Let’s get these common misconceptions straight:

1. Hoosiers as its people are called are NOT all hicks, like ignorant morons from the coasts think. Indiana has no more hicks than any other state. Hoosiers are average people who live in small towns, sizeable communities and their suburbs. But the hicks it DOES have are in the far southern third of the state, mostly south of Bloomington. Its 6 million residents are for the most part conservative but not anymore backwards than anywhere else. In fact, Carmel and the rest of Hamilton County, just north of Indianapolis, is very posh and among the richest areas in the Midwest and one of the fastest-growing counties by population in the country. Indianapolis is the capital and 12th largest city in the country while Gary is a black, crime-ridden hole and among America’s worst cities. Indianapolis is vibrant and progressive, generally speaking and more so than most large Midwest cities (except Chicago). It has spent billions of dollars revitalizing its downtown and has become the poster-child or urban revitalization. It is the fastest-growing metro area in the Midwest and Indiana is the fastes-growing state in the Midwest by population.

2. There IS more than corn in Indiana. Other agricultural products include soybeans (#3 in the country), mint, tomatoes, swine and poultry. Forests cover much of southern Indiana. Indiana has more covered bridges than any state, mostly in the south.

3. It is NOT part of the Rust Belt, like Michigan or Ohio. Much of Indiana lies too far south to be considered, with the exception of Gary.

4. Indiana is considered and industrial state. It is the country’s leader in steel production, centered in Gary, but the production of transportation equipment is its largest economic activity. It is the nation’s leader in the production of recreational vehicles (Rvs), engines, truck bodies and manufactured housing, a.k.a, modular homes. Indiana is an important state for the auto industry for this reason. GM, Ford and Chrysler used to be the big players but have since been replaced by the Japanese: Toyota, Honda and Subaru. Indiana is also the national leader in the production of musical instruments, caskets and urns (ironically centered in Batesville).

5. Indiana isn’t ALL flat. About 30% of the state has large hills: mostly in southern Indiana. Brown County is probably the most scenic location in the state. Marengo and Wyandotte caves are some of the largest caves in the country.

6. Yes, there is a town called French Lick (Larry Bird’s hometown). Go ahead, laugh. As if your state doesn’t have towns with funny names. Other funny names include Gnaw Bone, Beanblossom, Santa Clause, Shipshewana, and Mishawaka.

6. No matter how you look at it. It’s still better than Kentucky.