Indianapolis

Indianapolis (pop. 746,500), capital and largest city of Indiana, located near the center of the state. The city is one of the largest in the world not situated on a navigable waterway. This deficiency made its growth slow from around 1819, when the first settlers arrived, until 1847, when the first railroad reached the town. Additional railroads and roads made it a leading transport terminus. Modern Indianapolis contains the state's main airport (Weir Cook), and is a vital highway center, actually chosen to be the junction of more interstate highways than any other U.S. city. The capital is the marketing and distribution center for much of Indiana's agriculture and industry. Its major industries include transportation equipment, chemicals, and electrical machinery. Others are livestock sales, printing and publishing, and telephones and hardware. Just outside the city is the famous Indianapolis Speedway, site of the yearly Memorial Day 500-mi (800-km) race.

See also: Indiana.