Statehood The 19th state Dec. 11, 1816 Captial Indianapolis State Motto The crossroads of America Origin of State Name The word Indiana means "land of the Indians," referring to the region's many Native American inhabitants. State Nickname The Hoosier State The origin of the name is disputed; it may come from the word "hoozer," an English dialect word that meant any large feature, such as a hill. The term eventually came to mean a hill dweller. Interesting Facts The Indiana Dunes region provides habitat for many unusual plants, including prickly pear cactus, lichen mosses, bearberry, and more than 20 varieties of orchids. In a typical year, almost half of all cropland in Indiana is planted in corn. North of Lafayette is the site of the Battle of Tippecanoe, where on November 7, 1811, William Henry Harrison's forces defeated the Native American confederacy formed by the famous Shawnee chief Tecumseh. In 1906 U.S. Steel laid out the city of Gary, naming it after its chairman of the board, Elbert H. Gary. By 1920 the Calumet region was one of the leading industrial centers in North America.