Our Land, Our Literature: Region

The most outstanding feature of central Indiana is its rate of growth. The development of Indianapolis and its neighboring communities has increased dramatically in the last decade with fields of cropland giving way to strip malls, residential developments and new businesses and industries. Farther out from Indianapolis the crop activity increases, and in areas like Putnam County, most of the land is still being used for

agriculture. Indianapolis’ riverine systems, the White River in particular, are, unfortunately, known for their pollution.

Like east central and much of west central Indiana, this region is in the central till plain, which means the land is flat and characterized by soil composed of glacial till—sand, rock, and clay. Instead of corn and soybeans, the land was originally covered by beech-maple flatwoods—level expanses of forest that didn't drain well.

Indianapolis, which began with the building of a few cabins on the eastern shore of the White River, was selected as the site for a new state capital in 1825 because of its geographical location—roughly in the center of the state. (The capital was moved here from Corydon, situated near the Ohio River in the southern part of Indiana.) The town stayed relatively small for most of the nineteenth century, but by 1850 it had more than 8,000 residents, making it the state's second largest city. During the last two decades of the century, it grew tremendously, and by 1900, the population was nearly 170,000.

Pertinent ecosystems
Rivers
Forests

Relevant environmental terms/issues
Agriculture
Deforestation/habitat destruction
Urban Sprawl
Water pollution


Home	Literature	Environment	Regions	Contacts and Links	About Us