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Indiana is a state located in the Midwest. The state is nicknamed "The Hoosier State". Many rumors about the origin of the nickname exist, but the real meaning is unknown. An interesting historical fact about Indiana is that Lewis and Clark set out from Fort Vincennes on their way to explore the Northwest Territory.

The state's capital is Indianapolis where the first long-distance auto race in the country was held. Today the Indianapolis 500 takes place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway each Memorial Day. The race is 200 laps or 500 miles long.

The state is known as the "Cross Roads of America" since it has the most miles of Interstate Highway per square mile in the country. It is also known as a Great Lakes State since a small portion of its border lines Lake Michigan.

One of the major industries in Indiana is manufacturing. Production includes automobiles, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Indiana is also known as one of the country's largest steel producers. Some major agricultural crops are corn, soybeans and melons.

The state is also home to some of the top universities in the country. Indiana University, the University Of Notre Dame and Purdue University are among the top 50 universities in the country.