Part of what makes the U.S unique is the fact that it is made up of 50 individual States, all with their own laws, widely varying climates, landscapes, and cultures.
Asides from these differences, each state has its own nickname usually derived from an event associated with its past, a notable landmark in the State, a cultural icon, or even the weather. Let’s consider Indiana’s nickname.
What is Indiana’s nickname? The Hoosier State.
The Hoosier State is situated in Midwest America. Indiana is one of the 8 states that make up the Great Lakes Region, bordered on the north by Michigan, the east by Ohio, and the west by Illinois – separated by the Wabash River.
Indiana’s nickname originates from the 1830s, when a letter from G.L. Murdock to General Tom Tipton stated that, “Our Boat will be named the Indiana Hoosier”. On January 1, 1833, the Indianapolis Journal used John Finley’s poem named, “The Hoosier’s Nest” as their “Carriers Address”.
If you are interested in seeing the US state nicknames for all 50 states, including the date each state was entered into the Union, then head over to our page that lists them in alphabetical order.
Indiana’s State Nickname
Many believe that people have been using Indiana’s state nickname, “The Hoosier State” since the early 1830s. Like the majority of other states, there are many theories and explanations for the adoption of this nickname, with some being comical and unbelievable, and others more believable, one thing they all share is the fact that there is no concrete evidence suggesting the full nickname explanation.
Similar to many other nicknames given to states, many believe that “The Hoosier State” has been derived from people’s perceptions of Indiana’s residents, past and present.
It is not just Indiana’s state nickname that has become a national talking point, the Indiana motto has sparked debate and conversations for many years as to the origin of this famous motto, “Crossroads of America”.
How Did Indiana Get Its Nickname?
Originally gifted to the state in the 1930s, the Crossroads of America received this motto and slogan by The Indiana House of Representatives due to the fact that they still didn’t have an official state motto. This was pointed out by J. Roy Strickland, who wrote a column in the Evansville Courier & Press highlighting the Indiana motto issue.
They decided on the Motto “Crossroads of America” due to the number of significant roads and rail tracks located in Indiana that were, and still are, used to transfer goods and people to important places within North America.
If you are interested in finding out about the Indiana state abbreviation, take a look at our page dedicated to this.
