and conflict between the French and the British. After the French and Indian War (Seven Years' War), which resulted in British victory, the British took control of Indiana. Following the American Revolutionary War in 1783, through the Treaty of Paris, the British relinquished control of the land to the United States of America, and Indiana officially became the 19th state on December 11, 1816.
A Personal Note from Robin
In 1957, the Roberts' family lived on Anthony Avenue in Fort Wayne. I attended North Side High School, and Gerry worked at Farnsworth Electronics. In October of 1957, I enlisted in the US Navy. I took a midnight bus to Indianapolis, where I was sworn in and, after breakfast, boarded another bus for NavStaGreatLakes to attend 'Boot Camp.'
External links
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Indiana ]
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