Real Estate Directory - Indiana

Population: 6,237,569
Capital city/population: Indianapolis (783,438)
Largest cities/population:

  • Indianapolis - 783,438
  • Fort Wayne - 219,495
  • Evansville - 117,881
  • South Bend - 105,540

Indiana was admitted to statehood on December 11, 1816. It is the 38th largest state, with an area of 36,420 square miles. The state has a flat northern portion, with rolling plains in the central area, and hilly regions to the south. The climate is temperate with four distinct seasons. In 1920, the Duesenburg Motor Company produced its first production car in Auburn, Indiana.

HOUSING

Indianapolis – The housing market has slowed the last quarter of 2005. There were over 7,000 properties sold as of early December, 2005, all selling above $100,000. The average selling price of these homes was approximately 2% less than the asking price. Average selling price has increased 5% since 2004, and homes have remained on the market an average of 76 days.

Fort Wayne – The new home construction market is strong; existing homes are taking longer to sell due to the fact that there are many homes on the market. Fort Wayne is a busy community, with a well-known Children’s Zoo, Lincoln Museum, and a strong cultural life.

Evansville – As of early November, 2005, the average selling price of a single-family home is $140,059, with a median price of $104,950. Of the homes that sold in October, sale price was an average of 96% of the listed price.

South Bend – Agents report that single-family homes are selling at an average price of $62,950. There were slightly more homes for sale than usual in this community, leading to a stronger buyers market. Overall, the housing market is stable.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Principal industries include manufacturing, services, agriculture, transportation, and public utilities. Manufactured goods include metals, transportation equipment, motor vehicles, equipment and industrial machinery. Agricultural crops include corn, wheat, soybeans, vegetables, sweet corn, and hay.
Total gross state product (2003) was $214 billion, with a per capita income for the same year of $28,783.

SCHOOLS

The modern school system was first developed in 1852, and high schools were incorporated into that system in 1907. Indiana has developed an Academic Standards guideline to describe what students need to know. Of their 364 public high schools, 68% had students scoring at or above the standards in English/Language Arts, with 68.4% at or above standards in Math. Of the 195 non-public high schools, 91.4% had students scoring at or above in English/Language Arts, with 88.8% at or above standards in Math. The 1994 public education student-teacher ratio was 17:5, with those teachers earning an average of $37,805 in 1995.

There are several state-supported institutions of higher learning, including Indiana University – Bloomington, -Indianapolis, and –Purdue. Others include Ball State, Indiana State University – Terry Haute, University of Southern Indiana – Evansville, and Indiana Vocational Technical College with state-wide locations.

Other schools include the University of Notre Dame, near South Bend, Butler University at Indianapolis, Valparaiso University, DePauw University at Greencastle, Goshen College at Goshen, and Earlham College at Richmond.

HISTORY

Mound Builders were Indiana’s earliest known inhabitants, and remains of their culture can still be found along the rivers. When Europeans arrived late in the 17th century, Native Americans of the Miami, Delaware, and Pottawatomie tribes lived in the area. In 1800, the Indiana Territory was formed, which included the states of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and parts of Michigan and Minnesota. When a constitutional convention met in 1816, and Indiana then achieved statehood. During the Civil War, Indiana remained strongly supportive of the Union cause, but the state saw little battle action. Manufacturing developed rapidly after the war.

Indiana was an early leader in automobile production; before Detroit achieved prominence, Indiana had over 300 automobile companies. From the late 1908s through the mid 1990s, the northern industrial portion experienced decline. The area around Indianapolis experienced growth due to a diversified economy.

RELIGION (2004)

  • Christian – 82%
    • Protestant – 62%
      • Baptist – 15%
      • Methodist – 10%
      • Lutheran – 6%
      • Church of Christ – 5%
      • Pentecostal – 3%
      • Mennonite/Pietist – 1%
      • Other Protestant – 23%
    • Roman Catholic – 19%
    • Other Christian – 1%
  • Other Religions – 1%
  • Non-Religious – 17%

DEMOGRAPHICS (2004)

  • White - 85.8%
  • Black - 8.4%
  • Hispanic - 3.5%
  • Asian - 1%
  • Native American - 0.3%
  • Mixed race - 1.2%