Indianapolis travel guide — Indianapolis tourism and travel information

Indianapolis travel guide

about Indianapolis

Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the census of 2000, its population is 791,926, also making it Indiana's most populous city. It is the county seat of Marion County.

Indianapolis geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, "the balance" (that part of Marion County not part of another municipality) has a total area of 953.5 km² (368.2 mi²). 936.2 km² (361.5 mi²) of it is land and 17.3 km² (6.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.81% water.

At the center of Indianapolis is the One-Mile Square, bounded by East, West, North, and South Streets. At the center of the Square is Monument Circle, a traffic circle at the intersection of Meridian and Market Streets, featuring the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. (Monument Circle is depicted on the city’s flag, and is generally considered the city’s symbol.) Four diagonal streets pass through the corners of the Square. Nearly all of the streets in the One-Mile Square are named after U.S. states. (The street-numbering system centers not on the Circle, but rather one block to the south, where Meridian Street intersects Washington Street — National Road.)

Indianapolis history

Indianapolis was founded in 1822 as the state capitol. While it lies on the old east-west National Road, the portion of that road that crosses Indiana was not built until a decade after the city's foundation. While it was founded on the White River, that waterway was too sandy for trade. Through the mid-1800s, a horse-drawn barge canal by-passed the river bringing goods into the city.

Later, rail connections enlarged the town, and the automobile, as in most American cities, caused a suburban explosion. With automobile companies as Duesenburg, Marmon, National, and Stutz, Indianapolis was a center of production rivaling Detroit, at least for a few years. With roads as the spokes of a wheel, Indianapolis was on its way to becoming a major "hub" of regional transport connecting to Chicago, Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus, and St. Louis. Today, four interstate roads intersect in Indianapolis: routes 65, 69, 70, and 74. The city is a major trucking center.

As the result of a 1970 consolidation between city and county government (known as "Unigov"), the city of Indianapolis merged most government services with those of the county. For the most part, this resulted in a unification of Indianapolis with its immediate suburbs. Four communities within Marion County (Beech Grove, Lawrence, Southport, and Speedway) are partially outside of Unigov arrangement, and certain local services such as schools, fire and police remain unconsolidated. However, the mayor of Indianapolis is also the mayor of all of Marion County. Currently, Indianapolis is undergoing serious internal debate over how much, or whether, more of local taxation, government, and services should be further integrated.

Near cities to Indianapolis

• India travel guide 18 km
• Terre Haute travel guide 110 km
• Hamilton travel guide 140 km
• Middletown travel guide 150 km
• Florence travel guide 160 km
• Covington travel guide 160 km
• Cincinnati travel guide 160 km
• Dayton travel guide 170 km
• Kettering travel guide 170 km
• Louisville travel guide 170 km

Near webcams to Indianapolis

• Cincinnati - South View webcam 160 km
• Cincinnati - East View webcam 160 km
• Cincinnati - West View webcam 160 km
• Cincinnati - Fort Washington Way webcam 160 km
• Cincinnati webcam 160 km
• Waynesville webcam 180 km
• Henderson webcam 250 km
• Michigan Avenue webcam 260 km
• Chicago - Lake Front webcam 260 km
• John Hancock Center webcam 270 km

back to top

Indianapolis travel services

cheap flights to Indianapolis

• book cheap flights to Indianapolis »
• book cheap flights to USA »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of four main cheap airline tickets and cheap flights online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap airline tickets Indianapolis, cheap flights Indianapolis, also available cheap airline tickets to USA and to the whole world. Up to date cheap flights Indianapolis deals also available.

cheap Indianapolis hotels

• book cheap hotels to Indianapolis »
• book cheap hotels to USA »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap hotels and accommodation online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap hotels in Indianapolis, USA hotel guide and cheap hotels and accommodation in lot of other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Indianapolis hotel deals and discount accommodation tips also available.

cheap Indianapolis vacations

• book Indianapolis vacations »
• book USA vacations »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap vacations online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap vacations in Indianapolis, USA vacation rentals and cheap vacations in lot of other destinations world-wide. Up to date Indianapolis vacation deals also available.

cheap car rentals in Indianapolis

• book cheap car rental in Indianapolis »
• book cheap car rentals in USA »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main car rentals online booking systems. We are happy to offer car rentals in Indianapolis, car hire in USA and cheap car rental in lot other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Indianapolis car hire deals also available.

Indianapolis travel insurance

• Indianapolis cheap travel insurance »
• cheap travel insurance for USA »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of Essential Travel Ltd., leading online travel insurance company, we can offer you health travel insurance for Indianapolis, accident health Indianapolis travel insurance, all using our online Indianapolis travel insurance form. We also offer travel insurance for other cities in USA. This offer is available for UK residents only.

Indianapolis real estate

• Indianapolis real estate guide »
• real estate listings in USA »

City Travel Guide comes with Indianapolis real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Indianapolis property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in USA, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Indianapolis.

back to top

Indianapolis travel books

Indianapolis travel guide books

• Indianapolis travel guide books »
• USA travel guide books »

Indianapolis maps and atlases

• Indianapolis maps and atlases »
• USA maps and atlases »

back to top