Indianapolis, colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and the most populous city in the United States of America. It is located in the east-central region of the Midwest, in the center of Indiana. The city was founded in 1821 as a planned city for the new seat of Indiana's state government. It has since become a major manufacturing and transportation center, earning it the nicknames Crossroads of America and Railroad City.
Since the consolidation of the 1970 city-county, known as Unigov, local government administration has operated under the direction of an elected 25-member city-county council headed by the mayor. The Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA) is a quasi-governmental agency that organizes regional carpool and van rides and operates three connections to the public workforce from Indianapolis to employment centers in Plainfield and Whitestown. Health care in Indianapolis is provided by more than 20 hospitals, most of which belong to private, non-profit health systems. Indianapolis is home to some of the world's most important single-day events, such as the Indy 500, the Brickyard 400 and the US Grand Prix.
It also boasts some of the best museums and historic sites in the country, including the Indianapolis Children's Museum, Eiteljorg Museum, White River State Park and Holliday Park. Popular local dishes include breaded pork loin, cream sugar cake, Hoosier chili and persimmon pudding. The city of Indianapolis is the third most populous city in the Midwest and 15th most populous city in the United States. It is home to professional sports teams such as the Indianapolis Colts (NFL), Indiana Pacers (NBA), Indiana Fever (WNBA) and Indy Eleven (USL).
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) is its main law enforcement agency. Since moving from Corydon in 1825, Indianapolis has been the capital and seat of government of Indiana. The entire state is expected to grow by 15% by 2050, with populations in surrounding counties expected to grow even more. The city is home to several universities, including Indiana University (Purdue University), Indianapolis (196), which includes Herron School of Art (190) and an internationally renowned medical center.
Prominent weeklies include NUVO, an alternative weekly; The Indianapolis Recorder, a weekly newspaper that serves the local African-American community; The Indianapolis Business Journal; and The Southside Times.
