Why So Few Americans Live In Indiana

Of all the Great Lakes states, Indiana is probably the state that you think about the least

Mostly because while Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio all have populations of more than 10 million people and large cities

Indiana doesn't. Which begs the question, why didn't Indiana grow in the same way as the other Great Lakes states

Indiana is a bit of a quandary because, while it's firmly within the Great Lakes region

it actually doesn't share all that much in common with its siblings

all of whom were born out of the Northwest Territory. In fact, it probably shares more with states like Missouri or even Iowa

But geographically and historically, this probably shouldn't be the case. Indiana is one of the oldest states in the country

but it has a pretty low profile overall, metaphorically and geographically speaking

because while it sits within the Great Lakes region of the country, one of the United States' most important regions

it's surrounded by states with larger populations, more prominent cities, and well-established industries

But that's not to say Indiana doesn't have its own unique history. Of course, before the modern iteration of the state and before European settlers arrived

the area now known as Indiana was home to the Miami, Shawnee, Potowotomi, and Delaware tribes

The Miami people, one of the more prominent tribes in the region, established a network of villages across the Wabash River Valley

In fact, Indiana got its name in part because when the Northwest Territory was getting carved up beginning in the year 1800

the entire western section was specifically designated as Indian land. Despite its position within the United States today

it would be the French that would make first contact with the local tribes, establishing trading posts and forging alliances

In 1679, French explorer René Robert Cavallier passed through the region, claiming it for New France

The French influence in the area was largely centered around the fur trade

with the French building forts and trading posts along key waterways, including Fort Wiatanon, near present-day Lafayette, and Fort Vincennes on the Wabash River

However, the French would eventually lose control of the entire region. The French and Indian War between France and Britain ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763

which ceded control of the area to the British. But British rule was short-lived

as the American Revolutionary War soon erupted. And following that war, the Treaty of Paris in 1783

granted the newly formed United States control over the land north of the Ohio River

including what would become Indiana. The late 1700s and early 1800s were periods of great upheaval

for the indigenous populations in Indiana. The United States government pursued a policy of land acquisition through treaties

many of which were signed under duress or through deceptive means. The Treaty of Greenville in 1795, following the Northwest Indian War

forced indigenous tribes to cede much of their land in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois to the United States

Further treaties throughout the 1800s continued this process, steadily eroding indigenous land holdings and sovereignty

And as the indigenous peoples were pushed out, American settlers came rushing in to claim land

And like with Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky before it, this would eventually culminate in an effort to become a full state

The push for statehood in Indiana was closely tied to the broader westward expansion of the United States

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 established the Northwest Territory, which included present-day Indiana

and set out the process by which territories could become states. In 1800, the Indiana Territory was created with its capital initially at Vincennes

William Henry Harrison was appointed as the territory first governor and he played a key role in negotiating treaties with the indigenous tribes often and again to the detriment of those same tribes During this time

the population of the Indiana Territory continued to grow, driven by an influx of settlers attracted

by the promise of fertile land. By 1815, the population had reached a level sufficient to

petition for statehood. A constitutional convention was held in Corridon in June 1816

where delegates drafted Indiana's first state constitution. On December 11th, 1816, Indiana was admitted to the state as the 19th state

The admission of Indiana as a state marked a turning point in its history. The years that followed saw rapid development

with the construction of roads, cs, and later railroads, facilitating the movement of people and goods

But the story of Indiana's statehood is also a story of loss for the indigenous peoples

who called the region home for generations. Forced removals, such as those carried out under the Indian Removal Act of 1830

led to the displacement of most of Indiana's remaining indigenous populations, especially the Potawatomi who were subjected to the Trail of Death in 1838

a forced march to lands west of the Mississippi River. While Indiana did grow rapidly in the 1800s, like its sibling Northwest Territory states

Indiana's physical geography didn't really propel it in the same way, which is a bit surprising because Indiana is almost the perfect mix of Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois

Indiana's physical geography is characterized by a diverse landscape that reflects its location in the Midwest

where the eastern woodlands meets the prairies. The state's topography varies from the rolling hills of the southern region to the flat plains in the north

with significant influences from glacial activity during the last ice age. Indiana's geography can be understood by examining its three main geographic regions

the Northern Lakes and Moraines, the Central Till Plains, and the Southern Lowlands

Comparing Indiana's geography with its neighboring states of Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois reveals both similarities and distinct differences

The Northern Lakes and Moraines region of Indiana, shaped by glacial deposits

features a landscape of low rolling hills interspersed with numerous lakes and wetlands

This region is part of the broader Great Lakes Basin and includes the fertile Calumet region in the northwest, near Lake Michigan

Indiana's access to Lake Michigan provides it with a key transportation route that has influenced the development of industrial cities such as Gary

The glacial history of this region is shared with southern Michigan, which also features an abundance of lakes, rolling hills, and a landscape molded by glacial moraines

However, Michigan's geography is more dominated by the presence of the Great Lakes

with significantly more shoreline and a greater number of natural lakes. Moving southward, the Central Till Plains cover much of Indiana's central portion

This region is characterized by flatter terrain, created by the deposition of glacial till

a mix of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders left behind by the retreating glaciers

The fertile soils of the Central Till Plains make this region Indiana's agricultural heartland

where corn and soybeans are the dominant crops. Ohio shares a similar landscape in its western half

where the central till plains extend into the state. Like Indiana, Ohio's agricultural industry thrives on the fertile soil and flat terrain of this region

However, Ohio's topography is more varied overall, with the Appalachian foothills influencing the southeastern part of the state

adding more rugged and hilly terrain than what's found in Indiana. Finally, the southern lowlands of Indiana presents a marked contrast to the flat plains of the central region

This area, influenced by the rugged hills of the Hozier uplands and the deep valleys carved by rivers like the Ohio features more varied topography The Knobstone Escarpment a prominent geological feature runs through this region creating a landscape of steep hills

and narrow ridges. The southern lowlands also include the Wabash River Valley

an area with rich soils that supports agriculture, particularly in the southwestern part of the state

Illinois shares some geographic similarities with Indiana, particularly in its southern region

where the Shawnee Hills and the Illinois Basin create a landscape of rolling hills and lowlands

However, much of Illinois is dominated by the vast Illinois prairie, a flat expanse that

contrasts with Indiana's more varied topography. In a way, Indiana is the perfect blend of Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois geography

The state offers a blend of flat plains, rolling hills, and rugged southern uplands reflecting

the state's glacial history and varied terrain. That said, Indiana's geography is less varied than Ohio's and less dominated by water features

than Michigan's. yet it maintains a hilly southern region that distinguishes it from Illinois

So here's the question at the root of all of this. If Indiana is very similar to these other three states

why does it have a population that's considerably lower? Indiana's lower population compared to Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio

can be attributed to a combination of historic, economic, and geographic factors

Additionally, the inland location of Indianapolis, Indiana's largest city and capital, contrasts with the Great Lakes coastal locations of Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland

So why is Indiana so different if it shares so many similarities with its neighbor states

Well, one of the primary reasons for Indiana's lower population is its lack of a dominant

geographic or economic feature that could serve as a catalyst for large-scale population growth

Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio all have significant natural resources or strategic locations that have driven their population growth

Chicago, for example, grew rapidly due to its position on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, which made it a crucial hub for transportation and trade

The completion of the Illinois and Michigan C in 1848, followed by the rise of the railroads, further solidified Chicago's role as a key nexus for the movement of goods between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, fueling its population boom

Similarly, Detroit's location on the Detroit River, which connects to Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair

made it a critical site for shipping and trade. The city's growth was further propelled by the rise of the automotive industry in the early 20th century

which attracted workers from across the country and around the world, leading to a significant population increase

Meanwhile, Cleveland, located on the southern shore of Lake Erie, benefited from its position at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River

which provided access to both the Great Lakes and the Ohio River system

This strategic location made Cleveland a key industrial and shipping center, particularly during the 1800s and early 1900s

All three of these cities provided a huge population boom for their respective states

Chicago, with the help of the World's Fair in 1893, solidified its place as the United States' second city

something that originated as an insult but later became a revered nickname

Detroit as the manufacturing heart of the country and Cleveland, the crucial connection between the East Coast cities of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia to cities like Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Minneapolis, and even Indianapolis became incredibly important to the country at large

In contrast, Indiana lacks a similar natural or economic driver. While the state is rich in

agricultural land, it didn't develop the same level of industrialization or transportation

infrastructure as its neighbors during key periods of growth. Indiana's economy has traditionally

been more diversified and less reliant on a single industry or resource which contributed to more moderate population growth Basically the state never really had a boom And while Indiana has

access to the Ohio River in the south and Lake Michigan in the northwest, these areas didn't

develop the same level of industrial concentration as cities like Chicago and Detroit on the Great

Lakes or Cincinnati and Louisville on the Ohio River. Instead, Indiana's largest city is located

well inland, far away from natural features that could have propelled its growth

Founded in 1821, Indianapolis was deliberately chosen as the state capital for its central

location, intended to make it accessible to residents throughout the state. And unlike Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland, which grew organically as key transportation

hubs, Indianapolis was planned and built in a region that was primarily agricultural

This central location helped Indianapolis develop into a regional transportation hub, with several major highways and railroads converging in the city

but it lacked the international trade opportunities provided by the Great Lakes

and thus stymied early industrialization that would have likely seen the city grow much faster

if it were located on Indiana's Lake Michigan coastline. Though, the lack of a major river connecting to Indiana's portion of Lake Michigan

would have been a hindrance to early development. And of course, Indiana does have some urbanized areas along its coastline

But those were founded well after Chicago and, instead of becoming a major employment center unto themselves

became more of a suburb to Chicago than anything else. The growth of Indianapolis has been steady but not explosive, reflecting the broader economic trends of the state

While the city has become a major center for business, education, and healthcare, it does not have the same historic legacy of heavy industry and manufacturing that fueled the rapid growth of Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland

Instead, Indianapolis has grown particularly as a regional center, drawing population and economic activity from within Indiana

rather than across the country or around the world. And that is the key difference maker between a city like Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland

and a city like Indianapolis. All of this has combined to create a state that has a respectable population overall

but one that still lags behind its Northwest Territory siblings. Today, Indiana has a population of about 6.8 million people, making it the 17th largest state in the country by population, just a little less than Massachusetts

But this would be well behind Michigan with 10 million people, Ohio with 11.8 million, and Illinois with 12.5 million people

And within the state, Indianapolis would be the largest metropolitan area with 2.1 million people

followed by Fort Wayne with 450,000 and South Bend with 324,000 people

This would contrast with Illinois' Chicago at 9.3 million people and Michigan's Detroit with 4.3 million

And while Cleveland today only has 2.1 million people itself, the state is also home to Columbus with 2.2 million and Cincinnati with 2.3 million people

Indiana is the smallest of these four states, but today it's actually growing much faster than any of them

especially Illinois, which is losing population at the moment. This doesn't mean that Indiana will grow larger than any of its siblings anytime soon

but at least it means that there's something special about the Hozier state that is drawing people in

This was a really fun exploration of Indiana, and if you enjoyed it and want to support the channel

take a look at my map store and maybe buy one or two maps of Indiana, or any state really, I hope you learned something about Indiana today

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