The northern part of the state is called the Great Lakes Plains. The region is geographically, culturally and economically tied to metropolitan areas outside of the state. To the west, it is still considered part of the Chicago Metro area, while the central section is connected to southwest Michigan. To the east, Fort Wayne is an economic hub for the region. The Central Region is also known as the Till Plains. Many consider the region to be limited to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area because it is the most economically dominant in the region. It is home to a wealth of universities and a bustling economy. The largest industries in the region are auto manufacturing, science and research, and technology. The southern region of Indiana is part of a tri-state area including Illinois and Kentucky. The largest city in the region is Evansville. While its economy is reliant on surrounding states, it is home to several large publicly traded companies and the University of Southern Indiana.
Indiana is a perfect place for families, with a top rated children's museum, a children's zoo and a city called Santa Claus. There is also a wide array of museums in the state to suit anyone's interests, with the Motor Speedway Hall of Fame, the Indianapolis Museum of Art and Studebaker National Museum to name a few. Indianapolis has its share of monuments along with beautiful scenic areas throughout the city, like the Central Canal. If sports are your thing, Indianapolis has you covered there too, with the Colts and the Pacers, several college teams and, of course, the Indy 500.
