History of city Indianapolis, Indiana in photos

A small historical reference

Geography: Indianapolis is the state capital and most-populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. It is the 15th most populous city in the U.S., the third-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, Illinois and Columbus, Ohio, and the fourth-most populous state capital after Phoenix, Arizona; Austin, Texas; and Columbus.

Indigenous peoples inhabited the area dating to as early as 10,000 BC. In 1818, the Delaware relinquished their tribal lands in the Treaty of St. Mary's. In 1821, Indianapolis was founded as a planned city for the new seat of Indiana's state government. The city was platted by Alexander Ralston and Elias Pym Fordham on a 1-square-mile (2.6 km2) grid next to the White River. Completion of the National and Michigan roads and arrival of rail later solidified the city's position as a manufacturing and transportation hub. Two of the city's nicknames reflect its historical ties to transportation—the "Crossroads of America" and "Railroad City". Since the 1970 city-county consolidation, known as Unigov, local government administration operates under the direction of an elected 25-member city-county council headed by the mayor.

Indianapolis anchors the 29th largest economic region in the U.S., based primarily on the sectors of finance and insurance, manufacturing, professional and business services, education and health care, government, and wholesale trade. The city has notable niche markets in amateur sports and auto racing. The city is home to three Fortune 500 companies, two major league sports clubs, four university campuses, and several museums, including the world's largest children's museum. However, the city is perhaps best known for annually hosting the world's largest single-day sporting event, the Indianapolis 500. Among the city's historic sites and districts, Indianapolis is home to the largest collection of monuments dedicated to veterans and war casualties in the U.S. outside of Washington, D.C.

Date of foundation: January 6, 1821

History:

Population: 843 393

Sights:

A Greyhound bus station, 1943

Atlas Engine Works, between 1900 and 1910

Christ Church

Claypool Hotel, Washington and Illinois Streets, 1904

Columbia Club on Monument Circle, 1904

Commercial Club building, looking west on Pearl Street at South Meridian, 1905

Courthouse and Post Office on Ohio Street, 1905

Courthouse and Post Office on Ohio Street, 1910s

Entrance to Crown Hill Cemetery, 1906

First Presbyterian Church, 1906

Fruit Market, 1908

German House, 1907

Illinois Street, north from Washington, 1904	Imperial Hotel, circa 1904	Indiana National Bank, Virginia Avenue, 1904	Knights of Pythias Building, circa 1905
LS Ayres and Co department store, 1905	Manual Training School, between 1900 and 1910	Marion County Courthouse, 1905	Masonic Temple, Washington Street and Capitol Avenue, 1906
Meridian Street, between 1900 and 1910	National Headquarters American Legion	North Delaware Street, circa 1904	North Delaware Street, circa 1904

North Pennsylvania Street, circa 1904	Park Theatre, Washington Street and Capitol Avenue, 1904	Public Library, 1906	Shortridge High School, between 1900 and 1910
Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Monument Circle, 1906	Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Monument Circle, 1907	State House, 1906	West Market Street, circa 1907
Tomlinson Hall, Delaware and Market streets, 1904	Tomlinson Hall, Delaware and Market streets	Union Station, circa 1906	Union Traction Co. - Union Terminal Building, circa 1907