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Once a forested wilderness
teeming with wildlife, Indiana now more closely
resembles the Plains States to the west-rolling hills of
grain for miles and miles and miles. Corn and cattle are
the principal activities in the state, although not
necessarily the most profitable. Suffice it to say that
when settlers started showing up in the 19th century,
they brought their axes and forges with them. And axes
and forges are still hard at it. The northwest portion
of the state-called the Calumet-hosts one of the
greatest concentrations of heavy industry in the nation.
As you move eastward, the industrial interests lighten
up somewhat and give some ground to large scale
commercial enterprises.
Indiana is called the Crossroads of America, and its
residents are known as Hoosiers. Nobody knows exactly
what a Hoosier is, but if you are a native of the state,
you are a Hoosier. Maybe it has something to do with the
limestone quarries. Or maybe it's related to corn, which
is just about everywhere south of the Calumet industrial
region where there isn't a limestone quarry. Indiana is
also notable for its covered bridges in the Terre Haute
area and for the annual Indianapolis 500. Corn, cars,
and commerce-that's Indiana for you, Hoosier wannabe.
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