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Indianapolis (pronounced /ˌɪndiəˈnæpəlɪs/) is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. The United States Census estimated the city's population, excluding the included towns, at 798,382 in 2008. It is Indiana's largest city and is the 14th largest city in the U.S., the third largest city in the Midwest (behind Chicago and Detroit), and the second most populous state capital (behind Phoenix, Arizona). It is one of two state capitals that shares its name with its state (The other is Oklahoma City).
For much of its history, Indianapolis oriented itself around government and industry, particularly manufacturing. Today, Indianapolis has a much more diversified economy, contributing to the fields of education, health care, and finance. Tourism is also a vital part of the economy of Indianapolis, and the city plays host to numerous conventions and sporting events. Of these, perhaps the most well known is the annual Indianapolis 500 mile race. Other major sporting events include the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (formerly the "Brickyard 400") and the Men's and Women's NCAA Basketball Tournaments.
Greater Indianapolis has seen moderate growth among U.S. cities, especially in nearby Hamilton, Hendricks, and Johnson counties. The population of the metropolitan statistical area is estimated at 1,715,459, making it the 33rd-largest in the U.S. The combined statistical area population of Indianapolis is 2,035,327, the 23rd-largest in the U.S.
The labels of The Amateur Sports Capital of the World, and The Racing Capital of the World, have both been applied to Indianapolis.
Indianapolis is home to the Indy Racing League's offices and many of its teams, Indianapolis Colts of the NFL, the Indiana Pacers of the NBA, the Indiana Fever of the WNBA, the Indianapolis Indians of the IL, the Indiana Ice of the USHL, and the Indianapolis Trax of the MWHL.
In addition, the headquarters of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the main governing body for U.S. collegiate sports, is located in Indianapolis, as is the National Federation of State High School Associations. Indianapolis is also home to the national offices of USA Gymnastics, USA Diving, US Synchronized Swimming, and USA Track & Field. Indianapolis also hosts the headquarters of the Horizon League and the Great Lakes Valley Conference; the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference is located in suburban Indianapolis.
The city has hosted the Men's and Women's Final Fours (the semifinals and final of the NCAA basketball tournament) several times, and as of 2006 the NCAA is scheduled to hold the Women's Final Four in Indianapolis at least once every five years. Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis will host the Big Ten Tournament for five straight years (beginning in 2008) after it won the Big Ten bid over Chicago and the United Center.
Indianapolis also hosts the Indianapolis Tennis Championships, one of the many tournaments which are part of the US Open series.
IMS hosts two major races every year, the Indianapolis 500 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Starting in 2008, the MotoGP Motorcycle series will host a weekend at the speedway for the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix. On May 20, 2008, the city was awarded the rights to host Super Bowl XLVI. Indianapolis hosted the Pan American Games in 1987 and the 2002 World Basketball Championships.
Great Lakes Valley Conference
The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) is a highly competitive intercollegiate athletic conference which competes at the NCAA's Division II level. Member teams are located in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
The GLVC is considered one of the top small college basketball conferences in the nation and placed a team in the men's NCAA Division II final over 11 straight years from 1994 to 2004.
In October 2008 Maryville University (MO) and The University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) accepted invitations to join the GLVC and will begin competing in the conference in the fall of 2009.
Indianapolis Zoo
The Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, first opened to the public in 1964. Its current home in White River State Park was opened in 1988 with a size of 64 acres (260,000 m2). The zoo hosts about 1.4 million visitors each year and plays a role in worldwide conservation and research, including accomplishing the world’s first successful artificial insemination of an African elephant. The Indianapolis Zoo is the only institution accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Association of Museums as a zoo, an aquarium, and as a botanical garden. The zoo is a private non-profit organization, receiving no tax support and is supported entirely by membership fees, admissions, donations, sales, grants, and an annual fundraiser.
The Indianapolis Zoo's stated mission is "to inspire local and global communities to celebrate, protect, and preserve our natural world through conservation, education, and research, and by providing an enriching and wondrous environment for our visitors and the animals in our care."
Biomes
The Indianapolis Zoo is organized around the concept of biomes. Biomes are areas of the planet with similar climate, plants, and animals. Animals at the Indianapolis Zoo are clustered in groups with similar habitats, which define the biomes. At the Indianapolis Zoo, one can visit the five biomes listed below.
Each of the biomes participates in conservation and breeding programs.
Temperate and tropical forests
Temperate and tropical forests of the world are represented in the Forests Biome. Featured animals in this biome include the rare and endangered Amur tiger from Siberia, active little small-clawed otters from Asia, as well as Red pandas and the American Bald Eagle. The exhibit also has two new Kodiak bear cubs from Alaska.
Oceans
The Oceans exhibit opened in 2007 and features the country's largest dogshark (Smooth Dogfish) touch pool as its highlight. Also included in this exhibit (formerly the World of Waters) are three species of penguins - king, gentoo and rockhopper - with a transparent pane in the floor that allows visitors to see the penguins swim from one side of their exhibit to the other. There are also bonnethead sharks, green and purple mouth moray eels, moon jellies, seahorses, and many other kinds of fish and invertebrates.
Marine mammals
Surrounding the exit area of the Oceans building are several exhibits that feature a variety of marine mammals. Inside Oceans, there are underwater views of the sea lion and seal exhibit and the Polar bear exhibit. The Zoo has California sea lions, harbor seals and grey seals in its collection. Next to the polar bear exhibit is the walrus pool, featuring the orphaned young walrus Nereus. The Zoo is one of only a few institutions in North America to house Pacific walruses. The last marine mammals at the Zoo are Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.
Deserts
In the Deserts Dome, the transparent overhead geodesic dome allows the animals to bask in natural sunlight year-round while heating and air conditioning vents hidden in the rocks regulate the temperature. The Deserts Dome re-opened in May, 2006 after being closed for nine months undergoing a complete renovation to add a new meerkat exhibit, plus many new reptiles and birds. Other animals in the desert area are tortoises and lizards. The desert also has an area called "Drop Dead Gorgeous Snakes" with many venomous snakes and a hands-on learning area.
Plains
Designed to be similar to Africa is the expansive Plains Biome. Upon entering the biome, visitors see kudu, and zebras grazing in their large yard, along with ostriches, vultures and other birds. The Zoo keep endangered White rhinoceros, giraffes, and African elephants. East African crowned cranes and Marabou storks rest near a pond that runs under a wooden bridge carving a visitor trail through the African plains with exhibits of lions, wild dogs and baboons.
Encounters
The Encounters Biome is where visitors are encouraged to interact with the animals. The Encounters Biome connects the Zoo's animals and plants with its visitors by allowing Zoo guests to learn by doing, rather than by observing. At Critter Corner, zookeepers interact one-on-one with visitors to present some of the Zoo's program animals such as snakes, lizards, spiders, and cockroaches, all of which can be touched. Outside are rabbits, horses, donkeys, goats, and llamas.
Dolphin Adventure Pavilion
The Indianapolis Zoo has a large dolphin pavilion, which features a combination of approaches to dolphin/human interaction and some new architecture, including:
The Underwater Dolphin Dome
Recently built is a 30-foot (9.1 m) diameter, 12-foot (3.7 m) high, underwater dome placed squarely in the middle of the dolphin performance pool – a first for U.S. zoos. Opened on Memorial Day weekend 2005, zoo visitors can now view dolphins from underneath the surface of the water.
Dolphins and trainer
Marsh Dolphin Theater
On top of the water, the interior of the Marsh Dolphin Theater features a million-gallon plus pool and a coastal village scene, complete with buildings and wharf, where a dolphin show occurs everyday.
Dolphin In-Water Adventure
The Indianapolis Zoo has the Midwest’s only in-water dolphin program for the public, allowing guests to interact with the dolphins in their exhibit.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), located in Speedway, Indiana, is the site of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race (also known as the Indy 500), an open-wheel automobile race held each Memorial Day weekend on a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) oval track. The Indy 500 is the largest single-day sporting event in the world, hosting more than 257,000 permanent seats (not including the infield area). The track is often referred to as the Brickyard, as it was paved with 3.2 million bricks shortly after its construction in 1909. Today the track is paved in asphalt although a section of bricks remains at the start/finish line.
IMS also hosts the NASCAR Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (originally the "Brickyard 400"). The first running of the Brickyard 400 was in 1994, and is currently NASCAR's highest attended event.
From 2000 to 2007, IMS hosted the Formula One United States Grand Prix (USGP). Contract negotiations between the IMS and Formula One resulted in a discontinuation of the USGP at Indianapolis (at least for the foreseeable future). Formula One has not scheduled a USGP venue for the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
The Speedway hosted its first MotoGP, with the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix taking place in September 2008.
Indianapolis is also home to O'Reilly Raceway Park. Though not as well known as Indianapolis Motor Speedway, O'Reilly is home to the NHRA Mac Tool U.S. Nationals, the biggest, oldest, richest, and most prestigious drag race in the world, held every Labor Day weekend.
OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon
Indianapolis is home to the largest mini-marathon (and eighth-largest running event) in America. 2007 was the 30th anniversary of the Mini, and run in the first weekend in May every year. This event is part of the 500 Festival, its 50th year running. The race starts on Washington Street just off Monument Circle and ends on New York Street back downtown. The Mini has been sold out every year, with well over 35,000 runners participating.
Parks
Indianapolis has an extensive municipal park system with nearly 200 parks occupying over 10,000 acres (40 km2). The flagship Eagle Creek Park is the largest municipal park in the city, and ranks among the largest urban parks in the United States.[32]
Other major Indianapolis Regional parks include:
Additionally, Indianapolis has an urban forestry program that is recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA standards.
