Economy of Indiana

 Indiana shares the historical importance of other Rust Belt States.

During the 1800's and early 1900's, the landscape was dominated by the rise of factories and industry. These manufacturing centers have declined in importance in recent decades, but remain a staple of the Indiana economy, especially in the northern third of the state.

Median Household Income in 2019: $56,303 (Census.gov)

Regional Economic interests:

Northern Indiana is home to the factories and power plants. Roughly 25% of Indiana's GDP comes from manufacturing. The industries here range from Automotive, to steel, to furniture. Indiana's car industry is the second largest in the country behind Michigan. The nearby city of Chicago influences much of the demographics and economy of nearby cities such as Gary Indiana.

Rural Central Indiana is blanketed in farmland. As part of the corn belt, the plains of central Indiana are rural and heavily reliant on agriculture. The countryside is crisscrossed by highways and railroads converging around Indianapolis.

Indianapolis dominates central Indiana in terms of population. Like most other large cities, the economy of Indianapolis has more service and transportation jobs than heavy industry. Healthcare, food, and retail are among the city's largest employers. (Best Places)

Southern Indiana is much less populated than the rest of the state. Covered in Mountains, the economy of the south is heavily reliant on coal mining and burning as a fossil fuel. Indiana is home to both the largest coal power plant in the US, as well as the most polluting. (World Atlas) The major population centers in the area are in nearby states, such as Cincinnati and Louisville.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/IN

https://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/indiana/indianapolis

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-biggest-industries-in-indiana.html